US09200523B2
A turbine blade includes a blade portion, the blade portion comprising a tip outer wall and a trailing edge, an internal cooling circuit, the internal cooling circuit being configured for directing cooling air within the blade portion, and a tip trailing edge slot positioned adjacent to the tip outer wall and the trailing edge, the tip trailing edge slot being fluidly connected to the internal cooling circuit. The tip outer wall is recessed at the tip trailing edge slot such that the tip outer wall is not provided over the trailing edge slot, thereby allowing cooling air to flow from the cooling circuit, into the trailing edge slot, and radially over the tip outer wall.
US09200522B2
A cooling system includes a surface comprising a plurality of orifices and a flow control plasma actuator positioned proximate an orifice to induce cooling air attachment to the surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the plasma actuator includes a power source, a first electrode in contact with a first dielectric layer and connected to the power source, a second electrode in contact with a second dielectric layer and connected to the power source, and a ground electrode. The power source drives the first electrode with a first ac voltage pattern and drives the second electrode with a second ac voltage pattern. The first voltage pattern and the second voltage pattern have a phase difference. In further embodiments, a dc voltage can be used to drive one or more of the electrodes, where the dc voltage can be pulsed in specific embodiments. In another embodiment, a cooling system includes a suction mechanism positioned proximate an orifice to induce cooling air attachment to the surface, the section mechanism being positioned downstream of the orifice.
US09200489B1
An oil well sucker rod guide protects the rods and production tubing from frictional wear during the vertical reciprocation pumping action. The guide has a sleeve enveloping the sucker rod with raised ribs contacting the tubing in an opposed fashion. The raised ribs are circumferentially sequenced to contact the entire circumference of the tubing and provide oil flow-through passages between the sleeve and the tubing. The raised ribs have side and inside end walls angled and contoured to increase through-put of oil in the tubing.
US09200487B2
A downhole system includes a downhole string insertable within a subterranean wellbore and a roller assembly coupled with the string. The roller assembly includes rollers mounted on lateral sides of the downhole string for reducing the resistance of deploying the string within the wellbore. The string is rotatable about its axis with respect to the roller assembly; bearing surfaces, or low torque surfaces, are included in the roller assembly to further reduce rotational friction so the string precisely positions itself to a designated orientation.
US09200479B2
A continuous panel frame that includes a sliding platform that uses rail members and sliding seats to continuously and stably move a vertical panel frame, dust free, in a nanometer precision wet manufacturing process.
US09200476B2
A handle locking device for a modularized terminal electric appliance is presented. A housing base thereof can be assembled onto any outer side surface of the housing of an appliance through a connection mechanism. There are a horizontal pivoting door and a vertical pivoting door which can be unfolded or folded inside a door hole on a sliding member of the locking mechanism. When unfolded, the horizontal pivoting door mates with an appliance handle to block the reverse motion of the handle, and the vertical pivoting door and the horizontal pivoting door can mate to block the reverse motion of the unfolded horizontal pivoting door. The horizontal pivoting door is pivotally connected to the sliding member through a horizontal pivoting, and the vertical pivoting door is pivotally connected to the sliding member through a vertical pivoting. A padlock is provided with a lock ring which can penetrate the interconnected door hole from a padlock hole and the lock ring can mate with the vertical pivoting door to block the reverse motion of the unfolded vertical pivoting door. The locking mechanism is connected and mounted with the housing base through a moving pair and can only perform up/down sliding along the direction of an assembly reference line B parallel to the appliance height direction Y, the locking mechanism is defined to slide merely between the locking and unlocking positions thereof, and adjustable height position of the locking device under the two states of handle locking and unlocking is realized by way of the shift of the sliding member.
US09200467B2
A stacking base system for transporting to a work site supports a plurality of vertical posts. Each of a plurality of base members defines a fill port and includes a port plug adapted to be removably inserted in the fill port, and defines a post aperture, shaped to correspond to a cross-section of the posts, extending downward through the base member. Three legs extend down from outer edges each base member, and are equally spaced around the base member, and substantially equally spaced from the post aperture. The post aperture is oriented vertically when bottom ends of the legs are resting on a horizontal surface. The base members are stacked such that a top portion of a lower base member engages a bottom portion of a next adjacent upper base member and such that the plurality of base members forms a base stack.
US09200464B1
A swimming pool safety drain including a base having a bottom, and having end walls and side walls extending upwardly from the bottom to form an open top enclosure. A cover is removably secured to the enclosure and, when secured to the enclosure forms an inlet slot about the periphery thereof. A plurality of drain outlets are formed in the base for connection to water recirculating systems for the swimming pool and any supplemental water recirculating system. A safety bridge is secured in the enclosure between the side walls and is positioned over the drain outlets to provide hair and limb entrapment protection. A construction cover is provided to temporarily replace the permanent cover during construction and installation of the drain.
US09200458B2
An insulating panel structure has an inner surface for attachment to a building exterior and an outer surface for attachment to cladding material. The panel structure has external stringers for attachment of the cladding, connectors extending perpendicularly from the inner surface to the external stringers to transmit compressive forces from the cladding to the building, lateral connectors that run diagonally upward from the external stringers to the inner surface to transmit tensile forces from the weight of the cladding to the building, and insulating foam embedded between the panel inner and outer surfaces. A panel application method includes providing panels with tubular connectors and providing expansible fingers insertable into the tubular connectors and mounted on a movable frame, inserting the fingers into the tubular connectors, expanding them to grip the tubes and panels, moving the frame with expanded fingers and panel to a job site, attaching the panel to a building while being held with the expanded fingers, and contracting and retracting the fingers from the attached panel.
US09200455B2
A moisture isolating reveal system includes a vertical trim piece having a fastening base configured for vertical coupling along a wall. A reveal flange extends from the fastening base. The fastening base and the reveal flange form a panel reception recess, and the panel reception recess is configured to receive a siding panel. A moisture isolation assembly extends along one or more of the reveal flange or the fastening base. The moisture isolation assembly includes: a nozzle ridge provided along the reveal flange, a moisture dam interposed between the nozzle ridge and the fastening base, the moisture dam prevents the ingress of moisture to the fastening base, and the nozzle ridge accelerates moisture moving between the nozzle ridge and an installed siding panel and decelerates moisture between the nozzle ridge and the moisture dam.
US09200454B2
A trim bead for a building wall incorporates an outwardly extending flange portion to provide a mechanical key for a layer of exterior finishing coatings, such as stucco coatings. The trim bead may be used in stucco systems for exterior building walls that employ continuous thermal insulation over the building wall substrate.
US09200444B2
The present invention relates to a variable fastener for fixing a curtain wall, enabling a vertical member of a curtain wall unit to be coupled to an end portion of a building slab (S), wherein the variable fastener comprises: a first bracket fixed to the end portion of the slab (S); and a second bracket, one side of which is coupled to the vertical member of the curtain wall unit, and the other side of which is coupled to the first bracket, so as to transfer the load of the curtain wall unit to the slab (S). The first bracket includes a planar base portion fixed to the end portion of the slab (S), and a support portion formed on the front end of the base portion so as to be higher than the upper surface of the base portion. The second bracket includes: a planar fixing portion fixed to the vertical member of the curtain wall unit; a height-adjusting bolt coupled and fixed perpendicularly at one side end of the fixing portion that is in the direction of the first bracket; a catching portion, one side of which is coupled so as to be horizontally pivotable and vertically slidable on the height-adjusting bolt, and the other side of which is mounted on an upper part of the support portion; and a height-adjusting nut fastened to the height-adjusting bolt, for adjusting the height of the catching portion.
US09200443B2
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a structural attachment system for easily and quickly erecting a structure. The structural attachment system may include a hollow tube unit having at least one T-slot positioned between a pair of square slots configured to engage with a unit connector. The unit connector may include a T-unit sandwiched between a pair of composition units and a pair of locking plates. The T-unit may have a first unit T-tab configured to engage with the T-slot on the hollow tube unit, and the locking plates may engage with the square slots, resulting in the unit connector being slidably fastened to the hollow tube unit. Paneling may also be attached to the hollow tube unit to create walls, a roof, and flooring.
US09200442B2
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to structural, seismic beams and columns as well as to structures including such beams and columns. The seismic beams and columns may be sized, shaped, or otherwise configured to produce approximately even or uniform load distribution (e.g., during a seismic event and/or wind loading event).
US09200440B2
The invention relates to a flat, flexible fire protection unit (1). Said fire protection unit comprises at least one porous carrier structure (2), the pores (3) of said carrier structure (2) being at least partially filled with an agent (4) that undergoes a change in state of aggregation under the effect of heat.
US09200439B1
A firewall system includes a wall stud; a wall covering; and an expansion furring. An expansion furring can have a top having first and second top edges; a side, having a side edge, and extending from one of the first and second top edges; and a furring flange, extending from the side edge, and being formed of one or more deformable materials. The furring flange can be attached to the wall stud and to the wall covering with the expansion furring being disposed between the wall stud and furring. The furring flange absorbs, via deformation, at least a portion of movement of the wall stud due to heat-based expansion of the wall stud.
US09200433B2
A retention system is provided for use with a ground engaging tool. The tool retention system may have a generally C-shaped clamp configured to be disposed within an aperture of a work implement and to engage apertures in a tool adapter and a wedge disposed within the apertures of the tool adapter and the work implement and against the generally C-shaped clamp. The retention system may additionally have a generally C-shaped slider disposed within the apertures of the tool adapter to engage the aperture of the work implement and a fastener configured to connect the generally C-shaped slider to the wedge. A retention cap with an expandable retention washer may be secured over a head of the fastener to prevent unwanted rotation.
US09200427B2
In embodiments of the invention, a wheeled dredging head is configured to operate in a stand-alone condition, with the addition of a water jet assembly, and/or with the addition of an adapter at an intake of the dredging head. In one embodiment, the adapter is configured to vacuum the floor of a body of water. In another embodiment, the adapter is configured to remove sediment or other material from a sloped surface in a body of water. In yet another embodiment, the adapter is configured to remove sediment or other material from around obstacles in a body of water.
US09200425B2
A grasping apparatus that can be miniaturized and compacted to be mountable in small-size equipment or the like and reduced in weight, and a construction machine in which the grasping apparatus is mounted. The grasping apparatus has a gear mechanism 30 in which an annular inner gear 71 is disposed concentrically with a sun gear 73, plural intermediate gears 68 are interposed in an annular space between the inner gear 71 and the sun gear 73, the plural intermediate gears 68 are freely rotatably supported by a bracket secured to a construction machine or the like, a grasping apparatus swing cylinder 23 rotated by the sun gear 73 or the inner gear 71 is equipped to the construction machine or the like as equipment, an upper fork 36 is secured to the inner gear 71, a lower fork 32 that grasps a conveyance target object 90 or the like in cooperation with the upper fork 36 is secured to the sun gear 73 to which rotating force is transmitted from the inner gear 71 through the intermediate gears 68.
US09200422B2
Method and arrangement for supporting a structure. Beneath the structure there is arranged a cohesion structure, which transfers the structure load through shaft adhesion to surrounding ground. The cohesion structure includes an expansion element having a wall of flexible material, inside which there is injected along an injecting pipe unreacted polymer, which reacts in the expansion element. The expansion element with the reacted polymer therein constitutes the cohesion pillar. The polymer is water absorbing material and the wall of the expansion element is of water-permeable material, whereby the cohesion pillar is arranged to absorb water from the surrounding ground so as to improve the adhesion between the expansion element and the surrounding ground.
US09200417B2
A guardrail system includes a guardrail, a support post, and a fastener joining the guardrail and the support post. The support post includes a hole receiving the fastener, a fastener retention mechanism, and a slot for the movement of the fastener during an impact. The fastener retention mechanism retains the fastener in the hole until a predetermined level of force is attained during an impact, after which the fastener is released and moves into the slot. Methods of moving the guardrail relative to the post are also provided.
US09200404B2
An aqueous leather coating composition having improved storage stability includes 1 to 40 weight percent of an emulsifiable polyisocyanate comprising the reaction product of an isocyanurate and an emulsifier, wherein the average isocyanate functionality of the emulsifiable polyisocyanate is 2 to 4.5; and 60 to 99 weight percent of an aqueous polymer dispersion having a Tg of −70 to 40° C. and selected from a (meth)acrylic polymer dispersion, a polyurethane dispersion, a (meth)acrylic polymer/polyurethane hybrid dispersion and a combination comprising one or more of the foregoing aqueous polymer dispersions, wherein all weight percents are on a dry basis, and based on the total dry amount of the emulsifiable polyisocyanate and the aqueous polymer dispersion. The aqueous polymer dispersion can be free of hydroxyl groups. Also disclosed are a method of coating leather with the composition, and a coated leather article.
US09200397B2
A method and system are disclosed for automatically generating embroidery designs. A described method includes identifying vertices in a set of chain-code points defining an edge of a first object to be embroidered; filtering the vertices by: determining whether a height of a first triangle defined by a first one of the vertices and ones of the vertices that neighbor the first one of the vertices is at least a threshold; and when the height is less than the threshold, eliminating the first one of the vertices from the vertices; and generating embroidery data based on the filtered vertices.
US09200395B2
A method of applying stitching to an interior component is provided herein. The method including the steps of: a) penetrating the outer skin layer, the substrate layer and the intermediary layer with an awl to form a piercing therethrough; b) retracting the awl from the outer skin layer, the substrate layer and the intermediary layer; c) inserting a needle through the piercing through the substrate layer, the intermediary layer and the outer skin layer to grasp a thread positioned on the outer skin layer; d) pulling the thread through the outer skin layer, the intermediary layer and the substrate layer; e) looping the thread with a previous stitch passed through the outer skin layer, the intermediary layer and the substrate layer; f) advancing the interior component to another position, wherein a backside of the substrate layer is free of obstructions; and g) repeating steps a-f until a predetermined amount of stitches are applied to the interior component.
US09200393B2
A polymer electrolyte fiber having a high molecular weight is produced with ease by an electrospinning method. In an electrospinning method which comprises applying a voltage to a solution of a polymer electrolyte to allow a jet of the solution to spurt, forming a polymer fiber, the voltage applied to the solution of the polymer electrolyte is a voltage having the opposite polarity to the charge of molecular chains of the polymer electrolyte in the solution, and the voltage is applied to increase the viscosity of the solution to be higher than that of the solution before applying the voltage, allowing the solution to spurt.
US09200392B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a stable production process for a melt-blown nonwoven fabric comprising thin fibers and having extremely few thick fibers [number of fusion-bonded fibers] formed by fusion bonding of thermoplastic resin fibers to one another, and an apparatus for the same. The present invention relates to a melt-blown nonwoven fabric comprising polyolefin fibers and having (i) a mean fiber diameter of not more than 2.0 μm, (ii) a fiber diameter distribution CV value of not more than 60%, and (iii) 15 or less fusion-bonded fibers based on 100 fibers; a production process for a melt-blown nonwoven fabric characterized by feeding cooling air of not higher than 30° C. from both side surfaces of outlets of slits 31 from which high-temperature high-velocity air is gushed out and thereby cooling the spun molten resin; and a production apparatus for the same.
US09200391B2
A mat includes a first principal face, a second principal face opposite to the first principal face, entangled points, and unentangled portions. The entangled points are provided by entangling inorganic fibers with one another. The unentangled portions are provided from the first principal face to the second principal face. The inorganic fibers are not entangled with one another and are arranged substantially parallel to one another in said unentangled portions.
US09200385B2
A jacquard type loom for making a fabric by weaving plural warp yarns with plural weft yarns, the fabric including a determined number of columns of warp yarns per unit length and a determined number of layers of weft yarns. The loom includes a comber board including plural holes passing a corresponding number of control cords, each control cord including an heddle eye through which a warp yarn passes. The holes are distributed in a determined number of columns extending parallel to the warp yarn direction and a determined number of rows per column extending in a direction perpendicular to the warp yarn direction. The comber board includes a number of columns of holes per unit length smaller than the number of warp columns in the same unit length in the fabric, and a number of rows of holes greater than the number of warp layers in the fabric.
US09200380B2
The present invention provides a silicon single crystal manufacturing method for manufacturing a single crystal based on a horizontal magnetic field applied CZ method for pulling the single crystal while applying a horizontal magnetic field to a silicon raw material melt accommodated in a quartz crucible by a magnetic field application device, comprising: measuring a center position of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field application device; and deviating the measured center position of the magnetic field from a pulling member serving as a rotation axis of the single crystal in a horizontal direction within the range of 2 to 14 mm before manufacture of the single crystal and/or during manufacture of the single crystal. As a result, the silicon single crystal manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus that enable manufacture of a single crystal while suppressing fluctuations in diameter and in oxygen concentration without a variation caused due to characteristics of the apparatus can be provided.
US09200379B2
A base material for growing a single crystal diamond that includes at least a single crystal SiC substrate, and an iridium film or a rhodium film heteroepitaxially grown on a side of the single crystal SiC substrate where the single crystal diamond is to be grown. As a result, there is provided a base material for growing a single crystal diamond and a method for producing a single crystal diamond substrate which can grow the single crystal diamond having a large area and good crystallinity and produce a high quality single crystal diamond substrate at low cost.
US09200370B2
A ceramic layer is fabricated on a substrate by coating the substrate with a material containing chemical precursors of a ceramic. The precursors are transformed by a heat treatment into the ceramic to be fabricated. Different methods for heat insertion may be used for individual layers by absorbing particles, which are utilized in different concentrations or different chemical compositions. A targeted heat insertion even in lower layer regions, for example, by microwave animation, or ultraviolet or infrared light insertion is therefore possible. Beneficially, as a result, comparatively thick layers in particular can be fabricated by a single heat treatment layer.
US09200364B2
A film forming apparatus for forming a film on an object includes: a processing container; gas supply means, having gas jet ports, respectively; a holding means for holding the object; a drive mechanism for moving the holding means relative to the gas jet ports; and a control means which, when repeating P times a cycle, consisting of a supply period for supplying a gas and a supply stop period during which the supply of the gas is stopped, performs control so that as viewed from the center of the object, a gas supply starting position is sequentially shifted in the circumferential direction of the object for every cycle in such a manner that the entire circumference of the object to be processed is divided into K segments (K=P), K being an arbitrary division number, and the gas supply starting position is shifted by one segment for every cycle.
US09200361B2
A deposition apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, a sensor head located in the vacuum chamber and including a plurality of deposition rate measuring sensors, a sensor extractor coupled to the vacuum chamber and including a first vacuum maintaining valve, the sensor extractor being configured to extract one of the deposition rate measuring sensors to outside the vacuum chamber, and a sensor inserter coupled to the vacuum chamber and including a second vacuum maintaining valve, the sensor inserter being configured to insert one of the deposition rate measuring sensors into the sensor head.
US09200352B2
A high strength galvanized steel sheet with excellent appearance that does not have non-uniformity of coating or coating defects or allow linear defects to occur after press forming includes a steel sheet having a ferrite single-phase structure and having a composition containing 0.0005% to 0.0040% by mass of C; 0.1% to 1.0% by mass of Si; 1.0% to 2.5% by mass of Mn; 0.01% to 0.20% by mass of P; 0.015% by mass of less of S; 0.01% to 0.10% by mass of Al; 0.0005% to 0.0070% by mass of N; 0.010% to 0.080% by mass of Ti; 0.0005% to 0.0020% by mass of B; 0.05% to 0.50% by mass of Cu; 0.03% to 0.50% by mass of Ni; and the balance of Fe and incidental impurities.
US09200343B2
A high strength steel sheet has tensile strength of at least 1470 MPa and (tensile strength ×total elongation) of at least 29000 MPa·% with a composition including, by mass %, C.: 0.30% to 0.73%, Si: 3.0% or less, Al: 3.0% or less, Si+Al: at least 0.7%, Cr: 0.2% to 8.0%, Mn: 10.0% or less, Cr+Mn: at least 1.0%, P: 0.1% or less, S: 0.07% or less, N: 0.010% or less, and remainder as Fe and incidental impurities; and processing the steel sheet such that microstructure satisfies area ratio of martensite with respect to the microstructure of 15% to 90%; content of retained austenite of 10% to 50%; at least 50% of the martensite is constituted of tempered martensite and area ratio of the tempered martensite with respect to the microstructure is at least 10%; and area ratio of polygonal ferrite with respect to the microstructure is 10% or less.
US09200340B2
A pusher includes a pusher main body configured to push forward a target object; a pusher main body cylinder connected to the pusher main body and configured to move the pusher main body forward and backward; a pusher carriage connected to the pusher main body cylinder; and a pusher carriage cylinder connected to the pusher carriage and configured to move the pusher carriage forward and backward, the pusher carriage cylinder having a pushing-out direction opposite to a pushing-out direction of the pusher main body cylinder.
US09200339B2
An aspect provides a method of treating direct reduced iron (DRI) pellets, by applying a foam to the DRI pellets. The foam may include a foam having an expansion ratio of about 20-40 and a bubble size of about 200 microns or less. The foam may include one or more additives, such as anti-corrosion agent(s), oxidizing agents, and dust reducing binder(s). The foam(s) may be applied in a single stage or in multiple stages and may be applied to hot or cold DRI pellets. Other aspects are described and claimed.
US09200336B2
Methods and systems for fractionating lignocellulosic biomass including hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, including exploding the biomass cells to devolatilize the biomass, hydrolyzing the hemicellulose to produce a liquid component including hemicellulosic sugars and a solid component including less than 10% hemicellulose, separating the liquid and solid components, vaporizing the cellulose in the solid component, and condensing the cellulosic sugar vapors. The methods and systems may vaporize the cellulose in a continuous steam reactor at a temperature of about 400-550° C. and a pressure of about 1-3 bara. Electromagnetic and/or electroacoustic treatment such as ultrasound and/or microwave treatment may be applied to the biomass immediately before or during cellulose hydrolysis.
US09200334B2
Provided herein are improved cell sorter systems and methods. Such systems and methods provide a self-stabilizing sorter jet to automate calibration, and address the issue of drift in cell sorting systems. The systems and methods presented make it possible to determine and set the charge delay interval automatically with circuitry in the cell sorter. These circuits can set, monitor, and adjust the time delay continuously, allowing for a completely automatic, autonomous, turn-key, self-stabilizing sorter jet.
US09200330B2
An objective of the present invention is to provide the cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) of C. hyointestinalis and polynucleotides encoding it, and novel methods for detection of C. hyointestinalis using the cdt genes. The present inventors focused on the cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) of Campylobacter bacteria, and detected the cdt genes of a Campylobacter-like bacterium isolated from an enteritis patient in Thailand. The present inventors discovered a bacterial strain whose cdtB gene was amplified by common primers in C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. fetus, but not by multiplex PCR that can specifically detect the cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC genes of the three bacterial species. The bacterial strain was identified as C. hyointestinalis by 16S rRNA gene analysis. Furthermore, the entire nucleotide sequence of the cdt genes was determined by genome walking upstream and downstream of the cdtB gene.
US09200325B2
The present disclosure is directed to compositions and methods for detecting elevated microRNA U6 concentrations in serum relative to a standard microRNA (e.g. SNORD44) as a diagnostic indicator of metastatic disease. In one embodiment the methods of the present disclosure are used to diagnose the existence of, or assess the risk of, breast cancer in an individual.
US09200314B2
A method for accurately and easily detecting a synthetic siRNA, for example, a siRNA in which the 3′ end is DNA, and a kit used for the method are provided. The present invention relates to a method for detecting a siRNA in which the 3′ end is DNA, comprising: (a) adding polydeoxyadenosine to the 3′ DNA end of at least one strand of the siRNA to be detected to produce a polydeoxyadenosine-added RNA; (b) annealing a polydeoxythymidine primer having a tag sequence at its 5′ side to the polydeoxyadenosine-added RNA and synthesizing DNA from the primer by a reverse transcription; and (c) detecting the DNA synthesized in (b).
US09200291B2
The present invention provides compositions comprising randomized in-frame fusion polynucleotides and methods for introducing them into a host organism to identify desirable phenotypic changes that disrupt or alter existing genetic or biochemical mechanisms or pathways, thus creating novel characteristics of the transformed organism. Methods for using the compositions for increasing diversity within populations of organisms are also presented.
US09200281B2
Conserved consensus sequences from known hepatitis B virus strains and known hepatitis C virus strains, which are useful in inhibiting the expression of the viruses in mammalian cells, are provided. These sequences are useful to silence the genes of HBV and HCV, thereby providing therapeutic utility against HBV and HCV viral infection in humans.
US09200280B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment of diseases, including cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases. The present invention also relates to methods and compositions for improving immune function. More particularly, the present invention relates to multifunctional molecules that are capable of being delivered to cells of interest for the treatment of diseases and for the improvement in immune function.
US09200273B2
Protein scaffolds and scaffold libraries based on a fibronectin type III (FN3) repeat with an alternative binding surface design, isolated nucleic acids encoding the protein scaffolds, vectors, host cells, and methods of making thereof are useful in the generation of therapeutic molecules and treatment and diagnosis of diseases and disorders.
US09200268B2
Disclosed herein are compounds, compositions, methods and kits for purifying a serine protease and serine proteases purified with the compounds, compositions and methods.
US09200266B2
Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for generating a single-stranded break in a target sequence, which facilitates targeted integration of one or more exogenous sequences.
US09200253B1
Provided herein are methods of producing erythrocytes from hematopoietic cells, particularly hematopoietic cells from placental perfusate in combination with hematopoietic cells from umbilical cord blood, wherein the method results in accelerated expansion and differentiation of the hematopoietic cells to more efficiently produce administrable erythrocytes. Further provided herein is a bioreactor in which hematopoietic cell expansion and differentiation takes place.
US09200249B2
Lactococcus lactis strains with improved preservation characteristics, and improved acid and bile salt tolerance are disclosed. More specifically, a L. lactis strain having a heterologous trehalose-6-phosphate synthase gene and/or a trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase gene, results in an accumulation of trehalose in the cytoplasm and/or in the cytoplasmic membrane. A L. lactis strain, having an internal trehalose concentration of at least 10 mg per gram cells (w/w) is disclosed.
US09200239B2
Subtilase variants having an improved wash performance on egg stains. These subtilases are useful exhibiting excellent or improved wash performance on egg stains when used in e.g. cleaning or detergent compositions, such as laundry detergent compositions and dish wash compositions, including automatic dish wash compositions.
US09200237B2
It is intended to provide a compound and a fragrance composition containing the compound, wherein the compound is useful as a fragrance, has floral and green odors in addition to a strong muguet odor, is stable in an aqueous vehicle, and can be blended with another fragrance to have enhanced freshness and diffusibility. It also is intended to provide 4,8-dimethyl-4,9-decadienenitrile and a fragrance composition containing 4,8-dimethyl-4,9-decadienenitrile.
US09200225B2
Relatively high speed methods for increasing the bulk density of coal particles without impacting the coal particles and an apparatus for compacting coal for making metallurgical coke. The method includes depositing coal particles onto a charging plate external to a coking oven. The charging plate has side walls, and at least one movable end wall to provide an elongate bed of dry, uncompacted coal having an upper surface on the charging plate. The uncompacted coal is compacted by passing a vibratory cylindrical compactor along a length of the uncompacted coal for a number of passes sufficient to decrease a thickness of the bed of coal to less than about 80 percent of an original thickness of the uncompacted coal. The vibratory cylindrical compactor has a length to diameter ratio ranging from about 1.4:1 to about 2:1.
US09200218B2
This invention relates to a process involving hydrocracking and dewaxing of a feedstream in which a converted fraction can correspond to a majority of the product from the reaction system, while an unconverted fraction can exhibit improved properties. In this hydrocracking process, it can be advantageous for the yield of unconverted fraction for gasoline fuel application to be controlled to maintain desirable cold flow properties for the unconverted fraction. Catalysts and conditions can be chosen to assist in attaining, or to optimize, desirable product yields and/or properties.
US09200211B2
A process for producing pipeline-ready or refinery-ready feedstock from heavy hydrocarbons using a high-performance solvent extraction process with high local solvent-to-process fluid ratios yet maintaining low overall solvent-to-process fluid ratios, by first performing mild thermal cracking on the heavy hydrocarbons and then separating asphaltene-rich fractions from a resulting thermally affected fluid so that the high solvent-to-oil ratio portion of the process acts only on those asphaltene-rich fractions, and producing a dry, solid asphaltene as an end-product.
US09200209B2
A renewable fuel may be obtained from a bio-oil containing C3-C5 oxygenates. In a first step, the bio-oil is subjected to a condensation reaction in which the oxygenates undergo a carbon-carbon bond forming reaction to produce a stream containing C6+ oxygenates. In a second step, the stream is hydrotreated to produce C6+ hydrocarbons.
US09200205B2
A reactor is provided for the preparation of modified bitumen, which reactor comprises a horizontal housing comprising a cylindrical wall and two side walls, wherein a bitumen inlet has been provided at or near one of the side walls of the housing and a bitumen product outlet has been provided at or near the opposite side wall of the housing, wherein a plurality of inlets for the provision of oxygen-containing gas has been provided in the cylindrical wall of the housing between the bitumen inlet and the bitumen product outlet, which multi-purpose reactor is further provided with a mixer arranged inside the housing comprising at least one rotor rotating within at least one stator having a plurality of openings. Also there is provided a process for the preparation of modified bitumen, which comprises contacting bitumen at elevated temperature and pressure with a modifier in a reactor as herein described.
US09200203B2
A new class of phototropic liquid crystal mixture comprises a liquid crystal host and one or more photodichroic dyes, wherein exposure of the mixture to an activating light causes a light-induced increase in order parameter of the mixture. In some examples, in the absence of the activating light, the phototropic mixture has a lower order parameter than the liquid crystal host, while in the presence of activating light, the phototropic mixture has a higher order parameter than the liquid crystal host. In some examples, upon exposure to the activating light, the phototropic mixture undergoes a phase transition from a material with a lower order to a material with higher liquid crystalline order. In some examples, activating light causes the mixture to transition from an isotropic phase to a nematic phase, from an isotropic phase to a cholesteric phase or form a nematic phase to a smectic phase.
US09200201B2
Provided is a practical heat insulating particulate pigment having high heat insulating properties. Provided therefore is a heat insulating particulate pigment having a cholesteric resin layer with cholesteric regularity controlled such that, in a wavelength range of 800 nm to 1,900 nm, the cholesteric resin layer has a band of reflecting 40% or more of incident light with a bandwidth equal to or wider than 200 nm.
