US09256396B2
Various embodiments provide techniques for implementing speech recognition for context switching In at least some embodiments, the techniques can enable a user to switch between different contexts and/or user interfaces of an application via speech commands. In at least some embodiments, a context menu is provided that lists available contexts for an application that may be navigated to via speech commands. In implementations, the contexts presented in the context menu include a subset of a larger set of contexts that are filtered based on a variety of context filtering criteria. A user can speak one of the contexts presented in the context menu to cause a navigation to a user interface associated with one of the contexts.
US09256391B2
A method for synchronizing time in a plurality of graphical displays provided within a human-machine interface (HMI) includes displaying stored data via the plurality of graphical displays, receiving data refresh configuration parameters via a configuration tool within the HMI, and storing the data refresh configuration parameters in a memory. The method also includes generating, by the HMI, a data refresh message that includes the data refresh configuration parameters, and refreshing, by at least a portion of the plurality of graphical displays, display of the stored data based on the data refresh configuration parameters.
US09256381B1
A method is used for managing degraded storage elements in data storage systems. A storage element experiencing degradation is identified where the storage element is a member of a first RAID group of storage elements. A first slice of data associated with the storage element is identified. The first slice of data is copied to a second RAID group of storage elements.
US09256372B2
It is an object of the present invention to suppress inconsistency of mount information necessary for mounting a volume in a storage device having a primary volume and a secondary volume.The storage device according to the present invention creates a memory region storing the mount information necessary for mounting the secondary volume, saves a snapshot thereof, and presents a virtual volume which has been created by using the snapshot and the data in the secondary volume to an external device.
US09256368B2
The storage system includes a data storage controlling unit that stores a plurality of units of block data, generated by dividing storage target data, in a distributed manner in a plurality of storage devices, and performs duplicate storage elimination. The data storage controlling unit stores a plurality of continuous units of block data of the storage target data, generated by dividing the storage target data, in a particular storage device among the plurality of storage devices, stores, in the particular storage device, feature data based on the data content of the block data and storing position information representing the storing position in the particular storage device of the block data in association with each other as a storing position specifying table, and stores storage device identifying information for identifying the particular storage device and the feature data of the block data stored in the particular storage device in association with each other as a storage device specifying table.
US09256360B2
A process to experience a two touch interface with single touch functionality is disclosed. Use of two fingers simultaneously presents a degree of freedom constraint on the hand. In an embodiment of the present invention, the simultaneous two touch interface is simulated using a single touch process. In a special input mode, a mechanism is used to first fix a point of reference. A second and subsequent single touch with respect to the fixed point of reference is then made. The time skewed touches enable free use of the index finger for both touches. Closed figures are easily drawn and zoom in and zoom out functions are similarly implemented by a point of reference and a line traced away from or to the object. Limitations of the dual touch are overcome, while maintaining full interface capability of the dual touch.
US09256358B2
A graphical user interface method is disclosed. A first interface panel including a first graphical content for a first menu item is generated. The first interface panel is displayed in a primary display area, and a first descriptor is displayed in a menu display area that is segregated from the primary display area. The first descriptor is associated with the first menu item. An input command is received on the menu display area, and in response thereto, a second interface panel with a second set of graphic content for a second menu item is generated. An input command transition relationship is defined between the first interface panel and the second interface panel, and the received input command corresponds thereto. The second interface panel is displayed in the primary display area, and a second descriptor associated with the second menu item is displayed in the menu display area.
US09256353B2
An Application Workspace System (AWS) enables users to access remote server-based applications (e.g., thin client applications, terminal server applications, applications on hosted operating systems, etc.) using the same interface that they use to access local applications, without needing to know where the application is being accessed. The AWS automatically determines which applications the user is entitled to use, and then figures out automatically, based upon a variety of parameters, which applications are to be made available to the user (resolved to version, particular package etc.), and whether they are to be installed locally, or accessed remotely. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US09256346B2
Systems and methods for advertising, and, more particularly, systems and methods for managing ephemeral locations in a virtual universe. A method for managing ephemeral locations in a virtual universe (VU) includes causing a computer infrastructure to: render an ephemeral location upon a triggering in the VU; teleport a VU user avatar to the ephemeral location; permit the user avatar to interact in the ephemeral location; teleport the user avatar out of the ephemeral location; and un-render the ephemeral location.
US09256336B2
A capacitive touch sensor structure comprises a substrate, a first transmissive electrode, a first wire, a first receiving electrode and a second wire. The first transmissive electrode is disposed on the substrate and has at least one first electrode. The first wire is disposed on the substrate and connects to the first electrode of the first transmissive electrode. The first receiving electrode is disposed on the substrate and has at least one second electrode. The second wire is disposed on the substrate and extends along a first direction to connect to the first receiving electrode. The first electrode has a plurality of first slits and the second electrode has a plurality of second slits.
US09256333B2
A method for controlling a capacitive touch panel includes filtering differential capacitance data. The filtered data is integrated in a first direction of the touch panel to generate a first set of integrated data, and integrated in a second direction of the touch panel to generate a second set of integrated data. The first and second sets of integrated data are averaged, and a touch on the touch panel is detected based on the average of the first and second sets of integrated touch data.
US09256332B2
There is provided a concurrent driving capacitive touch sensing device including a drive end, a capacitive sensing matrix and a detection end. The capacitive sensing matrix includes a plurality of drive electrodes and sense electrodes crossing to each other. The drive end is configured to concurrently input cycle data of encoded and modulated drive signals into the drive electrodes. The detection end is coupled to one of the sense electrodes and configured to acquire a predetermined number of sampled values corresponding to the cycle data associated with the coupled sense electrode and generate a response signal to the drive end according to the sampled values, wherein the drive end resends the cycle data according to the response signal.
US09256324B2
An interactive operation method of an electronic apparatus is provided. An image sequence is captured by an image capturing unit. An image pre-processing is executed on an image of the image sequence. A fingertip candidate region is obtained from the image. Whether the fingertip candidate region is connected with a hand region is determined. If the fingertip candidate region is connected with the hand region, the fingertip candidate region serves as a target fingertip region. Whether a click event occurs is determined by continuously tracking the target fingertip region. When the click event occurs, a corresponding function is executed.
US09256323B2
The present invention includes a user input unit, a controller, a holography storing medium configured to record an interference pattern generated by interference of light, a holography output module configured to output a 1st holography image attributed to diffraction between the light applied to the holography storing medium and the interference pattern under the control of the controller, and a sensing unit configured to detect a plurality of recognition based events, wherein if at least one holography function corresponding to each of a plurality of the recognition based events is previously designated via the user input unit and a 1st event among a plurality of the recognition based events is detected via the sensing unit, the controller controls the 1st holography image to be outputted in accordance with a 1st holography function corresponding to the 1st event.
US09256318B2
An input device for controlling a device is provided. The input device comprises a sensor surface sensitive to being touched by a foreign body, and an evaluation unit, which is equipped to sense the positions of successively touched points of the sensor surface, and convert them into a control command for the device. The evaluation unit is connected to means for estimating an acceleration acting on the sensor surface and equipped, when converting into the control command, to weight a point touched at a time of intense acceleration change lower than a point touched at a time of slight acceleration change.
US09256317B2
A touchscreen apparatus includes pixel rows including pixels configured to display an image, a touch-sensing unit configured to sense a physical touch, light-sensing unit configured to sense incident light, a first sensor gate line configured to provide a first gate signal for activating the light-sensing unit and resetting the touch-sensing unit, a second sensor gate line configured to provide a second gate signal for activating the touch-sensing unit and resetting the light-sensing unit, and a reset circuit configured to provide a common voltage to the pixels based on the operation of at least one of the light-sensing unit and the touch-sensing unit.
US09256315B2
A method of identifying a palm area for a touch panel has steps of: receiving sensing frame information having multiple touching sensing points from the touch panel; selecting one of the touching sensing points; outwardly extending a distance from an outline of the selected touching sensing point to define a searching range; checking whether other touching sensing points are within the searching range; marking the touching sensing points in the searching range and expanding the searching range based on the currently marked touching sensing points; sequentially selecting and checking each touching sensing point if it is within the present searching range; and finally merging all the outlines of the marked touching sensing points to form a final outline as a palm area. Other unmarked touching sensing points are defined as touching reference points.
US09256311B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus include a substantially flexible substrate and a touch sensor disposed on the substantially flexible substrate. The touch sensor comprising drive or sense electrodes made of flexible conductive material configured to bend with the substantially flexible substrate.
US09256298B2
A display panel, an operation control method thereof and a display device for improving users' experience of display products. Wherein the display panel comprises a flexible substrate (1) and a sensor control circuit (3) and a sensitive element (4) provided on the flexible substrate (1), the sensor control circuit (3) is connected to the sensitive element (4), and a sensitive parameter of the sensitive element (4) varies with the bending degree of the flexible substrate (1) so that a detected signal passing through the sensitive element (4) varies with the bending degree of the flexible substrate (1); the sensor control circuit (3) includes a signal generating circuit for inputting the detected signal into the sensitive element (4), and a feedback circuit for converting the detected signal passing through the sensitive element (4) into a feedback signal indicating the bending degree of the flexible substrate (1) and for sending it to a control system connected to the display panel, so that the control system performs corresponding control operations in accordance with the feedback signal.
US09256294B2
Keyboard keys are outfitted with alignment features whose configuration, placement and geometry on a key serve to allow the key to automatically self-locate when the key returns from a pressed down, accessed, position, to its home, resting, position. In this manner, keyboards can be designed with keys with minimal keycap gaps that reduce the perceptible variance in the keycap spacing to be ascetically pleasing with minimal manufacturing costs.
US09256291B2
A mobile device control method for displaying information on a touch screen of a mobile device is provided. The method includes determining a type of a cover for the mobile device, the cover having a screen projection portion, detecting a gesture or a trigger, and displaying a screen corresponding to a current state of the mobile device on the touch screen depending on the type of the cover, in response to the detection of the gesture or the trigger.
US09256290B2
A device and method to detect a gesture made by an object in touch-less communication with the device are described. The device includes a collection engine to collect light intensity measurements of light intensity at two or more measurement cycles from two or more ambient light sensors arranged at respective surface locations of the device. The device also includes a processor to identify the gesture based on the light intensity measurements at each of the two or more ambient light sensors at two or more of the two or more measurement cycles, and a memory device to store a gesture library that associates the gesture with an output signal.
US09256287B2
The tactile sensation providing apparatus 1 includes a contact detection unit 40, a tactile sensation providing unit 50 for providing a tactile sensation to the contacting object contacting the contact detection unit 40, a display unit 30 for displaying an input area and a cursor, and a control unit 10 for controlling the display unit 30. The cursor is moved based on the detected contact and the portion of the displayed input area is displaced based on the movement of the cursor. The control unit 10 controls to cause a first tactile sensation to be provided when the portion of the input area is displaced as the cursor is moved, and a second tactile sensation to be provided when the edge of the input area is displayed as the portion of the input area is displaced, thereby notifying the operator of the results of the operation.
US09256269B2
Aspects of the present disclosure describe methods and apparatuses for executing operations on a client device platform that is operating in a low-power state. A first analysis may be used to assign a first confidence score to a recorded non-tactile input. When the first confidence score is above a first threshold an intermediate-power state may be activated. A second more detailed analysis may then assign a second confidence score to the non-tactile input. When the second confidence score is above a second threshold, then the operation is initiated. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US09256257B2
An electronic device, including: a first body, a second body, a first coupling member and a second coupling member; in the case where the first body and the second body are located in a first relative position, the first body and the second body are coupled together by cooperation between the first coupling member and the second coupling member; and in the case where the first body and the second body are located in a second relative position different from the first relative position, the first body and the second body are decoupled from each other by cooperation between the first coupling member and the second coupling member.
US09256254B2
There is disclosed a mounting assembly for structurally mounting a peripheral device to a portable computer. The mounting assembly comprises a bracket arranged to be structurally secured to the portable computer and comprising a first coupling; and a second coupling which in use is attached to or part of the peripheral device. The first and second couplings are arranged to be releasably engaged to form a structural connection, such that in use the peripheral device can be structurally mounted to the portable computer. There is also disclosed a portable computing apparatus comprising a portable computer, a peripheral device and a mounting assembly; and a electronic entry control board for mobile telemetry monitoring apparatus comprising a portable computer, a wireless communication unit and a mounting assembly.
US09256249B2
A system can include a platform that includes a front end and a back end; a support that includes a column, an extension and an arm joint disposed on the extension, where the column extends vertically from the platform and where the extension extends from the column at an acute angle and positions the arm joint vertically above the platform and toward the back end of the platform; a monitor mount that includes an arm joint; a monitor that includes a computing device and a touch screen, the monitor being mountable to the monitor mount; and an arm coupled at a pivot end to the arm joint of the support and coupled at a free end to the arm joint of the monitor mount, the monitor mount being pivotable about the free end of the arm. Various other apparatuses, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US09256241B2
There is provided a reference voltage generating apparatus including: a reference voltage source, a voltage retaining circuit, a switch and a controller. The reference voltage source generates a reference voltage. The voltage retaining circuit includes a first element circuit and a second element circuit, and the voltage retaining circuit outputs a voltage of a connection node between a first terminal of the first element circuit and a second terminal of the second element circuit. The switch is connected between the connection node and the reference voltage source. The controller controls the reference voltage source and the switch. The first element circuit includes at least a resistance component and the first element circuit is supplied with a first voltage at a third terminal and the second element circuit includes a resistance component and a capacity component and the second element circuit is supplied with a second voltage at a fourth terminal.
US09256238B1
A method and apparatus for fast, efficient, low noise power supply have been disclosed. In one implementation a switching power supply and a linear regulator provide efficiency and rapid response.
US09256230B2
HVAC schedules may be programmed for a thermostat using a combination of pre-existing schedules or templates and automated schedule learning. For example, a pre-existing schedule may be initiated on the thermostat and the automated schedule learning may be used to update the pre-existing schedule based on users' interactions with the thermostat. The preexisting HVAC schedules may be stored on a device or received from a social networking service or another online service that includes shared HVAC schedules.
US09256228B2
A mass flow controller and method for operating the same is disclosed. The mass flow controller includes a mass flow control system to control the mass flow rate of a fluid, and a data logging component that obtains snapshots of condition-specific-data for each of a plurality of reoccurring condition types, and reduces each snapshot of condition-specific-data to functional parameter values that characterize each snapshot of condition-specific-data, and the data logging component generates statistical values that are stored in a short term data store that characterize multiple functional parameter values that are obtained during each separate occurrence of a specific condition type. A diagnostics component diagnoses failures using current functional parameter values and the statistical values stored in the short-term memory, and a prognostics component predicts failures based upon a collection of data sets that are stored in the long-term memory.
US09256227B1
A system for controlling at least one machine at a work site includes a controller configured to store a map of a boundary of a work area at the work site. The controller determines a first arrival time for a first machine to arrive at the boundary and a second arrival time for a second machine to arrive at the boundary. An arrival interval is determined based upon a difference between the first arrival time and the second arrival time the relative travel speed between the first machine and the second machine is adjusted so that the machines arrive at a desired arrival interval.
US09256225B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for unmanned aerial vehicle authorization and geofence envelope determination. One of the methods includes determining, by an electronic system in an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), an estimated fuel remaining in the UAV. An estimated fuel consumption of the UAV is determined. Estimated information associated with wind affecting the UAV is determined using information obtained from sensors included in the UAV. Estimated flights times remaining for a current path, and one or more alternative flight paths, are determined using the determined estimated fuel remaining, determined estimated fuel consumption, determined information associated wind, and information describing each flight path. In response to the electronic system determining that the estimated fuel remaining, after completion of the current flight path, would be below a first threshold, an alternative flight path is selected.