US09200198B1
A phosphor is provided, comprising an inorganic luminescent compound represented by formula (1) having an emission spectrum resolvable into a first Gaussian emission curve and a second Gaussian emission curve; wherein the first Gaussian emission curve has a first Gaussian emission curve peak, P1; wherein the first Gaussian emission curve peak, P1, has a peak 1 height, HP1, a peak 1 peak wavelength, PλP1, and a peak 1 area, AP1; wherein the second Gaussian emission curve has a second Gaussian emission curve peak, P2; wherein the second Gaussian emission curve peak, P2 has a peak 2 height, HP2, a peak 2 peak wavelength, PλP2, a peak 2 full width at half max, FWHMP2, and a peak 2 area, AP2; wherein PλP1
US09200188B2
The present invention relates to an ester for refrigerator oils having less remaining by-products in the ester and having high thermal stability, and a method for producing the ester for refrigerator oils. The ester for refrigerator oils is obtained by treating a crude ester product, which is obtained by reacting a neopentyl polyol having a carbon number of 5 to 10 with an aliphatic carboxylic acid having a carbon number of 4 to 12, with one or more kinds of salts selected from the group consisting of sulfite, bisulfite, and pyrosulfite.
US09200187B2
A method of forming a shaped abrasive particle includes applying a mixture into a shaping assembly within an application zone and directing an ejection material at the mixture in the shaping assembly under a predetermined force, removing the mixture from the shaping assembly and forming a precursor shaped abrasive particle.
US09200186B2
An activatable adhesive that is formulated to readily absorb energy from a given radiation source, an activatable adhesive label that incorporates such an activatable adhesive, a system for activating such labels, and related methods and uses are described. The activatable adhesive includes a plasticizer, a tackifier, and an adhesive base polymer that includes butyl acrylate, styrene, methyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid, and acrylic acid.
US09200183B2
A double-sided self-splitting splicing tape includes: a base layer including a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is opposite to the second surface; a first adhesive layer disposed on the first surface of the base layer; a self-splitting layer disposed on the second surface of the base layer; and a second adhesive layer disposed on the self-splitting layer. Also disclosed are methods of dynamic splicing using the double-sided self-splitting splicing tape.
US09200182B2
The present invention is a paint coat-protecting removable pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet comprising a base sheet, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer that is provided on the base sheet, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer being formed of an emulsion pressure-sensitive adhesive composition that includes an emulsion of an ethylene-vinyl carboxylate copolymer as a main component. The present invention provides a paint coat-protecting removable pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet that does not cause swelling, whitening, and adhesive transfer even when the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet is attached to the surface of a paint coat that has not been sufficiently dried (i.e., contains a small amount of solvent) or has not been sufficiently cured after drying, and removed from the paint coat.
US09200177B2
The instant invention provides a high-solid, solvent-free alkyd dispersion, and a continuous process for producing the same. The aqueous alkyd dispersion, according to the present invention comprises (a) from 40 to 70 percent by weight of one or more alkyds based on the total weight of the dispersion, wherein each one or more alkyds has an acid value of less than 20 and a molecular weight (Mn) in the range of greater than 1000 Dalton; (b) from less than 10 percent by weight of one or more surfactants, based on the total weight of the dispersion; and (c) from 30 to 55 percent by weight of water, based on the total weight of the dispersion; and the dispersion has an average particle size diameter in the range of 0.05 to 5 μm.
US09200158B2
A dynamically vulcanized alloy contains at least one isobutylene-containing elastomer, at least one thermoplastic resin, and an anhydride functionalized oligomer grafted to the thermoplastic resin. In the alloy, the elastomer is present as a dispersed phase of small vulcanized or partially vulcanized particles in a continuous phase of the thermoplastic resin and the alloy is substantially absent of any sulfonamides.
US09200157B2
Blend (B) comprising: at least one aromatic polycarbonate (P1), and at least one polyarylene (P2), more than 50 wt. % of the recurring units thereof are optionally substituted arylene groups [recurring units (R2)], each of said recurring units (R2) being linked by each of its two ends to two other optionally substituted arylene groups via a direct C—C linkage, and said recurring units (R2) being a mix (M) consisting of: between 0 and 75 mole %, based on the total number of moles of recurring units (R2), of rigid rod-forming arylene units (R2a), optionally substituted by at least one monovalent substituting group, with between 25 and 100 mole %, based on the total number of moles of recurring units (R2), of kink-forming arylene units (R2b), optionally substituted by at least one monovalent substituting group. Article or part of an article comprising the blend (B).
US09200156B2
The invention relates to novel polymer blends comprising one or more hole transporting polymers and one or more electron transporting polymers, to the use of these blends in electronic and electrooptical devices, in particular in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), and to OLEDs comprising the polymer blends.
US09200155B2
An aqueous dispersion of epoxy resin and a redispersible epoxy polymer powder contains particles of 50-90 weight-percent epoxy resin with 10-50 weight-percent alkali soluble shell around the particles and 2-25 weight-percent dispersing aid, with weight-percent based on total combined weight of epoxy resin, alkali soluble polymer shell and dispersing aid.
US09200148B2
There is provided a controlled degradation fiber and methods of making such controlled degradation fiber, wherein at least one first material and at least one second material are selected such that the fiber has a weight loss of greater than 6 wt. % and less than 60 wt. % based on the total weight of the fiber after one week at 130° C. in the presence of water.
US09200144B2
The invention provides a thermoplastic polymer composition comprising a polyolefin polymer and a nucleating agent. The nucleating agent comprises a compound conforming to the structure of Formula (I) The invention also provides a series of compounds encompassed by the structure of Formula (I).
US09200143B2
Process for curing a thermoset resin comprising the step of contacting said resin with (i) one or more imines of the structure Formula (I), wherein —y=0 or 1, z=1-4, and y+z≧2, —X is independently selected from O, S, P, NH, N—R1, and N—OH, —R1 is selected from linear or branched, cyclic, bi-cyclic, or tri-cyclic alkylene groups with 2-18 carbon atoms, arylene groups with 6-12 carbon atoms, and aralkylene groups with 2-18 carbon atoms, —R2-R5 are individually selected from hydrogen, linear or branched alkyl groups having 1-18 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups having 3-12 carbon atoms, aryl groups having 6-12 carbon atoms, aralkyl groups having 6-18 carbon atoms, alkoxy groups having 1-6 carbon atoms, and aryloxy groups; —each of said R-groups may optionally be substituted with O, S, Si, P, or N-containing substituents, —R4 and R5; R3 and R4; R2, R5 and R1 and R3 may optionally form ring, and (ii) a peroxide.
US09200110B2
The present invention is directed to a heat-resistant polyester blow-molded article made of a polyester resin composition containing 0.035 to 1.75 equivalent/ton of a hindered phenol structural unit and containing at least one selected from the group consisting of antimony compounds as a polymerization catalyst, the cyclic trimer content thereof being less than or equal to 0.5% by mass, the acetaldehyde content thereof being less than or equal to 50 ppm and the intrinsic viscosity thereof being 0.68 to 0.90 dL/g. The present invention enables efficient production of a molded article excellent in transparency and heat-resistant dimensional stability, in particular a heat-resistant blow-molded article. Moreover, according to the present invention, there are provided a polyester resin composition which is excellent in long-term continuous moldability and hardly stains a mold and a molded article prepared therewith, and a method for molding a polyester blow-molded article using the polyester resin composition.
US09200097B2
The present invention relates to methods for preparing degradable model networks from any monomer functionality with any degradation methodology. It is based on the use of Atom-Transfer Radical Polymerization and CLICK chemistry to form the desired product.
US09200096B2
The synthesis of high performance polyvinyl ether (PVE) synthetic fluids using a Lewis acid based cationic polymerization process is disclosed. The polyvinyl ether fluid have repeating vinyl ether units of the general formula —[CH2—CH (O—R)]n, wherein R is comprised of a branched or linear alkyl group having at least 4 carbon atoms and n is a whole number representing the average number of repeating units in the polyvinyl ether. The resulting PVE fluids exhibit excellent lubricant properties, similar to poly-alpha olefins (PAOs), but the PVE fluids have the benefit of higher polarity than PAOs and thus have better solubility and dispersity of polar additives.
US09200090B2
Methods and compositions for reducing fibrosis and cirrhosis are provided in which an effective dose of an admixture of a polysaccharide compound and, for example, a compound selected from the group consisting of antibodies specific to intracellular or cell-surface: (i) beta-PDGF receptors; (ii) synaptophysin; (iii) zvegf3; (iv) CCR1 receptors; (v) connective tissue growth factor; (vi) alpha 1-smooth muscle actin; (vii) matrix metalloproteinases MMP 2 and MMP9; (viii) matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors TIMP1 and TMP2; (ix) integrins; (x) TFG-β1; (xi) endothelin receptor antagonists; and (xii) collagen synthesis and degradation modulating compounds; (xiii) actin synthesis and degradation modulating compounds; and (xiv) tyrosine kinases is administered to an animal in order to treat fibrosis.
US09200088B2
SAE-CD compositions are provided, along with methods of making and using the same. The SAE-CD compositions comprise a sulfoalkyl ether cyclodextrin having an absorption of less than 0.5 A.U. due to a drug-degrading agent, as determined by UV/vis spectrophotometry at a wavelength of 245 nm to 270 nm for an aqueous solution containing 300 mg of the SAE-CD composition per mL of solution in a cell having a 1 cm path length.
US09200082B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to fibrillar adjuvants. For example, epitopes assembled by a synthetic peptide domain into nanofibers comprising a β-fibrillization peptide may elicit high antibody titers in the absence of any adjuvant. In certain embodiments, multiple different antigens may be integrated into polypeptide nanofibers, providing biomaterials with modular and precise composition of bioactive proteins.
US09200080B2
There are provided herein novel monoclonal antibodies that selectively bind and/or activate TrkC receptors, pharmaceutical compositions thereof and the use thereof for treating or preventing conditions which require activation of TrkC, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative conditions and motor neuron diseases. The monoclonal antibodies are useful to screen for agents that share the same binding epitope on the TrkC receptor.
US09200076B2
The present invention relates to diagnostic imaging and in particular to the diagnostic imaging and therapy of cancer by means of compositions which specifically target the FSH Receptor expressed by tumor endothelial cells and circulating blood cells.
US09200075B2
Antibodies that bind CSF1R are provided. Antibody heavy chains and light chains that are capable of forming antibodies that bind CSF1R are also provided. Polynucleotides encoding antibodies to CSF1R are provided. Polynucleotides encoding antibody heavy chains and lights chains are also provided. Methods of treatment using antibodies to CSF1R are provided. Such methods include, but are not limited to, methods of treating rheumatoid arthritis, bone loss, and multiple sclerosis.
US09200074B2
This invention relates to binding members, especially antibody molecules, specific for interleukin 1 receptor 1 (IL-1R1). For example, isolated binding members specific for IL-1R1 which competes with IL-1 and IL-1Ra for binding to IL-1R1 and binds Il-1R1 with a KD of 10 pM or less when measured by Kinexa™. The binding members are useful for, inter alia, treatment of disorders mediated by IL-1R1 including rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
US09200070B2
The instant invention relates to low acidic species (AR) compositions comprising a protein, e.g., an antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, and methods, e.g., cell culture and/or protein purification methods, for producing such low AR compositions. Methods for using such compositions to treat a disorder, e.g., a disorder in which TNFα is detrimental, are also provided.
US09200062B2
Provided are antibodies specifically binding to the HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) which are effective for the prevention or treatment of hepatitis B.
US09200059B2
A protein scaffold based on a consensus sequence of fibronectin type III (FN3) proteins, such as the tenth FN3 repeat from human fibronectin (human Tenascin), including isolated nucleic acids that encode a protein scaffold, vectors, host cells, and methods of making and using thereof have applications in diagnostic and/or therapeutic compositions, methods and devices. In particular, protein scaffold molecules binding to IgG have been identified as useful for diagnostic and/or therapeutic applications.
US09200055B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for screening, diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, lymphoid leukaemia (particularly chronic lymphocytic leukaemia), ovarian cancer or pancreatic cancer, for monitoring the effectiveness of colorectal cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, lymphoid leukaemia (particularly chronic lymphocytic leukaemia), ovarian cancer or pancreatic cancer treatment, and for drug development.
US09200054B2
Provided are therapeutic and diagnostic somatostatin analogs including radiotherapeutic and radiodiagnostic reagents, and methods of making and use thereof.
US09200035B2
A compound having the formula: wherein X is S, SO or SO2; one of R1, R2, and R3 is O and the others of R1, R2 and R3 are independently, the same or different, CH2, or CR13 wherein, R13 is an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a trialkylsilyl group, or —(CH2)mOR15, wherein R15 is an alkyl group or an aryl group and m is an integer in the range of 1 to 10, and one of R5, R6, and R7 is O and the others of R5, R6 and R7 are independently, the same or different, CH2, or CR14 wherein, R14 is an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a trialkylsilyl group, or —(CH2)nOR16, wherein R16 is an alkyl group or an aryl group and n is an integer in the range of 1 to 10; R4 and R8 are independently, the same or different, H, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group, a heteroaryl group, a C1-C3 alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, or —(CH2)qOR17, wherein R17 is an alkyl group or an aryl group and q is an integer in the range of 1 to 10, provided that R4 is not a C1-C3 alkoxy group or an aryloxy group when R1 or R3 is O and R8 is not a C1-C3 alkoxy group or an aryloxy group when R5 or R7 is O; R9, R10, R11 and R12 are independently, the same or different, H, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, or an aryl group.
US09200034B2
This invention relates to oligopeptides having general formula (I). The invention also relates to the process of preparation thereof, wherein the said compounds are selective anti-cancer agents over a panel of human cancer cell lines. Further, this invention relates that said anti-cancer peptides are prepared by a novel method.
US09200025B2
Inhibitors of sodium glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1), compositions comprising them, and methods of their use to treat diseases and disorders such as diabetes are disclosed. Particular compounds are of the formula: the various substituents of which are defined herein.
US09199991B2
Indazole compounds for treating various diseases and pathologies are disclosed. More particularly, the present invention concerns the use of an indazole compound or analogs thereof, in the treatment of disorders characterized by the activation of Wnt pathway signaling (e.g., cancer, abnormal cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, Alzheimer's disease, lung disease and osteoarthritis), the modulation of cellular events mediated by Wnt pathway signaling, as well as genetic diseases and neurological conditions/disorders/diseases due to mutations or dysregulation of the Wnt pathway and/or of one or more of Wnt signaling components. Also provided are methods for treating Wnt-related disease states.
US09199986B2
This invention relates to novel compounds that are pyrazinoisoquinoline derivatives of Formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. More specifically, this invention relates to novel pyrazinoisoquinoline derivatives that are derivatives of praziquantel. This invention also provides compositions comprising one or more compounds of this invention and a carrier and the use of the disclosed compounds and compositions in methods of treating diseases and conditions that are beneficially treated by administering an antihelminthic agent, such as praziquantel.
US09199983B2
Disclosed are 3-aryl-6-aryl-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridines thereof, represented by the Formula (I) wherein Ar1, Ar2, R1-R3 are defined herein. Compounds having Formula (I) are inhibitors of cell proliferation. Therefore, compounds of the invention may be used to treat clinical conditions in which uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells occurs.
US09199981B2
The invention provides compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, which are useful as protein kinase inhibitors, as well as methods for using such compounds to treat, ameliorate or prevent a condition associated with abnormal or deregulated kinase activity. In some embodiments, the invention provides methods for using such compounds to treat, ameliorate or prevent diseases or disorders that involve abnormal activation of c-kit or c-kit and PDGFR (PDGFRα, PDGFRβ) kinases.
US09199980B2
Compounds of formula (I) described herein are inhibitors of the phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) enzyme and muscarinic M3 receptor antagonists and are useful for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases of the respiratory tract characterized by airway obstruction.
US09199976B2
The present invention generally relates to compounds that inhibit haematopoietic-prostaglandin D2 synthase (H-PGDS), to compositions containing them and to their use in treating or preventing conditions and diseases associated with H-PGDS, such as allergies and inflammation.
US09199973B2
A pharmaceutical formulation comprising the compound of formula
US09199966B2
A compound for an organic photoelectric device, an organic photoelectric device, and a display device including the same, the compound being represented by the following Chemical Formula 1:
US09199959B2
The present invention provides a novel compound having an antiviral action, in particular, an HIV replication inhibiting action, as well as a pharmaceutical composition, in particular, an anti-HIV agent. wherein, a broken line means the presence or absence of a bond; R1 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl etc., R2 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyloxy etc.; n is 1 or 2; R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic carbocyclic group; R4 is a hydrogen atom etc.; R5 is a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic carbocyclic group etc.; Y is a single bond etc.; R6 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl; R7 is —Z—R71 etc.; Z is —NR72—CO— etc.; R71 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl etc.; R72 is a hydrogen atom etc.
US09199957B2
A two-step 2.5 FDCA integrated production process is described, comprising a first step for generating 5-HMF from streams comprising an aqueous carbohydrate solution wherein sub-critical water works as a catalyst by dehydrating the carbohydrates and generating 5-HMF, and a second step wherein 5-HMF is oxidized into 2.5 FDCA.
US09199955B2
The present invention describes a procedure for the production of liquid fuel having a content high in alkanes and low in oxygenated compounds, comprising as a minimum: a first step of alkylation of 2-methylfuran (commonly denominated Sylvan) with a furan alcohol 2 having the formula: (2), wherein R1 is H or an aliphatic or aromatic or heteroaromatic moiety, R2 is H or an aliphatic or aromatic or heteroaromatic moiety, and R3 is H, hydroxymethyl or an aliphatic or aromatic or heteroaromatic moiety, in the presence of a catalyst, a second step of hydrogenation and dehydration of the compound obtained in step 1 in the presence of hydrogen, utilizing suitable hydrogenation and dehydration catalysts.
US09199954B2
The invention relates to (among other things) non-ring hydroxy substituted taxanes and methods for synthesizing the same. The invention further relates to conjugating the non-ring hydroxyl substituted taxanes to a water-soluble, non-peptidic polymer.
US09199944B2
Disclosed herein are a new N2,N4-bis(4-(piperazin-1-yl)phenyl)pyrimidin-2,4-diamine derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention or treatment of cancers containing the same as an active ingredient. The compound of the present invention has excellent inhibitory effects against the activities of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and activated cdc42-associated kinase (ACK1) and thus can improve the therapeutic effects on the treatment of cancer cells having anaplastic lymphoma kinase fusion proteins such as EML4-ALK and NPM-ALK, and also effectively prevent the recurrence of cancers thus being useful as a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention and treatment of cancers.
US09199941B2
The present invention relates to novel 1-methyl-pyrazole(thio)indanyl carboxamides, to processes for preparing these compounds, to compositions comprising these compounds, and to the use thereof as biologically active compounds, especially for control of harmful microorganisms in crop protection and in the protection of materials.
US09199939B2
The present invention is directed to quinoline amide compounds of formula (I) which are M1 receptor positive allosteric modulators and that are useful in the treatment of diseases in which the M1 receptor is involved, such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, pain or sleep disorders. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and to the use of the compounds and compositions in the treatment of diseases mediated by the M1 receptor.
US09199926B2
A process for the direct synthesis of urea from ammonia and carbon dioxide with increased corrosion resistance, comprising, in the high-pressure synthesis section, a reaction step in a vertical reactor fed with at least one stream of fresh carbon dioxide containing a passivating agent and a decomposition-stripping step of the non-converted reagents, wherein the gas-liquid mixture collected at the head of the reactor is separated into a gaseous stream and a liquid stream fed to the tail and head of the stripper, respectively.
US09199915B2
The present invention relates to a novel process for preparing substituted biphenyls of the formula (III) by reacting arenes of the formula (I) with arenes of the formula (II) in the presence of a transition metal catalyst and of at least one oxidizing agent. R1 is NO2, an amino or amide group or a Schiff base.
US09199910B2
A method for producing α-, β-unsaturated carboxylic acid esters in high yield from reaction by-product streams via the catalytic conversion of the by-products to additional α-, β-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester product. The catalyst comprises cesium, and phosphorous as a promoter, on a porous support.
US09199909B2
A hydrocarbon conversion process comprises contacting a renewable feedstock under hydroprocessing conditions with supported catalyst comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Group VIII metals, Group VIB metals to form oleochemicals such as fatty alcohols, esters, and normal paraffins. Advantageously, the reaction conditions can be selected to directly convert the renewable feedstock to the desired product(s).
US09199904B2
The present invention relates to a process of making a compound of formula (XII) or (XIIA): wherein R1,R2, R4 and X are as defined herein.
US09199898B2
A method for concurrently transporting and removing trace amount levels of heavy metals such as mercury from produced fluids such as natural gas, with the injection of a complexing agent and a hydrate inhibitor into the pipeline for use in transporting the produced fluid. Volatile mercury in the natural gas is removed while the produced fluid is being transported in the pipeline, with the hydrate inhibitor suppressing or decreasing the formation of the hydrate that would cause plugging in the pipeline. The complexing agent reacts with the volatile mercury in the natural gas, forming precipitate or soluble mercury complexes in the aqueous phase. The aqueous phase containing the hydrate inhibitor, unreacted complexing agent, and mercury complexes is subsequently recovered and can be re-used in the pipeline.
US09199892B2
The present invention provides an improved process for the catalytic conversion of a feedstock comprising an alkylatable aromatic compound and an alkylating agent to form a conversion product comprising the desired alkylaromatic compound by contacting said feedstock in at least partial liquid phase under catalytic conversion conditions with a catalyst composition comprising a porous crystalline material having a structure type of FAU, BEA* or MWW, or a mixture thereof, wherein the porous crystalline material has a Relative Activity measured at 220° C. as an RA220 of at least 7.5 or measured at 180° C. as RA180 of at least 2.5, allowing operation at lower reaction pressures, e.g., a reaction pressure of about 450 psig (3102 kPa) or less, and lower alkylating agent feed supply pressure of 450 psig (3102 kPa) or less.
US09199888B2
A process and system for producing liquid and gas fuels and other useful chemicals from carbon containing source materials comprises cool plasma gasification and/or pyrolysis of a source material to produce synthesis gas using the produced synthesis gas for the production of a hydrocarbon, methanol, ammonia, urea, and other products. The process and system are capable of sequestering carbon dioxide and reducing NOx and SOx.
US09199887B2
Propellant compositions include an energetic binder, such as nitrocellulose, and a stabilized, encapsulated red phosphorous as a ballistic modifier. The propellant composition may additionally include an energetic plasticizer, such as nitroglycerine. For example, the propellant composition may be formed by mixing a double or multi base propellant that includes nitrocellulose plasticized with nitroglycerine with the stabilized, encapsulated red phosphorus. The propellant compositions may be substantially lead-free and may exhibit improved ballistic properties. Methods of forming such propellant compositions and an ordnance device including such propellant compositions are also disclosed.
US09199885B2
In order to render sewage sludge suitable for beneficial purposes, it must be disinfected and stabilized. EDC deactivation is rapidly becoming a desirable result of any sludge or biosolids treatment process. Disclosed herein is a process of treating sewage sludge so as to stabilize the sludge that involves the presence of an iron-containing compound during dewatering of the sludge. Process embodiments described also achieve biosolid samples that have reduced EDC activity, Other embodiments disclosed involve use of a combination of iron salts ferrate and ferric chloride that are added to wastewater sludge in the dewatering step before heat drying. The biosolids resulting from sludge treated with aniron-containing compound are able to resist putrefaction for more than two to three weeks.
US09199880B2
Methods for producing construction material utilizing loose pieces of aggregate (30), enzyme producing bacteria, an amount of urea and an amount of calcium ions. A first solution is prepared which includes urease which is formed by enzyme producing bacteria. A second solution is prepared which includes urea and calcium ions. The first and second solutions are added to the loose aggregate (30). The calcium ions contribute to the formation of calcium carbonate wherein the calcium carbonate fills and bonds between at least some of the gaps between the loose pieces of aggregate forming a solid construction material (92).
US09199867B2
A method of purifying water is provided that includes applying a voltage to an electrolytic cell 10 that includes an anode 14, a cathode 16 and an alkaline electrolyte composition having a pH value of about 11 or less. The alkaline electrolyte composition 13 includes at least one waste metal ion to be reduced, and a sacrificial reductant, such as urea, ammonia or a combination thereof, to be oxidized. According to the disclosed method, the voltage is applied across the cathode 16 and the anode 14 and is sufficient to reduce the at least one waste metal ion to form at least one elemental metal species at the cathode 16, and to oxidize the sacrificial reductant at the anode 14. Additionally, the applied voltage does not affect the generation of hydrogen at the cathode 16 and/or oxygen at the anode 14.
US09199863B2
A method includes combining an aqueous solution of sodium fumarate with an aqueous solution of iron chloride to form a mixture, and obtaining an iron coordination polymer as an amorphous compound formed as a precipitate from the mixture. The iron coordination polymer may be used to bind contaminants, such as arsenate and phosphate from water.
US09199860B2
A method includes receiving data associated with operation of an industrial process system. The method also includes identifying a model defining a behavior of the industrial process system using the data, an orthonormal bases function, and an ordinal spline bases function. The orthonormal bases function can be generated using estimated poles of the industrial process system. The ordinal spline bases function can be generated using a specified set of cubic splines. The ordinal spline bases function can also be generated using a distribution of knots and multiple ordinal spline functions associated with the knots. More knots can be associated with a more nonlinear portion of the industrial process system, and fewer knots can be associated with a less nonlinear portion or a linear portion of the industrial process system.
US09199854B2
A process for producing boron nitride nanotubes and nanotube films, which process comprises heating a liquid composition comprising boron particles and a metal compound, wherein heating takes place at a temperature of from 800-1300° C. in a gaseous atmosphere containing nitrogen that causes boron nitride nanotubes to grow, and wherein the boron particles have an average particle size of less than 100 nm, and wherein the metal compound is selected such that it promotes the growth of boron nitride nanotubes during heating.
US09199849B2
A process for producing nitric acid is disclosed in which a gaseous oxidizer feed composed at least substantially of ammonia, steam and an oxidizing gas is exposed to conditions whereby the ammonia is oxidized to produce a reaction mixture including nitrogen monoxide and water vapor. The reaction mixture is then cooled in a heat exchanger whereby: a) the nitrogen monoxide is oxidized and the water vapor is caused to condense, b) the products of the nitrogen monoxide oxidation react with and are absorbed by the condensed water, and c) substantially all of the nitrogen monoxide in the reaction mixture is converted to nitric acid. Also disclosed is a nitric acid solution when produced by the disclosed process.
US09199848B2
To provide a process capable of efficiently producing a spherical aluminum nitride powder having a size most suited for use as a filler, and having a high sphericalness and a large particle strength.A spherical aluminum nitride powder is produced by using a spherical granulated product of an alumina powder or an alumina hydrate powder as a starting material, and feeding the spherical granulated product to the step of reductive nitrogenation so as to be reductively nitrogenated.
US09199847B2
The invention relates to a method of generating oxygen. The method comprises the steps of: intermittently guiding a stream of oxygen comprising gas through at least one adsorption chamber (12) being equipped with an oxygen separation adsorbent (16), thereby defining an adsorption mode and a desorption mode of the at least one adsorption chamber (12), and thereby enriching the oxygen comprising gas with respect to oxygen, guiding the enriched oxygen comprising gas to a primary side of a dense membrane (52), heating the dense membrane(52) to a temperature at which it is permeable for oxygen, generating an oxygen flow through the dense membrane (52) to its secondary side, thereby separating the oxygen from the enriched oxygen comprising gas and forming a stream of oxygen. According to the invention, the invention further comprises the step of guiding at least a part of the generated oxygen through the at least one adsorption chamber (12) being in desorption mode. The method according to the invention allows generating oxygen in a high purity, thereby being energy saving, cost saving and being performable in a compact device.
US09199846B2
A reforming process and apparatus exhibiting improved catalyst longevity towards reforming a high sulfur-containing liquid fuel. The process involves contacting in a first reforming zone a first oxidant and a liquid fuel containing high molecular weight organosulfur compounds with a partial oxidation catalyst under CPOX reaction conditions to form a first reformate stream containing a mixture of unconverted and partially-converted hydrocarbons and one or more low molecular weight sulfur compounds; and then contacting in a second reforming zone the first reformate stream with steam and optionally a second oxidant in the presence of an autothermal reforming catalyst under ATR reaction conditions to form a second reformate stream containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen and one or more low molecular weight sulfur compounds. The low molecular weight sulfur compounds can be readily removed from the first and/or second reformate streams by gas phase adsorption methods.
US09199845B2
Process for producing alkene(s) from an oxygenate feedstock in a reactor by dehydration in the presence of a supported heteropolyacid catalyst. The pore volume of the supported heteropolyacid catalyst satisfies the following formula: PV>0.6−0.3[HPAloading/Surface Area of Dried Catalyst]where; PV is the Pore Volume of the dried supported heteropolyacid catalyst (measured in ml/g catalyst); HPA loading is the amount of heteropolyacid present in the dried supported heteropolyacid catalyst (measure in micro moles/g); and Surface Area of Dried Catalyst is the surface area of the dried supported heteropolyacid catalyst (measured in m2/g).
US09199835B2
A household appliance (2) comprising a dispensing system (20) for dispensing a beverage and a compartment (4) which in use of the household appliance (2) is kept cold. A wall portion (22) has a wall thickness extending from the compartment (4) to the ambient environment. A temperature gradient is formed over the wall thickness. The dispensing system (20) comprises an outlet (12) and a first liquid path (26) and a second liquid path (28) for conducting the beverage to the outlet (12). The first liquid path (26) comprises a first conduit section (32) and the second liquid path (28) comprises the second conduit section (34). The first conduit section (32) and the second conduit section (34) are arranged within the at least one wall portion (22) at different positions along the temperature gradient formed in the at least one wall portion (22). Beverage at different temperatures may thus be provided from the dispensing system.
US09199826B2
An article transport facility in which reduction in the transport capacity can be prevented while simplifying the structure and making the facility less expensive is provided. The facility includes, as travel paths, a first travel path and a second travel path which straddles the first travel path from one side to the other side in a lateral direction of the first travel path. In a straddling portion, which is a part of the second travel path that straddles the first travel path, the second travel path is provided at a different height from the first travel path in a vertical direction, and is configured such that travel of the article transport vehicle along the first travel path and travel of the article transport vehicle along the second travel path are mutually allowed.
US09199824B2
An emergency light unit (arranged in an elevator cage) of an elevator installation can be activated. A light sensor unit and a lighting unit are arranged in the elevator cage. The emergency light unit is activated by an elevator control unit in dependence on at least one light intensity value detected by the light sensor unit when the elevator cage door is closed and transmitted to the control unit.
US09199818B2
A paddle wheel compiler includes a paddle wheel that accepts sheets from the front of the paddle wheel to form a set, unlike a disk stacker which accepts sheets from the top or back of the disk and flips the sheet. The paddle wheel compiler is unique in that it maintains control of all sheets in a set, except for the top sheet during tamping. The top sheet is registered to the set with side tampers, followed by a scuffing action to register the sheet against a registration wall in the process direction.
US09199817B2
A medium discharging apparatus includes a pair of discharging rollers, a stacker, and a pressing member. The pair of discharging rollers are configured to rotate to discharge a sheet of medium held therebetween. The discharged sheet of medium and are stacked onto the stacker. The pressing member is disposed downstream of the discharging rollers with respect to a path into which the medium is discharged by the discharging rollers. The pressing member is configured to traverse the path and to swing about a shaft due to a gravity force thereof. When the sheet of medium is discharged by the discharging rollers, the pressing member interferes with the sheet of medium and exerts the gravity force on the sheet of medium downward toward the stacker while swinging about the shaft.
US09199814B2
An image forming system includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected in series along a paper conveying direction. An image forming apparatus provided upstream in the conveying direction among the apparatuses prints one side of a sheet of paper and an image forming apparatus provided downstream prints the other side of the paper. Each of the upstream and downstream image forming apparatuses includes: an image forming unit; a storage unit; and a control unit to send a first information on a paper feed tray of the own image forming apparatus to the other image forming apparatus, receive a second information on a paper feed tray of the other image forming apparatus from the other image forming apparatus, make the storage unit store the first and second information, and make the image forming unit perform image formation based on the first and second information stored in the storage unit.
US09199811B2
A sheet feed device of an image forming apparatus includes an inside cover and a lock mechanism for locking the inside cover to a housing. The lock mechanism includes a locking member and a locked member. When the inside cover is operated in a closing direction toward a closing position, the locking member abuts the locked member. At this time, a driven roller is in no contact with a conveying roller until a projection of the locking member climbs over an apex of the locked member. After the inside cover is further operated toward the closing position and the projection climbs over the apex, the driven roller contacts the conveying roller.
US09199810B2
A sheet supply apparatus includes: a tray on which a stack of sheets can be placed, an air blowing section that blows air towards the stack of sheets to float at least a topmost sheet, a sucking and conveying section, above the tray, that sucks said floating sheet(s) and conveys said sheet(s) in a prescribed direction, and a first light source that emits a first stripshaped slit light having a vertically extending component such that the slit light crosses at least a first edge of a first floating sheet and a second edge of a second floating sheet. An image capture section captures an image of the first slit light, a calculating section calculates a vertical clearance between the first and second sheets, and an air amount adjusting section adjusts an amount of air to be blown by the air blowing section based on the calculated vertical clearance.
US09199809B2
A sheet feeding device includes a sheet storage unit, a stacking unit, a raising unit, a sheet detection unit, an attachment detection unit, and a control unit. The sheet storage unit may be attached to and drawn out of an apparatus main body. The stacking unit is raised by the raising unit and is lowered when the sheet storage unit is drawn out. The attachment detection unit detects attachment of the sheet storage unit to the apparatus main body. The control unit determines whether an amount of sheets stacked on the stacking unit exceeds a predetermined amount based on detection results. If the sheet detection unit continues to detect sheets when the sheet storage unit goes from attached, to not attached, to attached to the apparatus main body, the control unit determines that the amount of sheets stacked on the stacking unit does not exceed the predetermined amount.
US09199808B2
The rear end face of the first upright portion of a trailing edge regulating member is brought into contact with the inner face of a notched sidewall provided in a rear sidewall, and the second upright portion is located above the notched sidewall.
US09199803B1
An apparatus that provides a continuous flow of parts to a manufacturing robot during a manufacturing process has a plurality of adjustable parts caddies on rotating carousel where the parts used in manufacturing process are placed in each adjustable caddy on an operator side of the apparatus and then taken out of the caddy on a production side as the carousel turns. A lift mechanism on the production side works in conjunction with the adjustable caddies and a manufacturing robot to position parts in each caddy in a predefined position for pick up by the manufacturing robot.
US09199793B2
A storage system comprises a storage structure having storage sections and a carry-in-and-out portion, one or more environment adjusters for adjusting storage environment individually for each of the storage sections, an environment managing portion for collecting information about storage environment and controls operation of the one or more environment adjusters, a storage transport device for performing a transport operation, and a carry-in-and-out managing device for managing the locations of storage sections.
US09199783B2
Snap fitment systems (500) and valve systems (200, 800) for holding valves, pumps, sprayers, or other devices to a container (100) may include plastic components which snap to a container allowing the valve system to be used to evacuate product in the container or allowing the valve system to be used to fill and evacuate product in the container.
US09199780B2
Device for storing and mixing substances (10) comprising a container (14) which has an open end (16) and a closed end (18) and a cap (12) which is arranged at the open end (16) of the container (14), characterized in that the container (14) has at least two chambers (20) which are separated from each other by at least one wall (22), wherein the at least one wall (22) extends from the closed end (18) to the open end (16) of the container (14), and at least one projecting element (24) is constructed in the cap (12) in such a manner that the at least two chambers (20) can be closed by the projecting element (24) in the region of the open end (16) of the container (14).
US09199774B2
A carton for carrying a plurality of articles. The carton comprises at least one bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to at least one bottom panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel, and a top panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel. A handle comprises at least one handle flap foldably connected to the top panel at a fold line. The at least one handle flap has a first width corresponding to a maximum width of the last least one handle flap. The top panel has a second width corresponding to a minimum distance between a first edge and a second edge of the top panel. The first width is less than the second width.
US09199773B2
A lockable cap, is a security feature for a medical prescription bottle. There is a dial locking mechanism that is attached to the cap. The dial locking mechanism and the cap can be attached or removed from the bottle only when the user has the correct combination on the dial lock. When the combination is incorrect a mechanism, including a dog plate within a housing, is disengaged and the inner cap cannot be removed from the bottle.
US09199769B2
A cap for a container neck includes a tubular skirt defining a central axis. The skirt includes an internal first skirt part, means for removably fixing the first skirt part to an exterior surface of the container neck, and a second skirt part. The second skirt part includes a first axial end connecting the second skirt part to the first skirt part, internally having at least one surface adapted to abut a free end of the container neck. The second skirt part also includes a second axial end opposite the first end, and an intermediate part extending between the first and second ends. Ribs project radially from the intermediate part in a direction substantially parallel to the axis. A radial dimension of the intermediate part is less than a radial distance between the exterior cylindrical surface of the first skirt part and the interior radial end of the abutment surface.
US09199766B1
A time programmable container for timing an object, having a spacer which is positioned intermediate a lid and a base. The spacer and the base contain time indicia that correspond to a plurality of a different of time indication. The base includes a device to secure the spacer and inhibit the movement or rotation of the spacer with respect to the base. The cap removal inhibiting device includes a cavity with a lip and a tab spacer, such that when the spacer is placed upon the base and the lid is threaded onto the base, the tab of the spacer extends into the cavity of the lid, thereby securing the spacer onto the base and further preventing the removal of the lid from the base without first removing the tab from the cavity.
US09199765B1
Universal Coaster and Stacking Device comprising two similarly shaped flat members spaced from each other in parallel planes and defining a central axis normal to the parallel planes forming a space between the flat members, which have similar configurations and peripheral edges and surfaces facing in axially opposing directions. Three parallel fingers are parallel to the central axis and positioned radially beyond the peripheral edges and axially beyond the outwardly facing surfaces. A linkage assembly is arranged within the space that has link portions extending beyond the flat member peripheries for supporting the fingers and for selectively moving the fingers between fully retracted positions for storage and supporting smaller vessels and fully extended positions for supporting larger vessels on the link portions when said fingers are brought into proximity with vessels in contact with the device.
US09199763B2
This invention relates to a can end (1) providing improved tab access for a consumer. A further aspect of the present invention relates to a container incorporating such a can end (1). The can end (1) includes a moveable portion (30) located beneath all or part of the handle (20b) of the can end, with the moveable portion deformable from an ‘up’ position (30a) to a ‘down’ position (30b) to provide increased tab access for a consumer. The can end (1) is provided with one or more downwardly inclined annular steps (31), which has been found to greatly increase the force required to deform the panel from the ‘down’ to the ‘up’ position, therefore resulting in a far greater likelihood of the consumer receiving a container (40) incorporating the can end (1) with the moveable portion (30) in the ‘down’ position (30b), thereby facilitating tab access.
US09199759B2
The disclosure concerns a package (30) comprising a cardboard blank (31), the cardboard blank (31) being shaped as a container with a bottom (31a) and one or more cardboard sidewalls (31b) extending upwardly from the bottom (31a), the package (30) further comprising a molded rim (32) being attached to said one or more cardboard sidewalls (31b), along an interface (I) formed of an upper portion of said one or more cardboard sidewalls (31b) and a lower portion of said molded rim (32), and extending along at least a part of an upper edge of said one or more cardboard sidewalls (31b), characterised in that the rim (32) is extending essentially upright upwardly from said one or more cardboard sidewalls (31b) thereby providing the package (30) with a molded upper sidewall portion. The disclosure also concerns a method and a molding tool.
US09199745B2
Disclosed a method of transferring airplanes and an unmanned airplane transfer system. The transfer system comprises a transfer module adapted to transfer an airplane by moving a landing gear of the airplane; and a controller being assembled with the transfer system, coupled to the transfer module, and adapted to i) receive a transfer signal; ii) to control the transfer module in response to the transfer signal; and iii) to coordinate transferring the airplane by the unmanned airplane transfer system and at least one second unmanned airplane transfer system. The method of transferring an airplane by a plurality of unmanned airplane transfer systems comprises receiving by at least one unmanned airplane transfer system among said plurality of transfer systems a transfer signal, and in response to the transfer signal, coordinating the transfer of the airplane by at least two unmanned airplane transfer systems among said plurality of transfer systems.
US09199739B2
A passenger seat device, particularly an airplane passenger seat device, including a visible surface body having a receiving region, which is provided for receiving a replaceable information carrier, and a fastening unit for fastening the information carrier in the receiving region. The fastening unit is provided for uncovered fastening of the information carrier.
US09199734B2
A motorized device arranged to move using cyclic motion is disclosed. The device includes a motorized means; at least one limb coupled to the motorized means, and configured to be driven by the motorized means for moving the device; and a resilient biasing means coupled to the at least one limb to further drive the at least one limb using mechanical resonance. A related method of moving the motorized device is also disclosed.
US09199725B2
A control computer for an unmanned vehicle, including: a sensor interface for receiving sensor data from sensors of the vehicle, the sensor data including data values associated with movement of the vehicle; an actuator control interface for sending actuator data to control actuators of the vehicle, the actuators controlling parts of the vehicle associated with controlling movement of the vehicle; and a system management component for executing a state machine having states corresponding to one or more phases of the movement and for determining a transition between current one of the states and another of the states based on at least one condition associated with the transition, at least one condition being determined based on at least one of the sensor data, the actuator data and status of the computer.
US09199724B2
A system and method automatically control an emergency descent of an aircraft to a target altitude. Factors including weather, traffic, terrain, special use airspace, distance to an alternate, time above 10,000 feet, and time airborne are considered in deciding on descent airspeed, aircraft heading, and selection of an alternate. The target altitude may be redefined after activation of a Terrain Advisory and Awareness System. A vertical speed, or rate of descent, may be adjusted after receiving a resolution advisory from a traffic clearance and avoidance system if the maneuver with maximum operating speed generates excessive normal acceleration. Initiation of the emergency descent will be transmitted via radio and data link communication and automatic selection of a mode declaring a state of emergency on the traffic clearance and avoidance system.
US09199721B2
A flap for operatively coupling to a wing main element of an aircraft is provided. The flap comprises an outer flap section that has a side edge portion. The side edge portion at least partially surrounds a flap side-edge cavity. A porous cavity-filler insert is positioned in the flap side-edge cavity.
US09199709B2
A frame device for a profiled sail device. At least one frame element has a first profile contour that corresponds to one sail surface and a second profile contour that corresponds to another sail surface. The frame device has a profile contour with at least one profile contour section which is formed by a profile contour of the frame element, and the frame device can be adjusted between a first operating position and a second operating position. In a first operating position the first profile contour forms a contour section for the first sail surface or for the second sail surface, and the second profile contour does not form a profile contour section; and in the second operating position, the first profile contour does not form a profile contour section of the frame device for the sail surface, and the second profile contour forms at least one profile contour section of the frame device for the respective other sail surface.
US09199708B2
An atmospheric working cabin for underwater operation for implementing operations on the underwater object is provided. The working cabin has two or more layers of cabin bodies, each layer of the cabin body has an interface for butting with the underwater object, the interface of the each layer of the cabin bodies is provided with a flexible gel. A space between an innermost cabin body and an outer cabin body is filled with water, after the working cabin butting with the underwater object, the flexible gel is contacted with the surface of the underwater object, water is drawn out successively from the outside to the inside, whilst air is injected therein, an atmospheric pressure is maintained inside the innermost cabin body, the pressure between the cabin bodies is less than the atmospheric pressure and gradually increases from the outside to the inside.
US09199694B2
A slide bar for the track system of a snowmobile or an all-terrain vehicle comprises colored, or otherwise visually distinctive, wear indicating marks extending longitudinally along at least one of the side walls thereof. The colored wear indicating marks generally provide an indication to the operator of the vehicle that the slide bar needs to be replaced.
US09199693B2
A driving unit and a battery-assisted bicycle include a stopping assist control without making a rider feel uncomfortable. The driving unit includes a crankshaft to which pedals are to be connected, a torque detector that detects a torque generated at the crankshaft, and an assist control stopping unit that stops an assist control based on an amplitude of a torque detected by the torque detector while the crankshaft rotates in a prescribed rotation angle range.
US09199684B2
A straddle vehicle wherein a drain pipe from the fuel tank and a drain pipe from a canister can be efficiently connected. A canister includes at least a part being disposed below a fuel tank above a rear fender. A tank cover covers the upper surface side of the fuel tank. The tank cover forms a first tray portion in a recessed shape in the periphery of a fuel filler opening of the fuel tank. The first tray portion has a first drain portion to which a base end portion of a first drain pipe is connected. The rear fender forms a second tray portion in a recessed shape wherein a tip portion of the first drain pipe and a tip portion of a second drain pipe connected to a base end portion are connected to the canister. The second tray portion has a second drain portion discharging the liquid.
US09199683B2
A saddle riding type vehicle including a wind screen elevating device that can support a wind screen in a stable manner is provided. The saddle riding type vehicle includes a meter, a wind screen provided in front of the meter, and a wind screen elevating device that elevates/lowers the wind screen. The wind screen elevating device includes a pair of rails, a pair of sliders, a pair of support members, and a coupling member. The coupling member couples the pair of support members. The coupling member supports the wind screen. The slider includes a plurality of sliding members. The plurality of sliding members is provided side by side in an extending direction of each of the rails. Each of the rails at least partly overlaps the meter in a side view of the vehicle.
US09199682B2
A fairing unit (21) for enclosing a front portion of a vehicle body includes a fairing body (22) and a front edge member (23) mounted removably on the fairing body and forming a major component of a front edge of the fairing unit. The front edge member is made up of left and right front edge pieces (23a, 23b). A fairing assembly (43) includes the fairing unit and turn signal lamps (44A, 44B) mounted on the fairing body at a location rearwardly of the front edge member so as to protrude in a direction laterally outwardly thereof. The turn signal lamp is supported for collapsible movement in a direction laterally inwardly.
US09199679B2
The present document describes a robot for transforming a rotation movement into a vertical/horizontal displacement on the ground using legs, said robot comprising a chassis; a rotation shaft connected to said chassis; a plurality of leg modules connected to said shaft at a first end for rotating around said shaft; a plurality of legs, each of said legs being rotatably attached to one of said leg modules at a second end opposite the first end; a mechanism for keeping a lower surface of said legs horizontal to the ground as the robots rotates around the rotation shaft for allowing the robot to move on flat surfaces as well to climb stairs.
US09199677B2
A mobile tire changing tool assembly is provided. The assembly comprises a center post from which to support a wheel and tire, a tire demount bar, and a bead breaker tool attached to the center post. At the base of the center post is an elongated member adapted to be supported by one or more tool support assemblies or attached directly to a trailer hitch receiver. The supports include a T-shaped fitting that supports the elongated post in a vertical state from a trailer hitch, as well as an elongated, L-shaped support supporting the elongated member in a vertical state away from the rear of a vehicle. The tool support assemblies allow a user to mount and demount tires from wheel rims while traveling or in a remote location, wherein a vehicle hitch receiver is used as a support for the tool.
US09199676B2
A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend below a side wall of the trailer along a length of the trailer. A mounting bracket assembly of the system is coupled to the side skirt wall and is configured to be coupled to a floor assembly of the trailer. The mounting bracket assembly is configured to tilt laterally outwardly and laterally inwardly with respect to a generally vertical axis parallel to the side wall of the trailer.
US09199665B2
There is provided an electric power steering system that is able to generate a more appropriate current command value. Limits of an assist controlled variable, formed of multiple upper limits and multiple lower limits are individually set for multiple signals used to compute the assist controlled variable. The values obtained by adding the limits together are set as final limits of the assist controlled variable, that is, an upper limit and a lower limit. Thus, even if the assist controlled variable exhibiting an abnormal value is computed for some reason, the abnormal value of the assist controlled variable is limited to an appropriate value corresponding to each signal value by the final limits. By supplying the appropriate assist controlled variable to a motor control signal generating unit as a final current command value, an appropriate assist force is applied to a steering system.
US09199661B2
A steering device includes: a fixing bracket; an outer column A including a gripping main body portion which is installed swingably on the fixing bracket and which grips an inner pipe, a slit portion formed along the gripping main body portion, clamping portions formed along an axial direction of slit edges which are mutually opposing in the width direction of the slit portion, and a coupling portion which couples together the two clamping portions; and a clamping tool which expands and contracts an interval between the two coupling portions of the outer column A. The coupling portion projects to the outer side of a forming region of the slit portion.
US09199657B2
A device for transporting a cooler is disclosed herein. The disclosed cooler transporting device generally comprises a cooler attached to a u-shaped shoe member, the shoe member including a base surface, a first end surface and a second end surface; a wheel attachment member attached to the first end surface of the shoe member; one or more wheels attached to the wheel attachment member; a first locking member attached to the first end surface of the shoe member that couples the first end surface of the shoe member to the cooler; and a second locking member attached to the second end surface of the shoe member that couples the second end surface of the shoe member to the cooler. The disclosed cooler transporting device may be utilized to easily and quickly convert a non-wheeled cooler into a wheeled cooler.
US09199654B2
The present invention relates to an absolute position detection system. More particularly the present invention relates to a system for detecting an absolute position on a vehicle travel path. For example, disclosed is an absolute position detection system comprising: a plurality of pattern units arranged at a predetermined spacing on a vehicle travel path and having one or more first patterns and one or more second patterns having light reflectances that differ from each other; a pattern scan unit installed in a vehicle to scan each of the plurality of pattern units by laser beam and measuring light reflectance for each of the first and second patterns; a data processing unit for comparing the measured light reflectance and a preset reflectance light reflectance, and performing binary data processing on the result of the comparison to recognize each of the plurality of pattern units; and a position detection unit for detecting the absolute positions of the plurality of pattern units by means of the processed binary data and information on the distance between the plurality of pattern units.
US09199648B2
In a method for operating a motor vehicle which includes a control device for automatically and driver independently switching at least one drive unit of the motor vehicle on or off at standstill, as a function of at least one item of position related road information which relates to the actual position of the motor vehicle on a road and the presence of at least one further boundary condition, only the at least one item of position related road information is determined and, when the at least one position related road information satisfies at least one road related criteria, the presence of the at least one further boundary condition is not queried.
US09199640B2
A vehicle includes a control system for reducing oversteer by controlling an electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD). The eLSD has one or more clutches configured to selectively distribute a controlled and varied amount of drive torque between a pair of wheels during a turn. At least one controller is programmed to operate the eLSD in (i) a tow-mode in response to the vehicle towing an object and (ii) a non-tow-mode in response to the vehicle not towing an object. When operated in the tow-mode, the eLSD is controlled by the controller to actively reduce a difference in speed between the wheels compared to when the eLSD is operating in the non-tow-mode or is not operated in the tow-mode.
US09199632B2
A control device for a hybrid vehicle includes a portion determining whether an engine torque is necessary, a portion controlling a motor to make a motor torque be a target torque, an engine rotation speed control portion controlling an engine output shaft to rotate at a target engine rotation speed for sudden start/reacceleration while the clutch being disengaged after starting the engine and before an actual rotation speed of the engine output shaft exceeds a reference target engine rotation speed in a case where the engine torque is necessary, a control portion engaging the clutch after the actual rotation speed exceeds the reference target engine rotation speed, and a portion controlling the engine so that the engine torque is assumed to be a target torque by canceling the control by the engine rotation speed control portion after the actual rotation speed exceeds the reference target engine rotation speed.
US09199624B2
A method of controlling a brake system of a vehicle. The method may include determining whether an environmental brake pad wear condition is detected that may be indicative of wear of a friction material of a brake pad assembly due to an environmental contaminant.
US09199623B2
A motor driven brake system including a parking brake, in particular, a motor driven parking brake system in which a parking brake is implemented using a compact motor and a plurality of disks and friction pads mutually fractionized or released by the compact motor, so that it is possible to reduce operating noise of a solenoid as compared with that of an existing solenoid and to prevent a phenomenon that although a power failure of the compact motor occurs during driving, the braking power of the motor driven brake system is not released.
US09199621B2
A vehicle brake device is provided with a master piston which is driven to generate a master cylinder pressure. The device includes a pressure accumulation portion that accumulates the brake fluid under pressure; a servo pressure generation portion that is configured to be able to generate the servo pressure using the brake fluid in the pressure accumulation portion regardless of the operation of the brake operation member; brake fluid consumption correlative value detection means for detecting a brake fluid consumption correlative value relating to a consumption of the brake fluid in the pressure accumulation portion; and failure detection means for driving the master pistons only by the servo pressure using the servo pressure generation portion in a state where the brake operation member is not operated, and detecting a failure of a master system, based on a brake fluid consumption correlative value detected by the brake fluid consumption correlative value detection means at that time.
US09199619B2
The invention relates to an assembly made of a compensating tank and a master cylinder for a hydraulic motor vehicle brake system, wherein the compensating tank has two fastening attachments, each with an opening, wherein openings align with an opening in the master cylinder, and the compensating tank is fastened by a detachable connection by a fastening pin that extends through the aligned openings. In order to improve the installation and possible dismantling of the fastening pin, and at the same time to maintain an optimized assembly weight, the invention proposes that the fastening pin be made of plastic and interact in a positive- or force-locking manner with at least one of the openings of the fastening attachments.
US09199618B2
Disclosed is an electrohydraulic brake system for use in vehicles which can be braked by means of generator operation of an electric drive motor. The brake system comprises, inter alia, a brake booster and an electronic control unit which is provided for distributing the braking effect between a generative component or recuperation braking component and a friction braking component. In order to optimize the take-up of pressure medium, in particular during recuperation braking, the brake booster (6, 11, 15) is configured to be electrically actuated by the electronic control unit (10). The boosting force generated by the brake booster (6, 11, 15) is exerted as a function of variables relevant to the brake system.
US09199616B2
The disclosure describes, in one aspect, a method for determining a machine ground speed. The method includes determining a first speed from a position determining system, determining a direction the machine is traveling at the first speed, determining a machine rate of inclination, and determining a compensated ground speed as a function of the first speed and the machine rate of inclination.
US09199611B2
Provided is a preprogrammed key fob system that allows a user to limit a vehicle top speed while the given key fob is being used to operate the vehicle. The system comprises a vehicle system and a navigation system, wherein the navigation system is disposed within the key fobs and the key fob is adapted to communicate with the vehicle system while in use. The navigation system of each key is utilized to capture the local speed limit of a given road, while a vehicle speed is programmed into the specific key to set a vehicle speed buffer above the local speed limit being traveled. The system therefore limits the user of a given key to a preset limit, which adapts in real-time based on the local speed limits and allows the owner of the keys to set the limits and to monitor the vehicle conditions using the system.
US09199607B2
An in-vehicle apparatus includes an image-capturing part that is installed on a vehicle and captures an image of a periphery of the vehicle, an image generator that generates a bird's-eye image including the vehicle and the periphery of the vehicle viewed from a virtual viewpoint based on the image captured by the image-capturing part, and a transmitter that transmits the bird's-eye image to a terminal. The image generator changes the virtual viewpoint based on a change request from the terminal and generates the bird's-eye image viewed from the virtual viewpoint after changing the virtual viewpoint.
US09199603B2
A gas generator includes a bottom plate part which is a part of a housing, a cup-shaped member accommodating a transfer charge, a cylindrical filter accommodated in the housing, and an annular first pad member situated in a part on the side of the bottom plate part of a combustion chamber. The cup-shaped member is arranged to project toward inside the combustion chamber, and has a first extension part extending outwardly in the radial direction from a part on the side of an open end along the bottom plate part. The first pad member has a second extension part extending inwardly in the radial direction from an abutting part abutting on the inner circumferential face of the filter along the bottom plate part. By sandwiching the first extension part between the bottom plate part and the second extension part, the cup-shaped member is fixed to the bottom plate part.
US09199601B2
When an inner bag is inflated inside an outer bag, impact on an occupant received by an airbag is reduced. An inner bag (30) is inflated with gas supplied from an inflator (3). A gas exhaust port (31) is formed on the inner bag (30) and allows the gas to flow from the inner bag (30) in an occupant direction (E). An outer bag (20) accommodates the inner bag (30) and is inflated with the gas supplied from the gas exhaust port (31). A restriction member restricts the inflation of a portion of the inner bag (30) to change a direction of which the gas flows out from the gas exhaust port (31) to avoid the occupant direction. The restriction member breaks during the inflation of the outer bag (20) to release the restriction of the inflation of the inner bag (30).
US09199597B2
An air bag packaging arrangement adapted to have a self-adhesive checking valve includes an air bag and an air valve which is the self-adhesive checking valve. The air bag includes first and second cell overlapped layers to form an air chamber and a valve opening. The air valve includes first and second sealing films overlapped between the first and second cell layers, and a check sealing film overlapped between proximal portions of the first and second sealing films to define an air inflating channel between the first sealing film and the check sealing film, and a backflow prevention channel between the check sealing film and the second sealing film. In case of air leakage, the air is guided to flow to the backflow prevention channel for creating a supplemental air pressure to further seal and close the air inflating channel, so as to make up a deficient sealing effect of the first and second sealing films.
US09199589B2
A vehicle-side connector (10) is fixed to a vehicle body by tightening unillustrated bolts and connected to a charging connector in charging a battery of a vehicle, and includes a connector main body (50) which is made of synthetic resin and to which the charging connector is connected, and a mounting portion (20) which is made of synthetic resin, includes bolt insertion holes (23A) into which the bolts are insertable, and is fixed to the vehicle body by inserting the bolts into the bolt insertion holes (23A) and tightening the bolt into the vehicle body. The mounting portion (20) is selected from a plurality of mounting portions (20) and fixed after being assembled with the connector main body (50).
US09199586B2
A grommet for securing a tube includes an oval hole having a wide portion and a narrow portion, a recess located between upper and lower shoulders surrounding the hole, an inclined surface to guide the grommet into a mounting hole, and a lower surface that can be engaged by a connector on the tube.
US09199579B2
A motor vehicle console includes a housing having a pair of side panels that define a storage bin having an opening and an upper panel that extends between the pair of side panels adjacent to the storage bin opening. A rigid door is supported on the housing for movement between a closed position that prevents access to the bin and an opened position that permits access to the bin. The rigid door is flush with the panel when in the closed position.
US09199575B2
A lamp assembly for illuminating an exterior portion of a vehicle includes a lamp housing, and a switch supported by the lamp housing. The lamp assembly includes a flexible lens that is supported by the lamp housing and flexes to move relative to the lamp housing between an undepressed position and a depressed position when a force is applied to the lens. The lens is configured to cause the switch to move from a first position to a second position when the lens moves to the depressed position.
US09199574B2
An exterior light control system for controlling exterior lights of a controlled vehicle is provided, which includes an imager configured to image a scene external and forward of the controlled vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to the acquired images. A controller is configured to receive and analyze the image data and generate a control signal for controlling the exterior lights of the controlled vehicle. The controller is further configured to receive temperature information relating to an operational temperature of the imager, wherein when the controller determines that the operational temperature of the imager is below a temperature threshold, the control signal includes an indication that the imager is blocked.
US09199573B2
When occurrence of a failure associated with light distribution control has been detected during high beam irradiation, a low beam irradiation direction is changed upward and then the high beam irradiation is stopped, and subsequently the low beam irradiation direction is gradually returned downward. The time during high beam irradiation includes the time during which variable high beam light distribution control in which part of high beam light is shielded by a shade is being executed.
US09199568B2
A load handling apparatus for handling goods in a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a support (34) adapted to support a platform having goods (4) located thereon and the support is adapted to be mounted to the interior of the vehicle and to be moveable between a loading position and a transport position while supporting the platform.
US09199564B2
A seat assembly having a retention clip that may couple a trim cover assembly to a support structure. The trim cover assembly may be disposed proximate a cushion that may be supported by the support structure. The retention clip may extend through a slit in the cushion and may be pivotally coupled to the support structure.
US09199562B2
A sliding and pivoting armrest assembly for a vehicle console includes a closure member pivotally mounted to the vehicle console, an armrest member slidably mounted to the closure member, and a latching device for selectively latching the closure member in a closed position. The latching device includes at least one latching member selectively receivable in at least one latching aperture defined in the closure member, at least one pushing member disposed on the closure member and moveable to remove the at least one closure member from the at least one latching aperture, and an actuator moving the at least one pushing member.