US09256212B2
An automotive communication method includes installing a sensor within a vehicle such that the sensor is submerged in a liquid during operation of the vehicle and/or substantially surrounded by a metallic structure during operation of the vehicle. A long wave magnetic signal is transmitted from the sensor. The signal is indicative of a condition sensed by the sensor. The signal is wirelessly received at a controller disposed within the vehicle. Receipt of the signal at the controller is responded to by adjusting a display and/or a setting within the vehicle.
US09256207B2
The timepiece movement is provided with an analog device for displaying information whose value varies periodically or intermittently, this analog display device including, on the one hand, an indicator provided with a first toothing, and on the other hand, a mechanism for the periodic or intermittent driving of the indicator. The drive mechanism is formed by an irreversible transmission system which ensures a shock resistant function for the indicator. The display device further includes a positioning jumper for the indicator generating a positioning force on the first toothing, which is sufficient to precisely position the indicator in a plurality of discrete display positions, but considerably insufficient to ensure a shock resistant function for the indicator. Thus, the indicator can be driven with a relatively low torque; which therefore requires less energy and makes it possible to provide a drive mechanism with a lower gear reduction for the drive torque transmission ratio.
US09256202B2
A volume holographic imaging system enables the projection of a two-dimensional (2D) slice of a four-dimensional (4D) object. The 4D source object is illuminated to emit or scatter an optical field. A holographic element having one or more recorded holograms receives and diffracts the optical field into a diffracted plane beam. A phase mask is encoded in one or more multiplexed holographic gratings of the holographic element using a spatial filter. A collector lens focuses the diffracted plane beam to a 2D slice of the 4D probing source object. The focused 2D slice is projected onto a 2D imaging plane. The holographic element may have multiple multiplexed holograms that are arranged to diffract light from a corresponding slice of the 4D probing source object to a non-overlapping region of the detector.
US09256200B2
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit heating an image formed on a recording medium and disposed along a conveying path conveying the recording medium. The conveying path includes a first guide plate, discharge guide plate portions and second guide plate portion as conveyance guide plates guiding the recording medium. Partition walls and vertical walls are disposed at positions facing these guide plate portions. The air current guide portion guides air taken in from intake ports through an intake guide portion between the respective guide plate portions and each walls.
US09256198B2
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a development cartridge are provided. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a body including an opening, a photoreceptor cartridge attached to, or detached from, the body through the opening, and including a mounting portion, and a development cartridge attached to, or detached from, the mounting portion through the opening while the photoreceptor cartridge is mounted in the body. The mounting portion includes first and second guide rails, and both side portions of the development cartridge respectively include first and second guide protrusions having different protrusion amounts from the both side portions to be respectively guided by the first and second guide rails.
US09256193B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a casing, a cover member having an opening and supported by the casing, a first lock member configured to move between a first lock position in which the cover member is locked in an closed position and a first release position in which a locked state of the cover member is released, a tray configured to pivot between a first position covering the opening and a second position uncovering the opening, and a second lock member configured to move between a second lock position in which the tray is locked in the first position and a second release position in which a locked state of the tray is released, the second lock member being configured to move to the second lock position in response to movement of the first lock member to the first release position.
US09256185B2
A printing control device includes a receiving unit and a replacing unit. The receiving unit receives a print job, which includes gloss control printing data indicating a type of surface effect by predetermined density information and table information capable of identifying a surface-effect selection table used in creation of the gloss control printing data, from a host device. The replacing unit replaces a part or whole of the surface-effect selection table implemented in the printing control device in advance on the basis of the table information included in the print job.
US09256184B2
A rotating member provided on an end of a stretching member is rotatable around a rotating axis inclined with respect to the shaft of the stretching member. In order that, when a belt end winds around the rotating member, the belt end winds around an outer side of an entry position where the belt end enters the rotating member, an outer circumferential surface of the rotating member in an area in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the belt is inclined with respect to a belt contact surface.
US09256182B2
An image forming apparatus, a color registration test pattern of the image forming apparatus, and a method of forming the color registration test pattern are provided. A time required for color registration may be reduced by minimizing a region in which a color registration test pattern is formed on an intermediate transfer body. A control method of the image forming apparatus, which includes photosensitive media arranged side by side to correspond to colors in a rotation direction of the intermediate transfer body, includes forming first patterns of the colors arranged in a single row in a sub-scanning direction in a first region of the intermediate transfer body over a single-rotation period of the photosensitive media, and forming second patterns of the colors arranged in a single row in the sub-scanning direction in a second region of the intermediate transfer body over another single-rotation period of the photosensitive media.
US09256175B2
An induction heating fusing device and an image forming apparatuses that may control even a very small current region by tracking a resonance frequency to perform PWM control and phase control without considering a deviation of a part constant or a temperature change are provided. The induction heating fusing device includes: a serial resonance circuit having an induction coil and a condenser; a phase comparator, a phase controller, a resonance frequency tracking oscillator, and a PWM (pulse width modulation) signal generator. The phase comparator compares a phase of a pulse outputted by the PWM signal generator with a phase of current flowing through the induction coil, outputs a comparison result obtained by the comparing to the phase controller when controlling the phase, and outputs the comparison result to the resonance frequency tracking oscillator when performing PWM control.
US09256161B2
A process cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus includes a rotatable developer carrying member, a rotatable developer feeding member, a rotatable developer stirring member, a developer carrying member gear, a developer feeding member gear, a developer stirring member gear, a transmission member for transmitting a driving force to the developer carrying member, the developer feeding member and the developer stirring member, wherein the transmission member includes a first gear for transmitting the driving force to the developer carrying member gear, a second gear for transmitting the driving force to the developer feeding member gear, and a third gear for transmitting the driving force to the developer stirring member gear, in which the first gear, the second gear and the third gear are integrally molded.
US09256153B2
Provided a charging member including an electro-conductive substrate and a surface layer. The surface layer includes a binder resin, and a resin particle that roughens the surface layer. A surface of the charging member has a plurality of protrusions each derived from the resin particle. The resin particle has a pore inside thereof, has a porosity Vt of 1.5% by volume or more and 45.0% by volume or less, and has a first and second regions. The first region has a porosity V1, the second region thereof has a porosity V2, and V1 is larger than V2.
US09256151B2
If the elapsed time since a sheet was stored in a sheet storage unit is less than or equal to a threshold value, control is performed such that the sheet is heated by a fixing unit before an image is transferred to the sheet, and if the elapsed time since the sheet was stored in the sheet storage unit exceeds the threshold value, control is performed such that processing for heating the sheet with the fixing unit before the image is transferred to the sheet is not performed.
US09256149B2
Provided is a toner for electrostatic image development having low-temperature fixability and providing stability of glossiness for various types of paper. The toner for electrostatic image development includes toner particles having a domain-matrix structure. In the domain-matrix structure, a domain phase including a crystalline polyester resin having a melting point of 40 to 90° C. and a domain phase including a vinyl resin B having a weight average molecular weight of 250,000 to 400,000 are dispersed in a matrix phase including a vinyl resin A having a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 50,000.
US09256138B2
A method for measuring distortion of a projection objective, which includes: obtaining a plurality of first positional deviations between two groups of patterns formed respectively after two exposures performed in a same exposure field during a stepping and exposing process of the reticle stage (S21); obtaining a plurality of second positional deviations between two groups of patterns formed respectively after another two exposures performed in a same exposure field during a stepping and exposing process of the workpiece stage (S22); subtracting motional errors of the reticle stage and/or workpiece stage from each of the plurality of first and second positional deviations to obtain corresponding first and second corrected deviations (S43, S44); calculating differences each between a pair of corrected deviations (S45); and calculating the distortion of the projection objective by a fitting process (S46).
US09256123B2
The present disclosure relates to a method of forming an EUV pellicle having an pellicle film connected to a pellicle frame without a supportive mesh, and an associated apparatus. In some embodiments, the method is performed by forming a cleaving plane within a substrate at a position parallel to a top surface of the substrate. A pellicle frame is attached to the top surface of the substrate. The substrate is cleaved along the cleaving plane to form a pellicle film comprising a thinned substrate coupled to the pellicle frame. Prior to cleaving the substrate, the substrate is operated upon to reduce structural damage to the top surface of substrate during formation of the cleaving plane and/or during cleaving the substrate. Reducing structural damage to the top surface of the substrate improves the durability of the thinned substrate and removes a need for a support structure for the pellicle film.
US09256121B2
The general inventive concepts relate to the field of display technology, and provide a mask plate and a method for producing a substrate mark to increase the accuracy of the production of a substrate mark, and decrease the difficulty in monitoring products and the production cost. An exemplary mask plate comprises: a display region mask part; at least one pair of test mark mask parts, a test mark mask part being located on either side of the display region mask part and their positions being opposite to each other; and a protection mark mask part correspondingly disposed on the outside of each test mark mask part relative to the display region mask part, wherein the pattern outline of the protection mark mask part is larger than that of the test mark mask part.
US09256118B2
Disclosed is a positive photosensitive resin composition that includes (A) an alkali soluble resin selected from a polybenzoxazole precursor, a polyimide precursor, and a combination thereof, (B) a photosensitive diazoquinone compound, (C) a phenol compound, (D) an organic dye and (E) a solvent, wherein the organic dye (D) includes at least one red dye having an absorption wavelength of 590 to 700 nm, at least one yellow dye having an absorption wavelength of 550 to 590 nm, and at least one blue dye having an absorption wavelength of 450 to 500 nm.
US09256113B2
A plasmonic modulator and an optical apparatus including the same are provided. The plasmonic modulator includes a first metal layer, and a second metal layer facing the first metal layer. The plasmonic modulator further includes a refractive index varying layer disposed between the first and second metal layers and including a varying refractive index, and an insulating nitride layer disposed between the refractive index varying layer and the first metal layer.
US09256109B2
An organic light-emitting display device includes a plurality of emission pixels aligned in columns and rows, each of the emission pixels including an emission device and a first pixel circuit coupled to the emission device, a dummy pixel including a second pixel circuit in each column of the emission pixels, and a repair line in each column, wherein a same data signal is provided to one of the emission pixels coupled to the repair line and to the dummy pixel coupled to the repair line, and wherein the emission pixels are configured to simultaneously emit light.
US09256104B2
A liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal display panel including pixels each having an active device, a pixel electrode, a common electrode and a liquid crystal layer arranged in a dot matrix array. The liquid crystal display panel has a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate has the active device, the pixel electrode, the common electrode and a first alignment film. The second substrate has a second alignment film. The first alignment film and the second alignment film are respectively a photo alignment film formed by irradiating a photo decomposition type insulating film with light. The second alignment film has a thickness of at least 10 nm and no greater 50 nm and is thinner than the first alignment film.
US09256102B1
The present invention discloses a backlight module, comprising a backsheet, and a light guide plate and a middle frame provided on the backsheet; the backsheet being assembled with multiple spacers, one side of the spacer being connected with the side wall of the backsheet, the opposite side thereof being tightly connected with the light guide plate, on the spacer further being provided with a holding groove; a slot connected to the holding groove being provided corresponding to each spacer on the side wall of the backsheet; the middle frame comprising a vertical supporting portion, the vertical supporting portion comprising multiple intertongue, each intertongue corresponding to each holding groove, on the side wall of the intertongue being provided with a hook; the middle frame being assembled in the holding groove through the intertongue, the hook and the slot being engaged with each other. The present invention further discloses a liquid crystal display device comprising the backlight module.
US09256086B2
Electro-optic (EO) modulator and related device structures which can be used in conjunction with high EO materials to lower switching voltage and improve related performance parameters.
US09256082B2
A composite lens comprises an anterior rigid gas permeable layer, and an annulus of soft material bonded to a posterior surface of the anterior rigid gas permeable layer, wherein a central zone of the composite lens is rigid and without a soft layer, wherein a peripheral zone of the composite lens is generally rigid in its anterior aspect and soft in its posterior aspect.
US09256073B2
A system and method for increasing efficiency and power output of a multi-wavelength beam combining system through providing a common output coupler to reflect feedback that stabilizes or individually seeds each emitter, and wherein the individual feedback is preserved by mitigating cross-coupling, wherein a multi-wavelength beam comprised of radiation having a plurality of wavelengths, high brightness and power.
US09256072B2
A method detects a real object with a wearable electronic device and displays a virtual image of the real object with the real object on a display of the wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device displays movement of the virtual image of the real object to show a task to be completed and detects a completion of the task.
US09256057B2
A projection lens includes a first lens group, a second lens group and a third lens group, all of which are arranged in sequence from an projection side to an image source side along an optical axis. The first lens group is with negative refractive power and includes four lenses. The second lens group is with positive refractive power and includes two lenses. The third lens group is with positive refractive power and includes a stop and six lenses.
US09256056B2
A monocentric lens-based multi-scale imaging system is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention comprise a monocentric lens as an objective lens that collects light from a scene. Monocentric lenses in accordance with the present invention include a spherical central lens element and a plurality of lens shell sections that collectively reduce at least one of spherical and chromatic aberration from the magnitude introduced by the spherical lens element itself. A plurality of secondary lenses image the scene through the objective lens and further reduce the magnitude of aberrations introduced by the objective lens. A plurality of sensor arrays converts optical sub-images of the scene into a plurality of digital images, which can then be used to form a composite image of the scene.
US09256055B2
A low-cost imaging lens which corrects aberrations properly with a small F-value, ensures high performance with a larger number of constituent lenses and has a more low-profile design than before. The constituent lenses are arranged in the following order from an object side to an image side: a first lens having a convex object-side surface near an optical axis; a positive second lens; a negative third lens having a convex object-side surface near the optical axis; a fourth lens having at least one aspheric surface; a fifth lens as a double-sided aspheric lens; a sixth lens as a double-sided aspheric lens; and a seventh lens as a double-sided aspheric lens having a concave image-side surface near the optical axis. These constituent lenses are not joined to each other.
US09256054B2
An image lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element and a sixth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third lens element has refractive power. The fourth lens element has refractive power. The fifth lens element with negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface, wherein both of the surfaces of the fifth lens element are aspheric. The sixth lens element with refractive power has a concave image-side surface, wherein the image-side surface thereof has at least one inflection point, and both of the surfaces of the sixth lens element are aspheric. The image lens assembly has a total of six lens elements with refractive power.
US09256053B2
An imaging lens substantially consists of, in order from an object side, five lenses of a first lens that has a biconvex shape, a second lens that has a negative refractive power, a third lens that has a negative refractive power and has a meniscus shape which is concave toward the object side, a fourth lens that has a positive refractive power, and a fifth lens that has a negative refractive power and has an aspheric shape which is concave toward an image side and of which an image side surface has an extreme point. Further, the imaging lens satisfies predetermined conditional expressions.
US09256045B2
A downhole tool (100) including an open loop cooling system (110) having a pressurized container (120) disposed within a tool string, and has a refrigerant (122). The cooling system further includes a tank (150) in fluid communication with the pressurized container (120), and a heat exchanger (160) associated with tank (150), where the heat exchanger exchanges heat between the refrigerant (122) and a downhole payload (164). The cooling system further includes a low pressure apparatus that creates a low pressure region proximate the pressurized container. The low pressure apparatus can include a venturi (180). The venturi has a drilling mud passage (188) therethrough, and drilling mud flowing through a convergence (186) creates a low pressure adjacent the tank (150).