US09199561B2
A multi-functional car seat gap filling device, comprising: an elastic rod-shaped body, at least one of the head and middle parts thereof being fitted with a storage pocket, and the tail part thereof being fitted with a through hole or an elastic band to engage a seatbelt buckle; an elastic band, one end thereof being attached to the bottom of the head of the rod-shaped body; and a small elastic ball or round stopper, which is fitted on the other end of the elastic band. The rod-shaped body is inserted into the top of a gap between the driver seat and storage compartment in a vehicle interior, the buckle of the driver seat safety belt passes through the through hole, and the small elastic ball or round stopper is locked into the bottom of the gap. The device functions to fill in gaps and hold small articles such as mobile phones, media players, and pens, rendering the vehicle interior neat and tidy and more conducive to safe driving.
US09199558B1
A vehicle seat assembly includes a seatback with a seatback frame having a first frame member with forward and rearward edges relative to the seatback being in an upright orientation. An airbag is positioned along an outboard lateral side of the first frame member and is deployable from a stowed orientation to a deployed orientation from the outboard lateral side of the first frame member such that in the deployed orientation at least a portion of the airbag is located forward of the forward edge of the first frame member. A guide member is non-movably coupled to the first frame member. The guide member deflects a portion of an occupant of the vehicle seat assembly toward the airbag forward of the forward edge of the first frame member with the airbag in the deployed orientation in response to a lateral impact event.
US09199542B2
A vehicle (100) includes a motor generator (130) generating driving power for running the vehicle (100), and an ECU (300) for controlling the motor generator (130). The ECU (300) causes driving power variation operation to be performed on the motor generator (130) in which the motor generator is switched between a first state (low output state) in which the motor generator generates driving power of a prescribed level and a second state (high output state) in which the motor generator generates driving power larger than the driving power in the first state to run the vehicle (100). As a result, energy efficiency of the vehicle (100) is improved.
US09199534B2
A drive for an industrial truck with at least one drive motor for driving a wheel of the industrial truck and at least one steering motor for supporting a steering movement of the wheel around a steering axle also features a drawbar for guiding the steering or driving movement by applying a load on the drawbar. The drive motor also rotates upon a steering movement of the wheel, whereas the drawbar is connected in a torque-proof manner, relative to the steering axle, with a component also rotating upon a steering movement of the wheel.
US09199531B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a hybrid electric vehicle comprising an engine and at least one electric machine arranged to be cooled by coolant flowing through a coolant circuit of the vehicle, the engine and at least one electric machine being coupled in series in the circuit, wherein a bypass portion is provided arranged to allow at least a portion of the coolant to bypass the electric machine when the engine is running.
US09199528B2
A hybrid power train for vehicles, including a drive shaft rotated by engine power, an engine-side drive gear concentrically installed on the drive shaft so as to be rotated by drive shaft power, first and second power transmission control units configured to form different power transmission paths for transmitting power from the drive shaft to the engine-side drive gear, and to control respective power transmission states, an output shaft arranged in parallel to the drive shaft, an engine-side driven gear rotatably provided on the output shaft so as to mesh with the engine-side drive gear, a clutch unit for switching the operating state of the engine-side driven gear between a fixed state and a released state relative to the output shaft, a motor-side drive gear rotated by motor power, and a motor-side driven gear fixedly provided on the output shaft so as to mesh with the motor-side drive gear.
US09199526B2
A vehicle includes: a pair of front wheels; a pair of rear wheels; a front-wheel motor configured to drive the front wheels; a rear-wheel motor configured to drive the rear wheels; and a reducer configured to reduce a rotation speed of one of the front-wheel motor and the rear-wheel motor, and transmit drive power to the wheels driven by one of the motors. The one of the front-wheel motor and the rear-wheel motor is a motor with a rotation speed higher and torque lower than those of the other one of the motors.
US09199523B2
Provided is a vehicle body vibration control device (10) for a vehicle, including a request driving force calculation unit (20) calculating a driver's request driving force, a driving unit (16) applying a driving force to the vehicle (12), a driving force control unit (22) controlling the driving unit based on command driving force, and a notch filter (24) receiving a signal indicating the request driving force, processing the signal so as to reduce a frequency component of vibration of a vehicle body, and outputting the processed signal to the driving force control unit as a command driving force signal. The control device (10) further includes a correction unit (30) correcting, when there is no need to correct the command driving force to a value reduced in effect of the filter processing, the notch filter so as to use a current value as data subjected to the filter processing.
US09199520B2
The present invention is directed to an adjustable hitch assembly for coupling a towed vehicle with a towing vehicle. An embodiment of the adjustable hitch assembly may include a base member, a ball support member, and a hitch ball member. The base member may include a connecting portion and a shank member, wherein the shank member may extends perpendicularly away from the connecting portion. The ball support member may include a support rod extending perpendicularly away from the shank member. The ball support member may also include an opening there though that may be attached to the shank member. The hitch ball member may be attached to the support rod, wherein the hitch ball member may have at least one accessory aperture. The connecting portion may be attached to the towing vehicle and the hitch ball member may be attached to the towed vehicle.
US09199513B2
An intersection of an extended line of a shoulder side arc and an extended line of a side portion arc is a reference point P, an aspect ratio is β, and an angle θ formed by a straight line A joining the reference point P and a center crown CC and a straight line B in a tire width direction that passes through the center crown CC is configured such that 0.025×β+1.0≦θ≦0.045×β+2.5. A curvature radius Rc of a center portion arc and a curvature radius Rs of the shoulder side arc are configured such that 12≦Rc/Rs≦30. A reference developed width L from a tire equatorial plane CL to an edge of the shoulder side arc on a tire width direction inner side and a developed tread width TDW are configured such that 0.2≦L/(TDW/2)≦0.7.
US09199512B2
A tire having a modified geodesic belt is described. The ideal geodesic belt path is modified to select the centerline belt angle and to avoid excessive build up of the belt at the belt edges. The method includes the step of calculating the minimum three dimensional distance from one belt edge to the other belt edge preferably using dynamic successive approximation.
US09199508B2
An apparatus includes a wheel cover having a relatively-planar disc shape covering a concavity of a truck wheel rim, and a retainer for holding the wheel cover on the wheel rim. In one form, the retainer includes a hula-hoop-shaped ring that engages a channel in the outer lip of the wheel rim (or engages a channel formed by brackets attached to the outer lip). In another form, the retainer includes a clamp ring retainer attached to the rim's axle portion, and coil springs biasingly retaining the wheel cover to the truck wheel. The wheel cover includes radial ribs each having an outer end that forms a pocket shaped to engage an outer lip on the truck rim, thus holding and centering the wheel cover on the truck wheel. Anti-wear foam components are attached to reduce wear by the wheel cover on the rim.
US09199507B2
A writing instrument includes a shell, an ink reservoir disposed in the shell and a writing tip section that is provided on the shell from which ink from the ink reservoir is applied to a substrate. The writing tip section includes a writing tip and an ink feed assembly for delivering ink from the ink reservoir to the writing tip through capillary action. The writing tip is flexible and a flexible cover with the shape of a fountain pen nib is provided for supporting the flexible writing tip.
US09199503B1
The invention describes a composition and method of providing an improved thermally responsive record material useful for linerless labels. The record material comprises a support having provided thereon on one surface an adhesive material, and on at least one other surface, a heat sensitive imaging coating. The method comprises applying to a first surface a first layer of a coating of a heat sensitive color-forming composition comprising a binder material and a substantially colorless dye precursor and an acidic developer material in substantially contiguous relationship. Over the first layer is applied a release coat overcoating the first layer. The release coat comprises a water soluble or water dispersible polymeric material, a polysiloxane release agent and excess platinum catalyst in excess of 150 ppm based on weight of the second coating. The release coat is cured at a temperature of from at or below 160° C., or even from 70° to 120° C. to a scuff resistant hardness and without visible background discoloration of the first layer.
US09199496B2
A cleaning roller is in press contact with a conveyance belt on the downstream side of a drive roller in a first direction. A controller controls a motor so that the conveyance belt is driven in a second direction opposite to the first direction when the cleaning roller cleans the conveyance belt.
US09199493B2
A transportation device includes: a transportation section that transports a continuous paper; and an imaging unit that detects a transportation amount of the continuous paper which is transported by the transportation section. The imaging unit includes a lens barrel; a light irradiation unit disposed in the lens barrel and capable of radiating light on the continuous paper; a condensing lens which is disposed in a position farther than the light irradiation section with respect to the continuous paper in the lens barrel and condenses a reflected light when the light is radiated from the light irradiation section to the continuous paper; and an imaging element which is disposed in a position farther than the condensing lens with respect to the continuous paper P in the lens barrel and captures an image by receiving the reflected light condensed by the condensing lens.
US09199492B2
Motor control devices and methods are described herein. In one embodiment, such a device includes a fluid ejection head configured to eject a fluid onto a sheet that is on a downstream side from a transport driving roller along a supply direction of the sheet. The device also includes a first motor that provides a driving force for rotating a roll on which the sheet is wound, and a second motor that provides a driving force for driving the transport driving roller. The transport driving roller is on a downstream side from the roll along the supply direction of the sheet. The device also includes a motor control unit that simultaneously drives the first and second motors, and the motor control unit is configured to control an interpolation output that is given to the first motor while subjected to a change in a driving speed of the second motor.
US09199491B2
A printer includes a printing part that performs printing on a label adhering to a liner, a cutter that cuts the liner to which the label adheres, a first roller provided on the side to which the liner to which the label adheres is discharged from the cutter, a second roller that is in contact with the first roller and is rotated by the rotation of the first roller, a third roller that is in contact with the first roller and is rotated by the rotation of the first roller, and a connecting arm that connects the center of the first roller and the center of the second roller, wherein the liner is separated from the label by the first roller and the second roller, and the label separated from the liner is discharged by the third roller.
US09199490B2
A printer includes a device main body, a recording section, and a mounting section. The recording section is provided at the device main body and configured to record on a first recording medium and a second recording medium having lenticular lenses. The mounting section is configured to selectively mount a first conveyance unit configured to convey the first recording medium and a second conveyance unit configured to convey the second recording medium.
US09199488B2
An image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a type identification value measurement portion, a determination portion and a speed adjustment portion. The type identification value measurement portion uses, when the print job is executed, a media sensor previously provided in a paper feed cassette to measure a type identification value for a sheet to be transported in the print job. The determination portion determines whether or not an incidence of paper delay corresponding to the measured type identification value for the sheet exceeds a previously set threshold value. The speed adjustment portion lowers, when as a result of the determination, the incidence of paper delay exceeds the threshold value, a transport speed of the sheet as compared with a normal transport speed to execute the print job.
US09199484B2
A recording apparatus includes a discharge section that discharges a recording medium, a first bending member that is in contact with the recording medium and is transported toward the discharge section to bend the recording medium, a second bending member that is in contact with the recording medium on a further downstream side in a direction of the transport than a contact position of the discharge section, a mounting section where the recording medium that is discharged from the discharge section is mounted, and a first biasing member that is in contact with a surface on a rear end side in the transport direction of the recording medium mounted on the mounting section and on a side opposite to the recording surface to perform biasing toward a recording surface side on a further downstream side than the contact position of the discharge section.
US09199478B2
A liquid ejection apparatus includes a cover unit that is movable relative to a housing, an ink tank provided outside the housing in a state containing ink, a ink supplying tube in which ink can flow so that ink is supplied from the ink tank to the liquid ejection head, and an insertion hole that allows the ink supplying tube to be inserted into the housing, wherein the housing is formed by a housing portion in which a container that houses a stacker is formed to protrude, and a housing portion which has an operation panel having an inclined surface which protrudes at a position above the container, and the insertion hole is provided on at least one of the housing and the cover unit.
US09199474B2
An ink cartridge for supplying the ink in an ink reserving chamber via an ink supply port into a recording head has a differential pressure valve mechanism disposed between an ink flow port and the ink supply port in the ink reserving chamber, whereby the ink is supplied an adequate amount to the recording head by opening or closing the differential pressure valve mechanism in accordance with an ink pressure of the recording head. As a result, it is possible to supply the ink at a substantially constant pressure to the recording head without regard to the variation in the amount of ink or the-movement of the carriage.
US09199472B2
There are provided a mist collecting mechanism capable of efficiently sucking and collecting an air blown out from a blow-out unit and a liquid ejection apparatus including the mist collecting mechanism. The mist collecting mechanism includes a suction port configured to suck an air containing mists. Moreover, the mist collecting mechanism includes a first blow-out port that blows out an air in order to guide the air containing mists to the suction port. Moreover, the mist collecting mechanism includes a second blow-out port that blows out an air in order to adjust a position, toward which the air blown out from the first blow-out port flows, so that the air blown out from the first blow-out port is appropriately sucked by the suction port.
US09199466B1
A protective guide system that protects a print head nozzle plate from physical contact with objects such as a curled print medium. The nozzle plate includes a nozzle array including a plurality of nozzles arranged in a plurality of subarrays. The plurality of subarrays are spaced from each other by a plurality of intranozzle areas devoid of nozzles. The protective guide system includes a frame and a plurality of cross members aligned with the intranozzle areas between the subarrays. The protective guide system thus protects the nozzle plate without obstructing the ink during printing.
US09199465B2
A liquid jet head includes an actuator substrate having a principal surface on which ejection channels and non-ejection channels are formed, common electrodes formed on side surfaces of the ejection channels, individual electrodes formed on side surfaces of the non-ejection channels, individual electrode pads for connection to the individual electrodes, and common electrode pads for connection to the common electrodes. A groove is formed on the principal surface of the actuator substrate for isolating the individual electrode pads and the common electrode pads from one another. An external substrate has individual electrode terminals and common electrode terminals for connection to the individual electrode pads and common electrode pads, respectively. A connection wiring that connects the common electrode terminals to each other is formed along the groove to prevent an electrical short circuit between the connection wiring and the individual electrodes.
US09199464B2
Each of a plurality of head modules of a first inkjet head includes a black nozzle array configured to eject a black ink and a cyan nozzle array configured to eject a cyan ink. A plurality of nozzles of the cyan nozzle array and a plurality of nozzles of the black nozzle array are offset by a half pitch in a main scanning direction. Each of a plurality of head modules of at least one second inkjet head other than the first inkjet head includes a magenta nozzle array configured to eject a magenta ink and a yellow nozzle array configured to eject a yellow ink.
US09199463B2
There is provided a liquid discharge head including: a nozzle substrate including a semiconductor substrate as a base, a first liquid channel disposed inside the nozzle substrate to communicate with first nozzles, and a second liquid channel disposed inside the nozzle substrate to communicate with second nozzles; first and second energy applying mechanisms; and an electrical element provided on the semiconductor substrate to be electrically connected to the first and second energy applying mechanisms. A first nozzle row and a second nozzle row which extend in a arrangement direction are formed in the nozzle substrate. A length of the first nozzle row in the arrangement direction is longer than a length of the second nozzle row in the arrangement direction.
US09199460B2
An example provides an apparatus including a plate having a nozzle orifice, a flat portion, and a first surface having a recess forming a corresponding protrusion extending from a second surface, opposite first surface, of the plate. A substrate may be in spaced relation to the flat portion of the plate such that the protrusion extends toward the substrate and such that the flat portion and the substrate define, at least in part, a chamber.
US09199453B2
There is provided a controller which sets electrodes which are respectively disposed on wall surfaces of a plurality of ink chambers which are arranged in parallel so as to be separated from each other by partitions made of a piezoelectric material, to a high impedance state. In addition, at a timing when an identical potential is applied to the electrodes of at least three ink chambers which are arranged in parallel so as to be separated from each other by mutually adjacent partitions, the controller sets electrodes of ink chambers other than ink chambers located on both sides to a high impedance state.
US09199450B2
A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a head having a piezoelectric element that vibrates a diaphragm, a pressure chamber where an interior pressure is increased or decreased by vibration of the diaphragm, and a nozzle communicating with the pressure chamber to discharge a liquid inside the pressure chamber according to increasing and decreasing of the interior pressure; a drive unit that outputs a drive signal which becomes a first potential during a first period, becomes a second potential during a second period following the first period, and becomes a third potential, which is a potential between the first potential and the second potential, during a third period following the second period; a detection unit that detects a residual vibration inside the pressure chamber; and a control unit capable of modifying the potential of the third potential within a range between the first potential and the second potential.
US09199445B2
The printing machine (50) comprises a central impression drum (35) supporting a web substrate (S), several printing groups (51-55) arranged around an entry side (35a) and several printing groups (56-60) arranged around an exit side (35b) of the central impression drum for applying water-based inks or solvent-based inks on the web substrate (S), and at least one drying unit (61-69) arranged between each pair of adjacent printing groups. The first drying unit located in a larger space between the first printing group (51) and the subsequent printing group (53) and/or the last drying unit located in a larger space between the last printing group (60) and the preceding printing group (58) is an extensive drying unit (61, 69) providing an exposure time to a drying agent longer than the remaining drying units.
US09199444B2
A waterless planographic printing plate precursor has, on a substrate, at least a photosensitive layer or heat sensitive layer and a silicone rubber layer, which is a waterless planographic printing plate precursor, wherein 1) a color pigment and a pigment dispersant are contained in the silicone rubber layer, 2) the a content of color pigment is 0.1 to 20 vol % in the silicone rubber layer, and 3) the pigment dispersant contains an organic complex compound including a metal and an organic compound.
US09199443B2
Provided is a single-motor-driven gravure cylinder chuck mechanism that is enhanced in contact tightness of chuck cones with respect to an unprocessed plate-making roll in each processing unit of a fully automatic plate-making system. The gravure cylinder chuck mechanism is to be used for a processing unit of the fully automatic gravure plate-making processing system for manufacturing a plate-making roll by performing a series of processes on an unprocessed plate-making roll. The gravure cylinder chuck mechanism includes: a pair of chuck cones provided to be opposed to each other, for chucking both end surfaces of the unprocessed plate-making roll; chuck cone moving means for allowing the pair of chuck cones to be freely brought into contact with and separated away from both the end surfaces of the unprocessed plate-making roll; and a single motor for driving the chuck cone moving means. The single motor allows the pair of chuck cones to be freely brought into contact with and separated away from both the end surfaces of the unprocessed plate-making roll so that the pair of chuck cones chuck the unprocessed plate-making roll.
US09199442B2
Damping material is installed on a structure by moving a material placement head over the structure, and using the head to place the material on the structure.
US09199438B2
A process for the manufacture of a transparent conductive film comprising: (i) a polymeric substrate comprising a polymeric base layer and a polymeric binding layer, wherein the polymeric material of the base layer has a softening temperature TS-B, and the polymeric material of the binding layer has a softening temperature TS-HS; and (ii) a conductive layer comprising a plurality of nanowires, wherein said nanowires are bound by the polymeric matrix of the binding layer such that the nanowires are dispersed at least partially in the polymeric matrix of the binding layer, said process comprising the steps of providing a polymeric substrate comprising a polymeric base layer and a polymeric binding layer; disposing said nanowires on the exposed surface of the binding layer; and heating the composite film to a temperature T1 wherein T1 is equal to or greater than TS-HS, and T1 is at least about 5° C. below TS-B; and transparent conductive films derived from said process.
US09199430B2
Disclosed is a stitched-together textile and plastic component including an upper transparent plastic layer, a lower transparent plastic layer and a textile layer. The textile layer is stacked between the upper transparent plastic layer and the lower transparent plastic layer, wherein the textile layer and the lower transparent plastic layer are stitched together by a decorative stitch in such a manner that a sewing pattern is formed above the textile layer and below the lower transparent plastic layer, and the decorative stitch is applied to combine the upper transparent plastic layer with the previously stitched-together textile layer and lower transparent plastic layer by stitching in such a manner that another sewing pattern which overlaps the sewing pattern to form an overlapping pattern above the upper transparent plastic layer, by which the characteristics of the upper and lower transparent plastic layers such as waterproofing, antifouling, rigidity and durability are combined with the various texture of the textile layer to applied in the manufacturing of everyday items.
US09199420B2
The present invention relates generally to flexible thin films for use in electro-active optical systems. Embodiments of the invention include thin films having diffractive structures on at least one surface of the film, and methods of making such films. Embodiments of the invention also include lens blanks that comprise such thin films. Embodiments of the invention also include methods of making lens blanks that comprise such thin films.
US09199418B1
Systems and methods for assembling a skin of a composite structure on an outer surface of an inner mold line layup mandrel. The systems and methods include receiving a plurality of ply kits, assembling the plurality of ply kits to form a skin segment that defines a portion of the skin, and affixing the skin segment to the outer surface of the layup mandrel. The assembling includes transferring a respective ply kit of the plurality of ply kits to a non-planar transfer tool, compacting the respective ply kit on the non-planar transfer tool, and repeating the transferring and the compacting for each ply kit in the plurality of ply kits to form the skin segment.
US09199406B2
An apparatus comprises a conveying device and a plurality of blow molding stations arranged on the conveying device. Each blow molding station includes a blow mold. A clean room is provided inside which the plastics material pre-forms are conveyed. The blow mold has two lateral parts and a bottom part that jointly form a cavity inside which a plastics material pre-form is shaped into a plastics material container. A drive device moves the lateral parts or the bottom part of the blow mold. A coupling device couples the drive device to a lateral part. A mounting device mounts the coupling device.
US09199401B2
The invention provides an injection mold core (100) for making a composite material part having a closed box, the core being in the shape of a wedge that is to be inserted inside a closed box (12) of at least one fiber preform into which a matrix-precursor fluid is to be injected, the core presenting both an opening right section (106) through which the core is to be unmolded from the box of the preform after the matrix has set, and also a maximum right section (108) of greater size than the opening right section, the core comprising at least three distinct elements (110, 112, 114) that are assembled together, each core element presenting a maximum right section of size that is smaller than the opening section.
US09199389B2
A hand-held knockout driver for use with a punch and die. The hand-held knockout driver including a housing having a handle portion, a motor positioned within the housing, the motor having a drive shaft defining a first axis, a pump assembly positioned within the housing, the pump assembly having a piston moving along a second axis, a dump valve positioned within the housing, the dump valve defining a third axis, and a working piston moveable with respect to the housing along a fourth axis. Where the second axis, the third axis, and the fourth axis are all not parallel to the first axis.
US09199379B2
A robot system display device is provided for graphically displaying components of a robot system which carries out a desirable process by measuring a position of a target object with a vision sensor. The robot system display device acquires an arrangement of the vision sensor relative to other components of the robot system based on calibration data for the vision sensor and pre-stored shape information of the vision sensor. The robot system display device graphically displays the vision sensor in a virtual space based on the relative arrangement.
US09199372B2
A computer controlled robot system for positioning a patient for radiation therapy or other medical procedures and the like. The robot is mounted at the top of a vertical shaft extending from the treatment room floor and includes horizontal arms arranged to maximize the available work envelope and eliminate “dead spots” in the envelope that the robot cannot reach. A double redundant coupling system for coupling devices to the robot is provided. A vision based docking system is employed for automatically coupling devices to the robot. Various enhanced safety features are provided, including device specific collision avoidance.
US09199366B2
A moil guide having a sleeve that has an opening adapted to receive at least a portion of a linerbolt. The moil guide also has a magnetic attachment device attached to the sleeve. The magnetic attachment device is operable to selectively generate a magnetic field. The magnetic attachment device is operable to selectively generate the magnetic field to removably attach the moil guide to a metal surface.
US09199355B2
An apparatus for grinding a substrate includes a stage part configured to support a substrate thereon, a grinding part, a camera part, a replacing part and a control unit. The grinding part includes a grinding wheel configured to grind an edge of the substrate. The camera part is configured to take a picture of the grinding wheel, analyze the picture of the grinding wheel and generate information about the grinding wheel. The replacing part includes a spare grinding wheel and is configured provide the spare grinding wheel to the grinding part or pick up the grinding wheel from the grinding part. The control unit is configured to receive the grinding wheel information from the camera part and offset compensate a position of the grinding wheel on the basis of the grinding wheel information or communicate with the replacing part to replace the grinding wheel on the basis of the grinding wheel information.
US09199354B2
Hard-material, flat-surfaced workpieces such as semiconductor wafers or sapphire disks are quickly attached with vacuum to a rotatable floating workpiece carrier. Fluid pressure in a sealed chamber applies uniform abrading pressure over the full abraded surface of the workpieces. A flexible diaphragm is used to form the sealed chamber and the carrier is rotationally driven by a lug-pin device. The floating carrier is horizontally restrained by a center-post device that provides rigid lateral support against abrading forces. Tilting of the floating carrier is provided by a spherical bearing. The abrading system can be operated at the very high abrading speeds used in high speed flat lapping with raised-island abrasive disks. Vacuum can also be applied to the sealed chamber to quickly move the workpiece away from the abrading surface. A mode of providing rigid parallel-surface abrading of a workpiece can be activated by simply applying vacuum to the sealed chamber.
US09199352B2
A polishing apparatus polishes a top edge portion and/or a bottom edge portion of a substrate accurately and uniformly. The polishing apparatus includes a rotary holding mechanism configured to hold the substrate horizontally and to rotate the substrate and at least one polishing head disposed near the peripheral portion of the substrate. The polishing head has at least one protrusion extending along a circumferential direction of the substrate, and the polishing head is configured to press a polishing surface of a polishing tape by the protrusion against the peripheral portion of the substrate from above or below.
US09199350B2
A guide rail precision rotation apparatus is provided with a housing of torque motor and a bearing housing fixedly arranged on an upper surface of a base, and a bearing sleeved on an inner edge step at the upper end of bearing housing. The inner ring of bearing is sleevingly connected to an intermediate rotating body, the lower end of the body is connected to a bearing inner ring cap; a round grating is provided at an outer edge of lower end of the cap, a connecting piece is arranged on the motor, the lower end of connecting piece is fixedly connected to a rotary shaft of the motor, the connecting piece and the body are both connected to the lower end of a fine movement mechanism, and the upper end face of fine movement mechanism is fixedly connected to a rotary worktable.
US09199345B2
A method for creating a metal reinforcement for a leading or trailing edge of a turbine engine blade including a reinforcement foot and head, the method including: creating a plurality of V-shaped tapered elements that form different parts of the metal reinforcement so that the metal reinforcement is divided into a plurality of parts distributed between the foot and the head; positioning the parts on equipment that is shaped like the leading or trailing edge of the turbine engine blade; and rigidly connecting the different parts so as to form the complete profile of the one-piece metal reinforcement the by recombining the different parts.
US09199340B2
Solder material used in soldering of an Au electrode including Ni plating containing P includes Ag satisfying 0.3≦[Ag]≦4.0, Bi satisfying 0≦[Bi]≦1.0, and Cu satisfying 0≦[Cu]≦1.2, where contents (mass %) of Ag, Bi, Cu and In in the solder material are denoted by [Ag], [Bi], [Cu], and [In], respectively. The solder material includes In in a range of 6.0≦[In]≦6.8 when [Cu] falls within a range of 0<[Cu]<0.5, In in a range of 5.2+(6−(1.55×[Cu]+4.428))≦[In]≦6.8 when [Cu] falls within a range of 0.5≦[Cu]≦1.0, In in a range of 5.2≦[In]≦6.8 when [Cu] falls within a range of 1.0<[Cu]≦1.2. A balance includes only not less than 87 mass % of Sn.
US09199339B2
Disclosed herein is a high-temperature Pb-free solder alloy having the strength required to join electronic parts to a substrate and having excellence in wettability and workability. The high-temperature Pb-free solder alloy contains 0.4% by mass or more but 13.5% by mass or less of Zn, 0.05% by mass or more but 2.0% by mass or less of Cu, 0.500% by mass or less of P, and a balance being Bi except for inevitable impurities. The Pb-free solder alloy may further contain 0.03% by mass or more but 0.7% by mass or less of Al.
US09199335B2
A marking device making a marking using laser beam, includes a supporting assembly, a marking mechanism, a carrying assembly, a driving assembly, and a plurality of loading members. The loading members carry workpieces for marking. The marking mechanism emits a laser beam to mark the workpiece. The carrying assembly includes a transmitting member slidably mounted on the supporting assembly, and a bearing member mounted on the supporting assembly opposite to the marking mechanism. The driving assembly is mounted on the supporting assembly. The loading members are placed on the transmitting member and the bearing member. The driving assembly is capable of driving the transmitting member to align with the bearing member in a straight line, and then driving the loading member on the transmitting member to move to the bearing member.
US09199334B2
A system and method for precision cutting using multiple laser beams is described. The system and method includes a combination of optical components that split the output of a single laser into multiple beams, with the power, polarization status and spot size of each split beam being individually controllable, while providing a circularly polarized beam at the surface of a work piece to be cut by the laser beam. A system and method for tracking manufacture of individual stents is also provided.
US09199332B2
A method for attaching together by means of explosion welding two metal pipes (2; 3) arranged within each other, wherein a mantle of explosive material (5) is arranged around the outer pipe (2) and this mantle is made to explode in order to cause a metallurgical joint between the two pipes, according to the present invention is characterized in that the interior (4) of the inner pipe (3) is filled with granular material (6) and the interstices left free by the granular material (6) are filled with liquid (7) before the explosive material (5) is made to explode.
US09199319B2
Clamping device for a machine duplicating keys, with a body lodging two jaws apt to transversely tighten a key, wherein the two jaws can be approached and/or spaced by the activation of only one operation component, and a bridge is arranged apt to tighten the key against the body through a movement (Y) orthogonal to the reciprocal motion (X) of the jaws; these jaws are provided with respective inclined planes with a symmetrical inclination, and the bridge is provided with two inclined planes each having the same inclination of a respective of the inclined planes of the two jaws. Elastic components are arranged which are capable of pushing the bridge against the two jaws along a direction (Y) orthogonal to the direction (Y) of reciprocal tightening of the two jaws, and the bridge is provided in its outer portion with a relief capable of tightening the key against the body.
US09199314B1
A door drilling template system that includes a body and an arm is disclosed. The body may include two opposing side walls separated by a facial wall. The body may also include one or more tracks on one of the side walls and one or more drill guide holes extending through each of the two side walls. The arm is configured to removably couple to the body at the track, and includes a striker plate template, a handle, one or more rails, and one or more supports. The striker plate template includes a plurality of striker holes that extending the striker plate. The one or more rails are shaped to slidably engaged with the one or more rails of the body. The support extends between the handle and the rail.
US09199310B2
The systems and methods of this patent application are directed to producing a composition of nano-grained NiTi (Ni—nickel, Ti—titanium) alloy for use in producing nano-grained wires. Nano-grained wires, for example, are used to generate medical instruments such as an endodontic instrument. A specific method of producing the nano-grained composition includes preparing a mixture of nickel (Ni) powder and titanium (Ti) powder. The mixture of nickel powder and titanium powder is sintered to produce a nano-grained NiTi alloy. In one embodiment, an endodontic instrument is formed using the nano-grained NiTi alloy and heat-treated.
US09199302B2
An assembly jig for pins includes a jig body in which pin insertion recesses, into which respective pairs of pins and interpieces are inserted, are aligned at predetermined intervals, and urging devices that urge lower end portions of both the pins and the interpieces, which are fitted in the pin insertion recesses, in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the pins and the interpieces. In the jig body, urging device installation recesses are formed so as to be contiguous with the consecutive pin insertion recesses. Each urging device is arranged in the corresponding urging device installation recess, and includes a helical compression spring of which the urging direction is the radially outward direction, and a pressing member urged by the helical compression spring. The pressing member has a first pressing face that contacts the pin, and a second pressing face that contacts the interpiece.
US09199296B2
In some aspects, a sheet metal processing system includes a machine tool with a processing station at which metal sheets can be processed by a processing tool, a tool carrier for receiving a processing tool, a transfer device by which the processing tool can be moved to or from the tool carrier, and a tool change apparatus which, due to a controlled positioning movement, can be arranged in a tool change position. The processing tool is exchangeable between the tool carrier and the transfer device by the tool change apparatus. The positioning movement is controllable on the basis of a position of the transfer device and/or a position of the tool carrier.
US09199295B2
An apparatus for roller swaging may include a support arm, a spherical roller rotatably supported in the support arm, a mount for slidably supporting the support arm, a first actuator for displacing the support arm relative to the mount, a second actuator for supporting the arm and imparting rotational movement of the mount about an axis in which the spherical roller describes a circular path, a base for supporting the second actuator for reciprocal movement parallel to the axis, and a third actuator connected to the second actuator for displacing the second actuator relative to the base. A method for roller swaging may include inserting a tube end into a ferrule, and urging a spherical roller against an inner wall of the tube with a force sufficient to swage the inner wall against the ferrule, thereby mechanically securing the ferrule to the end of the tube.
US09199293B2
A header beam couples between A-pillars of a vehicle frame. The header beam is formed from a generally straight beam segment that is extruded to have a hollow body portion with supportive legs extending within the hollow interior along the length of the beam segment, defining uninterrupted forward and rearward box sections for supporting continuous load paths on the header beam. The end portions of the beam segment are clamped and the beam segment is stretch bent to form a curvature between the end portions that remain generally straight. A front flange extends forward along the body portion and is struck proximate the end portions to form an edge that is parallel to the curvature formed between the end portions. The end portions are attached to the A-pillars and the edge of the front flange is attached to a windshield.
US09199286B2
A container cleaning machine with a container or bottle cleaning apparatus with a spray pipe and spray station with a spray pipe of this type. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
US09199283B2
A separation apparatus includes: a conveyor that conveys a group of pieces; a material distinguishing unit that distinguishes between first pieces and second pieces that are placed on the conveyor, according to material; a blower that generates airflow supplied from a middle of the conveyor toward a conveying end along a conveying surface; a first separation unit that blows off the first pieces thrown forward from the conveying end, based on a differentiation result obtained by the material distinguishing unit; a second separation unit that blows off the second pieces toward a different place; and a current plate provided below the group of pieces thrown forward and protruding from the conveyor.
US09199277B2
An ultrasonic measurement device includes: an ultrasonic element array that has at least one reception column connected to a reception terminal, and equipped with ultrasonic elements for reception and that has at least one transmission column connected to a transmission terminal, and equipped with ultrasonic elements for transmission; a reception circuit that receives a signal from the reception terminal; and a transmission circuit that outputs a signal to the transmission terminal. The reception column and the transmission column are alternately arranged every column, or any multiple of columns in a scanning direction. The ultrasonic elements for reception and the ultrasonic elements for transmission are arranged along a orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the scanning direction. The reception terminal is arranged at one end of the array in the orthogonal direction, and the transmission terminal is arranged at the other end of the array in that direction.
US09199273B2
A multi-layer film for use in forming a layer of hardfacing on a surface of a tool includes a first layer and a second layer covering at least a portion of a surface of the first layer. The layers each include a polymer material and a plurality of particles dispersed throughout the polymer material. An intermediate structure includes a body of an earth-boring tool, a first material layer disposed over a surface of the body, and a second material layer disposed over the first material layer. A method of applying hardfacing includes providing a first material layer on a surface of a body of an earth-boring tool, providing a second material layer adjacent the first material layer, heating the body and removing the polymer material from the body of the earth-boring tool, and heating the body of the earth-boring tool to a higher temperature to form a layer of hardfacing material.
US09199272B2
A relief print master is created with a printhead that jets droplets of a polymerizable liquid on a cylindrical sleeve. The droplets follow a spiral path on the cylindrical sleeve. In a multiple printhead unit, there are different spiral paths associated with the constituting printheads in the multiple printhead unit. The distance between the spiral paths is not even. Preferred embodiments of the current invention provide a method and a system so that the distance between these spiral paths becomes even. The system can also be used for the creation of other types of print masters, such as offset print plates.
US09199268B2
A curtain coating method including: discharging at least one coating liquid from a slot type die; forming a coating liquid film of the coating liquid freely falling; and applying the coating liquid film to a support medium continuously running, with both right and left ends of the coating liquid film being held by a pair of edge guides, wherein, during non-coating, a direction in which the coating liquid is discharged from the slot type die is kept in a horizontal direction or tilted from the horizontal direction in a direction distancing from the support medium.
US09199260B2
A system and method for repeatably mounting a spray device in a desired spray position. The present technique provides the spray device with an atomizing spray section and a releasable mount. The releasable mount may be mounted releasably to a mounting member, such as a positioning system. In addition, the releasable mount may be mounted releasably to the spray device, such that the releasable mount may remain attached to the mounting member in a desired spray position. Accordingly, the spray device or its substitute may be remounted to the releasable mount in the desired spray position.
US09199252B2
A shower device according to the invention includes a shower head housing having a jet disk and a multiplicity of jet outlet openings. The jet outlet openings are divided into multiple groups of jet outlet openings. For each group of jet outlet openings, a distinct chamber is formed in the shower head housing. A water inlet can for example be connected by means of a change-over valve to in each case one of the chambers fluidic in parallel. The two chambers are arranged consecutively in the shower head housing. The water exiting the rear chamber as viewed relative to the jet disk can for example pass through the front chamber in a sealed channel or as a jet, which passes through a larger opening of the jet disk.
US09199248B2
An Environmental Control System may use an electronic particle separation system to control humidity in an aircraft. The electronic particle separation system may include a charging stage and a collecting stage. The charging stage may charge airflow passing through to repel liquid particles away from the airflow. Liquid droplets may be collected by the collecting stage and centrifugally flung toward a periphery of a separator. The liquid particles may be collected outside of the airflow which may be allowed to pass through the separator and out to a destination in the aircraft without the collected liquid.
US09199245B1
A water supply launder reducing imbalance of the flow amounts of the ore slurry and the additive water on the upper surface of the shaking table, and producing flow throughout the upper surface of the shaking table.The water supply launder included in a table gravity concentrator 1 to supply water to a table 2 of the table gravity concentrator 1 includes a launder body 20 which receives water supplied from a water supply unit 23 to an upper surface 21a of the launder body 20, and supplies the water to the table 2 of the table gravity concentrator 1, and a distribution member 30 which is attached to a lower surface 21b of the launder body 20, and contacts water dropping from the upper surface 21a of the launder body 20 and flowing to the table 2 of the table gravity concentrator 1 to distribute the water.
US09199243B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for crushing a mineral material. Then, the mineral material is delivered in a crushing space (6) towards crushing means (8), whereby at least a portion of the material flow is discharged via a screen (20). The remaining mineral material is arranged to meet transfer and screening as well as crusher drums (10, 11) provided in the crushing space such that the transfer and screening drum continues pre-screening while simultaneously transferring the mineral material towards the crusher drum (11). Finally, the mineral material remaining in the crushing space is by crusher blades (19) of the crusher drum (11) subjected to mechanical machining wedging the mineral material against a crusher plate (21) and decreasing the particle size thereof in order for the mineral material to be finally crushed into a particle size to be discharged from the crushing space.
US09199238B2
A microfluidic device of a microfluidic apparatus for analyzing a fluidic sample includes at least two support members comprising a first support member and a second support member. The first support member comprises a first support member chamber configured to hold a fluid. The second support member comprises a second support member chamber configured to hold a fluid. The first support member and/or the second support member perform a movement with respect to each other to connect a first support member conduit with a second support member conduit, and to connect the first support member chamber with the second support member chamber. A pump element effects a transfer of the fluid from the first support member chamber to the second support member chamber and/or vice versa. A connection of the first support member chamber, the second support member chamber, and the pump element creates a closed fluidic circuit.
US09199236B2
A biological fluid sample analysis cartridge is provided that includes a collection port and a body. The body has one or more internal channels in selective fluid communication with the collection port. The collection port includes a collection bowl, and a slide valve assembly operable to be selectively positioned in an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the collection bowl is accessible for sample deposition, and in the closed position the collection bowl is inaccessible for sample deposition.
US09199235B2
A test chip includes a substrate, a lid member, a separation portion, a first flow path, and a first holding portion. The substrate includes a surface on which a flow path is formed. The lid member covers the surface of the substrate. By centrifugal force, the separation portion separates components of a test object liquid into a separated component and a residual component having a larger specific gravity than a specific gravity of the separated component. The first flow path guides the separated component from the separation portion to a receiving portion. The first holding portion holds at least part of the residual component overflowing from the separation portion in a case where the separated component separated in the separation portion is moved from the separation portion to the receiving portion. The first holding portion is connected to at least one of the separation portion and the first flow path.
US09199225B2
Disclosed is a method for preparing a metal fluoride catalyst as a dehydrofluorination catalyst having high activity under a mild condition using a trifluoroacetic acid solution with no use of HF gas having fluidity and corrosive property. Disclosed also is a dehydrofluorination method for preparing HFO-1225ye from HFP-236ea by using the catalyst with high efficiency.
US09199218B2
Disclosed is a water-absorbent resin particle in which the water-absorption rate of physiological saline is 1 second to 15 seconds, the median particle size is 100 μm to 600 μm, and the residual volatile component content is 1.5% by weight or less.
US09199207B1
This gauge well mixer works off of the differential pressure in a storage tank and gauge well. Slot covers with dividers are installed in the gauge well. The slot covers and dividers are staggered for better mixing. The gauge well has a vertical interior space extending the length of thereof; wherein the slots open into the vertical, interior space. A first horizontal divider is located in the vertical, interior space below a first slot; and a second horizontal divider is located in the vertical, interior space above a second slot. The slot covers are installed on slots located between the first slot and the second slot.
US09199202B2
A filter element attachment is provided and is attachable to a filter element. The filter element attachment includes a housing for receiving at least a part of the filter element; at least one display configured to display information associated with the filter element. The filter element attachment may be associated with a corresponding filter cartridge and a filter system.
US09199199B2
A separation membrane is described. The separation membrane comprises a porous inorganic membrane, the pores of the inorganic membrane being coated with a polybenzoxazole polymer coating. Methods of making the separation membrane and methods of separating xylenes using the separation membrane are also described.
US09199194B2
The objective of the present invention is to reduce the loss in functionality due to the burn-out of micro-coils in a heating device, which uses micro-coils formed of carbon or molecules that include carbon as a principal component for heating a target object located in a space where high-temperature gases flow. The present invention relates to a heating device comprising: a heat producing layer having a micro-coil formed of carbon or molecules that include carbon as a principal component, where the heat producing layer is installed together with the target object located in a target space where high-temperature gases flow; and an electromagnetic (EM)-wave-emitting device that emits EM radiation into the target space. The target object is heated by producing heat in the micro-coil by EM radiation from the EM wave emitting device emitted to the target space. The heating device further comprises a covering layer, which coats the entirety of the heat producing layer.
US09199193B2
Methane gas in a ruminant exhalation may be oxidized to reduce the amount of methane gas output by the ruminant.
US09199176B2
A communication game system includes a plurality of game apparatuses which can be communicated via a network and functions as a parent machine and as a child machine, for example. In the child machine, a moving track of an object to be operated is obtained in response to an input with a pointing device by a player, and transmitted to the parent machine. In the parent machine, a movement of the object is controlled by the moving track, and drawing information to draw a virtual game space including the moved object is transmitted to the child machine. In the child machine, a game screen including the object to be operated is generated and displayed on the basis of the received drawing information.
US09199163B2
Configuration of advertisements in a streaming video segment from a serving node is based on a result of an interactive game process executing on a client device. A configuration of advertisements in the streaming video is determined based on the game result. The configuration may include which advertisements are selected to play during ad slots to be included in the video segment, or a number of ad slots to be provided in the video segment. The serving node may configure the video segment with the advertisements selected based on the game result in the determined number of ad slots so that the selected advertisements are played during the ad slots when the video segment is streamed to the client device. If the video segment is configured with no ad slots based on the game result, then the video segment may be streamed to the client device without advertisements.
US09199161B2
A device for removing a covering film layer off of a ticket comprises a cylindrical housing which includes a battery compartment, a motor powered by the batteries within the battery compartment, a crankshaft connected to the motor and a scrapper element in contact with the crankshaft which moves in response to the motion generated by the motor. The scrapper element includes a tip that, when in contact with the film later on the ticket, removes the film from the ticket. Preferably, the scrapper element motion is from side to side. Preferably, the tip is a blade cut at a 47 degree angle with the scrapper element.
US09199159B2
Methods of administering wagering games may comprise accepting a first wager from individual players to play against a dealer. A second wager may be accepted from at least two players to play against one another. A portion of the second wager may be placed in a first pot. A remainder of the second wager may be placed in a second pot. Cards may be dealt to each player and to the dealer. The first wager may be resolved for each player against the dealer. The second wager may be resolved for the at least two players against one another. At least a portion of the first pot may be awarded to at least one player at a conclusion of each round of play. At least a portion of the second pot may be awarded to at least one player holding a predetermined winning hand.
US09199147B2
A golf bag cart comprising a wheeled drive section and a storage section configured to house one or more golf clubs. In some embodiments the golf bag cart's storage section can be flipped up from a closed position against the drive section to an open position extended away from the drive section, such that the golf bag cart can be driven around in the open position by a user. The golf bag cart can have one or more steering mechanisms configured to direct the golf bag cart as the golf bag cart is driven.
US09199141B2
A ball striking device may include a ball striking plate having a front surface configured to strike a ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The ball striking device may include a covering element located behind the rear surface. The covering element may be affixed to the rear surface of the ball striking plate with an adhesive member. The adhesive member may include a double-sided tape. Further, a thickened portion of the ball striking plate may be located behind a desired-contact region of the ball striking plate and the covering element may be affixed thereto. The covering element may be a highly-contoured element. The ball striking device may be a golf club head.
US09199140B1
Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion and a plurality of weight portions. The plurality of weight portions may include a first set of weight portions and a second set of weight portions. Each weight portion of the first set of weight portions may be associated with a first mass, and each weight portion of the second set of weight portions may be associated with a second mass that is less than the first mass. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09199138B2
Golf club-heads are disclosed that have a body and a face plate. Exemplary club-heads are hollow metal-wood club-heads. The face plate is attached to the front of the body and has obverse and reverse surfaces, and a peripheral zone, toe zone, heel zone, upper zone, lower zone, and central zone. The reverse surface defines in the central zone a recess surrounded by a substantially annular ridge. The reverse surface also defines in the toe zone and heel zone respective horizontal flanking recesses. The reverse surface also defines in the upper zone and lower zone respective vertical flanking recesses. The maximal thickness of the annular ridge is greater than the respective thicknesses of the central recess and flanking recesses, and the respective thicknesses of the flanking recesses are no greater than the thickness of the central recess.
US09199131B2
A golf ball comprising: an inner core having a compression of less than about 60, wherein the inner core comprises a highly neutralized thermoplastic ionomer; at least one intermediate layer surrounding the inner core, having a hardness of at least about 55 Shore D, a specific gravity and a flexural modulus such that each of the hardness, specific gravity and flexural modulus of the intermediate layer is greater than a hardness, a specific gravity, and a flexural modulus of the inner core; and a cover surrounding the at least one intermediate layer, having a flexural modulus and a Shore D hardness that are greater than a flexural modulus and a hardness of the inner core, and a Shore D hardness of the cover is at least 60.
US09199123B2
An improved exercise table or reformer having an improved tower, adjustable foot bar assembly and/or improved jump board. The improved tower may also be used without being attached to a reformer. The improved tower includes adjustable spring mechanisms and adjustable pulley mechanisms. The improved foot bar assembly includes a captive hook to improve safety. The improved jump board is attached to the frame by dropping into an envelope and by engaging the foot bar assembly.
US09199121B2
Provided is an exercise device for a lower body capable of simultaneously performing anaerobic exercise for leg muscle strengthening and stretching and aerobic exercise such as cycle pedal exercise. The exercise device for a lower body includes a pair of base bars 11 parallelly aligned with each other and having an arc shape; connecting shafts 12 fixed to side surfaces of center parts of the base bars 11 to opposite each other and having a pivot coupling structure installed therebetween; a pair of rotary arms 14 laterally pivotally hinged to upper surfaces of the center parts of the base bars 11 and having heel support frames 13 such that both feet are seated on upper surfaces of the rotary arms 11 to simultaneously perform anaerobic (static) exercise and aerobic (dynamic) exercise for leg muscles; and spring members 15 resiliently supported between the rotary arms 11 and the connecting shafts 12 to inwardly bias the rotary arms 14.
US09199114B1
An upper body exerciser which is compatible with walking or using a treadmill permits vigorous upper body exercise involving hands, arms, biceps, triceps, shoulders, and neck. The upper body exerciser is a harness that rests on the shoulders of a person with a forward extension presenting handgrips at the distal ends of a hand crank that can be rotated such as bicycle pedals are rotated by the feet. Since the harness is easily donned or removed with just a single motion without the need for confining straps, its convenience encourages frequent use.
US09199113B1
A yoga prop has a rigid elongate plate and end walls extending from the ends of the plate. The yoga prop is used in various methods to perform various yoga postures. The elongate plate has two ends, and has a preselected length. The end wall extending outwardly from each of the two ends of the elongate plate generally perpendicular to the elongate plate. A resilient coating covering substantially all of the elongate plate and the end walls.
US09199111B2
An exercise frame made up of two upright members connected by a transverse base member and a transverse link attached to the top portion of the frame. A transverse spring-loaded grip bar is positioned at a height suitable for gripping by user's hands while the user in a lying position in front of the base member. A pair of leg supports is designed to alternately support one or the other of user's legs while the user's rests the Achilles tendon on one of two leg supports carried by the upright members above the grip bar. The user performs exercises designed to strengthen rectus abdominis without flexing user's torso.
US09199105B1
A safety hook includes a hook member, a latch member, and a switch, wherein the both the latch member and the switch are pivoted on the hook member, and the latch member is moved between a lock position and an unlock position by pressing the switch. The hook member is covered by a insulating member, and the insulating member includes two insulating layers with different colors to warn the user by the color change if the outer insulating layer is worn. The latch member and the switch are covered by insulating members as well to avoid electric shock.
US09199097B2
A method to apply a nerve inhibiting cloud surrounding a blood vessel includes creating a treatment plan, wherein the treatment plan prescribes application of the nerve inhibiting cloud towards at least a majority portion of a circumference of a blood vessel wall, and applying the nerve inhibiting cloud towards the majority portion of the circumference of the blood vessel wall for a time sufficient to inhibit a function of a nerve that surrounds the blood vessel wall.
US09199092B2
An implantable device has a body that is substantially rigid and has an imageable shape. The body is further bioabsorbable and may contain permanent metallic elements to aid in its imaging. When the device is implanted in a resected cavity in soft tissue, it can cause the cavity to conform substantially to a known imageable shape. The implantable device is further imageable due to its attenuation properties being different from those of soft tissue such that the boundaries of the tissue corresponding to the predetermined shape can be determined.
US09199078B1
An implantable medical device capable of sensing cardiac signals and delivering cardiac electrical stimulation therapies is enabled to detect a short circuit condition on a sensing or therapy vector. A cardiac signal is sensed by a sensing module coupled to electrodes. A control module detects a short circuit condition in response to a significant drop in amplitude of far-field cardiac events coincident to near-field cardiac events. In some instances, the short circuit condition is detected in response an abnormal impedance on the far-field sensing vector and/or a matching morphology of the far-field cardiac electrical signal including the coincident FF cardiac event in addition to the significant drop in amplitude of the coincident FF cardiac events.
US09199056B2
A respiratory anesthetic aggregate devised for coupling to a breathing apparatus has an anesthetic gasifier unit that has a breathing gas input port connected to a first point in an inspiratory patient gas delivery path of a breathing apparatus, and a fresh gas output port connected to a second point in the patient gas delivery path downstream the first point. The inspiratory patient gas delivery path is connected via a mainstream connection between the first and second point. Thereby the anesthetic gasifier unit is connected in a sidestream configuration to the patient gas delivery path for adding the gasified anesthetic agent in a desired concentration to the patient gas delivery path at the second point. When aggregate is coupled to a breathing apparatus, a substantially volume neutral delivery of anesthetic agent is provided to the breathing apparatus.
US09199055B2
Lightweight, portable oxygen concentrators that operate using an ultra rapid, sub one second, adsorption cycle based on advanced molecular sieve materials are disclosed. The amount of sieve material utilized is a fraction of that used in conventional portable devices. This dramatically reduces the volume, weight, and cost of the device. Innovations in valve configuration, moisture control, case and battery design, and replaceable sieve module are described. Patients with breathing disorders and others requiring medical oxygen are provided with a long lasting, low cost alternative to existing portable oxygen supply devices.
US09199049B2
A ventilating system for providing inspiratory air to and receiving expiratory air from a patient in a respiratory cycle. A ventilator has an inspiratory outlet for providing inspiratory air and an expiratory inlet for receiving expiratory air. A patient circuit in fluid communication with the lungs of the patient conveys inspiratory air during the inspiratory phase and expiratory air during the expiratory phase. A flow transducer in fluid communication with the patient circuit detects a minimum volume of expiratory air in the patient circuit during the expiratory phase. An elastic reservoir in fluid communication with the patient circuit and the flow transducer expands to a first volume during the inspiratory contracts to a second volume during the expiratory phase. The volume difference between the first volume and the second volume is at least equal to the minimum volume threshold.
US09199012B2
A cover layer for a vacuum wound therapy dressing includes a backing layer formed from a flexible polymeric membrane and an adhesive layer for affixing the backing layer over a wound bed to provide a substantially fluid-tight seal around a perimeter of the wound bed. The cover layer is reinforced with a reinforcement layer extending to a peripheral region of the backing layer to distribute forces associated with evacuating a reservoir, as defined by or within the cover, to stimulate healing of the wound bed.
US09199008B2
This invention relates to stents, a type of implantable medical device, with an antiproliferative coating and a prohealing luminal coating and methods of fabricating stents with an antiproliferative coating and a prohealing luminal coating.
US09199006B2
The present invention relates to combination products including bioactive glass and collagen as well as kits comprising the same.
US09198992B2
A sterilization system for a sterile liquid transfer port system includes an isolation wall having a first and second side, an alpha assembly spanning a port in the isolation wall between the first and second sides of the isolation wall and a beta assembly configured for connection with the alpha assembly from the first side of the isolation wall for sterile transfer of a product. The system further includes a docking cover on the first side of the isolation wall which can mate to the beta assembly during a sterilization process.
US09198988B2
This invention discloses a synthetic procedure for preparing nanoparticulate materials of various metal cyanide compounds containing manganese(II) ions in the crystal lattice with the surfaces coated by a hydrophilic compound, and their use as MRI contrast agents with high sensitivity, long blood circulation half lives and low toxicity at low-field and high field MR scanners.
US09198984B2
A method for producing AAV, without requiring cell lysis, is described. The method involves harvesting AAV from the supernatant. For AAV having capsids with a heparin binding site, the method involves modifying the AAV capsids and/or the culture conditions to ablate the binding between the AAV heparin binding site and the cells, thereby allowing the AAV to pass into the supernatant, i.e., media. Thus, the method of the invention provides supernatant containing high yields of AAV which have a higher degree of purity from cell membranes and intracellular materials, as compared to AAV produced using methods using a cell lysis step.
US09198981B2
This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods for the treatment of traits, diseases and conditions that respond to the modulation of angiogenic growth factor bioavailability or biological activity.
US09198978B2
The present invention relates to therapeutic conjugates with improved ability to target various diseased cells containing a targeting moiety (such as an antibody or antibody fragment), a linker and a therapeutic moiety, and further relates to processes for making and using the conjugates.
US09198974B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparing decorated macromolecular scaffolds. The method of the invention is useful for the generation of bioactive nanoparticles for use in clinical applications. Such applications include drag and gene delivery, tumour targeting, bioimaging, tissue remodelling, generation of antiviral products and vaccines delivery.
US09198973B2
The present invention is directed to a polymeric compound with a size in a nanometric scale, useful as a biocompatible carrier for the transport and delivery of active agents into a fish, insect, animal, reptile, bird, human, or plant, wherein said polymeric compound comprises PAMAM (polyamidoamine) dendrimers, a spacer molecule, and cafestol, wherein the polymeric compound of the invention comprises a structure of the kind (cafestol-PAMAM derivative)2-spacer molecule. Use of the compound as a biocompatible carrier for transport and delivery of antithrombotic active agents is disclosed. Procedures for obtaining a polymeric compound comprising the activation of cafestol, activation of polyethylene glycol, and formation of cafestol-PAMAM-PEG-PAMAM-cafestol are also disclosed.
US09198970B2
The present invention generally relates to compositions and methods for transdermal drug delivery, including treatment and prevention of learning and memory disorders, and enhancement of learning or memory. In some cases, the composition may include nitric oxide. The nitric oxide may be present within a first phase comprising a lecithin, such as phosphatidylcholine. In certain embodiments, the lecithin is present in liposomes, micelles, or other vesicles containing nitric oxide. The composition can take the form of a gel, a cream, a lotion, an ointment, a solution, a solid “stick,” etc., that can be rubbed or sprayed onto the skin. Other aspects of the present invention are generally directed to methods of making or using such compositions, methods of promoting such compositions, kits including such compositions, or the like.
US09198969B2
The present invention relates to a stable liquid cabazitaxel formulation in an enclosed container. The enclosed container comprises a liquid phase and an gaseous phase, wherein the liquid phase comprises cabazitaxel, polysorbate 80, ethanol, and one or more pH adjusters to maintain pH about 2.8-6.0, and the gaseous phase is saturated with CO2. The present invention is also directed to a process for preparing the enclosed liquid pharmaceutical composition container.
US09198964B2
The present invention provides dengue virus vaccines and immunogenic compositions for administration to human subjects. The vaccine compositions of the present invention comprise recombinantly produced monomeric and/or dimeric forms of truncated dengue virus envelope glycoprotein that, when formulated together with an adjuvant and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, induce balanced tetravalent immune responses. In preferred embodiments of the compositions described herein, the DEN4 protein component is a dimeric form of DEN4. The compositions are designed to be acceptable for use in the general population, including immunosuppressed, immunocompromised, and immunosenescent individuals. Also provided herein are methods of inducing a protective immune response in a human patient population by administering the compositions described herein to the patients.
US09198952B2
Provided herein are ligand dimers, compositions thereof, as well as methods of their use. The ligand dimers provided can comprise at least one ligand to a Her receptor and can be used to force dimerization of specific receptor pairs. The forced dimerization of specific receptor pairs can be used to control (e.g., promote or inhibit) signaling, and, therefore, the ligand dimers provided can also be used in various forms of treatment in which such signaling control is beneficial to a subject. It follows that methods for controlling signaling are provided as are various methods of treatment.
US09198946B2
A process for selectively removing caffeine from a caffeine-containing catechin composition, which includes dissolving the caffeine-containing catechin composition in a 9/1 to 1/9 by weight mixed solution of an organic solvent and water, and then bringing the resultant solution into contact with activated carbon alone or with activated carbon and also acid clay or activated clay; and a packaged beverage containing such a decaffeinated composition.
US09198945B2
The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition containing a Rubus coreanus extract as an active ingredient, and more particularly to a cosmetic composition containing an extract from Rubus coreanus processed by traditional oriental medicinal processing technology, in which the Rubus coreanus extract has an excellent effect of reducing skin wrinkles by inhibiting the formation of SNARE complexes and the release of a neurotransmitter. The cosmetic composition has excellent stability in formulations compared to conventional products for reducing skin wrinkles and exhibit effects similar to Botox which has been used to reduce skin wrinkles, thereby greatly reducing skin wrinkles without causing adverse effects.
US09198941B2
Disclosed are yeast-based immunotherapeutic compositions comprising Brachyury antigens, and methods for the prevention and/or treatment of cancers characterized by the expression or overexpression of Brachyury.
US09198938B2
Provided herein are novel angiogenic cells from amnion, referred to as amnion derived adherent cells, and populations of, and compositions comprising, such cells. Further provided herein are methods of obtaining such cells and methods of using the cells in the treatment of individuals.
US09198934B2
Compositions comprising nanoparticles, such as silver or gold nanoparticles or carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and apoptotic agents are described. The nanoparticles can significantly enhance the cancer chemotherapeutic effects of the apoptotic agents. In particular, a highly increased anti-tumor activity has been demonstrated for the combination of etoposide and CNTs against HeLa cells compared to the administration of either etoposide alone or nanoparticles alone. Data provided by flow cytometry, Caspase 3 and other methods, suggest a strong interaction between the nanoparticles and the cellular structure, which can result in the improved effectiveness of chemotherapeutic agents. These findings provide potential new cancer therapies by carefully selecting the right combination of cytostatic drugs and nanostructural materials which synergistically provide significantly greater curative rates.
US09198932B2
The present invention generally relates to compositions and methods for treatment of subjects having or at risk of neuropathic pain or other conditions. In some cases, the composition may include nitric oxide. The nitric oxide may be present within a first phase comprising a lecithin, such as phosphatidylcholine. In certain embodiments, the lecithin is present in liposomes, micelles, or other vesicles containing nitric oxide. The composition can take the form of a gel, a cream, a lotion, an ointment, a solution, a solid “stick,” etc., that can be rubbed or sprayed onto the skin, e.g., onto a location with neuropathic pain, or on another suitable portion of the skin. Other aspects of the present invention are generally directed to methods of making or using such compositions, methods of promoting such compositions, kits including such compositions, or the like.