US09256035B2
Disclosed is an optical fiber connector. The connector includes a ferrule optical fiber enclosed in a ferrule, the ferrule being elastically supported by an elastic member; and a main optical fiber. The ferrule optical fiber and the main optical fiber are fusion-spliced by a fusion splice unit. A fusion splice part is reinforced by a reinforcing sleeve and the ferrule optical fiber being integral by the reinforcing sleeve moves within a stopper.
US09256022B2
A light-directing device adapted for directing light emitted by a light source. The light-directing device includes a light-guiding plate and a directing unit that is disposed adjacent to the light-guiding plate such that a portion of the light emitted by the light source into the light-guiding plate is internally reflected by a first inclined surface thereof to exit the light-guiding plate toward an illuminating region, and another portion of the light emitted by the light source passes through the light-guiding plate, enters the directing unit and is internally reflected by a second inclined surface thereof to exit the directing unit toward the illuminating region.
US09256013B2
A SWIR hyperspectral imaging filter has serial stages along an optical signal path with angularly distributed birefringent retarders and polarizers. The retarders can include active retarders such as tunable liquid crystal birefringent elements, passive retarders such as fixed retarders, and/or combinations thereof. Distinctly different periodic transmission spectra are provided by different filter stages, each having multiple retarders, in particular with some stages having broad bandpass peaks at wide spectral spacing and other stages have very narrow closely spaced peaks. The respective spectra include at least one tunably selectable band at which the transmission spectra of the filter stages coincide, whereby the salutary narrow bandpass and wide spectral spacing ranges of different stages apply together, resulting in a high finesse wavelength filter suitable for spectral imaging. The filter may be configured to provide faster switching speed and increased angle of acceptance and may operate in the rage of approximately 850-1700 nm.
US09256011B2
A liquid crystal display device includes: first and second substrates; a gate line and a data line on an inner surface of the first substrate; a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line; a plurality of pixel electrodes and a plurality of common electrodes in the pixel region; a color filter layer on an inner surface of the second substrate; a black stripe and a column spacer on the color filter layer, the black stripe having a first thickness and the column spacer having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, and the black stripe corresponding to the gate line; and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates.
US09256003B2
The invention discloses three-dimensional focusing induced polarization equipment for advance geological prediction of a water inrush disaster source in underground engineering, comprising a constant-current multiplex transmitter, an intelligent multichannel receiver, an automatic multi-electrode switch, an industrial personal computer, an observation electrode array and shielding electrodes, wherein electrodes in the observation electrode array are respectively used as a source electrode and observation electrodes; the industrial personal computer controls the constant-current multiplex transmitter to transmit currents of the same polarity to the shielding electrodes and the source electrode, so that the currents of the source electrodes are nearly directed straight ahead of a driving face under the action of the shielding electrodes; the observation electrodes are used for scanning data acquisition, and the data are fed back to the industrial personal computer through the intelligent multi-channel receiver; and the industrial personal computer controls the automatic multi-electrode switch to change the source electrode.
US09256002B2
A coupler for a cable includes a body portion having integral first and second ends and an integral gate having a key entry region, wherein the body portion has a free space at least partially enclosed by an inner surface of the body portion and the gate. A complimentary coupling ring includes an integral perimetal body having a head section, a foot section, and two arm sections therebetween, wherein at least one of the arm sections has a key region, wherein the key region consists of a solid, integral portion of the at least one arm section. A coupler/coupling ring assembly comprises a coupler and a coupling ring that is removeably engageable with the coupler. The coupler/coupling ring assembly is suited for interconnecting lengths of cable, particularly suited for, but not limited to, undersea applications such as attaching a seismic data recording device to the coupler via the coupling ring.
US09256000B2
A folded pendulum is described. The folded pendulum can be a monolithic pendulum and is positioned in the vertical configuration. The folded pendulum allows for more compact realizations through high decouplings of a vertical degree of freedom from other degrees of freedom as well as optimal mechanical quality factors.
US09255989B2
A vehicle system includes a first sensor and a second sensor, each having, respectively, different first and second modalities. A controller includes a processor configured to: receive a first sensor input from the first sensor and a second sensor input from the second sensor; detect, synchronously, first and second observations from, respectively, the first and second sensor inputs; project the detected first and second observations onto a graph network; associate the first and second observations with a target on the graph network, the target having a trajectory on the graph network; select either the first or the second observation as a best observation based on characteristics of the first and second sensors; and estimate a current position of the target by performing a prediction based on the best observation and a current timestamp.
US09255981B2
The present invention provide a sunlight collection device, it comprises a concentrator array composed by a plurality of concentrators and a light sensor electrically connected to the controller, the concentrator comprises a collecting cup and a collecting lens fixed to the collecting cup, a optical fiber runs through and is fixed at the bottom of the collecting cup, a plurality of light detection units which are electrically connected to the controller are provided around the optical fiber at the bottom of the collecting cup. The sunlight collection device and the method for tracking sunlight can not only locate the sunlight at second level, making the position quicker and more precise, but also making the light sensor and the collector of the sunlight collection device calibrate itself when mechanical deviation occurs, avoiding the phenomenon that although the sensor array precisely locating to sunlight and the light spot which is condensed by the collecting lens deviates the light-receiving of the optical fiber.
US09255977B2
A local coil for an imaging system includes an anterior torso part and a posterior torso part that are detachably connected to one another with a fastening device.
US09255975B2
A magnetoresistive sensing device is provided. A first sensed magnetic-field component in parallel with the x-axis and a second sensed magnetic-field component in parallel with the y-axis of an external magnetic field forming a first inclination angle with the x-axis and a second inclination angle with the y-axis are determined. A virtual plane is defined so as to render a magnetic-field component perpendicular to the virtual plane of the external magnetic field is essentially zero. The first inclination angle and the second inclination angle are adjusted with reference to the virtual plane. An x-axis magnetic-field component in parallel with the x-axis, a y-axis magnetic-field component in parallel with the y-axis and a z-axis magnetic-field component in parallel with the z-axis of the external magnetic field are estimated according to the adjusted first inclination angle, the adjusted second inclination angle, the first sensed magnetic-field component and the second sensed magnetic-field component.
US09255973B2
A system for estimating long term characteristics of a battery includes a learning data input unit for receiving initial characteristic learning data and long term characteristic learning data of a battery to be a learning object; a measurement data input unit for receiving initial characteristic measurement data of a battery to be an object for estimation of long term characteristics; and an artificial neural network operation unit for receiving the initial characteristic learning data and the long term characteristic learning data from the learning data input unit to allow learning of an artificial neural network, receiving the initial characteristic measurement data from the measurement data input unit and applying the learned artificial neural network thereto, and thus calculating long term characteristic estimation data from the initial characteristic measurement data of the battery and outputting the long term characteristic estimation data.
US09255968B2
An integrated circuit with a high-speed debug access port includes interface circuitry and a dedicated debug port in the interface circuitry. The interface circuitry includes a function circuit block that is used to receive a data packet from external circuitry coupled to the integrated circuit. The dedicated debug port is coupled to the function circuit block and is used to transmit the received data packet to debug circuitry on the integrated circuit. The interface circuitry may include a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) interface circuit.
US09255966B2
A receiver circuit includes a CDR circuit, a jitter generator unit, a test pattern generator unit, and a comparator unit. The jitter generator unit generates jitter having first characteristics (frequency and amplitude). The test pattern generator unit generates a test pattern to which the jitter is added, and supplies the test pattern to the CDR circuit. The comparator unit compares a value outputted from the CDR circuit with an expected value and outputs a comparison result.
US09255956B2
The present invention relates to a device operable electrically via a mains voltage connection, in particular without a ground wire connection, having a live element and having an application part, wherein the application part is insulated by a basic insulation with respect to the live element. In this respect, an insulation monitor is provided which monitors the quality of the basic insulation of the application part with respect to the live element. The present invention furthermore comprises a medical device having a heating module for heating a medical fluid, wherein the heating module comprises a heating element having a heating coil arranged on a first ceramic layer, wherein the heating element is arranged on a second ceramic layer, wherein the second ceramic layer advantageously forms a heating plate of the heating module.
US09255946B2
The invention relates to an electronic component (1), in particular a current sensor, having a resistance element (5) made of a resistance material, a first connection part (3) made of a conductor material for introducing an electrical current into the resistance element (5), and a second connection part (4) made of a conductor material for discharging the electrical current from the resistance element (5). According to the invention, the component (1) has a temperature-measuring device (8) for measuring a temperature difference between the resistance element (5), on the one hand, and at least one of the two connection parts (3, 4), on the other hand, in order to derive the current from the temperature difference.
US09255939B2
A sample analyzer comprises a pipette, a pipette moving mechanism and a position confirming member disposed at a position where the pipette can be moved by the pipette moving mechanism. The position confirming member comprises a space into which a tip end of the pipette can be inserted. When the sample analyzer carries out the position confirmation process, the tip end of the pipette is moved by the pipette moving mechanism so as to be inserted into the space of the position confirming member. When a sensor sensed that the tip end of the pipette collides with the position confirming member, the sample analyzer stops the movement of the pipette and notify that the pipette of the pipette moving mechanism has a problem.
US09255938B2
A sample analyzer includes a first measurement unit, a second measurement unit, a detection section which detects information about an amount of a sample in a sample container before the first measurement unit aspirates the sample in the sample container, and a control section. Based on a detection result by the detection section and based on information about a predetermined sample amount necessary for performing both in the first measurement unit and the second measurement unit, when the control section has determined that the amount of the sample in the sample container is insufficient for the predetermined sample amount, the control section controls the first measurement unit and the second measurement unit so as not to aspirate the sample in the sample container.
US09255936B2
A storage cassette including a plurality of generally vertical compartments for storing sample tube racks and/or SBS formatted plates is constructed to be flexible along its substantially vertical axis thereby facilitating reliable robotic placement and retrieval of the cassette from nesting tubes located within a horizontal freezer compartment. Insulated walls and solid shelves minimize heat transfer from storage racks or plates placed in the storage cassette when the cassette is removed from an ultra-low temperature or cryogenic freezer. The outer walls of the cassette includes mechanical indexing locations to ensure appropriate positioning when robotically removing storage racks or plates from the cassette.
US09255921B2
Diagnostic system including a sensor device with a sensor for generating signals corresponding to a first operational condition, a control device with a timer and function for performance of measurements, and a signal transmission device. The system includes a device for determination of a second operational condition of the system component and configured where the sensor value of the signal transmission device corresponding to the first operational condition is furnished when the sensor value corresponding to a second operational condition of the transmission mechanism is higher or lower than a comparative value, and housing component of a lubricant container and a closure device for sealing an opening of the housing component from a lubricant present in the operational use thereof in an internal space thereof, having arranged therein: at least one sensor device including at least one sensor for determining the water content in the lubricant.
US09255917B2
An analyzer calibrating system intended to reduce calibration time and a consumption amount of calibration gas in the case of concurrently calibrating a plurality of analyzers and includes: a calibration gas line for concurrently supplying the same calibration gas to a plurality of analyzers; and a control unit adapted to determine whether or not an output value of each of the plurality of analyzers supplied with the same calibration gas is stable. The control unit calibrates the analyzer having the output value determined to be stable and stops the supply of the calibration gas to the analyzer having completed with the calibration.
US09255906B2
A method for the analysis of samples including one or more glycopeptides including the steps of separating one or more glycopeptides using a chromatography system to produce a chromatographic eluent, adding a supercharging reagent to the chromatographic eluent, providing the chromatographic eluent and supercharging reagent to a mass spectrometer, ionizing the chromatographic eluent and supercharging reagent in an ion source to produce glycopeptide ions, performing at least one ion ion reaction on at least some of the glycopeptides ions to produce fragment ions, mass analyzing the fragment ions to produce ion ion reaction mass spectral data, and interpreting the ion ion reaction mass spectral data to provide structural information relating to the glycopeptide.
US09255903B2
The invention relates to an electrochemical sensor for the determination of a concentration of at least one analyte in a medium, in particular a body tissue and/or a body fluid, to an apparatus that includes the electrochemical sensor, and to a use of the electrochemical sensor, and finally to a method for producing it. The electrochemical sensor has an isolation element and at least two electrodes. The at least two electrodes comprise at least one working electrode and at least one further electrode, in particular at least one counter electrode and/or at least one reference electrode. The at least two electrodes run parallel to one another and form an electrochemical measuring cell of the electrochemical sensor.
US09255898B2
The present invention relates to a method and a device for measuring scattering of X-rays wherein the compound to be analyzed is installed in a receptacle comprising an X-ray-permeable flat bottom, wherein the X-ray diffraction analysis is undertaken by sending an X-ray stream upwards toward said X-ray-permeable bottom and by measuring the stream of scattered X-rays reflected downwards, and wherein a fluid thermostatically controlled to the same temperature as that of the compound to be analyzed in the receptacle is projected toward the X-ray permeable flat bottom, from outside the receptacle.
US09255882B2
The invention relates to an optical imaging system (20) comprising an illumination unit (23), a detection unit (24) and a measurement chamber (21) for receiving a subject to be examined, wherein the illumination unit (23) is arranged such in relation to the measurement chamber (21) that it can illuminate a subject placed inside the measurement chamber (21), and wherein the measurement chamber (21) is provided with several fins (31, 31′) for preventing stray light from reaching the detection unit (24), the several fins (31, 31′) being arranged in such a way that at least some of the fins (31, 31′) are in the field of view of the detection unit (24) with the fins (31, 31′) being orientated such that the surfaces (31.1, 31.1′) of the fins that are subjected to illumination by stray light are not visible to the detection unit (24).
US09255879B2
A method of measuring a refractive index distribution includes steps of setting a plurality of different arrangements by a translation movement in a state where an object is arranged in first and second media having refractive indices different from a refractive index of the object, measuring transmissive wavefront of the object for each of media and each of the plurality of arrangements by reference light entering the object (S400), obtaining wavefront aberration corresponding to a difference between each transmissive wavefront and a reference transmissive wavefront (S500), obtaining refractive index distribution of the object by removing an influence of a shape error of the object using wavefront aberration of two media in which the object is arranged at the same position (S70), and obtaining refractive index distribution information of the object based on a plurality of refractive index distributions corresponding to the plurality of arrangements (S80).
US09255858B2
A method for measuring the cutting force on a fiber. The method includes the steps of: providing a blade having an edge; providing a fiber mount for holding the fiber; providing at least one sensor connected to the fiber mount; moving the blade toward the fiber and cutting the fiber; and measuring the cutting force on the fiber with the at least one sensor.
US09255857B2
A torque detecting device includes a permanent magnet; a first magnetic yoke; a second magnetic yoke; two magnetic elements; a terminal; a case; and an external housing. The two magnetic elements are electrically connected to the terminal. The case accommodates the two magnetic elements and the terminal. The external housing accommodates the permanent magnet, the first magnetic yoke, and the second magnetic yoke, covers an outer side surface of the case, and is formed integrally with the case.
US09255849B2
In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to receive down hole tool environmental temperature data, axial temperature data, radial temperature data, and log data. Further activity may include applying temperature effects compensation associated with the environmental temperature data and the down hole log data using a fitting function model obtained from a trained neural network to transform the down hole log data into corrected log data. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are described.
US09255847B1
Thermo-optical array devices and methods of processing thermo-optical array devices are disclosed. One method of processing thermo-optical array devices includes forming a (001) oriented titanium dioxide material on a bolometer material, and forming a vanadium dioxide material on the (001) oriented titanium dioxide material. One thermo-optical array device includes a bolometer material, a titanium dioxide material on the bolometer material, and a vanadium dioxide material on the titanium dioxide material, wherein the vanadium dioxide material has an optical transition temperature of less than 67 degrees Celsius.