US09198928B2
Described herein are compositions comprising shortened fibers of poly-N-acetylglucosamine and/or a derivative thereof (“sNAG nanofibers”) and anti-bacterial applications of such compositions. The sNAG nanofibers may be formulated into compositions for the prevention and/or treatment of bacterial infections and diseases associated with such infections. Regimens employing such compositions are also described.
US09198914B2
The present invention concerns methods and compositions involving inhibitors and enhancers of RAD51, a protein involved in homologous recombination. In some embodiments, the present invention concerns methods for stimulating homologous recombination, which has a number of significant research and clinical applications. In certain other embodiments, there are methods for protecting cells using a compound that enhances RAD51 activity. Such enhancers may also be employed to prevent or reduce damage to cells that may be caused by DNA damaging agents. In other embodiments, there are methods for sensitizing cells to the effects of DNA damaging agents, which can have particular applications for cancer patients. In some embodiments of the invention, the RAD51 enhancer or inhibitor is a small molecule that directly affects RAD51 activity, such as its ability to promote filament formation.
US09198912B2
The invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for treating the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in humans, including three or four active principles selected as: a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NARTI) selected from lamivudine and emtricitabine; a nucleoside or nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NARTI) selected from didanosine, abacavir and tenofovir; and the combination of ritonavir with a protease inhibitor (PI) selected from lopinavir, fosamprenavir, atazanavir and darunavir; or an non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) selected from efavirenz and etravirine; for daily administration to said human being one to four days per week.
US09198904B2
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for oral administration comprising a modified release portion containing tamsulosin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and an immediate release portion containing solifenacin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a hydrophilic substance.In the pharmaceutical composition, the dissolution rate of each drug (in particular, solifenacin contained in the immediate release portion) is similar to those of the current single drug formulations, and the maximum percentage of drag dissolution of each drug (in particular, solifenacin contained in the immediate release portion) is 90% or more. Therefore, the pharmaceutical composition is a single formulation (i.e., a combined formulation) with a bioavailability equivalent to those of the current single drug formulations.
US09198897B2
The invention provides methods and compositions comprising an anti-cholinergic agent for decreasing saliva production and treating sialorrhea.
US09198896B2
A pharmaceutical composition and treatment method to reduce the proliferation of cancerous or tumor cells, in which the combined active agents are methylglyoxal, ascorbic acid, creatine and melatonin.
US09198892B2
Provided are composition and/or methods useful in preventing onset and/or recurrence of cardiovascular events, especially in patients who have escaped the unstable period after cardiovascular angioplasty or in hyperlipidemia patients who have been treated with HMG-CoA RI.
US09198890B2
The invention pertains to a method of determining a statin dosage for an individual in need of treatment with a statin, comprising determining a SLCO1B1 genotype from a nucleic acid sample of the individual, said genotype comprising the presence or absence of the SLCO1B1-056 polymorphism, and determining an ApoE genotype or phenotype identifying an ApoE polymorphism selected from the group consisting of ApoE2, ApoE3, ApoE4, and any combination thereof, wherein the combination of a SLCO1B1 genotype identifying the presence of the SLCO1B1-056 C polymorphism and the ApoE genotype or phenotype identifying one of the ApoE3/4 or ApoE4/4 genotypes indicates the statin dosage.
US09198883B1
Compositions and methods useful for inducing an increase in fatty acid oxidation or mitochondrial biogenesis, reducing weight gain, inducing weight loss, or increasing Sirt1, Sirt3, or AMPK activity are provided herein. Such compositions can contain synergizing amounts of a sirtuin-pathway activators, including but not limited to resveratrol, in combination with beta-hydroxymethylbutyrate (HMB), keto isocaproic acid (KIC), leucine, or combinations of HMB, KIC and leucine.
US09198879B2
The present invention relates generally to compositions and methods for oral delivery of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA). More particularly, the present invention relates to pharmacologically optimized multimodal drug delivery systems for orally administered NDGA and methods for preparation and use thereof.
US09198874B2
The present disclosure is directed in part to a biocompatible nanoparticle composition comprising a plurality of non-colloidal long circulating nanoparticles, each comprising a α-hydroxy polyester-co-polyether and a therapeutic agent, wherein such disclosed compositions provide a therapeutic effect for at least 12 hours.
US09198872B2
A protective coating for covering a biological material, the protective coating having a plurality of interconnected layers covalently bonded to each other. The plurality of interconnected layers can include at least one hyperbranched polymeric material, and at least one dendrimer. A method of forming a protective coating for covering a biological material, the method can include depositing a plurality of interconnected layers, which are covalently bonded to each other. The plurality of interconnected layers can include at least one hyperbranched polymeric material, and at least one dendrimer.
US09198867B2
Methods and compositions are provided which comprise effective amounts of analgesic to treat a subject, including reducing or eliminating an adverse effect associated with the analgesic.
US09198858B2
The present disclosure provides mucoadhesive aqueous-based gel formulations of metronidazole useful for a variety of purposes, including intravaginal application as a therapeutic approach towards the treatment of individuals suffering from and/or diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis.
US09198852B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to novel personal care compositions for cleaning and moisturizing the skin or hair comprising an extract of squash and/or pumpkin, a preservative and a cosmetic base. Other embodiments of the present invention relate to methods of making and methods of using the personal care compositions.
US09198848B2
The present invention refers to a process for obtaining standardized extracts of methylxanthine derivatives from cakes of plants of the genus Theobroma such as cacoa and cupuaçu for use in a composition having potential anti-celullite lipolytic activity.
US09198844B2
An anti cavity bioconsumable liquid which may be provided in the liquid form or frozen form is disclosed herein. The liquid may include up to about 5 wt. % xylitol for the purposes of mitigating tooth decay when the bioconsumable liquid is ingested or consumed by a person. Moreover, the bioconsumable liquid may include up to about 5 wt. % of dextrose but never more than the wt. % of xylitol for the purposes of sweetening the bioconsumable liquid to retain an acceptable flavor profile. An infant, child or adult may consume the bioconsumable liquid during which the xylitol acts to mitigate tooth decay. The bioconsumable liquid may also be frozen in an ice pop configuration and consumed by a child or an adult. The ice pop retains an acceptable flavor profile and also mitigates tooth decay.
US09198843B2
The present invention provides a novel manufacturing process for producing a high surface area USP grade titanium dioxide in the nano-anatase form. In a manufacturing method aspect of the present invention, a process of producing a high surface area USP grade TiO2 nano-anatase base is provided. The method involves steps of: a) phosphorus doping of the titanium hydrate obtained in hydrolysis of a titanium compound; b) drying and calcination of the doped paste, thereby producing a high surface area USP grade titanium dioxide in the anatase crystal form with nano-particles suitable for UV screens and cosmetics.
US09198840B1
A pumpable liquid spray formulation for retarding degradation of color cosmetics, the pumpable liquid spray formulation being characterized by: the presence of at least one encapsulated evaporative cooling agent; and at least one entrained solvent; and the absence of fluorocarbon-based evaporative cooling agents, whereby the reduction of the surface temperature of the color cosmetics is achieved by a controlled release of the entrained solvents by the at least one encapsulated evaporative cooling agent.
US09198832B2
A port assembly for enabling contents of a first container to be mixed with contents of a second container. The port assembly has a port housing that is configured to receive a first container. The port assembly further includes an actuator axially fixed within a cavity of the port housing. The actuator is configured to open a first container by forcing a stopper sealing an opening of a first container into a cavity of a first container during activation.
US09198827B1
The water massage assembly for massaging a user's feet in a tub includes a tub that may contain a fluid. A user is positioned in the fluid. A pump is coupled to the tub. A control is operationally coupled to the pump. The control controls an operational parameter of the pump. A first jet is coupled to the tub. The first jet is operationally coupled to the pump. The pump urges air outwardly from the first jet onto the user's body. A foot box is operationally coupled to the tub. The foot box may receive the user's feet. A second jet is coupled to the foot box. The second jet is operationally coupled to the pump. The pump urges air outwardly from the second jet onto the user's feet.
US09198821B2
The Active Knee Rehabilitation Orthotic System (ANdROS) is a wearable and portable assistive tool for gait rehabilitation and monitoring of people with motor control deficits due to a neurological ailment, such as stroke. ANdROS reinforces a desired gait pattern by continually applying a corrective torque around the knee joint, commanded by a impedance controller. A sensorized yet unactuated brace worn on the unimpaired leg is used to synchronize the playback of the desired trajectory based on the user's intent. The device is mechanically grounded through two ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) rigidly attached to the main structure, which helps reduce the weight perceived by the user.
US09198818B2
A viewing coffin is provided that can support a deceased individual and provide a means of viewing the same without opening the coffin door. The coffin comprises a substantially rectangular structure with an open upper and a coffin door thereover. The coffin door includes an upper portion that comprises a transparent surface. The upper portion is configured to be disposed over the upper body of an individual within the coffin for viewing purposes. The coffin door further comprises a channel disposed within the door and below the upper portion. A slidable lid is provided within the channel that can be operably deployed over the transparent surface to shroud the individual therein. In this way, the lid provides a means to allow viewing of the individual, while the transparent surface separates the body from the ambient environment.
US09198814B2
A wheeled chair for transporting patients includes a plurality of footrests for supporting a patient's feet thereon. Each footrest is pivotable between an up position and a down position, and includes a biasing mechanism for biasing the footrest toward the up position, or the down position, or whichever of the two positions the footrest is currently closer to. A swing mechanism swings the footrests from a use position in front of the seat to a stowed position alongside the seat. A trigger, such as a button, automatically activates the swinging. The swinging may take place about a vertical axis that is common to the axis about which the front caster wheels swivel. Pivot extensions may be included on the footrests that provide a tool for enabling a caregiver to manually pivot the footrest between the up and down positions with his or her foot.
US09198812B2
A field stretcher comprising a subject transporting portion, the subject transporting portion comprising a region capable of forming a subject retaining compartment for retaining a subject positioned within the subject transporting portion, is disclosed and described. A method of transporting a subject generally horizontally, is provided, the method comprising providing a field stretcher comprising a subject transporting portion, positioning a subject in the subject transporting portion, and drawing at least a portion of the subject transporting portion about at least a portion of the subject.
US09198795B2
Devices and methods are disclosed for the delivery of a compressible implant into a bodily lumen. The delivery device includes an enlarged section that is configured to house the implant during delivery thereof into a patient. In certain embodiments, the implant is kept within the delivery device in a substantially uncompressed configuration prior to the delivery thereof.
US09198791B2
Apparatus (20) for use with pancreaticobiliary secretions that enter a gastrointestinal tract of a subject at an anatomical entry location, the apparatus (20) comprising: a pancreaticobiliary secretion-diversion guide (30) configured to collect the pancreaticobiliary secretions from the anatomical entry location and deliver the pancreaticobiliary secretions to a location in the gastrointestinal tract that is distal to the anatomical entry location; and an anchoring system (40) comprising one or more helical anchors (80) located within the gastrointestinal tract and configured to apply pressure to a wall of the gastrointestinal tract in order to maintain the pancreaticobiliary secretion-diversion guide in place.
US09198784B2
Apparatus for delivering stents to body lumens include one or more tubular prostheses carried at the distal end of a catheter shaft, a sheath slidably disposed over the prostheses, and a guidewire tube extending from within the sheath to the exterior of the sheath through an exit port in a sidewall thereof. A guidewire extends slidably through the guidewire tube. The sheath can be moved relative to the catheter shaft and the guidewire tube to expose the prostheses for deployment. Methods of delivering stents are also provided.
US09198770B2
An artificial disc is disclosed. The artificial disc may include a superior endplate having a bi-convex superior surface and a concave inferior surface, and an inferior endplate having a bi-convex inferior surface. The artificial disc may also include a core assembly disposed between the superior endplate and the inferior endplate, and a support assembly disposed on outer surfaces of both the superior endplate and the inferior endplate. The support assembly may be configured to couple the superior endplate to the inferior endplate.
US09198765B1
A system and methods for promoting fusion across an intervertebral disc space, the system including an expandable system of spinal fusion implants wherein the system of implants is inserted into an intervertebral disc space in a smaller profile, collapsed insertion state, and then expanded anteriorly to an expanded state.
US09198757B2
The various aspects of the invention pertain to devices and related methods for treating heart conditions, including, for example, dilatation, valve incompetencies, including mitral valve leakage, and other similar heart failure conditions. The devices and related methods of the present invention operate to assist in the apposition of heart valve leaflets to improve valve function. According to one aspect of the invention, a method improves the function of a valve of a heart by placing an elongate member transverse a heart chamber so that each end of the elongate member extends through a wall of the heart, and placing first and second anchoring members external the chamber. The first and second anchoring members are attached to first and second ends of the elongate member to fix the elongate member in a position across the chamber so as to reposition papillary muscles within the chamber. Also described herein is a method for placing a splint assembly transverse a heart chamber by advancing an elongate member through vasculature structure and into the heart chamber.
US09198746B2
In one embodiment, a medical device includes a resorbable material that is configured to be disposed within the body of the patient proximate a bodily implant. The resorbable material is configured to frictionally retain the implant in place within the body of the patient for at least a period of time. In one embodiment, a kit includes an implant and a resorbable material. The implant is configured to be disposed within a body of a patient. The resorbable material is configured to be disposed within the body of the patient proximate the implant to frictionally retain the implant in place within the body of the patient for a period of time. The resorbable material is configured to be resorbed by the body after the period of time.
US09198743B2
Provided is an integrated alveolar bone dilating apparatus for dental implant. The apparatus includes a grip, a stopper, and a dilating part. The grip has a cylindrical shape. The stopper is disposed under the grip and has a diameter greater than a diameter of the grip. The dilating part is disposed under the stopper. Here, the dilating part includes a dilator reduced in diameter toward a lower portion thereof and having an inverted conic shape with a sharp tip, and two blades disposed on both sides of the dilator and being sharp toward the outside.
US09198742B2
A method of increasing the hydrophilicity of an implant to be implanted into living bone. The method comprises the act of depositing non-toxic salt residuals on the surface of the implant by exposing the surface to a solution including the non-toxic salts. The method further comprises the act of drying the implant.
US09198741B2
An orthodontic appliance has sliding rods for the treatment of a lower jaw that is offset relative to the upper jaw. A sleeve is inserted between opposite ends of the tow rods, each of which being associated with one of the jaws. The second rod is screwed into the sleeve at one end, while the first rod is slidably mounted in the sleeve at the opposite end, with the adjustment of the position of the second rod relative to the sleeve being made by screwing and unscrewing.
US09198737B2
A three-dimensional position and orientation tracking system comprises one or more pattern tags, each comprising a plurality of contrasting portions, a tracker for obtaining image information about the pattern tags, a database with geometric information describing patterns on pattern tags; and a controller for receiving and processing the image information from the tracker, accessing the database to retrieve geometric information, and comparing the image information with the geometric information. The contrasting portions are arranged in a rotationally asymmetric pattern and at least one of the contrasting portions on a pattern tag has a perimeter that has a mathematically describable curved section. The pattern tags may be borne on tracking markers that have a three-dimensional shaped surface. The tracking system can be implemented in a surgical monitoring system in which the pattern tags are attached to tracking markers or are themselves tracking markers. A method associated with the system employs the rotationally asymmetric patterns on the tags to determine the three-dimensional locations and orientations of items bearing the tags using non-stereo image information.
US09198728B2
A remote controlled robot system that includes a mobile robot and a remote control station. A user can control movement of the robot from the remote control station. The mobile robot includes a camera system that can capture and transmit to the remote station a zoom image and a non-zoom image. The remote control station includes a monitor that displays a robot view field. The robot view field can display the non-zoom image. The zoom image can be displayed in the robot view field by highlighting an area of the non-zoom field. The remote control station may also store camera locations that allow a user to move the camera system to preset locations.
US09198721B2
An electrosurgical instrument includes an elongated housing having proximal and distal ends. The proximal end is configured to couple to a source of electrosurgical energy via first and second channels extending along a length of the housing to the distal end thereof. The distal end includes a reflector having a dielectric load operably coupled thereto and configured to receive at least a portion of the first conductor therein. In a first mode of operation, electrosurgical energy is transmitted to the first channel and reflected from the reflector to electrosurgically treat tissue. The reflector is configured to receive at least a portion of the second channel therein. In a second mode of operation, electrosurgical energy is transmitted to the second channel to dissect tissue.
US09198720B2
An electrosurgical device is configured for connection to a source of electrosurgical energy and includes a housing and an electrical circuit supported within the housing. The electrical circuit is connectable to the source of electrosurgical energy. The electrical circuit is provided with at least one tactile enhancement feature. A controller is slidably supported on the housing. The controller is configured to exert a force on the electrical circuit to affect a change in the electrical circuit and to exert a force on a surface of the housing to engage the tactile enhancement feature and provide a tactile feedback to a user of the electrosurgical device as the controller is moved relative to the housing.
US09198713B2
Methods and devices for measuring the size of a body lumen and a method for ablating tissue that uses the measurement to normalize delivery of ablational energy from an expandable operative element to a luminal target of varying circumference are provided. The method includes inserting into the lumen an expandable operative element having circuitry with resistivity or inductance that varies with circumference of the operative element, varying the expansion of the operative element with an expansion medium, measuring the resistivity of the circuitry, and relating the resistivity or inductance to a value for the circumference of the operative element. In some embodiments the sizing circuit includes a conductive elastomer wrapped around the operative element. Other embodiments apply to operative elements that include an overlapping energy delivery element support in which the overlap varies inversely with respect to the state of expansion, and electrodes that sense the amount of the overlap.
US09198704B2
A deployment device for a prosthesis includes a driving assembly, including a driving tube and a driving pin. The deployment device also includes a driven assembly, including a driven tube and a driven pin. The driven pin and the driven tube may be further associated with the prosthesis. The driving tube, the driving pin, the driven tube and the driven pin may all be located coaxially, with the driving pin configured to translate through a cavity in the driving tube and the driven pin configured to translate through a cavity in the driven tube. This configuration allows for a two-stage implantation process for the prosthesis, as the driving tube and driving pin may move together in one stage and may move relative to one another in a second stage.
US09198699B2
The present invention provides a technique for percutaneous intramedullary fixation. A protective outer sheath is provided for internal fixation of the proximal tibia. Additionally, a unique intramedullary plate is provided that is adapted for percutaneous insertion into the intramedullary canal of a long bone. A plate holder is also provided that may be utilized through the outer sheath to drive and position a fixation plate within the intramedullary canal.
US09198696B1
A cross-connector, sized and dimensioned to stabilize the distance between a pair of rods in the spine. The cross-connector includes a first coupling assembly, a second coupling assembly, and a connecting device, extending therebetween. Each coupling assembly further includes a coupler, which attaches to a tulip head, and a camming assembly. The connecting device further includes a first arm element, a second arm element, and a screw. The arm elements move within the ball joints of the couplers and pivot around the screw, allowing a surgeon to adjust the length of the cross-connector and place the cross-connector above and around features within the body. The camming assemblies lock the tulip heads and the arm elements in place on the couplers. The screw locks the center rotation of the cross-connector.
US09198695B2
A polyaxial bone anchor including a housing, a bone screw, and a retainer for pivotably coupling the head of the bone screw to the housing. The retainer is positioned into the bore of the housing and includes a plurality of alternating tabs and slots circumferentially arranged to define a cavity for receiving the head portion of the bone screw therein. The retainer is axially moveable in the housing from a first position in which the head portion is not passable through the lower opening of the retainer to a second position in which the head portion is passable through the lower opening of the retainer.
US09198691B2
A capless multiaxial screw fixation assembly, including a screw having a threaded portion and a screw head portion positioned at one end thereof and a retainer having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a bore for receiving the screw threaded portion so that the screw head portion is seated therein. At least one of the screw and the retainer is configured such that the retainer is able to pivot about the screw head portion in a non-symmetrical manner.
US09198682B2
An endoscope treatment tool includes a flexible sheath, a manipulation wire, and a basket portion constituted by a locking portion and a plurality of elastic wires. A maximum outside diameter portion of the basket portion is at a position closer to the locking portion than an intermediate position between a proximal end of the basket portion and the locking portion. The plurality of elastic wires is formed in a shape of a helix, and a winding pitch of the plurality of elastic wires becomes gradually smaller in a direction from a proximal side to the distal side of the manipulation wire. When a proximal side of the basket portion is reduced, an outside diameter of the maximum outside diameter portion is maintained at substantially a same size as the outside diameter before the proximal side of the basket portion is reduced.
US09198670B2
Methods for treatment of a cerebral aneurysm are described. Embodiments may include a self-expanding resilient permeable shell having a radially constrained elongated state configured for delivery within a catheter lumen, an expanded state with a globular and longitudinally shortened configuration relative to the radially constrained state, and a plurality of elongate filaments which are woven together, which define a cavity of the permeable shell. The permeable shell includes at least some filaments consisting of nitinol and at least some composite filaments. The composite filaments include drawn filled tube wires having an external nitinol tube and a highly radiopaque material concentrically disposed within the external tube.
US09198663B1
Systems of releasably connecting staple line buttress material to the jaws of a surgical stapling instrument are provided. The systems include retainers configured to engage the buttress material and releasably retain the buttress material on the jaws of the surgical stapling instrument prior to stapling tissue. In certain embodiments, the retainers remain with the jaws of the instrument after stapling of tissue. In alternative embodiments, the retainers remain with the buttress material after being stapled to tissue.
US09198662B2
A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapler. The assembly has a cartridge body having a support portion with a plurality of staple cavities with openings. There is also a plurality of staples, wherein at least a portion of each the staple is removably stored within a the staple cavity. Each the staple is movable between an unfired position and a fired position, and is deformable between an unfired configuration and a fired configuration. The assembly also includes a compressible tissue thickness compensator configured to be captured within the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator at least partially covers the staple cavity openings. The compressed tissue thickness compensator is configured to assume different compressed heights within different the staples. The compressible tissue thickness compensator includes a visualization indicator.
US09198658B2
A surgical instrument having a handle portion, an elongated portion defining a longitudinal axis therethrough, an end effector, and a pin. The elongated portion extends distally from the handle portion. The end effector is disposed adjacent the elongated portion and includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The pin is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the first jaw member and includes an engaging section. In operation, the pin moves between a first position and a second position. While in the first position, the engaging portion of the pin is spaced from the second jaw member. In the second position, the engaging portion of the pin engages the second jaw member. The second jaw member includes a locking structure configured to maintain the position of the second jaw member with respect to the first jaw member during actuation of the end effector.
US09198653B2
A surgical filament snare assembly including an anchor capable of being fixated in bone and having a filament engagement feature. A first filament has a noose with first and second noose limbs connected, preferably slidably connected, to the filament engagement feature of the anchor. The first and second noose limbs emerge from the anchor as first and second free filament limbs which are capable of being passed through tissue to be repaired and then passable through the noose. The noose, such as one or more half-hitches, is capable of receiving the free filament limbs and strangulating them when tension is applied to at least one of the free filament limbs and the noose to enable incremental tensioning of the tissue after the anchor is fixated. Preferably, the snare assembly further includes a flexible sleeve joining at least some portion of the first and second free filament limbs to facilitate passing of the free filament limbs at least through the tissue as a single unit.
US09198650B2
Various devices, systems, and methods are provided for securing soft tissue to bone. In one exemplary embodiment, a two-piece inserter tool is provided that includes a tip portion that is configured to be removably coupled to a handle portion. A distal portion of the tip portion can be configured to be coupled to a suture anchor, and the tip portion and the anchor can be passed through a continuous suture loop prior to mating the tip portion to the handle portion.
US09198641B2
A specimen sample collection system includes a handle having opposing first and second ends, and a sufficiency indicator coupled to the handle, wherein the handle second end and sufficiency indicator form a cavity adapted to receive a sample collection pad; a sample collection pad having opposing ends, the sample collection pad partially contained within and extending from the handle second end and in contact with the sufficiency indicator, the sample collection pad having a cylindrical cross section; and, a pad compression tube having a first open end to go over the sample collection pad and second end of the handle, an opposing second end, an interior surface extending therebetween, and at least outlet port proximal to the pad compression tube second end and in fluid communication with the pad compression tube interior. The system may include wherein the sufficiency indicator is a light pipe or other indicating element, providing visual, aural or haptic indication of sufficient sample volume. The system may include wherein the sufficiency indicator includes longitudinal channels extending along the interior surface in contact with the sample collection pad to provide a path for displace air. The system may include a sealing member to seal against a pad compression tube and to engage the specimen collection pad. The system may include one or more collection tubes attachable to one or more of the pad compression tube outlet ports. The system may include ergonomic features for the handle and pad compression tube. The system may include a specimen collection pad having a full cross section portion and a reduced cross section portion, including a shoulder to engage a sealing member and an angled surface to conform to the interior surface of a light pipe sufficiency indicator. The system may include one or more in-line filters adjacent the pad compression tube outlet ports. The system may include additional features as described herein.
US09198640B2
A system for providing information related to a tissue region of a patient is provided. The system includes a user interface configured for co-displaying medical imaging information of the tissue region and visible light information of the tissue region.
US09198635B2
High intensity ultrasound (HIU) is used to facilitate surgical procedures, such as a laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, with minimal bleeding. An apparatus is configured to emit HIU from one or more transducers that are attached to a minimally invasive surgical instrument. Such a tool preferably can provide sufficient clamping pressure to collapse blood vessels' walls, so that they will be sealed by the application of the HIU, and by the resulting thermal ablation and tissue cauterization. Such an instrument can provide feedback to the user that the lesion is completely transmural and that blood flow to the region distal of the line of thermal ablation has ceased. Similar instruments having opposed arms can be configured for use in conventional surgical applications as well. Instruments can be implemented with transducers on only one arm, and an ultrasound reflective material disposed on the other arm.
US09198634B2
A process for pre-processing recorded and digitized heart sounds and corresponding digitized ECG signals is provided. The pre-processed signals (203) are suitable for input into an automatic decision support system implemented by means of a diagnostic decision network (205), used for diagnosing and differentiation between normal/functional (206) and pathological (207) heart murmurs, particularly in pediatric patients. The process includes identifying or predicting locations of individual heart beats within the heart sound signal, identifying the positions of the S1 and S2 heart pulses within the respective heart beats, predicting and identifying the locations and durations of the systole and diastole segments of the heart beats (302), determining if segmentation of the heart sound signal is possible based on the selected and isolated heart beats (305), and the segmentation of the respective heart beats into segments for allowing better feature extraction. The invention also provides a process for detecting the QRS complex of an ECG signal for optimizing the number of heart beat cycles detected.
US09198626B2
A method of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) imaging can include repeatedly scanning a target region an applied power during a session. The applied power can be a first power for a first scan. After the first scan, the applied power for each of a plurality of scans can be selected based on an algorithm. The algorithm can be based on, for example, the attenuation indicated from a preceding scan in the session.
US09198621B2
Electronic systems, devices and methods are provided to accurately measure both food intake and physical activity in a subject. A device is provided to be placed on a subject which records video as well as other physiological and/or environmental data. Video data can be analyzed along with other data obtained by the device to determine food consumption and physical activity of the subject, much of which is accomplished by automated computer-implemented processes.
US09198615B2
A wearable positional therapy device for influencing a position of a user. In an embodiment, the device comprises a position detector that generates positional data used to determine a position of a user, a feedback generator that generates feedback to the user, and a microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to receive and analyze the positional data to determine whether the user is in a target position, while, in response to the device being turned on or a reset operation, delaying feedback for a delay period. If it is determined that the user is in the target position during the delay period, no feedback is provided. However, if it is determined that the user is in the target position following the delay period, feedback is provided to the user to induce the user to change to a different, non-target position.
US09198610B2
A blood sampling device useful for collecting a blood sample from a separate vascular access device is described herein. The blood sampling device includes a body shaped and sized for partial insertion into a separate vascular access device. The body includes a reservoir defined within the body, which has an internal volume sufficient to contain enough blood for use in a diagnostic blood test. The body also includes a gas permeable vent disposed on the body, in which the gas permeable vent is in gaseous communication with the reservoir. When connected to a separate vascular access device the blood sampling device collects a blood sample as blood flows into the reservoir from the separate vascular access device and as gases pass out the reservoir via the gas permeable vent.
US09198605B2
Dietary intake regulating devices that can assist a user in measuring his or her dietary intake and optionally his or her physical activity are disclosed.
US09198600B2
The invention relates to the guidance, positioning and placement confirmation of intravascular devices typically inserted percutaneously into the venous or arterial vasculature. An endovenous access and guidance system is described that includes an elongate flexible member adapted and configured to access the venous vasculature of a patient; a sensor disposed at a distal end of the elongate flexible member and configured to provide in vivo non-image based ultrasound information of the venous vasculature of the patient; a processor configured to receive and process in vivo non-image based ultrasound information of the venous vasculature of the patient provided by the sensor and to provide position information regarding the position of the distal end of the elongate flexible member within the venous vasculature of the patient; and an output device adapted to output the position information from the processor.
US09198595B2
The present invention provides reagents and methods for modulating cone photoreceptor activity, and devices for assessment of cone photoreceptor activity.
US09198593B2
Techniques for determining whether one or more leads are not adequately connected to a patient, e.g., for ECG monitoring, are described. The techniques involve injection of an integrated signal (which includes a test signal) into one lead, and monitoring the driven lead and the response at the other leads, including the common mode and the difference between the other leads. These “lead-off” detection techniques may be provided by an external defibrillator that provides three-wire ECG monitoring. Techniques for determining a type of a cable coupled to a defibrillator are also described. The cable-type identification may allow a defibrillator to, for example, operate in either a three-wire ECG monitoring mode or a therapy mode, based on whether a three-wire ECG cable or a defibrillation cable is coupled to the defibrillator.
US09198583B2
A method of correcting an error in a measured blood pressure includes measuring a blood pressure at a first site of a first body, calculating, using a processor, the error in the blood pressure measured at the first site of the first body based on a correlation between a shape of a sphygmogram measured at a first body part and a difference between a blood pressure measured at the first body part and a blood pressure measured at a second body part, where the correlation is predetermined using a statistical method based on a plurality of data from the blood pressure measured at the first body part and the blood pressure measured at the second body part, and correcting, using the processor, the blood pressure measured at the first site of the first body using the error calculated based on the correlation.