US09255840B2
Systems and methods for an improved solar/infrared conversion efficiency using multiple rectennas, one for each band of the spectrum. Each rectenna is optimally efficient for each spectrum band. An antenna receives at least one of a visible or infrared spectrum. Rectifying circuits coupled to the antenna generate a current based on a portion of the spectrum received by the at least one antenna. Each rectenna operates efficiently using a different operating voltage. The operating voltages are based on the selected load resistor and the current-voltage characteristics for the diode of the rectifying circuit at the associated spectrum portion.
US09255839B2
The present invention introduces a detector that is able to detect single microwave photons propagating in a waveguide. The waveguide of the invention is lowered to a temperature where it becomes superconductive. Disposed between a middle wire and a ground plane of the waveguide is a very small piece of a desired normal metal, whereby so-called SN contacts are formed between these materials. A separate reflection measurement circuit is coupled to the normal metal piece. When the impedance of the waveguide is matched to the impedance of the normal metal piece as well as possible, a photon propagating in the waveguide is most likely absorbed in the normal metal. The absorption slightly raises the temperature of the piece, which further changes the impedance observed in a so-called SIN junction between the reflection measurement circuit and the piece. The changed amplitude and phase are detectable at the outlet obtained from a mixer of the reflection measurement circuit, whereby a single absorbed photon can be detected. In principle, the present method and device enable quantum calculation in view of future applications.
US09255836B2
Methods and apparatus for performing Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) using fiber optics with increased acoustic sensitivity are provided. Acoustic sensing of a wellbore, pipeline, or other conduit/tube based on DAS may have increased acoustic sensitivity through fiber optic cable design and/or increasing the Rayleigh backscatter property of a fiber's optical core. Some embodiments may utilize a resonant sensor mechanism with a high Q coupled to the DAS device for increased acoustic sensitivity.
US09255835B2
A gas turbine combustor vibration sensing system includes a non-contact reflective optical vibration sensor adapted for reflecting photons off of a component within the combustor with a photon source and receiving reflected photons with a photon detector. Exemplary combustor internal components include the combustor basket or transition. A vibration analyzer is coupled to the vibration sensor, for correlating photons received by the detector with vibration characteristics of the component. Vibration characteristics in turn can be correlated with combustion characteristics, including by way of example flame front position and flameout conditions. Vibration characteristic information may be used as an operational parameter by a turbine monitoring system to modify operation of a gas turbine.
US09255833B2
According to an example, a fan vibration testing apparatus includes a beam. The fan vibration testing apparatus further includes a fan mounting head disposed at a first location on the beam and including a cut-out, and a rod including first and second opposite rod ends. The rod may be attached at the first rod end to the fan mounting head, and the second rod end may be exposed to retain a fan within the cut-out.
US09255827B2
A method for estimating a fluid flow velocity may include receiving, with a processing device, a plurality of observations corresponding to a concentration of a constituent of a flowing fluid mixture, and computing a final estimate of an average velocity of the flowing fluid mixture based at least in part on the observations, wherein the constituent is undergoing a chemical reaction and the computing implements a reactive transport model.
US09255816B2
The disclosure relates to a server, system and method for communicating with a meter at a remote premise through power transmission lines. The system comprises a head end with a server for collecting and analyzing data from meters; a power transmission network connected to the meters and to the head end; and a gateway. The network provides both power to the remote location and data communications; the network includes a first network providing a first voltage and a second network connected to the first network. The server comprises a processor and a memory module storing instructions for execution on the processor. The gateway is a bridge between the first and second networks. Network communications may follow Internet Protocol (IP) communication standards. Based on the load index, each meter can generate and send its response to the server and the server will be able to process its response.
US09255789B2
Methods for measuring a thickness of an object including acquiring at least one of a wavelength domain spectrum for an amplitude ratio (Ψ) and a phase difference (Δ) of reflected light from a film material, converting the wavelength domain spectrum into a 1/wavelength domain spectrum, acquiring a resulting spectrum by performing fast fourier transform (FFT) on the 1/wavelength domain spectrum, and measuring a thickness of the film material from the resulting spectrum may be provided.
US09255781B2
A first sensor detects whether an object is within a first region that surrounds the first sensor. A second sensor detects whether the object is within a second region that surrounds the second sensor. The first and second sensors are omnidirectional capacitive electrodes. In response to the first sensor detecting that the object is not within the first region, a device determines that the object is not proximate to a particular side of the first and second sensors. In response to the first sensor detecting that the object is within the first region, and the second sensor detecting that the object is within the second region, the device determines that the object is not proximate to the particular side. In response to the first sensor detecting that the object is within the first region, yet the second sensor detecting that the object is not within the second region, the device determines that the object is proximate to the particular side.
US09255777B1
A more IM compliant energetics train for a grenade fuze or a detonator includes an explosive charge containing PBXN-5 and a first charge containing PBX-9407 disposed adjacent to the PBXN-5 explosive charge. A flying disc is disposed adjacent to the first charge of PBX-9407. A barrel has one end disposed adjacent to the flying disc and an opposite end disposed adjacent to a second charge containing PBX-9407. Detonation of the first charge containing PBX-9407 causes the flying disc to accelerate through the barrel, impact the second charge containing PBX-9407 and detonate the second charge containing PBX-9407.
US09255763B2
Leveling devices and methods are provided for use in tuning and installing accessories on archery bows such as compound bows. For example, devices and methods are provided for leveling bow risers and arrow rest components of archery bows to enable proper accessory installation and tuning of archery bows.
US09255748B2
A heat exchanger for a vehicle includes a heat radiating portion provided with first and second connecting lines formed by alternately stacking a plurality of plates and first and second operating fluids heat-exchanging with each other while passing through the first and second connecting lines; a bifurcating portion connecting an inflow hole for flowing one of the operating fluids with an exhaust hole for exhausting the one operating fluid, and adapted for the one operating fluid to bypass the heat radiating portion according to a temperature of the one operating fluid; and a valve unit mounted at the inflow hole forming the bifurcating portion and adapted to flow the operating fluid selectively to the heat radiating portion or the bifurcating portion according to a temperature of the one operating fluid flowing into the inflow hole.
US09255747B2
A member for a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes an alumina electrostatic chuck, a cooling plate, and a cooling plate-chuck bonding layer. The cooling plate includes first to third substrates, a first metal bonding layer between the first and second substrates, a second metal bonding layer between the second and third substrates, and a refrigerant path. The first to third substrates are formed of a dense composite material containing Si, SiC, and Ti. The metal bonding layers are formed by thermal compression bonding of the substrates with an Al—Si—Mg or Al—Mg metal bonding material interposed between the first and second substrates and between the second and third substrates.
US09255737B2
An apparatus comprises a vessel, a first vertical support, a second vertical support, and a series of insulating panels. The first vertical support and the second vertical support are fixated to the vessel such that the first vertical support is spaced apart from the second vertical support. Each of the insulating panels in the series of insulating panels is supported between the first vertical support and the second vertical support. Moreover, each insulating panel in the series of insulating panels slidably overlaps one or more adjacent insulating panels in the series of insulating panels.
US09255731B2
A method for recovering a sour natural gas liquids stream is provided. In one embodiment, a carbon dioxide recycle stream that comprises carbon dioxide, natural gas liquids, and acid gas is received. The carbon dioxide recycle stream is separated into a purified carbon dioxide recycle stream and a natural gas liquids stream. The purified carbon dioxide recycle stream comprises the carbon dioxide, and the natural gas liquids stream comprises the natural gas liquids and the acid gas. In another embodiment, a system comprises piping and a separator. The piping is configured to receive a recycle stream that comprises an injection gas, natural gas liquids, and acid gas. The separator is configured to separate the recycle stream into a purified recycle stream and a natural gas liquids stream. The purified recycle stream comprises the injection gas, and the natural gas liquids stream comprises the natural gas liquids and the acid gas.
US09255727B2
The field of the invention relates to systems and methods for exchanging heat from the degradation, decomposition, and chemical/biochemical transformation of municipal, industrial, and other types of waste. In one embodiment, a heat extraction system may include a closed-loop fluid circulation piping channeled throughout at least one heat extraction well oriented throughout a waste mass. The piping is fluidly coupled to a heat exchanger. A first circulation fluid is circulated through the closed-loop circulation piping into various depths of the waste mass to transfer thermal energy between said mass and said heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the transfer of thermal energy between the waste mass and the heat exchanger is used as alternative energy method and to control at least one of shear strength, compressibility, and hydraulic conductivity of the waste mass.
US09255726B2
A solar trough system of the invention comprises at least one trough-shaped reflector surface (1) directing beams coming from the sun to the focal axis (F); at least one thermal receiver (2) disposed at the focal axis (F) and extending along the reflector (1). Furthermore, the system comprises at least one first arm (L1) and a second arm (L2), one end of each of which are connected to two fixed points (P1, P2) with swivel joint; at least one third arm (L3) which is connected to the other ends of these two arms (L, L2) from two points (P3, P4) with swivel joint wherein the thermal receiver (2) is connected with swivel joint to a linear movement point (E1) on the third arm (L3) which moves with rotation of the first and second arms (L1, L2).
US09255717B2
A ceiling mounted air conditioner is provided. The ceiling mounted air conditioner includes a main body configured to be fixed onto a ceiling and have an open bottom; an outlet panel configured to be coupled to a lower part of the main body and have a plurality of air outlets; an intake panel configured to be coupled to the outlet panel and have an air intake; a door panel configured to be lifted up or down from the bottom of the intake panel and thus to open or shut the air intake; and a human body sensor module configured to be installed in the door panel, to begin to operate when the door panel is lifted down and to sense a movement of a user. Since the ceiling mounted air conditioner can blow air-conditioned air toward the user in a localized manner, it is possible to improve the performance of the ceiling mounted air conditioner.
US09255712B2
An oven appliance with a cabinet that defines a chamber is provided. A pair of doors is mounted proximate the cabinet and provides selective access to the cabinet. One of the pair of doors includes a tongue. Another of the pair of doors defines a groove configured for receipt of the tongue when the pair of doors is in a closed position. The tongue and groove can limit heat loss through a gap between the pair of doors or assist with sealing the pair of doors against the cabinet.
US09255704B1
A streetlight includes a light-emitting diode and a passive cooling system. The light-emitting diode is in thermal engagement with the bottom of the cooling system. The cooling system has an upper cooling chamber and a lower cooling chamber displaced from the upper cooling chamber. A thermal flow circuit extends through a domed chamber, the upper cooling chamber, a return passage and the lower cooling chamber. The domed chamber is inside the lower cooling chamber in thermal engagement with the bottom directly over the light-emitting diode and has inlet channels in thermal engagement with the bottom and an outlet to the upper cooling chamber.
US09255701B2
A lighting device (100) has a support structure having lighting elements (422) arranged thereon. The support structure has an internal cooling duct having a duct wall. At least a part of duct wall is in thermal contact with the lighting elements. The cooling duct is configured to allow a natural air flow absorbing heat generated by the lighting elements from the duct wall. The cooling duct extends through the support structure from a first opening having a first cross-sectional area to a second opening having a second cross-sectional area. The cooling duct contains a filler body (412) having a substantially bi-conical shape. The filler body and the duct wall form a cooling duct portion with a third cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area and/or the second cross-sectional area. The lighting device is part of a lighting system. The system comprises a control unit (700) coupled to the lighting device.
US09255687B2
An LED optical light engine spotlight which can accommodate a variable number of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is disclosed. An optical projection lens mounted in front of the LEDs merges the separate LED beams into a single beam, similar to the single beam provided by a halogen light and reflector. A heat sink provides convection cooling up to approximately 100 F. An optional fan provides additional heat dissipation for more extreme conditions. The depicted device can include a vertical tilt of over 200. Optimally, the depicted device is designed to have a full vertical tilt range between zenith (0 degrees) to horizontal (90 degrees) to full depression (135 degrees). An optional accessory lens provides additional capabilities, including flood lenses, colored lenses and rock guards, for example. The depicted device can be hard wired or wireless. The depicted device can be adapted to many base units and/or pan and tilt platforms.
US09255681B2
In various embodiments, a lighting device may include a plurality of semiconductor light sources, and an apparatus configured to operate the semiconductor light sources. The apparatus has switching means, by which the semiconductor light sources can be divided in groups for operation with the apparatus.
US09255680B2
A transportation device lamp fixture includes a semiconductor light-emitting device, a circuit board to which the semiconductor light-emitting device is mounted, a lamp body, and a front cover that covers an opening of the lamp body. The semiconductor light-emitting device and the circuit board are housed inside of a lamp chamber formed by the lamp body and the front cover, and the circuit board is attached to an inside surface of an upper portion of the front cover or the lamp body.
US09255672B2
A solid-state light source includes laser diodes that emit a laser beam with a first wavelength, a rotatable support that is arranged in a beam path of the laser beam and a reflector that is arranged between the laser diodes and the rotatable support. The rotatable support is formed of a ring or of an optically transparent disc. Further, the rotatable support is mounted to be rotatable around a rotation axis such that the laser beam impinges on a ring-shaped area of the rotatable support during rotation. Segments of the ring-shaped area include wavelength converting material that emits radiation of a second wavelength upon impingement of the laser beam. The rotatable support is mounted in a bearing that is arranged distant from the rotation axis to allow unhindered passage of the radiation directed by the reflector to the emission direction.
US09255661B2
An adjuster is to control operation of a lower joint and an upper joint. The lower joint couples a base to an arm, and the upper joint couples the arm to a mount. The adjuster controls the joints according to a first mode and a second mode. The first mode is to secure the lower and upper joints against adjustability. The second mode is to release the lower and upper joints for adjustability.
US09255655B2
A coupling for joining fluid conduits includes a nut portion having a circumferential groove that extends at least partially along an interior surface thereof. The nut portion further includes a tab opening extending therethrough. A cylindrical shaft portion extends from the nut portion. A retaining clip is disposed within the circumferential groove of the nut portion and includes a tab disposed within the tab opening. A first arc of the retaining clip extends from the tab in a first circumferential direction, and a second arc of the retaining clip extends from the tab in a second, opposing circumferential direction. The first arc includes a first knob and terminates in a second knob, and the second arc includes a third knob and terminates in a fourth knob. The second and fourth knobs are larger than the first and third knobs, respectively.
US09255651B2
The present invention relates to a marine pipeline installation system for laying an offshore pipeline and/or installing a subsea riser. The system comprises: a pipeline launch tower (10), a pipeline guide (16) provided at an elevated position for guiding said pipeline to the pipeline launch trajectory along said tower, one or more tensioners (18), an abandonment and recovery (A&R) system (30) comprising at least one A&R cable and associated A&R winch and a sheave arrangement with one or more sheaves supported by the pipeline launch tower at an upper position thereof. Furthermore, an auxiliary trolley (38, 50) is provided which is adapted to support the weight of the launched pipeline and which is movable along a rail in the pipeline launch trajectory when the one or more tensioner frames are in the retracted non-operable position, from a position above the uppermost tensioner to a position below the lowermost tensioner, the rail being supported by the pipeline launch tower.
US09255650B2
Movable valve apparatus having conditioned lubricating surfaces are described. An example valve includes a valve packing having a graphite packing ring disposed within a bonnet of the fluid valve and a stem or shaft has a conditioned surface to hold a lubricating material. The conditioned surface of the stem or shaft is disposed within the bonnet and moves the lubricating material relative to and in contact with the graphite packing ring during operation of the fluid valve.
US09255640B1
A park lock having an actuator assembly for pivoting a pawl relative to a dog ring. The actuator assembly has a first linear actuator, a locking mechanism, a first biasing spring and a second linear actuator. The first linear actuator has a first output member that is movable along a movement axis that is parallel to a pivot axis of the pawl. The locking mechanism is configured to selectively couple the first output member and a cam for common movement along the movement axis. The first biasing spring is configured to move the cam along the movement axis relative to the first output member when the locking mechanism decouples the cam from the first output member. The second linear actuator is configured to move the cam along the movement axis and against the first biasing spring when the cam is decoupled from the first output member.
US09255629B2
The present invention is installed with a unidirectional transmission device at the active side, so when a transmission belt is tightened while the active pulley driving a passive pulley in periodically varied speed ratios, an auxiliary pulley (312) is linked simultaneously so as to form a prestressed force for storing energy, when the force applied by the active pulley to the passive pulley through the transmission belt is zero or relatively smaller, the auxiliary pulley (312) is enabled to release energy for recovering so as to apply force to the transmission belt, because the transmission belt is coupled to the active pulley and/or one end of the active wheel shaft combined with the active pulley is restrained by the unidirectional transmission device, the transmission belt is enabled to link the passive pulley to operate in the original revolving direction for feeding back the kinetic energy.
US09255627B2
An automatic transmission includes a thrust bearing α disposed between a third sun gear of a third planetary gear mechanism and a second sun gear of a second planetary gear mechanism. Accordingly, transmitting a thrust load acting on the second sun gear of the second planetary gear mechanism from the thrust bearing to an input shaft via the third sun gear of the third planetary gear mechanism can avoid, as much as possible, a case where the thrust load is transmitted from the third planetary gear mechanism to the input shaft via a fourth planetary gear mechanism, and reduce friction loss of multiple thrust bearings interposed among elements or the like of the third planetary gear mechanism and the fourth planetary gear mechanism.
US09255621B2
A damper includes a cavity and a rotation shaft. The rotation shaft is inserted into the cavity of the body in sealing way. An oil cavity is disposed between the cavity and the rotation shaft. The external wall of the rotation shaft is disposed with a pair of protruding ribs axially. Each protruding rib is a groove. One side of the groove is a first retaining wall and the other side is a second retaining wall. A transitional arc is disposed between the side wall of the groove and the top surface of the first retaining wall. A first shape is formed between the other side wall of the groove and the top surface of the second retaining wall. A blade is disposed between the groove of one protruding rib and an internal wall of the cavity, and the blade is movable between the two retaining walls of the groove.
US09255618B2
An internally ventilated motor vehicle brake disc which includes at least in parts of a fiber composite material, having two parallel friction surfaces on one or more friction rings with cooling channels, wherein the friction ring or rings are arranged on a brake disc hub in a non-rotating manner, and wherein the two friction surfaces include fiber composite material, a disc-shaped carrier for the friction surfaces is provided parallel to the friction surfaces, and wherein the carrier is connected to the brake disc hub as one piece.
US09255615B2
A clutch pedal apparatus for a vehicle for reducing effort may include a rear fixed magnet and a front fixed magnet respectively fixed at an initial position and a last position of a movement section of a pushrod with a predetermined distance in a cylinder housing included in a clutch master cylinder, and a moveable magnet coupled to the pushrod disposed between the rear fixed magnet and the front fixed magnet, wherein the moveable magnet guides complete restoration of a pedal arm via magnetic force with the rear fixed magnet during an initial manipulation and reverse restoration of the pedal arm and generates a turnover force via a magnetic force with the front fixed magnet during a full stroke manipulation of the pedal arm.
US09255609B2
A tolerance ring has a ring shape formed of a plate-shaped member substantially into a circle along a predetermined direction and includes a plurality of convex portions protruding in a radial direction, and a notch portion notched in a direction orthogonal to a circumferential direction on at least one of outer edge side end portions in the direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction.
US09255604B2
A hydro dynamic bearing device comprising an upper half of a main bearing and a lower half of the main bearing, wherein the upper half of the main bearing is lined with a low-strength metal such as a Babbitt metal, wherein a circumferential groove is formed in the lower half of the main bearing, and wherein the low-strength metal of the upper half of the main bearing, which is formed at a region opposed to a downstream side of the circumferential groove formed in the lower half of the main bearing, is partially removed to cause a high-strength bearing base metal to be partially exposed.
US09255601B2
The invention relates in first instance to a nut having a first part (11) which has a first through opening (O1), and having a second part (12) which has a opening (O2) having an opening contour, the parts (11, 12) being connected so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis (A) which passes through the openings (O1, O2), and the openings (O1, O2) being aligned with one another, in addition, the first opening (O1) on its inner face having a profile which extends in the peripheral direction and which is interrupted in the peripheral direction. In order to provide a nut which is quickly mountable on a threaded bolt, and which has a simple design that allows greater security against the nut coming off the threaded bolt, it is proposed that the opening contour of the second opening is non-circular. The invention further relates to a combination of a bolt (4) having a cross-sectional area with a nut (10).
US09255595B2
Techniques and architecture are disclosed for implementing an optical dome bezel to interface an optical dome/window and a housing of differing coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs), In some embodiments, the bezel may comprise a material (e.g., Ti-6Al-4V) that is CTE-matched to the optical dome material (e.g., silicon, germanium, sapphire, ALON), thereby mitigating temperature effects on system performance. In some embodiments, the bezel may include a radially compliant flexure feature (e.g., flexure blades, spring-form S-channels), which mitigates physical stress effects (e.g., vibration, thermal expansion/contraction, etc.) on system performance. In some embodiments, the bezel may include an integral environmental sealing feature (e.g., O-ring gaskets), which protects internal optics/electronics from external environmental hazards (e.g., moisture, corrosive substances, particulates, debris). In some embodiments, the bezel may be efficiently and repeatedly removed/replaced while preserving optical system performance. Numerous configurations and variations will be apparent in light of this disclosure.
US09255593B2
An assembly comprises a corner block piece and a locating plate. The corner block piece has a node receiving cavity which includes an aperture configured to receive a locking pin. The locating plate includes at least one locking node. The locking node includes a spring-loaded locking pin configured to engage the aperture when the locking node is inserted in the node receiving cavity. The assembly facilitates construction of a portable staging system involving a platform, at least two support legs, and bracing.
US09255590B2
A ventilation device for a hydraulic cylinder providing a housing having a fluid passageway with an inlet and an outlet, and a closure member disposed in said passageway displaceable in obstructing relation with such inlet upon application of a first fluid force in such inlet, obstructing relation with such outlet upon application of a second fluid force on such inlet and in nonobstructing relation with either of such inlet and outlet upon application of a third fluid force between such first and second fluid forces.
US09255584B2
There is provided a combined ceiling fan and light fitting (10) having blades (1-4) that when the ceiling fan is not in use retract and are stowed above an enclosure (12) containing a light emitting device and that when the fan is in use are extended under centrifugal force. The blades are formed in such a way as to both stow compactly above the enclosure and provide reasonable aerodynamic performance. Each blade partially overlies a neighbouring blade when in its stowed position and the blades are so formed as to permit such stacking while limiting the overall height of the assemblage of stowed blades.
US09255582B2
The present invention relates to an exhaust-gas turbocharger for use in an internal combustion engine and to a method for assembling and/or setting an exhaust-gas turbocharger. According to the invention, the exhaust-gas turbocharger comprises a regulating mechanism and an actuator device for actuating the regulating mechanism, wherein the actuator device comprises a control rod with a first part and a second part. The second part of the control rod has a guide, which is designed in such a way that it at least partially surrounds the first part. Moreover, the second part has at least one hole, wherein the first part is connected to the second part by a welded or assembly joint, which is arranged in the at least one hole.
US09255579B2
It is intended to provide a vacuum pump so that without upsizing the vacuum pump, noise and vibration are reduced, heat dissipation property is secured, and the casing is downsized. Therefore, at least one turning part is provided in an exhausting path formed in a casing body. The casing body is formed of a material whose thermal conductivity is higher than that of a rotor and vanes, and a cylinder part where the vanes slide is press fitted in the casing body.
US09255577B2
Disclosed is a large-scale submersible sewage pump assembly that includes a pump and a pump seat installation structure, wherein the pump seat installation structure has a concrete installation base layer, and a pump seat for installing the pump. The pump seat is fixed to the pump installation layer, and the bottom of the pump is directly connected onto the pump seat. The pump has a motor cooling apparatus, wherein the cooling apparatus has an internal cooling apparatus installed inside the case of the motor, and an external cooling apparatus installed outside the motor. The pump seat installation structure can stably mount and support the large-scale submersible sewage pump, preventing potential safety hazard during running of the pump.
US09255568B2
The invention relates to a rotor for a wind turbine of the type having a rotor hub (8) and a set of rotor blades (9). Each rotor blade (9) is rotatably mounted on the rotor hub (8) for rotation about a blade axis (11). A threaded spindle mechanism (13) interconnects the rotor blade (9) and the rotor hub (8). The threaded spindle mechanism (13) includes a spindle nut (32), a threaded spindle (31) and a drive (21) mounted on the rotor blade (9) adjacent a transition between the rotor hub (8) and the rotor blade (9). The drive (21) is rotatable together with the rotor blade (9) about the blade axis (11) relative to the rotor hub (8) by actuation of the threaded spindle mechanism (13).
US09255562B2
The invention relates to a starter (10) for an internal combustion engine, comprising a starter motor (12), which can be connected to a direct voltage network (30, 31) by means of a switching device (27). In order to improve the process of meshing a starter pinion (22) into a ring gear (26) of an internal combustion engine, it is proposed that the excitation winding (37) of the starter motor (12) be divided into several partial windings (a-f), which can optionally be connected to the direct voltage network (30, 31) by the switching device (27) in a staggered manner.
US09255552B2
An engine system for a machine is disclosed. The engine system may have a first intake manifold configured to distribute air into a first cylinder bank of an engine. The engine system may also have a second intake manifold configured to distribute air into a second cylinder bank of the engine. The engine system may have a first exhaust manifold configured to discharge exhaust from the first cylinder bank to the atmosphere. The engine system may further have a second exhaust manifold configured to discharge exhaust from non-donor cylinders in the second cylinder bank to the atmosphere. In addition, the engine system may have a third exhaust manifold separate from the first and second exhaust manifolds and configured to recirculate exhaust from donor cylinders in the second cylinder bank to the first and second intake manifolds.
US09255551B2
A fouling free clean EGR system for a diesel-gasoline dual fuel powered engine allows re-circulation of an exhaust gas of a certain cylinder among a plurality of cylinders. The fouling free clean exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for a diesel-gasoline dual fuel powered engine in which gasoline and air are pre-mixed and supplied to cylinders and then a diesel fuel is injected and combusted together comprises a directly-exhaust cylinder of which an exhaust valve of the cylinder is connected to an exhaust manifold directly connected to a after treatment device; and an EGR cylinder of which an exhaust valve of the cylinder is connected to an EGR line and which supplies the EGR gas to the diesel-gasoline dual fuel powered engine.
US09255546B2
An aircraft nacelle comprising an outer cowl having an inner wall and an outer wall surrounding the inner wall. The inner wall may have an inner opening formed therethrough and the outer wall may have an outer opening formed therethrough at an aft end of the nacelle. The nacelle may further comprise a translating panel configured to cover the inner and outer openings in a stowed position and to translate aft to a deployed position. The translating panel may be fixed to cascade guide vane panels which rest between the inner and outer wall in the stowed position and are exposed to airflow via the inner and outer openings when translated aft to the deployed position, thereby increasing a nozzle area of the nacelle. Guide vanes of the cascade guide vane panels are angled slightly aftward to direct the nacelle's airflow outward and aftward.
US09255544B2
An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder of which the interior is divided into two in the longitudinal direction. The lower chamber serves as a mechanical driving portion in which the piston is reciprocated. The upper chamber serves as a power portion in which combustion gas is drawn in, compressed, burned and exhausted. A cylindrical portion with a lid which moves into the power portion is continuously provided on top of the piston. A gap is defined between the cylindrical portion and the inner peripheral surface of the power portion of the cylinder. The inner peripheral surface of the power portion is defined by a heat shield tube fitted in the cylinder. A heat insulating tube is provided on the outer periphery of the heat shield tube.
US09255536B2
An internal combustion engine has a plurality of cylinders with fuel-metering injection valves, and an exhaust gas probe that generates a measurement signal characteristic of the air/fuel ratio in the respective cylinder. A correction signal for fuel mass to be metered is determined using a lambda controller as a function of the exhaust gas probe measurement signal. When at least one predefined condition is met within a predefined operating range of the engine, a cylinder-specific diagnosis relating to the emissions of pollutants is performed on the basis of unsmooth running, wherein the cylinder-specific diagnosis is actively performed only in a respective detection phase that is applied to a neutral value by a modified proportional discrete level of the correction signal and is performed with a modified integral parameter of the lambda controller that is reduced as compared with an integral parameter in a normal operating mode of the lambda controller.
US09255529B2
A system and method for adjusting an engine throttle opening amount includes a slope-determining unit that determines an angle of inclination of a vehicle, a throttle request determining unit that determines a throttle request, and an engine control unit. The slope-determining unit may include a longitudinal g acceleration sensor. The engine control unit calculates a slope gain factor from the angle of inclination and compares the slope gain factor to a predetermined threshold. If the slope gain factor is greater than the predetermined threshold, the engine control unit generates a throttle command to increase the current throttle opening amount based on the throttle request and the slope gain factor. Alternatively, if the slope gain factor is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold, the engine control unit controls the throttle opening amount based on the throttle request and independently of the slope gain factor.
US09255522B2
A preassembled modular drop-in transition having internal components in conformity with assembly and function specifications prior to and after insertion into an industrial gas turbine access port. The transition assembly maintains conformity with those specifications after insertion into the combustor case if it does not inadvertently impact other turbine components during its installation. Inadvertent impact is avoided by having a combustor service zone proximal the combustor case, enabling slidable insertion of each transition and/or combustor assembly into its corresponding access port along its corresponding insertion path without contacting other turbine system components. A multi-axis motion transition handling tool (THT) in the combustor service zone, preferably under automatic control, is coupled to a transition and facilitates precise alignment along the insertion path. Automatic control facilitates consistent repetitive transition installation and removal by executing a sequence of stored pre-determined manipulation steps.
US09255519B2
Fuel management system for efficient operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder of the engine. A fuel management microprocessor system controls injection of the anti-knock agent so as to control knock and minimize that amount of the anti-knock agent that is used in a drive cycle. It is preferred that the anti-knock agent is ethanol. The use of ethanol can be further minimized by injection in a non-uniform manner within a cylinder. The ethanol injection suppresses knock so that higher compression ratio and/or engine downsizing from increased turbocharging or supercharging can be used to increase the efficiency or the engine.
US09255515B2
A method for determining if an injector (10) is in a blocked state, the injector including a coil of resistance R and of inductance L, passed through by a power supply current of maximum intensity (Imax), and powered by a voltage E, the method includes: controlling the opening of the injector, measuring the intensity I passing through a measurement resistance r as a function of time t, determining a necessary duration τ to reach a predetermined intensity value (Ipred), lower than the maximum intensity (Imax), computing the inductance L as a function of the necessary duration, if L≧Lth, then the injector is blocked in the closed position, otherwise if L
US09255512B2
Urea injection system wash cycle methods and systems are disclosed. An exemplary wash cycle method includes operating a urea injection system to provide urea solution to a first inlet of a blending chamber, provide pressurized gas to a second inlet of the blending chamber, and output a combined flow of pressurized gas and urea solution from the blending chamber. A pressure of the combined flow at a location downstream from the first inlet and the second inlet is monitored. A wash cycle is performed based upon the monitored pressure wherein the flow of pressurized gas is turned off and urea solution is provided to the blending chamber. An exemplary system includes a controller configured to control a urea injection system to perform a wash cycle in accordance with the exemplary method.