US09198581B2
This document discusses, among other things, a connector for an optical imaging probe that includes one or more optical fibers communicating light along the catheter. The device may use multiple sections for simpler manufacturing and ease of assembly during a medical procedure. Light energy to and from a distal minimally-invasive portion of the probe is coupled by the connector to external diagnostic or analytical instrumentation through an external instrumentation lead. Certain examples provide a self-aligning two-section optical catheter with beveled ends, which is formed by separating an optical cable assembly. Techniques for improving light coupling include using a lens between instrumentation lead and probe portions. Techniques for improving the mechanical alignment of a multi-optical fiber catheter include using a stop or a guide.
US09198579B2
A medical examination device used for the detection of pre-cancerous and cancerous tissue has an illumination source, a visualization unit, a contacting optical probe, a detector and a process unit. One embodiment of the apparatus includes both a non-contacting macroscopic viewing device (the visualization unit) for visualizing an interior surface of the cervix, as well as a fiber optic wand (contacting optical probe) for spectrally analyzing a microscopic view of the tissue.
US09198575B1
A system for determining a vehicle operator's level of fatigue comprises a camera for detecting at least the vehicle operator's eyes; an onboard vehicle detector for detecting at least one of vehicle speed, location, activity, acceleration, deceleration, or steering wheel rotation; and a processor which receives information detected by the camera and the onboard vehicle detector and calculates a real-time operator fatigue score based on the received data. The operator fatigue score may further be based on an operator's time of shift, type of vehicle, and current and previous tasks.
US09198572B2
Methods and systems for obtaining an ocular aberration measurement of an eye of a patient are provided. Exemplary techniques involve obtaining a first induced metric for the eye that corresponds to a first accommodation state of the eye, obtaining a second induced metric for the eye that corresponds to a second accommodation state of the eye, and determining a natural metric of the eye based on the first and second induced metrics. An induced metric may include a pupil size or a spherical aberration. Techniques can also include determining a target metric for the eye base on the natural metric, determining whether an actual metric of the eye meets the target metric, obtaining an ocular aberration measurement of the eye if the actual metric meets the target metric, and determining a treatment for the eye based on the ocular aberration measurement.
US09198570B2
A computer program is disclosed for performing the following method: recording images of a response of a left pupil to a stimulus thereby resulting in a first set of sequential images; recording images of a response of a right pupil to the same stimulus at the same time as the first images were recorded, thereby resulting in a second set of sequential images; displaying on a display simultaneously the first set of images and the second set of image, wherein the two sets of images are synchronized, and wherein a center of the left pupil of each image from the first set of sequential images is aligned with a center of the right pupil from the second set of sequential images on the display.
US09198566B2
A light assembly for a hand-held medical diagnostic instrument. The light assembly includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a light source mounted to the top surface, and the bottom surface having first and second electrical terminals. The light assembly further includes a circuit board disposed inclined to the substrate, the circuit board having first and second electrical terminals, a first connector mounting and electrically connecting the first electrical terminal of the substrate to the first electrical terminal of the circuit board, a second connector mounting and electrically connecting the second electrical terminal of the substrate to the second electrical terminal of the circuit board, a heat sink, and a thermal conductor thermally connecting at least one of the first and second electrical terminals of the substrate to the heat sink.
US09198554B2
A fluid delivery device (3) for a visor cleaner. The fluid delivery device (3) includes a fluid reservoir (7), which contains cleaning fluid when ready for use. The fluid delivery device (3) also includes an absorbent cleaning element (13) that is arranged to take in fluid from the reservoir (7). In use, the fluid in the reservoir (7) and the absorbent cleaning element (13) are arranged to be in permanent fluid communication.
US09198551B2
A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a flexible electrified air flow conduit having an air inlet end that is electrified.
US09198546B1
A flushable wipe dispenser device holds and dispenses flushable wipes adjacent to a toilet within a bathroom structure. The device includes a box having an open front side. A panel is couplable to the front side of the box. An aperture extends through the panel wherein the interior space of the box is accessible through the aperture. A diaphragm is coupled to and extends across the aperture in the panel. An opening extends through the diaphragm wherein the opening is configured for passing flushable wipes through the diaphragm. A cover is pivotally coupled to the panel selectively covering the opening through the panel.
US09198536B2
The invention concerns a beverage dispenser (2) comprising :—a beverage module having at least one beverage outlet (21),—a drip tray (1), said drip tray comprising: a collecting tray (11), and a filtering member (12) positioned above at least the front part (111) of the tray, wherein the drip tray comprises a lid (13) for covering the back part (112) of the tray.
US09198504B2
A combination toothbrush and toothpaste dispenser device includes a caddy that accepts tube of toothpaste and guides an integral toothpaste squeezer along a predetermined track. The squeezer is generally wedge-shaped and may be moved parallel and/or inwardly to the axis of the caddy. A modular and detachable toothbrush head mates with the caddy and includes a shaft with a central bore for delivering toothpaste to the toothbrush bristles. A refresh cup is further supplied to store and protect the combination device while not in use.
US09198498B2
An apparatus for containing multiple handheld devices includes a first compartment dimensioned to removably store a first device and a second compartment dimensioned to removably store a second device. The back portion of the second compartment is attached to the back portion of the first compartment by a flexible portion spanning a distance between the first compartment and the second compartment and the flexible portion includes a first attachment mechanism positioned between the first compartment and the second compartment. A front flap extends from the front portion of the first compartment, the front flap to removably overlap the opening of the first compartment and the opening of the second compartment and the front flap including a second attachment mechanism to removably attach to the first attachment mechanism of the flexible portion.
US09198495B2
A pump-type cosmetics container is not subject to the risk of a foreign substance entering into a nozzle, due to a moving path through which content is discharged during use that is selectively open by means of an opening/closing bracket, and to the risk of change in quality of the content inside the moving path, by means of a counteraction of a control protrusion pressing a locking protrusion thereby re-aspirating the content remaining inside the moving path, after pumping using a double spring.
US09198487B2
An article of jewelry comprising an assembly of rotatable elements, the assembly may be loaded by a resilient member, and stowed and deployed via a depressible plunger having a detent. Rotatable elements comprise eyelets and rotatable elements of the assembly deploy via longitudinal travel from the base, beyond a portion of a base retaining rim, and rotate about a retaining ring threading an eyelet of each of the rotatable elements.
US09198477B2
The present invention is a method for manufacturing inflatable bladders for use in articles of manufacture. The method includes the steps of providing a first polymer film, applying a curable release coating to the polymer film in a pattern that corresponds to the configuration of the inflatable bladder, curing the release coating to the first polymer film, providing a second polymer film with the first polymer film to form a layered element such that the release coating is disposed between the polymer films, positioning the layered element between two plies of material, applying heat and pressure to adhere the polymer films together except in the area where the release coating has been applied to form an inflatable compartment surrounded by a sealed perimeter, and removing the plies of material from the adhered first and second polymer films.
US09198463B2
An electronic cigarette box is provided in the present invention. The electronic cigarette box is configured for receiving electronic cigarettes, and the electronic cigarettes define spiracles for gas circulation. The electronic cigarette box includes sealing devices corresponding to the spiracles, and the sealing devices are configured for sealing the spiracles.
US09198460B2
A device (10) for treating at least a portion of a smoking article comprises: a base unit (12) including: one or more elongate chambers (16) for receiving at least a portion of a smoking article and one or more air plenums (22) in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more elongate chambers (16), wherein the one or more air plenums (22) comprises one or more annular channels, the one or more annular channels surrounding the elongate chambers (16) along at least a part of the length of the elongate chambers (16); a treatment unit (26) including one or more reservoirs (32) for containing a liquid treatment agent, wherein each reservoir (32) comprises means (36) for providing fluid communication with an inlet (24) of the one or more air plenums (22); and aerosol generating means (40) connected to the treatment unit (26) for forming an aerosol from the liquid treatment agent in the one or more reservoirs (32).
US09198458B2
An apparatus for producing beverages. The apparatus comprises a dispensing system, a mixing unit, and a control unit comprising a user interface, which interact to prepare a particular beverage when requested by a user. When the control unit receives user input requesting the particular beverage via the user interface, it causes the dispensing system to dispense various ingredients (e.g., fragmented ice, water, flavoring ingredients, milk product) that are mixed by the mixing unit in order to prepare the particular beverage, which is served in a cup. In various embodiments, the apparatus may produce frozen beverages that include fragmented ice (e.g., shaved or crushed ice) as one of their ingredients, such as slush beverages and smoothie beverages, and/or hot beverages that include heated water as one of their ingredients, such as coffee and flavored coffee beverages (e.g., French Vanilla, Mocha, etc.).
US09198454B2
The present invention provides for compositions, methods and kits for regulating energy metabolism. In one aspect, the invention provides for compositions that comprise a combination of (a) branched chain amino acids, such as leucine, and (b) vitamin B6, or any precursors or metabolites of (a) or (b). These combinations may be synergistic and/or effective for reducing weight or adipose volume. In another aspect, the invention provides for methods of regulating energy metabolism by the administration of one or more compositions comprising branched chain amino acids and vitamin B6. The invention also provides for kits comprising compositions of branched chain amino acids and vitamin B6 packaged in an oral dose form with usage instructions.
US09198451B2
The invention concerns an aroma composition to reduce or suppress a bitter or astringent impression in the oral cavity, comprising (i) one or more sweeteners and (ii) one or more specific bitter-masking aroma substances and/or flavourings and optionally (iii) one or more sweetness intensifying aroma substances and/or sweeteners and optionally (iv) one or more inactive substances or carriers. The invention also concerns a preparation, containing such an aroma composition, the use of an aroma composition for reducing or eliminating a bitter and astringent effect of an artificial sweetener and a corresponding method for reducing or eliminating the bitter and astringent effect of a sweetener.
US09198449B2
With a method as well as a system for processing of sunflower extraction grist, particularly for obtaining proteins, wherein the particles from shell kernel parts and adhering proteins of the extraction grist are separated from one another by means of screening, a solution is to be created for processing the extraction grist of sunflowers, which occurs in the production of sunflower oil, in such a manner that it can be utilized in many different ways and, in particular, in practical manner.This is achieved, in terms of method, by means of the following steps:comminuting the grist by means of breaking it in beater impact mills (3) and/or corrugated rollers (16), screening the mixture of coarse and fine particles produced, separating the plant shells (fibers) and proteins by using water (5, 18), drying (6) the components, and pressing (8) the woody components into pellets as fuel for energy production.
US09198448B2
Oral compositions including an encapsulated active component(s) are provided. The oral compositions include a carrier composition including a first reactive component. The oral compositions also include an active composition. The active composition includes at least one active component encapsulated in a coating. The coating includes a hydrophilic material and at least one second reactive component, wherein an interaction between the first and second reactive components preserves the activity and/or availability of the active.
US09198442B2
Method for processing slaughtered poultry, wherein oven-ready carcasses of slaughtered poultry are conveyed by a feed conveyor (2), said feed conveyor having an endless track and carriers (2a) that are moved along said track, the feed conveyor carrier being adapted to support one carcass suspended from its legs. Each individual carcass is subjected at least one of: ●—a determination of the individual carcass weight by a weighing device (4), ●—a determination of the individual carcass size by an imaging device. For dividing the carcasses into parts use is made of a first cut-up line (10) and a second cut-up line (20), wherein each cut-up line has an associated cut-up line conveyor (11, 21), said cut-up line conveyor having an endless track and carriers (11a, 21a) that are moved along said track, each cut-up line conveyor carrier being adapted to support one carcass suspended from its legs. Each cut-up line comprises one or more cutting devices (12, 22) arranged along the track, which one or more cutting devices divide a carcass supported by a cut-up line conveyor carrier into parts.
US09198430B2
This invention relates to a veterinary antiparasitic solubilized composition including a macrocyclic lactone or a pharmaceutically equivalent salt thereof, and levamisole or a pharmaceutically equivalent salt thereof, characterized in that the pH of the composition is in the range of 2.0 to 5.0 and wherein the composition includes at least one surfactant and at least one antioxidant.
US09198427B2
The present invention provides an animal repellent comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound having an odor innately inducing fear in animals, which is free from acclimation of animals to the aforementioned odor. The present invention relates to animal repellent comprising, as an active ingredient, at least one kind selected from a heterocyclic compound represented by the formula (1): wherein ring A is a 3- to 7-membered heterocycle containing at least one hetero atom selected from a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom and an oxygen atom, and R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, a halogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted alkoxy group, an acyl group, an optionally esterified carboxyl group, an optionally substituted thiol group, an optionally substituted amino group or an oxo group, or a salt thereof, a chain sulfide compound and alkyl isothiocyanate.
US09198424B2
The novel active ingredient combinations which consist of the compounds of the formula (I) in combination with further active insecticidal ingredients (II) are very suitable for control of animal pests such as insects and/or unwanted acarids.
US09198411B2
An alligator game call device is essentially a solid cylindrical body preferably having about a 5/4 inch outer diameter. The device has an exterior surface and a central axial blind bore therein extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The bore has stepped, concentric, progressively smaller diameter sections from the proximal end toward the distal end of the body. Preferably a first section is ½ inch deep, a second section is ½ inch deep, a third section is 1 inch deep and a fourth section is 1½ inch deep. The game call includes a pair of angled nostril bores extending from the fourth section to an exterior surface of the body, wherein the nostril bores intersecting the exterior surface are spaced ½ inch apart.
US09198406B2
A fishing line spool assembly includes an open body frame, wherein a fishing line spool is mounted between two side plates of the body frame at an open end, has a central bore, and is rotatably sandwiched between the two side plates by a clamping adjustable device inserted through the central bore of the fishing line spool and bores of the two side plates. The body frame is provided with a connection device for connecting to a fishing rod. The clamping force applied on the fishing line spool by the two side plates can by adjusted by the clamping adjustable device. When the fishing line in the fishing line spool is drawn by a fishing reel, the clamping force on the fishing line spool by the body frame will function as a brake against the rotation of the fishing line spool.
US09198403B2
A removable wavemaker having a self-supporting structure for use in a wave tank has an integrated mounting structure for mounting on a frame of an open top of the wave tank, a linear motor positioned above a waterline in the wave tank having a forcer containing activation coils that is driven in reciprocation motion by electromagnetic interaction with an array of permanent magnets contained in a tubular support structure on which the forcer is configured to slide, and a vertically-oriented wave board mounted on a lower part of the integrated mounting structure below the waterline for generating waves within the wave tank. The forcer is supported on a movable carriage that rides on a rail fixed to the integrated mounting structure and is coupled to the wave board.
US09198398B2
A animal drinking assembly includes a base that is positionable in an animal's environment. An interior of the base is exposed to the animal's environment. A container is coupled to the base. The container contains a fluid. A spout is operationally coupled to the container. The spout dispenses the fluid when the animal engages the spout. The spout is positioned proximate the interior of the base so the base captures spilled fluid. A filter is coupled to the base so the filter absorbs the spilled fluid in the base. A fluid tube is operationally coupled between the container and the filter. A pump is operationally coupled to the fluid tube. The pump urges the spilled fluid through the filter and into the container so the spilled fluid is filtered and returned to the container.
US09198389B2
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety WN1116094-1 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety WN1116094-1 and its progeny, and methods of making WN1116094-1.
US09198366B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XB36AP13 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB36AP13, cells from soybean variety XB36AP13, plants of soybean XB36AP13, and plant parts of soybean variety XB36AP13. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB36AP13 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB36AP13, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB36AP13, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB36AP13. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB36AP13 are further provided.
US09198364B2
The present invention relates to a beet plant, seed, variety and hybrid. More specifically, the invention relates to a beet plant having a mutant allele designated ACSDMR001 which confers resistance to downy mildew infection. The invention also relates to crossing inbreds, varieties and hybrids containing the ACSDMR001 allele to produce novel types and varieties of beet plants having downy mildew resistance.
US09198362B2
A method of reclaiming disturbed land including designating an area of land with propagules as a source area and collecting a portion of the propagules from the area. A portion of the propagules are distributed on disturbed land. Propagules are collected by taking cores or elongate sections of material from the source area using cutting elements such as core tubings or cutting discs.
US09198357B2
A pick-up device, usable by an agricultural machine, includes a frame and first and second units. The first and second units each include a displacement device, are arranged beside each other and a small distance apart, are connected directly to the frame by respective first and second articulations having first and second distinct axes directed in a direction of advance, include respective first and second pick-up rotors rotatable about third and fourth axes, and are connected to one another by a guidance device. The first and third axes are in a same seventh plane, the second and fourth axes are in a same eighth plane. A stop mechanism defines two work end positions of the first and second units with respect to the frame, between which they can pivot freely within a limited range, and remain connected to one another regardless of their position between the work end positions.
US09204582B2
A method includes permitting a first signal having a first electromagnetic waveform to pass through an apparatus. The method further includes blocking a second signal having a second electromagnetic waveform at the apparatus, wherein the second electromagnetic waveform is different than the first electromagnetic waveform. The apparatus includes a non-conductive substrate and a plurality of cells including conductive members coupled to the non-conductive substrate, where the conductive members are arranged to form a first discontinuous mesh, where regions between the conductive members of the first discontinuous mesh include a phase change material, and where the phase change material undergoes a phase transition from substantially non-conductive to substantially conductive.
US09204580B2
A device having an upper plate comprising a top face and a bottom face with an opening. A lower plate comprising a top face and a bottom face substantially parallel to the upper plate, with an opening. A middle plate between and substantially parallel to the upper plate and lower plate, capable of moving with respect to the upper plate and lower plate, and having a top face a bottom face and at least one opening. A plurality of gaskets configured to electrically connect the upper plate, the middle, plate, and the lower plate and provide an interface that is designed to allow the middle plate to slide substantially parallel to the upper plate and the lower plate. At least one waveguide through the at least one opening of the middle plate.
US09204577B2
Apparatuses, methods, and systems directed to efficient cooling of data centers. Some embodiments of the invention allow encapsulation of cold rows through an enclosure and allow one or more fans to draw cold air from the cold row encapsulation structure to cool servers installed on the server racks. In other particular embodiments, the systems disclosed can be used to mix outside cool air into the cold row encapsulation structure to cool the servers. In some embodiments, the present invention involves fanless servers installed on the server racks and introduces fan units to draw cooling air from the cold row encapsulation structure through the fanless servers on the racks.
US09204571B2
A portable electronic device includes a main body, a motherboard, at least one connector, and at least one external graphics card module. The motherboard is disposed within the main body and equipped without a built-in graphics chip. The connector is disposed on the motherboard. The main body has at least one slot, and the slot is disposed at a position corresponding to the position of the connector. The external graphics card module includes a circuit board, and a graphic processing unit and a first connecting interface are electrically disposed on the circuit board. The external graphics card module is removable and selectively inserts into the slot, and the external graphics card module electrically connects to the motherboard via the first connecting interface.
US09204564B1
A secure enclosure prevents access to both the front and rear of the rack mounted equipment through the use of fabricated sheet metal enclosures with hinged access covers, uniquely attached to the rack faces from the inside. Access is granted to a front swing cover only by presenting proper credentials typically in the form of a card key to an electronic card reader which opens the electronic latch or strike. A back swing cover panel is secured from the inside with a latch and can be opened after gaining proper access through the front.
US09204561B2
A structure of via hole of electrical circuit board includes an adhesive layer and a conductor layer that are formed after wiring is formed on a carrier board. At least one through hole extends in a vertical direction through the carrier board, the wiring, the adhesive layer, and the conductor layer and forms a hole wall surface. The conductor layer shows a height difference with respect to an exposed zone of the circuit trace in the vertical direction. A conductive cover section covers the conductor layer and the hole wall surface of the through hole. The carrier board is a single-sided board, a double-sided board, a multi-layered board, or a combination thereof, and the single-sided board, the double-sided board, and multi-layered board can be flexible boards, rigid boards, or composite boards combining flexible and rigid boards.
US09204557B2
An environmental sensitive electronic device package including a first substrate, a second substrate, an environmental sensitive electronic device, gas barrier structures, micro-structures, and a filler layer is provided. The second substrate is located above the first substrate. The environmental sensitive electronic device is located on the first substrate. The gas barrier structures may be located between the first substrate and the second substrate and surround the environmental sensitive electronic device. The gas barrier structures have a first height. The micro-structures may be located between the first substrate and the second substrate and have a second height. A ratio of the second height to the first height ranges from 1/250 to 1/100. The filler layer may be located between the first substrate and the second substrate and covers the gas barrier structures and the environmental sensitive electronic device. A manufacturing method of an environmental sensitive electronic device package is also provided.
US09204554B2
According to one embodiment, a method is disclosed for manufacturing a display device. A film material layer is formed on a support substrate. A first heating process for the film material layer at a first temperature to form a film layer and a second heating process for a second region surrounding a first region at a second temperature higher than the first temperature are performed. The first region is provided in a central part of the film layer. A display layer is formed in the first region and a peripheral circuit section is formed at least in a part of the second region. A third heating process is performed for at least a part of the film layer at a third temperature higher than the second temperature. In addition, the film layer is peeled off from the support substrate.
US09204553B2
A method is provided for producing a printed circuit board. The method includes the step of providing an insulating substrate having a layer of aluminum material applied to the substrate. A portion of the layer of aluminum material is removed for defining a circuit trace. A layer of conductive material is applied to the layer of aluminum material.
US09204551B2
Provided is a mounting structure capable of maintaining highly accurate connection reliability even when the temperature of the environment in which the mounting structure is used is high. Mounting structure (10) includes electronic component (11), metal (12), wiring substrate (13), and a preventing structure. Electronic component (11) includes first electrode (14). The melting point of metal (12) is 130° C. or less. Wiring substrate (13) includes second electrode (15) electrically connected to first electrode (14) via metal (12). The preventing structure prevents flowing-out of metal (12) in a melted state from a region where first electrode (14) and second electrode (15) are formed. Further, preventing structure (14) is formed in at least one member selected from electronic component (11) and wiring substrate (12).
US09204547B2
A non-planar printed circuit board has an interior surface and an exterior surface. Between the interior surface and exterior surfaces are layers of conductive and dielectric materials. Passive and active electrical components are embedded within the interior and exterior surfaces. A hollow region is defined by the interior surface of the non-planar circuit board. The non-planar printed circuit board is manufactured on a mandrel having a non-planar shape such as, for example, a cylinder or sphere so as to form a hollow, curved non-planar structure.
US09204541B2
The present invention provides a multilayer circuit board that includes a plurality of resin layers, conductive wiring layers, and via-hole conductors. Each of the resin layers includes a resin sheet containing a resin and a conductive wiring layer disposed on at least one surface of the resin sheet. The via-hole conductors contain an intermetallic compound having a melting point of 300° C. or more produced by a reaction between a first metal composed of Sn or an alloy containing 70% by weight or more Sn and a second metal composed of a Cu—Ni alloy or a Cu—Mn alloy. The second metal has a higher melting point than the first metal.
US09204536B2
The present invention provides an optically transparent electrode being resistant to corrosion regardless of the shape of the pattern and enabling uniform electroless plating thereon regardless of the shape of the pattern. The optically transparent electrode has, on a support, an optically transparent electrode unit and a peripheral wire unit formed of at least one peripheral wire, of which one end is electrically connected with the optically transparent electrode unit and the other end is connected with the outside, and the optically transparent electrode unit and the peripheral wire unit are formed of the same metal. The line width of at least one metal wire forming the peripheral wire unit is not uniform, and when the at least one metal wire is divided into a thinnest metal wire segment A and the other metal wire segment B electrically connected with the metal wire segment A, the line width of the metal wire segment A is 1.2 to 20 times the line width of the metal wires forming the optically transparent electrode unit, the line width of the metal wire segment B is 1.5 to 3 times the line width of the metal wire segment A, and the number of peripheral wires where the total length of the metal wire segment A of a single peripheral wire is 0.01 to 40 times the total length of the metal wire segment B of the same wire accounts for 40% or more of the total number of wires in the peripheral wire unit.
US09204534B2
A panel unit that reduces the influence of static electricity applied to a panel member forming a display surface without increasing the size of an electronic apparatus. The panel unit has a touch panel and an FPC including connection sections which are electrically connected to interconnection sections of the touch panel, and is provided with signal lines and a ground interconnection. The FPC includes conductor-exposed portions each provided between the connection sections connected to the interconnection sections and an outer part of the touch panel. The conductor-exposed portions are configured to be prevented from being electrically conducted to the signal lines, and be electrically conducted to the ground interconnection.
US09204532B2
A fanout line structure of an array substrate includes first fanout lines arranged on a fanout area of the array substrate, and second fanout lines arranged on the fanout area of the array substrate. A second conducting film is arranged at a bottom of the second fanout line, a second capacitor is formed between the second conducting film and a first conducting film of the second fanout line, the second capacitor is used to reduce an impedance difference between the fanout lines. Capacitance value of the second capacitor is dependent on an overlapping area between the second conducting film and the first conducting film.
US09204530B2
The present invention relates to electronic components assembly for electrically connecting electronic components to each other, wherein a wiring formed on a surface of a first electronic component and a wiring formed on a surface of a second electronic component face each other, and are bonded to each other with an electric conductor interposed therebetween, so as to electrically connect the first electronic component and the second electronic component. The electric conductor is a resin composition containing solder or conductive filler.
US09204526B2
A cooling tube for an arc plasma torch, comprising an elongate body with an end which can be arranged in the open end of an electrode, and a coolant duct extending therethrough, characterized in that at said end there is a bead-like thickening of the wall of the cooling tube pointing inwards and/or outwards, and an arrangement of a cooling tube for an arc plasma torch, comprising an elongate body with a rear end which can be releasably connected to an electrode holder of an arc plasma torch, and a coolant duct extending therethrough, and an electrode holder for an arc plasma torch, comprising an elongate body with an end for receiving an electrode and a hollow interior, and characterized in that on the outer surface of the cooling tube at least one projection is provided for centring the cooling tube in the electrode holder.
US09204521B2
A vehicle operator may activate turn signals without interfering with his/her enjoyment of ambient music. A turn signal system has a tempo extractor to determine the tempo of the ambient music and a trigger generator to transmit to a turn signal controller a trigger that causes the system's turn signaling mechanism to produce a repetitive sound that coincides with the ambient music. As the repetitive sound does not interfere with the vehicle operator's music enjoyment, the system increases diligence in the use of turn signals and thus increases safety of the vehicle operator and the safety of those proximate the vehicle operator who would be affected by a vehicle turn or lane change.
US09204519B2
The present invention discloses a control system, comprising user interface that includes an input/output module for assignment of address and control configurations for a fixture; and uses a light for outputting a precise indication and feedback confirmation of exact settings for address and control configurations.
US09204492B2
A method for supporting handover from macro Node B to home Node B is proposed according present invention, comprising: informing, by a source radio network control node of a UE1 the UE of configuration parameters of a cell to be measured and indicating the UE to report a unique ID of the measured cell; measuring, by the UE, a signal from the home Node B, and after reading the home Node B's unique ID from the home Node B's system information, reporting the measurement result to said source radio network control node of the UE, said measurement result including the home Node B's unique ID; and sending, by said source radio network control node, a message to a destination radio network control node of said home Node B specified by said unique ID, so that the destination radio network control node can establish radio bearer in the home Node B for the UE.
US09204488B2
A wireless communication transmitting and receiving system may comprise a wireless transmitting and receiving unit, a receiving processing circuit, a transmitting processing circuit, and a receiving aerial and a transmitting aerial. Both the receiving processing circuit and the transmitting processing circuit may be connected to the wireless transmitting and receiving unit, and the receiving aerial and the transmitting aerial may be connected to the receiving processing circuit and the transmitting processing circuit. The present invention may use a dual-aerial structure in which a transmitting channel is separated from a receiving channel and the two channels use respective aerials for communication; the separate aerials may provide an isolation of approximately 10 dB, thus lowering the in-band noise receiving requirement for the transmitting channel.
US09204481B2
A system and method for transmitting UL data associated with DL multiple point transmission are provided. A method for transmission point operations includes determining an identifier associated with each transmission point in a downlink serving set that includes a primary transmission point and at least one secondary transmission point, transmitting downlink information to a user equipment, and receiving, at a receiving transmission point, uplink data including a first identifier of an intended recipient from the user equipment, where the intended recipient is a first transmission point in the downlink serving set. The method also includes forwarding the uplink data to the intended recipient based on the first identifier.
US09204476B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for direction communications in a wireless communication system. In the direct communication support method of a wireless communication system, according to one embodiment of the present invention, when a base station receives a direct communication request message from a first terminal to request a direct communication with a second terminal without going through the base station, the base station then allocates resources to be used for the direct communication and transmits resource allocation information to the first and second terminals.
US09204475B2
The present invention puts forward a method, a system and an apparatus for selecting a data plane tunnel according to the status of User Equipment (UE). The system comprises a Serving Gateway (SGW) and a Local Gateway (LGW), wherein, the SGW is used for determining the status of the UE and whether a connection is used for Local IP Access (LIPA)/Selected IP Traffic Offload (SIPTO), and instructs the LGW; the LGW is used for setting a tunnel identifier status of the LGW according to the instruction of the SGW, and selecting the data plane tunnel according to the tunnel identifier status. The present invention selects an appropriate data plane tunnel by setting a tunnel identifier in an LGW, and proposes a method for controlling the to setting/clearing of the tunnel identifier, therefore the present invention enjoys comprehensive functions and may make up the deficiency of LIPA/SIPTO architecture in the prior art.
US09204466B2
A channel access method in WLAN system is provided. The method includes receiving packets transmitted from a higher protocol layer, classifying the packets to map the packets to ACs to which the packets correspond, transmitting the packets to queues corresponding to the ACs to which the packets are mapped, among a plurality of queues by ACs, independently applying a channel access function to each of the plurality of queues by ACs by avoiding a collision among the plurality of queues by ACs, transmitting a packet determined to be transmitted first, according to the application result of the channel access function. The packet includes a first frame to be transmitted to a first terminal and a second frame to be transmitted to a second terminal. The plurality of queues by ACs are queues with respect to the first frame to be transmitted to the first terminal.