US09255506B2
A locomotive underframe CNG fuel storage system including: a crashworthy enclosure including a removable side panel and a permanent side panel welded into place; and at least one CNG cylinder module, wherein each CNG cylinder module includes a plurality of CNG cylinders stacked vertically, secured to a vertical wall, and separated by a horizontal plate, wherein the horizontal plate extends towards but does not contact the vertical wall when the vertical wall is planar and, further wherein, the horizontal plate supports the vertical wall from moving further out of plane when vertical axial weight causes the vertical wall for move out of plane towards the horizontal plate.
US09255502B1
An engine with an acoustic emissions valve or reflector for an exhaust system is disclosed. This reflector is disposed outside of the exhaust system—the reflector is disposed in the atmosphere into which the exhaust system discharges. The reflector is moved between a reflecting position (where the reflector reflects or obstructs acoustic emissions from the exhaust system) and a non-reflecting position (where the reflector does not obstruct the bulk exhaust gas flow from the exhaust system) by rotation of the crankshaft.
US09255501B2
A threadless oil plug is provided for threadlessly sealing a drain hole of an oil pan. The plug has a disc-shaped magnet and a cylindrical stem that projects outwardly from the magnet. A gasket is fastened around the stem in juxtaposition with a planar surface of the magnet. The stem is adapted for insertion into the drain hole of an oil pan, thereby centering the magnet and magnetically sealing the gasket around the drain hole. A removal tool has a hand grip with a splash guard. The hand grip and the splash guard are attached to a magnet. To remove the plug, the magnet of the removal tool is magnetically fastened to the magnet of the plug so that the plug may be safely removed from the drain hole in one motion. The plug is reinstalled in the drain hole in one motion, without the use of any tools.
US09255498B2
Various exemplary illustrations of a camshaft assembly for actuating valves of an engine are disclosed. The camshaft assembly may include a camshaft having a plurality of lobes, including at least one phase adjustable lobe configured to be selectively rotated with respect to the camshaft. The assembly may further include a hydraulic valve actuator in communication with a first lobe of the camshaft. The hydraulic valve actuator may be configured to selectively actuate at least one valve in communication with the hydraulic valve actuator in response to the at least one cam lobe.
US09255491B2
An example turbomachine hot-section component protrusion extends away from a base surface of a hot-section component along a longitudinal axis. A radial cross-section of the protrusion has a profile that is non-circular.
US09255485B2
In the neighborhood area X of the tongue part 27 forming the winding end part of the scroll part 3, the wall part members 31 are provided on both the sides of the welding part (the facing part) ‘a’ of the first scroll part 5 and the second scroll part 7, wherein: the wall part members 31 encloses the welding part (the facing part) ‘a’ and forms the gas-tight space 33; and, the outer circumference wall which enclose the facing part and forms a gas-tight space configure a double-wall structure.
US09255484B2
An aft frame and a method for cooling an aft frame are disclosed. In one embodiment, an aft frame for a transition piece in a combustor is disclosed. The combustor includes the transition piece and an impingement sleeve at least partially defining a flow path therebetween. The aft frame includes a body and a generally radially extending cooling passage defined in the body, the cooling passage comprising a first end configured to accept a coolant. The aft frame further includes an exhaust passage defined in the body, the exhaust passage including a first end in communication with the cooling passage and a second end configured for communication with the flow path for flowing the coolant therethrough.
US09255471B2
An apparatus usable with a well includes an explosive pellet that is adapted to be communicated into the well via a fluid and includes an explosive material that is adapted to be detonated downhole in the well. The apparatus further includes an encapsulant to encapsulate the explosive pellet to inhibit unintended detonation of the explosive material. The encapsulant is adapted to be at least partially removed from the explosive pellet in response to the explosive pellet being communicated into the well.
US09255464B2
System and method for subsea structure obstruction remediation using an exothermic chemical reaction
Systems and methods comprise structures and methods for using a plurality of chemicals which are mixed subsea, resulting in a heated fluid which can be delivered by various means to an area about a subsea structure such as a pipe or other structure which has been compromised by a plug such as a solid gas hydrate or paraffinic plug. Various embodiments allow for selective use of insulated chambers and baffled conduits and the like, or combinations thereof, to aid in the mixing of the various chemicals and achieving a desired temperature.
US09255461B2
The removable plug features a solid material that is housed in a porous container that has its shape changed to transition from the run in shape to the set shape. A swage is moved through a passage in the container to enlarge the passage and move the container to a borehole wall. The passage is then closed such as with a flapper valve or by moving in a mandrel into the expanded passage and lodging the mandrel in the expanded passage. Various release techniques are described.
US09255460B2
A system, including a plug, including one or more fluid pathways extending between upstream and downstream sides of the plug, and an internal lock positionable in an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the internal lock is resiliently biased to the locked position upon release from the unlocked position, wherein the locked position is configured to internally secure the plug within a wellhead component.
US09255459B2
A collapsible casing device, comprising an insert housing, said insert housing having an outer surface and an inner surface, said outer surface fluidly isolated from an external environment, said inner surface having a profile, and a connection between said outer surface and said inner surface, wherein said connection is capable of fluidly connecting to a tubular element; a deformable insert, said deformable insert having an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer surface fitting within said profile of said insert housing, said inner surface capable of containing a fluid and having a first inner diameter, said deformable insert having properties that are conducive to deformation; an explosive material that generates a pressure pulse in response to an activation signal, said explosive material having an inner surface and an outer surface and a composition, said outer surface fitting within said profile of said insert housing, said inner surface external to said outer surface of said deformable insert; and a trigger, said trigger capable of generating said activation signal.
US09255457B2
A system for deep deployment of electric submersible pumps is described. In an implementation, an electric submersible pump (ESP) power cable has a strength member that enables the ESP power cable to support itself when lowered deep into a well inside a coiled tubing. The self-supporting ESP power cable frees the coiled tubing from having to carry the weight of the ESP power cable, thereby permitting longer runs of coiled tubing to be suspended into the well. The ESP power cable and the coiled tubing can be anchored independently to a wellhead, and a computing device can monitor the weight loads on the ESP power cable and on the coiled tubing.
US09255449B2
A drill bit is disclosed that in one embodiment includes a pad configured to extend and retract from a surface of the drill bit, a motor, a linearly movable member coupled to the motor, a hydraulic unit configured to apply force on the pad, and wherein motion of the motor in a first direction causes the linearly movable member in a first direction to cause the hydraulic unit to exert a force on the pad to extend the pad.
US09255445B2
A paint roller tray mounting device includes a platform that has a width sized to fit between first and second side rung supports of a ladder, a length sufficient to support a paint roller tray. The platform has a recess in an upper surface sized and shaped to provide a gripping surface for a ladder rung. At least two securing hooks have a hooking end and an attaching end. The hooks are symmetrically attached at the attaching end adjacent opposite edges of the platform. The hooks extend from at least a lower surface of the platform to a surrounding upper edge of the paint roller tray. The hooks have a tightening device for urging the tray and the platform together. The platform is located beneath the ladder rung or a top shelf of a step ladder. The paint roller tray is located above either the rung or the top shelf.
US09255431B2
An apparatus for assisting opening/closing of a gate for a truck may include a housing mounted onto a lower side of the floor panel, a lifter having a first end pivotally coupled to the floor, wherein the lifter generates elastic repulsive force when being compressed while a length of the lifter is decreased, a first arm having a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the lifter, a second arm having a first end pivotally mounted on the housing and a second end pivotally connected to a second end of the first arm, and a third arm having a first end pivotally connected to a third end of the second arm and a second end pivotally connected to the gate, wherein when the gate rotates downwardly and is opened, the first arm, the second arm, and the third arm are moved to compress the lifter.
US09255430B2
A folding door with two or more intrinsically rigid folding shutter elements with alternating noncollapsing and collapsing element edges, with at least one guide means which can be raised and lowered on or in one or more guide rail(s), for moving a, in particular the lower, permanently guide rail-adjacent, noncollapsing door element edge, wherein at least one release movement means, which is provided for the initial release movement of the permanently guide rail-adjacent door element edge from the guide rail(s), at the beginning of the opening of the folding door, and for the final advance movement of the permanently guide rail-adjacent door element edge at the end of the closing of the folding door, and an actuation device and method for the same.
US09255419B2
A cantilever parking lift system having columns and a platform includes a lift mechanism employing a vertically movable dynamic cross chain sheave assembly positioned adjacent a column, a vertically movable static cross chain sheave assembly positioned adjacent a second column, a cross chain extending from the first base and functionally engaged with the dynamic cross chain sheave assembly and static cross chain sheave assembly and to a block assembly housed in a base, wherein the block assembly is movable along a length of the first base and operable to raise the dynamic cross chain sheave assembly, and wherein the cross chain extends beneath and transversely across the platform. An actuator is positionable in the base, rather than in or around the vertical column.
US09255413B2
A method for plastering construction in architectural decoration comprises the following steps: (1) base treatment; (2) applying mortar on the wall surface according to the required plastering depth, and longitudinally installing screeding templates along a wall surface subjected to the base treatment in Step (1) according to the plastering depth, a lateral space between adjacent screeding templates being 1.3 to 1.8 meters; (3) plastering; and (4) laying aside the wall surface subjected to the plastering for 12 to 24 hours till plastering mortar on the wall surface is in a half-dried compact hardened state, and using teeth of a saw blade for grinding the mortar along the two adjacent screeding templates through a ruler till the mortar is even. The method can improve the construction efficiency and guarantee the construction quality.
US09255404B2
Methods directed to a producing precast pervious concrete panels. Each pervious concrete panel has a plurality of layers of concrete mixture, wherein the aggregate used in each layer may be a different size and each layer is compacted after being laid. The method may further include providing a slip-former machine or an extruder machine to lay the layers of pervious concrete mixture.
US09255387B2
A quick assembly structure of a faucet handle base, which is fixed in a valve assembly, the valve assembly includes a valve core, a directional connector, a locking element having a peripheral groove, a connecting portion, and a tilted guiding face. The handle mount includes: a fixing ring having a central orifice; a flexible fastening sleeve having a lower engagement portion and an upper engagement portion; the upper engagement portion having a plurality of flexible retaining paws; a coupling column having a fitting portion and a snapping insertion; the sapping insertion having plural first recesses; an operating member having a covering portion and a handle extending; and a coupling element employed to join a top end of the sapping insertion of the coupling column with the covering portion of the operating member.
US09255386B2
A construction machine includes a condenser 24 for cooling refrigerant for an air conditioner; a fan 21 for cooling the condenser 24 by using forward cooling air produced during normal-rotation drive; other cooled objects such as a radiator 25 and the like disposed under the lee of the forward cooling air with respect to the condenser 24; a refrigerant pressure detector 27 for detecting the pressure of the refrigerant flowing in the condenser 24; and a controller 136 for executing reverse-rotation stop processing for returning the fan 21 to the normal-rotation drive when the pressure P of the air conditioner refrigerant detected by the refrigerant pressure detector 27 reaches a preset normal-rotation return pressure P1 during reverse-rotation drive of the fan 21. Thus, the lowering of the cooling effect of an air conditioner can be suppressed while reducing the burden of cleaning an engine room.
US09255383B2
Provided is a device for fixing hydraulic piping to prevent the hydraulic piping from sliding down even when the bolt for coupling a clamp which fixes the hydraulic piping is loosened by the vibration generated during operation. The device for fixing the hydraulic piping of construction equipment includes: a piping sheet fixed to a boom structure; upper and lower clamps constituted by a fixed part fixed to the piping sheet and a concave groove for supporting the hydraulic piping; a coupling member for fixing the fixed part to the piping sheet; a hydraulic pipe fixing plate mounted on the piping sheet; a connecting hole for connecting a main pipe, which is connected to a main control valve mounted on an upper rotating body, to the hydraulic pipe disposed on the boom structure; and a bolt and nut for fixing the connecting hole to the hydraulic pipe fixing plate.
US09255380B2
The present disclosure provides a hitch suspension system that reduces a transfer of energy (e.g., provides a smoother ride) between two bodies hitched together, such as between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle/trailer. In an embodiment, the suspension system includes a hydraulic cylinder with an extendable rod in fluid communication with a fluid pump. A control valve is fluidly coupled between the hydraulic cylinder and the fluid pump and is configured to adjust an extension length of the rod. Additionally, a variable orifice that adjusts resistance to extension and retraction of the rod is fluidly coupled between the hydraulic cylinder and the control valve. A first fixed restrictive element is fluidly coupled in series with the variable orifice to dissipate energy ad the rod extends and a second fixed restrictive element is fluidly coupled in series with the variable orifice to dissipate energy as the rod retracts.
US09255369B2
One embodiment relates to a snow shovel system with an extended and collapsed state. The system includes a blade member, handle, lower shaft member, and upper shaft member. One end of the lower shaft member is coupled to the blade member and the other is slidably coupled with the upper shaft member. A first end of the upper shaft member is coupled to a handle and the second end is slidably coupled with the lower shaft member. The slidable coupling between the lower and upper shaft members includes an extended state and a collapsed state in which the handle is separated from the blade member a greater distance in the extended state. The collapsed state includes translating a portion of the lower shaft member beyond the first end of the upper shaft member.
US09255367B2
An apparatus to be positioned at the side of a roadway for ensnaring tires of an oncoming land vehicle is described. The apparatus comprises a plurality of segments flexibly attached end-to-end. At least a subset of the segments further comprise a spike ramp. The segments are connected at the ends via hinges. The segments are adapted to house a net package in a stowed-away configuration. The net package includes a set of spikes tethered to netting. A deployment hose is connected to a subset of the segments to cause the segments to become unstacked for deployment when the deployment hose is inflated.
US09255365B1
A compaction system for providing one or more compaction passes for each pass of the compaction system is provided. The compaction system includes a belt and a sun element having a first axis and positioned within the belt. The compaction system also includes a planet element engaged with the sun element and the belt. The planet element is configured to revolve around the sun element and the first axis. The belt also revolves around the sun element. Further, for every revolution of the belt around the sun element, the planet element completes one or more revolutions around the sun element.
US09255360B2
A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a screening unit configured to allow a material having fibers to pass through from openings and screen the material, and a forming unit configured to form a sheet by using a passed material that has been screened. The screening unit has a cylindrical unit with openings on a curved surface which is configured to rotate, two side units that are located at two end parts of the cylindrical unit which are spaced apart in a direction of extension of a rotation center axis thereof and that is configured not to rotate, an introduction unit provided to one of the side units and configured to introduce the material to the cylindrical unit, and a discharge unit provided to the other of the side units, located downward from the introduction unit, and configured to discharge a residual material that does not pass through the openings.
US09255344B2
A silicon carbide substrate capable of stably forming a device of excellent performance, and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. A silicon carbide substrate is made of a single crystal of silicon carbide, and has a width of not less than 100 mm, a micropipe density of not more than 7 cm−2, a threading screw dislocation density of not more than 1×104 cm−2, a threading edge dislocation density of not more than 1×104 cm−2, a basal plane dislocation density of not more than 1×104 cm−2, a stacking fault density of not more than 0.1 cm−1, a conductive impurity concentration of not less than 1×1018 cm−3, a residual impurity concentration of not more than 1×1016 cm−3, and a secondary phase inclusion density of not more than 1 cm−3.
US09255297B2
The invention relates to the use of gene modifications in the human gene CHK2 (CHEK2), which encodes the checkpoint kinase 2, for predicting the risk and progression of cancer diseases, for predicting the response to pharmacological or non-pharmacological therapeutic measures for treating cancer diseases, and for predicting undesired effects of drugs. The invention further relates to the provision of individual gene variants with the help of which further gene modifications that can be used for the aforementioned purposes can be detected and validated. Such gene modifications can comprise a substitution of adenine for guanine in position −7161 in the promoter of CHK2, a substitution of guanine for cytosine in position −7235, a substitution of adenine for guanine in position −10532, or a deletion of 29 base pairs in positions −10621 to −10649.
US09255287B2
Reaction detection method to detect a chemical reaction with respect to a target substance, for instance, glucose (5) in a sample (32) includes the steps of forming a reaction layer (3) to induce the chemical reaction and forming an oxygen transfer layer (2), which has an oxygen transmission rate higher than that of the reaction layer (3) and which transfers oxygen (4) in the air (1) to the reaction layer (3), between the reaction layer (3) and the air (1), where the oxygen is consumed in the chemical reaction. Chemical reaction rate with respect to target substances in a sample is increased.
US09255282B2
Methods and compositions for the production of oil, fuels, oleochemicals, and other compounds in recombinant microorganisms are provided, including oil-bearing microorganisms and methods of low cost cultivation of such microorganisms. Microalgal cells containing exogenous genes encoding, for example, a lipase, a sucrose transporter, a sucrose invertase, a fructokinase, a polysaccharide-degrading enzyme, a keto acyl-ACP synthase enzyme, a fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase, a fatty acyl-CoA/aldehyde reductase, a fatty acyl-CoA reductase, a fatty aldehyde reductase, a fatty aldehyde decarbonylase, and/or an acyl carrier protein are useful in manufacturing transportation fuels such as renewable diesel, biodiesel, and renewable jet fuel, as well as oleochemicals such as functional fluids, surfactants, soaps and lubricants.
US09255280B2
The present invention relates to novel processes for producing ethanol from citrus waste using suitable solvent extractions to reduce the presence of fermentation inhibiting compounds, such as limonene, from citrus waste. The extraction can be performed before or after the polysaccharides present in aqueous mixtures comprising citrus waste are converted into fermentable sugars.
US09255274B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a translationally regulatable mRNA which has wider application and can perform specific ON-OFF regulation, an RNA-protein complex specifically bound to the mRNA, and a translational regulatory system. The present invention provides an mRNA having an RNA-protein complex interacting motif-derived nucleotide sequence 5′ to the ribosome-binding site or within the 5′ region of the open reading frame, and an mRNA having a nucleotide sequence complementary to an RNA-protein complex interacting motif-derived nucleotide sequence 5′ to the ribosome-binding site or within the 5′ region of the open reading frame.
US09255262B2
The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition containing albumin-binding arginine deiminase fusion protein (AAD) for treating cancer or other arginine-dependent diseases. The AAD fusion protein can be purified from both soluble and insoluble fractions of crude proteins, it binds to human serum albumin (HSA) and has its high activity with longer half life for efficient depletion of arginine in cancer cells. The specific activities of wild-type ADI and AAD in the present invention are 8.4 and 9.2 U/mg (at physiological pH 7.4), respectively. The AAD used in the present invention can be used in the treatment of various cancers (e.g. pancreatic cancer, leukemia, head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer & brain cancer) and curing arginine-dependent diseases. The composition can be used alone or in combination with at least one chemotherapeutic agent to give a synergistic effect on cancer treatment and/or inhibiting metastasis.
US09255257B2
The present invention provides mutants of PmST1 for the preparation of sialyl-Lewisx oligosaccharides, and other sialosides with decreased sialidase activity.
US09255255B2
Methods are provided for a one step synthesis of polypeptide polymers or co-polymers. The polymers or co-polymers can be linear or branched. In the methods of the invention, the coding sequence for the polypeptide(s) to be polymerized is altered by introducing one or more codons for an nonnatural amino acid, which coding sequence is then utilized to produce the cognate polypeptide. The nonnatural amino acids are selected to be reactive with each other in a bioorthogonal reaction, and are combined in a conjugation reaction with the desired components of the polymer.
US09255248B2
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.
US09255245B2
A sample probe includes a tip including a distal end for penetrating a cellular membrane, an opening located at or proximal to the distal end, and tip microchannels extending through the tip and communicating with the opening; and a body adjoining the tip and including body microchannels, wherein at least one of the body microchannels communicates with at least one of the tip microchannels. A method for sampling intracellular material includes inserting a probe tip through a cellular membrane; aspirating intracellular material from the cell, through an opening of the tip, and into a first microchannel of the tip; flowing isolator fluid from a second microchannel of the tip into the first microchannel to form a plug of intracellular material; and aspirating the plug and the isolator fluid through the first microchannel.
US09255235B2
Ecologically friendly and organically composed fuel products and fire starters are presented. The composition of products and starters includes, but is not limited to: 58 to 60 percent decomposed straw, 38 percent horse or cow manure, and optionally, two percent hay mixture from various blends used as feed, and two percent straw dust from material pounded on by animals. During a formation process the composition is subjected to a number of steps with the end product being a hydraulically compressed fuel log, brick, ball, block, briquette, blank, pellet, and the like, dried to a less than 10 percent moisture content. While the process is applicable to formation of organic fuel products and fire starters, other ingredients may be used to produce other types of fuel products, both organic and inorganic, including wood chips, other kinds of animal manure.
US09255232B2
A method including introducing a carbonaceous feedstock and a heated heat transfer material into a gasifier, whereby at least a portion of the carbonaceous material is pyrolyzed; removing a gasification product gas comprising, entrained therein, char, particulate heat transfer material, and optionally unreacted carbonaceous feedstock; separating a solids product comprising char, heat transfer material and optionally unreacted carbonaceous material from the gasification product gas; heating at least a portion of the solids product via a combustor, thus producing a heated portion of the solids product and a combustor flue gas, wherein a portion of the heat for heating is obtained via combustion of the char; separating the heated portion from the flue gas, and introducing the separated heated portion into the gasifier, providing heat for pyrolysis; and utilizing at least a portion of the gasification product gas for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and/or power production.
US09255231B2
A fixed bed gasification system to convert solid organic matter (also called biomass), into synthesis gas. This gas can be burned in an engine, turbine, oven or boiler, which makes it possible to valorize the thermal energy that it harbors.
US09255229B2
The invention concerns a process for hydroconversion of a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock comprising: a preparation step of at least one catalyst in one or more preparation reactor upstream from a reaction section, wherein (i) at least one preparation reactor feeds one or more reactor of the reaction section, or (ii) preparation reactors are dedicated for catalysts fed to at least a hydroconversion reactor or at least a hydrotreatment reactor of the reaction section; a separation step of solids contained in the liquid effluents issued from the reaction section, a treatment step of residues issued from separation section, comprising a partial oxidation step wherein said residues are partially oxidized to produce carbon monoxide, hydrogen an a metal containing residue. Such process permits improving of products quality, operation of the separation section, recovering of catalytic metals contained in the feed and supplying hydrogen to the reaction section.
US09255228B2
The present invention concerns a method of providing advisory controls for a desalter system. The method allows a user to continuously monitor performance of the desalter system, to continuously monitor position of the emulsion band (or rag layer), to control the emulsion band using demulsifiers, and to recommend to users how to maintain optimal pressure drop at the mix valve of the desalter system. This is achieved by using a first principles based model combined with an ultra-sound sensor. The ultra-sound sensor measures the position, quality and size of the emulsion band. The first principles based model takes into account the geometry of the desalter system, physical properties of the crude oil and water, as well as the operating conditions. Thus, the method provides users with sensing of an emulsion layer through ultrasound measurements and also gives recommendations on appropriate corrective actions to be initiated during upsets.
US09255227B2
Process for the synthesis of hydrocarbon constituents of gasoline comprising catalytic conversion in a gasoline synthesis step of an oxygenate-containing feed comprising methanol and/or dimethyl ether and a mixture of at least on a total oxygenate basis 0.05 wt % C3+ higher alcohols and/or their oxygenate equivalents to hydrocarbon constituents of gasoline.
US09255218B2
A method for synthesizing a composition comprising at least one acid ester stemming from the biomass and an organic biosolvent is provided. The method comprises the esterification reaction between at least one acid stemming from the biomass and at least one alcohol, in the presence of an acid catalyst and of the organic biosolvent, the organic biosolvent being selective of the ester or of the esters formed relatively to the acid or to the starting acids and non-miscible with the alcoholic solution of the acid stemming from the biomass.
US09255211B2
An aqueous coating composition (which optionally can coat plastic substrates) the composition comprising a block copolymer and a polymer P; where the block copolymer comprises at least blocks [A]x[B]y; where at least block [A] is obtained by a controlled radical polymerization of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer via a reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) mechanism (optionally in solution in the presence of a control agent and a source of free radicals); and wherein block [A] comprises 20 to 100 mol % of ethylenically unsaturated monomer units bearing water-dispersing functional groups; wherein block [B] comprises 20 to 100 mol % of ethylenically unsaturated monomer units bearing plastic adhesion promoting functional groups; and wherein polymer P is prepared in the presence of blocks [A]x[B]y. The compositions may be used to coat plastic substrates, foam; surfaces having low surface energy, hydrophobic substrates and/or polyolefins.
US09255209B2
Provided is an air-permeable sheet imparted with oil repellency, having a surface coated with an oil-repellent agent. The oil-repellent agent contains a linear fluorine-containing hydrocarbon group represented by —R1C5F10CH2C4F9 or —R2C6F13, where R1 and R2 are each independently an alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or a phenylene group. The air-permeable sheet is a resin sheet having air permeability in a thickness direction of the resin sheet, the resin sheet is a non-porous sheet having two or more through holes formed to extend in the thickness direction, and the through holes are straight holes extending straight through the resin sheet. This air-permeable sheet is imparted with oil repellency without significantly reducing its air permeability.
US09255208B2
The present invention uses a silver/silver chloride composition and ink jet technology in the art of digital printing, especially for use in blood glucose sensors.
US09255204B2
A cavitation resistant polyurethane composition includes a first solution comprising a urethane prepolymer and a second solution. The urethane prepolymer is synthesized by a polymerization of about 60 to about 70 weight percent of an isocynate compound and about 30 to about 40 weight percent of a polyol. An average functional group number of the isocyanate compound is at least 2. The second solution includes about 90 to about 95 weight percent of a polyol having an average functional group number of at least 4, about 1 to about 3 weight percent of a nano-carbon, about 1 to about 3 weight percent of a colorant, about 1 to about 3 weight percent of a moisture absorbent, about 1 to about 3 weight percent of an anti-wear agent, and about 1 to about 3 weight percent of a defoaming agent.
US09255202B2
The surface of fine pigment particles is efficiently treated using low energy without causing a cost increase. Provided is a method of treating the surface of fine pigment particles, characterized by maintaining a small gap of 1 mm or narrower between two treating surfaces which are able to get close to and apart from each other and relatively rotate and using the gap between the two treating surfaces which is kept so narrow, as a passage for a fluid to be treated, thereby forming a thin film of the fluid to be treated (forced thin film). Fine pigment particles are formed in this thin-film fluid (forced thin film). The method is further characterized by modifying the surface of the formed fine pigment particles within the thin-film fluid (forced thin film).
US09255201B2
An elastomeric composition and a power transmission belt based on the elastomeric composition, wherein the composition includes kenaf fiber.
US09255200B2
Disclosed herein are methods and compositions of blended polycarbonate compositions with improved heat resistance. The resulting compositions, comprising a first polycarbonate polymer, a second polycarbonate polycarbonate, an impact modifier, optionally a flow promoter, and optionally a flame retardant, can be used in the manufacture of articles while still retaining the advantageous physical properties of blended polycarbonate compositions with improved heat resistance. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
US09255191B2
A cured-film formation composition for forming a cured film having photoreaction efficiency and solvent resistance, and high adhesiveness alignment uniformity, and an orientation material for photo-alignment, and a retardation material formed by use of the orientation material. A cured-film formation composition includes (A) a compound having a photo-aligning group and one substituent selected from a hydroxy group, a carboxy group, and an amino group; (B) a hydrophilic polymer having one or more substituents selected from a hydroxy group, a carboxy group, and an amino group; and (C) a polymer obtained by polymerizing a monomer including an N-hydroxymethyl compound or an N-alkoxymethyl (meth)acrylamide compound, and optionally further a cross-linking catalyst as a component (D). By use of the composition, a cured-film is formed and an orientation material is formed by utilizing photo-alignment technique. A retardation material is obtained by applying a polymerizable liquid crystal on the orientation material and curing it.
US09255188B2
Compositions comprising lignin and low levels of undesirable impurities, such as compounds containing sulfur, nitrogen, or metals, are disclosed.
US09255186B2
A thermosetting resin. The resin includes a silane and a co-reactant monomer. The silane includes a quaternary silicon atom with first and second non-hydrolyzable moieties chemically bonded thereto. Each of the first and second non-hydrolyzable moieties includes respective first and second reactive groups. The reactive groups include at least one aromatic or unsaturated group having a triple bond.
US09255177B2
A hybrid epoxy resin adduct comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of the reaction product of: (A) a material selected from the group consisting of a hybrid polyfunctional aliphatic epoxy resin, a hybrid cycloaliphatic epoxy resin, and combinations thereof; wherein (A) is formed by contacting: (a) a hydroxyl-containing material selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic hydroxyl-containing material, a cycloaliphatic hydroxyl-containing material, and combinations thereof; (b) a material selected from the group consisting of a monoglycidyl ether-containing material, a diglycidyl ether-containing material, and combinations thereof wherein (b) is prepared from a different precursor than (a); (c) an epihalohydrin; (d) a basic acting substance; (e) a non-Lewis acid catalyst; and (f) optionally, a solvent and (B) at least one epoxide reactive compound comprising one or more compounds having two or more epoxide-reactive hydrogen atoms per molecule, is disclosed.
US09255168B2
A highly branched polyolefin having olefin derived units; wherein the highly branched polyolefin has: (i) a branching index, g′(vis), of less than about 0.9; (ii) a phase angle, δ, of less than about 55 degrees at a complex modulus of 10 kPa, measured at 190° C.; (iii) a gel content of less than or equal to about 10%; and (iv) a melting point of less than about 135° C.; wherein the highly branched polyolefin is obtained by contacting one or more polyolefins with a free radical generator. The highly branched polyolefin may also comprise a modifying polymer, wherein the modifying polymer may be the similar or dissimilar to the polyolefin. Methods of producing these highly branched polyolefins and blends of these highly branched polyolefins are also disclosed.
US09255165B2
Poly (pentabromobenzyl acrylate) having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) in the range from 200,000 to 600,000 and a polydispersity index less than 15 based on high temperature gel permeation chromatography.
US09255162B2
Process for the polymerization of olefins in a gas phase fluidized bed reactor, by i) passing a fluidizing gas to the reactor to fluidize a bed of polymer particles therein, ii) withdrawing the fluidizing gas from the reactor, iii) cooling all or a portion of the fluidizing gas withdrawn from the reactor to a temperature at which a portion of the components of the fluidizing gas condense to form condensed liquid, and iv) passing condensed liquid and non-condensed components of the fluidizing gas back to the reactor. A reservoir of condensed liquid downstream of the cooling step is provided, and variations in the inventory of the condensed liquid are made in order to control the temperature in the reactor.