US09204459B2
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for efficient reassignment of a secondary communication channel (having a first priority) within a white space, upon arrival of a conflicting primary user signal (having a second priority higher than the first priority). In particular, the method comprises reassigning a secondary communication channel to unused portions of one or more white spaces remaining after the arrival of one or more primary users. For example, in one embodiment wherein one or more secondary communication channels are operated at contiguous secondary frequency ranges within a white space, a primary/incumbent user may arrive at a frequency range that conflicts with the secondary frequency range and that generates unused frequency portions of the white space(s). The secondary communication channel may be reassigned to the unused frequency portions of the white space (e.g., forming a non-contiguous secondary communication channel, forming a secondary communication channel having a reduced bandwidth).
US09204453B2
Aspects of the present disclosure may simplify the negotiation of resources by defining and/or using sequences for sets of resources for enhanced inter-cell interference coordination. According to aspects, a configuration of protected resources may have an ordering such that a pattern representing ‘k’ protected resources overlaps with a pattern representing ‘k+1’ protected resources. In an aspect, each pattern may comprise a bitmap with one or more bits set to a value to indicate the one or more protected subframes. In an aspect, a bitmap of a pattern corresponding to ‘k’ protected subframes differs from a bitmap of a pattern corresponding to ‘k+1’ protected subframes by a single bit value. According to aspects, an interfering evolved Node B may limit transmissions during protected subframes based on the selected pattern.
US09204436B2
A method of allocating resources in a communication system which uses a plurality of sub-carriers arranged in a sequence of physical resource blocks wherein adjacent blocks of the sequence are arranged in groups. The method includes, in a base station, determining at least one virtual resource block for allocation to a mobile communications device, signalling data identifying each virtual resource block to the mobile communications device, and mapping each allocated virtual resource block, using predetermined mapping data, onto a plurality of spaced physical resource blocks to determine the physical resource blocks to be used for communications with the mobile communications device. At least part of the predetermined mapping data defines an equation for the location of a further physical resource block, relative to a first physical resource block.
US09204433B2
The present invention provides a method and system for processing an uplink control signaling feedback. The method comprises: a base station configuring a feedback mode of an uplink control signaling for user equipment, wherein the feedback mode is used for instructing the user equipment a manner in which to transmit the uplink control signaling on a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and/or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH); and the user equipment sending the uplink control signaling according to the feedback mode. By way of the present invention, it is ensured that the base station can correctly demodulate the uplink control signaling.
US09204430B2
Systems and methods for packet acknowledgement are disclosed. In one embodiment, codewords are redundantly used in order to decrease the total number of bits required for feeding back acknowledgment information or in order to increase the Euclidean space between codewords.
US09204428B2
Systems and methods are described that facilitate evaluating conditions of nodes (e.g., access points, access terminals, etc.) in a wireless communication environment to determine a level of disadvantage for a given node relative to other nodes. A first node may receive a resource utilization message (RxRUM) and may determine a level of disadvantage for a node that sent the RxRUM. The first node may then compare its own level of disadvantage to the sending node in order to permit a determination of an appropriate course of action in response to the RxRUM.
US09204427B2
A method of mapping a physical resource to a logical resource in a wireless communication system is described. The method includes dividing a physical frequency band into at least one frequency partition. Each frequency partition is divided into a localized region and a distributed region in a frequency domain. The method further includes mapping the at least one frequency partition into at least one logical resource unit. The localized region is directly mapped into the logical resource unit and the distributed region is mapped into the logical resource unit after rearranging subcarriers within the distributed region.
US09204426B2
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for uplink control channel resource configuration. A base station allocates an uplink control channel resource set, and the resource set includes channel resource elements which can be used by acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement ACK/NACK feedback. The base station sends a configuration signaling to a user terminal according to the channel resource elements circumstances included in the uplink control channel resource set and/or that if the uplink control channel resources to be fed back corresponding to a downlink subframe control district Control Channel Element CCE can satisfy all of the antenna ports to process transmission diversity. The user terminal configured with two antenna ports uses the corresponding channel resources to process ACK/NACK feedback according to the configuration signaling. Applying the method, apparatus and system provided by the present invention can solve the problems that the limited feedback channel resources affect the flexibility of Physical Downlink Shared Channel PDCCH scheduling and the complexity of blind tests the user terminal processes for PDCCH.
US09204421B2
Various communication systems may benefit from push notifications of network information. For example, cellular optimization may be accomplished by selective use of a web technique by applications on network devices, which may further benefit from push notifications that may reduce the need for web requests. According to certain embodiments, a method can include monitoring network service viability for a user or application. The method can also include sending a push message to a user equipment when network service viability is detected for the user or the application.
US09204420B2
Paging messages are transmitted by a wireless communications network to mobile terminals, which have been in an idle state or dormant mode and which have waiting calls/data from their associated peer entities, in accordance with the qualities of service (QoS) associated with the waiting calls/data, where the QoS associated each waiting call/data includes a type of the call/data. To make paging of mobile terminal QoS aware, a QoS field is included in the Paging Announce requests sent from an RNC to another RNC, or from an RNC to a BTS. The QoS field includes: a QoS class of service of the waiting call/data indicating the type of the waiting call; a grade of service of the waiting call/data to which the mobile terminal is subscribed; and, optionally, other QoS service flow parameters whose presence depends on the type of wireless technology being used in the network.
US09204418B2
This document discloses solutions for using a mix of reference signal types in a wireless communications network, e.g., a first type and a second type, in making positioning-related measurements. In one example, a UE uses a “mix” of CRS and PRS. As an example case, a UE receives PRS and, possibly, CRS from one or more cells, while it receives only CRS from one or more other cells. In this case, the UE determines, e.g., received signal timing values for CRS as received from some cells, on a per-cell basis, and for PRS as received from other cells, on a per-cell basis. The UE can measure and report on per-signal/per-cell basis and can perform calculations involving a mix of timing measurements made for both CRS and PRS. In a further aspect, reference signal transmissions are controlled or coordinated on a per-port basis in cells that use multiple antenna ports for transmitting within each such cell.
US09204415B2
The present invention introduces system, apparatus and method that reduce wastage of network resources and mobile phone resources. The mobile phone would indicate its status in a tracking area update message when it is connected to the device. The network can then understand from the status indication that the mobile phone is capable of delivering packets to the device, and would thus allow the server to initiate communications. An absence of the status indication would imply the mobile phone is not capable of delivering packets to the device, and the network would then disallow the server to initiate communications.
US09204413B2
A method of switching subscriber identity between a first and second telecommunication stack of a multiple subscriber identity communication terminal is disclosed. The method comprises initiating a switch for a first subscriber identity from the first telecommunication stack to the second telecommunication stack and for a second subscriber identity from the second telecommunication stack to the first telecommunication stack. It is determined whether a value of at least one network related parameter associated with the first subscriber identity in the first telecommunication stack corresponds to a value of a corresponding at least one network related parameter associated with the first subscriber identity in the second telecommunication stack. Network registration of the first subscriber identity is performed only if the value of the at least one network related parameter associated with the first subscriber identity in the first telecommunication stack does not correspond to the value of a corresponding at least one network related parameter associated with the first subscriber identity in the second telecommunication stack. Corresponding computer program product, controller, arrangement, and multiple subscriber identity communication terminal are also disclosed.
US09204410B2
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in which a first synchronization signal to access to a Node B is transmitted; a request signal from the Node B requesting a second synchronization signal is received; and the second synchronization signal is transmitted to the Node B.
US09204406B2
A wireless device receives message(s) configuring cell groups and transmissions of sounding reference signals. Sounding reference signals are configured to be transmitted in a subframe. The wireless device transmits at least one packet on at least one first cell in the subframe. The wireless device transmits a first subset of the sounding reference signals and drops a second subset of the sounding reference signals.
US09204404B2
Disclosed are a device for controlling uplink transmission power and a method for the same. In a terminal device for controlling uplink transmission power according to the present invention, a receiving antenna receives a first message containing a power correction value from a base station. A processor determines the transmission power value which will be used in transmitting a second message, based on the power correction value. A sending antenna transmits the second message to the base station, using the determined transmission power value, and, at this time, the power correction value is a value for correcting the transmission-power value is a value for correcting the transmission-power value which was used during initial ranging by the terminal or handover ranging of the terminal.
US09204401B2
A method and system for managing inter-cell interference for a plurality of neighboring wireless communication cells in a wireless network is disclosed. Power data indicative of a received power level for a signal from the base station for any user equipment in an outer region of a cell is determined by a base station for each of a plurality of neighboring cells. Number data indicating at least one of a number and a relative number of user equipments within the outer region of a cell is also determined by each base station from the timing of a signal between the base station and the user equipment. The power data and the number data is transmitted to a central manager, where the power data and the number data for the cells is processed to compute a power level in each of a plurality of sub-bands for transmission by each base station. The computed power level in each sub-band is transmitted back to each base station for the control of the power level transmitted by the base station in each sub-band.
US09204400B2
The embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and a device for resource configuration. The method includes: determining an extra resource block existing in a wireless resource, where the extra resource block is a resource that cannot be identified by a long term evolution system; configuring transmission power of a resource element in the extra resource block according to a power configuration rule; and sending a signal on the resource element in the extra resource block according to configured transmission power. With the preceding technical solution, an extra resource block can be used for transmitting a signal, so that a resource utilization rate may be improved.
US09204399B2
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus of a first cell communicates with a second cell in relation to a coordinated multipoint (CoMP) transmission of control information by the first cell and data by the second cell to a user equipment (UE) in a range expanded region of the second cell, receives a desired transmission power level for the UE from the second cell, generates control information based on the desired transmission power level, and transmits the control information to the UE.
US09204393B2
Apparatus, system and method for rejecting entry to a power saving mode based on a cover detection by an NFC enabled mobile device when an NFC field has been detected, such as from a second NFC enabled device. The apparatus, system and method may include detecting a magnetic field indicating proximity of the mobile device to a cover, determining when a predetermined delay has elapsed, checking the state of a flag that is set when an NFC field is detected, and preventing putting the mobile device into a low power state based on the cover indication if the flag is set.
US09204392B2
A mobile communication method, which configures a DRX cycle having an On duration in which a downlink signal transmitted from a serving base station is to be monitored and an Off duration other than the On duration in an RRC connected state where an RRC connection is established between a radio terminal and a radio base station, the mobile communication method comprising: a step A of transmitting, from the radio base station to the radio terminal, a paging signal for notifying the radio terminal of an incoming call to the radio terminal at a predetermined timing in the Off duration when the DRX cycle is configured; and a step B of monitoring, at the radio terminal, the paging signal at a predetermined timing in the Off duration when the DRX cycle is configured.
US09204385B2
Techniques are disclosed for a wireless router or residential gateway to distinguish power-sensitive wireless sensors and provide separate treatments thereto for low power consumption connections. In some embodiments, a network device includes a wireless network circuit, and control circuitry coupled to the network circuit and configured to, upon receipt of a request of connection from a client, identify whether the client is power-sensitive. The network device can further cause, if the client is identified as power-sensitive, the power-sensitive client to connect using a low-power connection while maintaining a regular connection to other regular clients. The low-power connection can be operated on a first channel different from but in a same frequency band as a second channel on which the regular connection is operated.
US09204379B2
Techniques for sending sector/system information in TDM pilots using a hierarchical pilot structure are described. A base station sends multiple sets of bits for the sector/system information in multiple TDM pilots. The set of bits sent in a given TDM pilot may include bits sent in earlier TDM pilots. In one design, the base station generates a first TDM pilot based on a first set of bits, generates a second TDM pilot based on a second set of bits that includes the first set, generates a third TDM pilot based on all bits for the information, and sends the TDM pilots. A terminal performs detection to obtain a first detected value for the first TDM pilot, performs detection based on the first detected value to obtain a second detected value for the second TDM pilot, and performs detection based on the first and second detected values to obtain a third detected value for the third TDM pilot.
US09204369B2
An apparatus and method for providing configuration information relating to an extension carrier within a wireless communications network is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, each enhanced node B (eNodeB) transmits the configuration information within the downlink subframes of at least one radio frame, wherein the configuration information is transmitted on the downlink shared channel (DL-SCH) included in the radio frame. In another embodiment, each eNodeB transmits the configuration information within a radio resource control (RRC) signaling included in at least one radio frame to select ones of the user equipments (UEs) in response to the system load relative to the select UE's request.
US09204358B2
A method for prioritizing handover targets for scanning by a mobile terminal, MS (6), in a wireless network (1) having a plurality of network elements (2 to 5), comprises a network element (2) receiving a signal from an MS (6) for which it is the serving network element and the network element detecting the direction from which it receives the signal from the MS. For the detected direction, the network element obtains, from a data store (2B) associated with the network element (2), probabilities of successful handover to respective different neighboring network elements. The network element (2) uses the probabilities in prioritizing scanning order of neighboring network elements and sends information about the prioritized scanning order to the MS (6). The network may be a WiMAX network in which the network elements are base stations.
US09204356B2
A method for reducing call drops in uplink power limited scenarios is disclosed. The method can include a wireless communication device determining that the wireless communication device is experiencing an uplink power limited condition in which a transmission power of the wireless communication device is limited to a level below a power class level of the wireless communication device. The method can further include defining a downlink power threshold for sending a measurement report for triggering a handover based on the uplink power limited condition. The downlink power threshold can be higher than a threshold configured by a serving base station. The method can additionally include determining based on measured downlink power that the calculated downlink power threshold is satisfied and sending a measurement report for triggering a handover to the serving base station in response to the downlink power threshold being satisfied.
US09204355B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a cell reselection method and a mobile terminal. In the embodiments of the present invention, whether a cell where signal measurement needs to be performed exists is determined according to a neighboring cell list and a reselection prohibited list; if a cell where signal measurement needs to be performed exists, signal measurement is performed on the cell where signal measurement needs to be performed and a current serving cell to obtain a measurement result; and if the measurement result satisfies a trigger condition of cell reselection, cell reselection is triggered. Therefore, when cell reselection needs to be performed, signal measurement is no longer performed on a cell in the reselection prohibited list and unnecessary signal measurement and cell reselection are avoided, thereby decreasing power consumption of a mobile terminal and prolonging standby time of the mobile terminal.
US09204353B2
Various embodiments include methods, systems, and devices for tuning away a mobile device's receiver without retuning the mobile device's transmitter, thereby allowing the mobile device to monitor multiple networks with a single radio frequency (RF) chain while avoiding the problems often associated with tune-away methods, such as loss of throughput, loss of tracking or synchronization, delays in acknowledgments, delays in rate control or channel quality control feedback, etc. The transmitter may remain tuned to a first network while the receiver may be separately tuned to one or more other networks. In various embodiments, the separately tuned receiver may monitor for paging signals on one or more networks while the transmitter remains tuned to the first network and transmits data or control signals.
US09204352B2
An operating method, a base station, and terminal of a cell of a first communication system for a handover between the first communication system and a second communication system are provided. The method includes, receiving, by the base station, a measurement report including measured signal quality, from a terminal, determining, by the base station, a handover initiation to a target radio access network, based on the measured signal quality, transmitting, by the base station, a handover request message to the target radio access network via a core network, receiving, by the base station, radio-related information that is required if the terminal accesses the target radio access network, from the target radio access network via the core network, and transmitting, by the base station, the radio-related information of the target radio access network, to the terminal, wherein the handover between the source radio access network and the target radio access network comprises an inter radio access technology (RAT) handover.
US09204335B2
Traffic load over a wireless medium due to wireless access point discovery is reduced. The wireless stations and wireless access points support wireless discovery using a reduced traffic load process. The reduced traffic load process includes providing aggregated short probe responses.
US09204334B2
A method in a base station for adapting prioritization of a service of a user equipment over services of other user equipments is provided. The prioritization relates to a transmission between the base station and the user equipment at a scheduling occasion. The prioritization relates to an initial value. The base station decides (302) that the user equipment is in congestion, when an instant scheduling bit rate for the transmission in relation to a bit rate related to the service is below a first threshold. When the user equipment is in congestion, the base station adapts (304) the prioritization by down prioritizing the service of the user equipment in relation to the initial value, until a timer has expired.
US09204333B2
The present invention relates to a partitioning entity and a method for partitioning capacity in a communication network to avoid starvation of certain data traffic and to support services with different characteristics. The method of partitioning capacity comprises assigning communication links to a group associated with a time-varying group capacity to form a group of communication links. The group comprises a first sub-group and at least a second sub-group of communication links. Further, the method comprises allocating a non-zero fraction of the time-varying group capacity to the first sub-group of communication links of the group.
US09204329B2
Control Plane and User plane packet data are collected within the Radio Access Network using a plurality of network devices. Consolidation and summarization of this information is then performed to present a unified picture of RAN through abstract APIs to management and analytics applications. The invention identifies methods of retaining the collected network data, such as control and application protocol headers at the collection points, and consolidation and exporting this network data to management/reporting/analytics application using application driven rules for consolidation and summarization. Real-time statistical analysis tools, which may be used to predict failure and degradation trends and proactively control the underlying causes, are also disclosed.
US09204326B2
A method and associated wireless monitor and data analysis system are provided. The method includes installing one or more of a plurality of wireless monitors at respective locations onboard a complex system on which a wireless system of interest is installed or planned for installation. The method may then include by the plurality of wireless monitors, emulating the wireless system of interest, and recording data related to performance of the wireless system of interest at one or more recorded times over a plurality of operating conditions of the complex system. The method may also include by the plurality of wireless monitors, collecting data including the respective locations of the wireless monitors correlated with respective recorded data and recorded times. In this regard, the collected data for the plurality of wireless monitors may be retrievable for analysis of the wireless system of interest based thereon.
US09204324B2
Detection of a confusion caused by scrambling code reuse is provided herein. Timing measurements, as observed by a mobile device, and an identification of primary scrambling codes associated with the timing measurements are captured. The timing measurements are identified by the primary scrambling codes for the particular radio measured. The mobile device also reports its location information. Radios for which timing measurements have been received are paired. Based on the paired radios and a history of observed time difference reference values for radio pairs, comparisons are made between paired radios having at least one common radio. Radios, exhibiting a set of values that is near an expected range, are removed from the analysis. Radios, exhibiting two sets of values that are distinct, are isolated in order to identify the radio that is causing the scrambling code confusion.
US09204322B2
A infrastructure station in a cellular mobile communication system, the infrastructure station includes a infrastructure station core configured to provide infrastructure station functionality to a plurality of dependent stations, a topographer configured to discover a network topology and designate a failover topology from the network topology for use in the event that the infrastructure station fails thereby no longer being capable of providing infrastructure station functionality to the plurality of dependent stations, the failover topology comprising failover stations, and a synchronizer configured to periodically provide timing estimates of dependent stations to the failover stations such that network reentry after infrastructure station failure is shorter than normal network entry.
US09204321B2
According to one embodiment, a wireless communication apparatus includes a management unit and a setting unit. The setting unit sets, upon determination of disconnection of a wireless link with a base station of a main network used for communication, duration for waiting for receiving a first signal related to formation of a new network based on a priority. The management unit, when the duration is set, waits for receiving the first signal until the duration elapses. The setting unit switches an operation mode to a base station mode if the first signal is not received even the duration elapses. The management unit repeatedly performs a process to transmit the first signal after the operation mode is switched to the base station mode.
US09204320B1
Systems (100) and methods (200) for dynamically managing Functional Configurations (“FCs”) of network nodes (104, 134-138). The methods involve performing operations by a First End Node (“FEN”) in accordance with a first FC. FEN (104) has a first Software Module (“SM”) stored thereon specifying the first FC. The first SM (122) comprises a total set of codes/functions which determine how a network node is to behave. The first EN detects a trigger event for triggering a transition from the first FC to a second FC. In response to the trigger event, the FEN automatically and dynamically obtains, from a remote network node (134, 136, 138 or 144), a second SM (150 or 126) that is different than the first SM. The first SM (stored on FEN) is then replaced with the second SM. The FEN executes the second SM such that it operates in accordance with the second FC.
US09204317B2
Some embodiments provide a method in a wireless device for reporting channel state information, CSI, for a CSI process. The CSI process corresponds to a reference signal resource and an interference measurement resource. According to the method, the wireless device obtains an adjustment value associated with the CSI process. The wireless device estimates an effective channel based on one or more reference signals received in the reference signal resource, and applies the adjustment value to the estimated effective channel, thereby obtaining an adjusted effective channel. Furthermore, the wireless device determines channel state information based on the adjusted effective channel, and on interference estimated based on the interference measurement resource. Finally, the channel state information is transmitted to a network node.
US09204312B2
Adding a new subsystem node to a multi-node base station topology (e.g., a chain or tree topology) in a telecommunications network can disrupt the effective operation of the existing multi-node base station. By accurately measuring the timing difference between uplink and downlink signaling across a current terminating node during the configuration of the new terminating node, the new node can be added with reduced impact upon the operation of the existing base station nodes.
US09204301B2
A method includes establishing, by a wireless docking center, a secure wireless communication connection with a wireless dockee, receiving, by the wireless docking center, from the wireless dockee, an ASP session request for a wireless docking service of the wireless docking center, receiving, by the wireless docking center, from the wireless dockee, a passphrase for authenticating with the wireless docking service, determining, by the wireless docking center, whether the wireless dockee is authorized to access the wireless docking service based on the received passphrase, responsive to determining that the wireless dockee is not authorized to access the wireless docking service, denying, by the wireless docking center, the wireless dockee access to the wireless docking service, and responsive to determining that the wireless dockee is authorized to access the wireless docking service, granting, by the wireless docking center, the wireless dockee access to the wireless docking service.
US09204299B2
A mobile device may transition between Extended Service Set (“ESS”) networks seamlessly, such that a consumer never loses the network connection despite the transition. The communication for enabling a transition may be prior to association with that network. The seamless transition may be enabled through the creation and utilization of a central key holder authority that advertises its identity to mobile devices in a pre-associated state. The mobile device can use the key discovery communication along with a key generation method to authenticate and/or associate with a network and transition from one ESS to another. There may be a common root key across ESSs. At each new access point (“AP”) that the mobile device encounters, ESS and key holder identities may be discovered through discovery communications.
US09204296B2
A method for key generation at a terminal device supporting at least two communication modes of operation is described. The method comprises, at a terminal device comprising a key derivation function: receiving at least one input parameter from a first wireless communication system; generating a first key in the key derivation function using the received at least one input parameter and at least one first locally stored input parameter in order to transmit in a first mode of operation on the first wireless communication system; and generating a second key in the key derivation function solely using at least one second locally stored input parameter in order to transmit in a second mode of operation on a second wireless communication system; wherein the at least one second locally stored input parameter is arranged to enable the second key to be used as the first key.
US09204283B2
Systems and methods for locating a cellular phone are provided. More particularly, systems and methods for providing the location of a requested user's cellular phone from a requesting user's device (e.g., a second cellular phone) based on access rights defined by the requested user. Location descriptions may be provided at a multitude of levels. For example, if a cellular phone, or an identity associated to (e.g., logged into) a cellular phone, has been given access rights to a cell phone's exact location for an indefinite amount of time, that cell phone can receive, on command, the exact location of the approved cell phone. Other levels of location information that can be granted include, for example, proximities, states, and countries.
US09204277B2
A location privacy configuration module enables location determination to emergency services only relating to an emergency text message or emergency text message session. An emergency text message transmitted to an emergency number is routed to an emergency text message server, which initiates an emergency text indicator for each emergency text message, and requests location information for the emergency texting device by transmitting the emergency text indicator and a location request to a location determination server. Location of the emergency texting device may be obtained without acquiring customer authorization for location determination. The originating text messaging device acknowledges receipt of the emergency text indicator/location request combination and checks the location privacy setting configured thereon. Location determination is permitted if configured to permit location determination if emergency text messaging.
US09204249B2
A method for using a location to refine network-provided time zone information is disclosed. The method can include a wireless communication device receiving a time zone information message from a network; determining multiple candidate time zones matching a set of time zone identification parameters included in the received time zone information message; deriving a location of the wireless communication device; and using the location to select a current time zone for the wireless communication device from the candidate time zones matching the set of time zone identification parameters.
US09204247B2
Various aspects of the subject technology relate to systems, methods, and machine-readable media for a proximity-based notification. A system may be configured to receive user location information for a user and member location information for a member of a social graph belonging to the user, determining, based on the user location information and the member location information, that the member is located within a threshold distance of the user, and generating a notification to the user based on photographs that include both the user and the member.
US09204242B2
A sensor network management apparatus generates group specification information including requirements corresponding to an externally input service request, and forms a logical sensor network for the service request based on the generated group specification information. USN actuating information relating to USN (ubiquitous sensor network) resources included in the logical sensor network is generated, and USN resources are operated based on the USN actuating information.
US09204236B2
Improved tools for authoring and rendering audio reproduction data are provided. Some such authoring tools allow audio reproduction data to be generalized for a wide variety of reproduction environments. Audio reproduction data may be authored by creating metadata for audio objects. The metadata may be created with reference to speaker zones. During the rendering process, the audio reproduction data may be reproduced according to the reproduction speaker layout of a particular reproduction environment.
US09204234B2
An audio testing system is configured for receiving an audio signal from an audio emitting device. The system samples the audio signal and obtains sampling points from the audio signal for determining if the audio signal has been distorted. A related method is also disclosed.
US09204223B2
In order to be appropriately usable as an electric device for vibrating a panel attached to a housing, an electronic device including a piezoelectric element; a housing having a first principle plane having the piezoelectric element fixed thereto and a second principle plane opposite to the first principle plane; and a lid member having a joint portion for removably joining to the second principle plane; causes the housing to generate sound transmitted by vibrating a part of a human body, such that the piezoelectric element is provided on a first side in a first direction parallel to the first principle plane, and a joint position of the joint portion is provided on a second side opposite to the first side in the first direction.
US09204221B2
An acoustic metal diaphragm comprises a diaphragm base made of an organic material and a metal-plated layer. The diaphragm base has a smooth surface. The metal-plated layer is adhered to the smooth surface of the diaphragm base by an intermediate layer. The intermediate layer is disposed between the diaphragm base and the metal-plated layer. The metal-plated layer is made of pure beryllium or a beryllium alloy. Accordingly, the diaphragm base is made of the organic material and provided with a smooth surface. The intermediate layer allows the metal-plated layer to be adhered to the smooth surface more firmly. Using the pure beryllium or beryllium alloy to manufacture the metal-plated layer increases the rigidity of the diaphragm base and maintains the softness thereof to slow down the attenuation of the bandwidth, attain a wider frequency band, solve the problem of the high frequency and increase the quality of the sound.
US09204218B2
A microphone sensitivity difference correction device includes a detection section that detects a frequency domain signal expressing a stationary noise, based on frequency domain signals of input sound signals respectively input from plural microphones; a first correction section that employs the stationary noise to compute a first correction coefficient for correcting the sensitivity difference between the plural microphones by a frame unit; and a second correction section that employs the frequency domain signals that have been corrected by the first correction section to compute a second correction coefficient for correcting by frequency unit the sensitivity difference between the plural microphones for each of the frames.
US09204212B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for waveguide structures and speaker assemblies. In one embodiment, a waveguide may include an input aperture configured to receive a sound signal from a sound source, and a plurality of isolated sound paths having substantially equal path lengths. Each isolated sound path may be formed within a housing of the waveguide and formed with a curved path to reduce the depth of the waveguide. The waveguide may include a plurality of plugs, wherein each plug divides an output of one of the isolated sound paths into a plurality of output sound paths and defines a plurality of output apertures of the waveguide. Each output sound path is characterized by a reduced width relative to the output of the isolated sound path, the plurality of output apertures configured to output a combined sound signal based, at least in part, on the plurality of sound signals.
US09204210B2
A data relay apparatus R (e.g., one included in an ONU) that performs data transfer from one port to another port reduces power consumption by performing control to limit a receive function of a receiving unit 1 at the one port under at least one of conditions that a control instruction is received from a communication partner (e.g., an OLT) connected to the one port (port 2), and that information about control is notified to the communication partner; and allows the receive function to recover when a predetermined recovery condition is satisfied (e.g., a lapse of a predetermined period of time or arrival of a predetermined time). In this case, since recognition that the receive function is limited can be shared with the communication partner, the communication partner can prevent itself from performing data transmission to the data relay apparatus R when the receive function is limited.
US09204208B2
This disclosure relates to systems, devices, protocols, and processes for retrieving, accessing, and presenting information of energy usage using a distributed storage process and distributed logical services to provide a user with real-time energy usage information and visualization.
US09204204B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media content processor having a controller adapted to transmit to a web server one or more configurations of said media content processor. The web server can record said one or more configurations to perform one among re-provisioning of the media content processor after it experiences a loss of configuration information and provisioning of another media content processor. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09204194B2
A video segment can be shared over a computer network by first receiving the video segment at a receiving computer on the network. The receiving computer assures that the video segment is in a streaming video format, and creates at least one identification tag for the video segment. The receiving computer also stores the video segment, and communicates the identification tag to another computer on the network. Upon subsequent receipt of that identification tag, the receiving computer streams the video segment to a destination computer on the network.
US09204191B2
A display device includes a memory, a display module, a network interface configured to access a Video On Demand (VOD) server, and a controller configured to register a program for a rerun notification service, display a VOD program guide by receiving an additional information on a plurality of VOD program from a VOD server via the network interface, detect whether the additional information on the registered program exists in the VOD program guide, and output a message indicating that the program is uploaded in the VOD program guide via the rerun notification service if the additional information on the registered program exists in the VOD program guide.
US09204180B2
The present invention discloses a method, a server and a terminal of audio-video on demand (AVOD). The method comprises: receiving an audio-video resource request from an AVOD terminal; determining an assigned network the AVOD terminal belonging to in accordance with the audio-video resource request; determining resource nodes having the audio-video resource in the assigned network; generating a resource list according to the resource nodes having the audio-video resource in the assigned network; transmitting the resource list to the AVOD terminal so that the AVOD terminal acquires the audio-video resource according to the resource list. The present invention achieves both a smooth multiuser concurrent online AVOD and a reducing cost consumption of a network system.
US09204173B2
There are provided methods and apparatus for enhanced performance in a multi-pass video encoder. An apparatus includes a video encoder for encoding a video bitstream. The apparatus further includes a video quality analyzer, in signal communication with the encoder, for performing a video quality analysis of the video bitstream for a given encoding pass to detect encoder compression artifacts in the video bitstream, and providing to the encoder information relating to the encoder compression artifacts to enable a re-encoding setup of the encoder to reduce an occurrence of the encoder compression artifacts in subsequent re-encoding passes. At least one of the video quality analysis and the re-encoding setup are automated.