US09255157B2
The present invention relates to a rhamno-polysaccharide antigen from Enterococcus faecium clonal complex which is useful as a vaccine component for therapy and/or prophylaxis of bacterial infection.
US09255154B2
The present invention is directed to antibodies and fragments thereof having binding specificity for PCSK9. Another embodiment of this invention relates to the antibodies described herein, and binding fragments thereof, comprising the sequences of the VH, VL and CDR polypeptides described herein, and the polynucleotides encoding them. The invention also contemplates conjugates of anti-PCSK9 antibodies and binding fragments thereof conjugated to one or more functional or detectable moieties. The invention also contemplates methods of making said anti-PCSK9 antibodies and binding fragments thereof. Embodiments of the invention also pertain to the use of anti-PCSK9 antibodies, and binding fragments thereof, for the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of diseases and disorders associated with PCSK9.
US09255153B2
Toll Like Receptor 3 (TLR3) antibody antagonists, polynucleotides encoding TLR3 antibody antagonists or fragments thereof, and methods of making and using the foregoing are disclosed.
US09255152B2
The present invention relates to a novel epitope to convert T cell to type 2 helper T (TH2) cell. Specifically, the present invention relates to an epitope constituting the 20th to 30th amino acids (SEQ ID No. 2) of extracellular domain (ECD) of activation-inducible tumor necrosis factor receptor (AITR), an antibody recognizing the epitope, a polynucleotide encoding the epitope, a polynucleotide encoding the antibody, an expression vector comprising the polynucleotide encoding the epitope or antibody, a transformant introduced with the vector, a composition comprising the antibody for converting T cell to TH2 cell and a method of conversion, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody for preventing or treating autoimmune disease, and a method for treating autoimmune disease using the antibody.
US09255150B2
The present invention refers to the use of FasL antagonists, e.g. of humanized antibodies directed against human Fas ligands (also named CD95L or Apo1L and hereinafter abbreviated as FasL) for the prevention and/or treatment of skin diseases associated with keratinocytes acantholysis, particularly for the prevention and/or treatment of pemphigus.
US09255145B2
A therapeutic agent for chronic arthritides diseases of childhood-related diseases, for example chronic arthritides diseases of childhood, Still's disease and the like, comprising an interleukin-6 (IL-6) antagonist as an active ingredient.
US09255136B2
Polypeptide The present invention relates to polypeptides fragments derived from the protein TLT-1 have been isolated and are useful in pharmaceutical preparations used for the treatment of inflammatory conditions such as sepsis.
US09255134B2
The invention relates to fusion constructs, methods of using fusion constructs and methods of treating undesirable or aberrant cell proliferation or hyperproliferative disorders, such as tumors, cancers, neoplasia and malignancies.
US09255133B2
Methods and compositions are provided for the persistent modification of cell membranes with exogenous proteins so as to alter the function of the cell to achieve effects similar to those of gene therapy, without the introduction of exogenous DNA. DNA sequences, the proteins and polypeptides embodying these sequences are disclosed for modulating the immune system. The modulations include down-regulation, up-regulation and apoptosis.
US09255124B2
The disclosed invention relates to methods of modifying peptide compositions to increase stability and delivery efficiency. Specifically, the disclosed invention relates to methods to increase the stability and delivery efficiency of protein kinase C (PKC) modulatory peptide compositions. A “therapeutic peptide composition” comprises a “carrier peptide” and a “cargo peptide.” A “carrier peptide” is a peptide or amino acid sequence within a peptide that facilitates the cellular uptake of the therapeutic peptide composition. The “cargo peptide” is a PKC modulatory peptide. Peptide modifications to either the carrier peptide, the cargo peptide, or both, which are described herein increase the stability and delivery efficiency of therapeutic peptide compositions by reducing disulfide bond exchange, physical stability, reducing proteolytic degradation, and increasing efficiency of cellular uptake.
US09255109B2
Antifungal compounds, an antifungal compound extracted from Epicoccum purpurascens, also known as Epicoccum nigrum, methods of producing the antifungal compounds, isolates and compositions comprising the antifungal compounds, and methods of using the antifungal compounds.
US09255103B2
In one aspect, the invention relates to substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazines analogs, derivatives thereof, and related compounds, which are useful as positive allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5); synthetic methods for making the compounds; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds; and methods of treating neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with glutamate dysfunction using the compounds and compositions. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
US09255099B2
2-(optionally hetero)arylmethyl-3-(optionally hetero)arylamino-[2H]-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-4,6(5H, 7H)-diones, for example, a compound of Formula I: in free, salt or prodrug form, are useful as pharmaceuticals, particularly as phosphodiesterase 1 inhibitors.
US09255096B1
The present invention relates to organic molecules capable of modulating tyrosine kinase signal transduction in order to regulate, modulate and/or inhibit abnormal cell proliferation.
US09255095B2
A compound according to Formula Ia: wherein L1, G, and R1 are as described herein. The present invention relates to novel compounds according to Formula I that antagonize GPR84, a G-protein-coupled receptor that is involved in inflammatory conditions, and methods for the production of these novel compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, and methods for the prevention and/or treatment of inflammatory conditions (for example inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, lung diseases (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung interstitial diseases (e.g. idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF))), neuroinflammatory conditions, infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, endocrine and/or metabolic diseases, and/or diseases involving impairment of immune cell functions by administering a compound of the invention.
US09255092B2
A new crystalline polymorph of ritonavir and methods for its use and preparation are disclosed.
US09255087B2
Substituted indazole derivatives of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as defined in the specification; the compounds of the invention may be useful in therapy in the treatment of diseases associated with a deregulated protein kinase activity, like cancer.
US09255081B1
3-(3-Chloro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine is prepared by cyclizing 3-hydrazinopyridine.dihydrochloride with commercially available 3-ethoxyacrylonitrile to provide 3-(3-amino-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine, and by converting the amino group to a chloro group by a Sandmeyer reaction.
US09255079B2
New methods are provided for synthesis of photoacid generator compounds (“PAGs”), new photoacid generator compounds and photoresist compositions that comprise such PAG compounds. In a particular aspect, sulfonium-containing (S+) photoacid generators and methods of synthesis of sulfonium photoacid generators are provided.
US09255078B2
The present invention provides a compound of formula (I)
US09255070B2
The subject of the present invention is to provide a method for deuteration, which can obtain a compound having an aromatic ring and/or a heterocyclic ring at an improved deuteration ratio. The present invention relates to a method for deuteration of a compound having an aromatic ring and/or a heterocyclic ring, comprising reacting the compound having an aromatic ring and/or a heterocyclic ring with a heavy hydrogen source in the presence of an activated mixed catalyst of not less than two kinds of catalysts selected from among a palladium catalyst, a platinum catalyst, a rhodium catalyst, an iridium catalyst, a ruthenium catalyst, a nickel catalyst and a cobalt catalyst.
US09255064B2
Prostacyclin compounds and compositions comprising the same are provided herein. Specifically, prostacyclin compounds comprising treprostinil covalently linked to a linear C5-C18 alkyl, branched C5-C18 alkyl, linear C2-C18 alkenyl, branched C3-C18 alkenyl, aryl, aryl-C1-C18 alkyl or an amino acid or a peptide (e.g., dipeptide, tripeptide, tetrapeptide) are described. The linkage, in one embodiment, is via a carbamate, amide or ester bond. Prostacyclin compounds provided herein can also include at least one hydrogen atom substituted with at least one deuterium atom. Methods for treating pulmonary hypertension (e.g., pulmonary arterial hypertension) and portopulmonary hypertension are also provided.
US09255054B2
The high-yield synthesis of p-(benzyloxy)calix[6,7,8]arenes by bringing caesium hydroxide into contact with p-(benzyloxy)phenol and paraformaldehyde, and composite materials including these p-(benzyloxy)calix[6,7,8]arenes.
US09255049B2
The present invention provides a novel ruthenium complex which has an excellent catalytic activity in terms of reactivity for an asymmetric reduction of a carbonyl compound and enantioselectivity, a catalyst using the ruthenium complex, and a method for preparing optically active alcohol compounds using the ruthenium complex. The present invention relates to a ruthenium complex having a ruthenacycle structure, a catalyst for an asymmetric reduction consisting of the ruthenium complex, and a method for preparing optically active alcohol compounds using the ruthenium complex.
US09255043B2
Disclosed is a liquid crude hydrocarbon composition containing (a) a liquid crude hydrocarbon having an API gravity of less than or equal to about 20; and (b) a minor amount of a blend comprising (i) one or more hydrocarbon-containing solvents having an aromatic content of at least about 10 wt. %; and (ii) one or more asphaltene modifiers selected from the group consisting of an aromatic sulfonic acid or salt thereof, an aliphatic sulfonic acid or salt thereof and an alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic carboxylic acid or salt thereof. Also disclosed is a method for transporting a liquid crude hydrocarbon having an API gravity of less than or equal to about 20.
US09255038B2
A body made of a ceramic material stabilized by a stabilizing agent, characterized in that the body comprises a surface region extending from the surface of the body to a predetermined depth, the stabilizing agent being enriched in said surface region.
US09255033B2
A piezoelectric glass ceramic represented by the formula (M1Ox)-(M2Oy)—SiO2 wherein M1 is one or more metals and/or metalloids, M2 is one or more metals and/or metalloids, x is a value equal to the valence of M1, and y is a value equal to the valence of M2. The piezoelectric glass ceramic has a total alkali metal concentration of less than about 1000 parts per million by weight (ppmw). A process of preparing a piezoelectric glass ceramic and a piezoelectric glass ceramic body prepared therefrom.
US09255032B2
A method for making a setting accelerator, especially for binders based on calcium sulfate, wherein gypsum together with at least one polycarboxylate is subjected to a dry grinding.
US09255029B2
A method for making a heat treated (HT) coated article including an electrode, to be used in applications such as windows, electronic devices, or other applications. The method may include heat treating a substrate coated with at least a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer and an overlying film. From the TCO outwardly, the overlying film may include any combination of two, three or four of: (i) a gettering and/or doping layer(s); (ii) a stabilizing layer(s); (iii) a release layer(s); and (iv) an oxygen blocking or barrier layer. After HT, the protective film may be entirely or partially removed. Other embodiments relate to the pre-HT coated article, or the post-HT coated article.
US09255028B2
The optical glass is described that may be an oxide glass including, denoted as cation %, a total of 5 to 60% of B3+ and Si4+ (with 5 to 50% of B3+), a total of equal to or higher than 5% of Zn2+ and Mg2+, a total of 10 to 50% of La3+, Gd3+, Y3+, and Yb3+, and a total of 6 to 45% of Ti4+, Nb5+, Ta5+, W6+, and Bi3+ (a total content of Ti4+ and Ta5+ being higher than 0% and a content of W6+ being higher than 5%).
US09255026B2
Methods for making active laser fibers include the production of an optical fiber with disturbed (or deviated) cylindrical symmetry on the glass surface of the fiber. The methods include a preform containing a central core made of glass. In one embodiment, the preform is circular and surrounded by additional glass rods and an outer glass jacket tube. In a first alternative embodiment, this preform is merged during fiber drawing. In a second alternative embodiment, the preform merged in a process forming a compact glass body with disturbed cylindrical symmetry. This compact preform is drawn into a fiber under conditions maintaining the disturbed cylindrical symmetry.
US09255011B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing lithium carbonate, which is important as a raw material of a lithium ion battery and the like, from brine resources. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for producing lithium carbonate, in which carbon dioxide gas obtained by calcining limestone is introduced, in the presence of ammonia, into a concentrated brine, which is prepared from a lithium-containing brine as a raw material through an evaporative concentrating step, a desulfurizing step and an electrodialysis step, thereby depositing lithium carbonate crystals, and the crystals thus deposited are recovered through solid-liquid separation.
US09255005B2
Disclosed is a process for the concurrent production of hydrogen and sulphur from a H2S-containing gas stream, with reduced, and preferably zero, emissions. The method comprises the catalytic oxidative cracking of H2S so as to form H2 and S2. Preferably, the oxidation is conducted using oxygen-enriched air, preferably pure oxygen. The process is conducted in a reaction chamber comprising a bifunctional catalyst material, so as to favor both the partial oxidation of H2S and the dissociation thereof.
US09255003B2
Disclosed is a method of: providing a mixture of a polymer or a resin and a transition metal compound, producing a fiber from the mixture, and heating the fiber under conditions effective to form a carbon nanotube-containing carbonaceous fiber. The polymer or resin is an aromatic polymer or a precursor thereof and the mixture is a neat mixture or is combined with a solvent. Also disclosed are a carbonaceous fiber or carbonaceous nanofiber sheet having at least 15 wt. % carbon nanotubes, a fiber or nanofiber sheet having the a polymer or a resin and the transition metal compound, and a fiber or nanofiber sheet having an aromatic polymer and metal nanoparticles.
US09255001B2
A monopolar and bipolar micro device transfer head array and method of forming a monopolar and bipolar micro device transfer array are described. In an embodiment, a micro device transfer head array includes a base substrate, a first insulating layer formed over the base substrate, and an array of mesa structures. A second insulating layer may be formed over the mesa structure, a patterned metal layer over the second insulating layer, and a dielectric layer covering the metal layer.
US09254999B2
Embodiments of mechanisms for forming a micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) device are provided. The MEMS device includes a substrate and a MEMS sensor over the substrate. The MEMS sensor includes a floating heater disposed over the substrate. The MEMS sensor further includes a heat sink disposed over the substrate and at a side of the floating heater, and the heat sink has an air gap with the floating heater. The MEMS sensor further includes a first plurality of vias formed through the heat sink and thermally connected to the first substrate.
US09254990B2
An automotive lift comprises a pair of runway sections. Each runway section comprises a deck portion, two pairs of legs, and a pair of elongate sliding members. The pairs of legs are pivotally coupled with the deck portion. The elongate sliding members are pivotally coupled with the pairs of legs and are slidable relative to the deck portion. A hydraulic cylinder assembly is coupled with the deck portion by a clevis and with the elongate sliding members by a piston and piston block. The hydraulic cylinder assembly is operable to translate the elongate sliding members relative to the deck portion, thereby pivoting the pairs of legs relative to the deck portion to lift the deck portion relative to the ground. A hydraulic system is operable to synchronize lifting of the runway sections. A braking mechanism is configured to restrict descent of the runway sections.
US09254979B2
The invention relates to a cutting and expanding device for cutting a web of packaging material that is fed to the device via a web inlet into a plurality of individual webs that are conveyed away from the device at a web outlet and spaced apart from one another.
US09254978B2
A seasoning apparatus includes: a table on which a stack of paper sheets is loaded, each of the paper sheets having at least one face on which active light curable aqueous ink has been deposited; an air blowing device which blows air in an air blowing direction to a side of the stack loaded on the table; an active light emission device which emits the active light in an active light emitting direction to a side of the stack loaded on the table; and a control device which causes the air blowing device to blow the air to the stack to create gaps between faces of the paper sheets, and causes the active light emission device to emit the active light to the stack to cause the active light to enter the gaps.
US09254974B2
A sheet pickup apparatus and image forming apparatus are provided. The sheet pickup apparatus includes a roller support member rotatably disposed in a sheet feeding unit and comprising roller support portions connected by a hinge, a driving shaft rotatably disposed in an end of the roller support member to transmit rotational force to the roller support member, a pickup roller rotatably disposed in another end of the roller support member, a damper member disposed to absorb impact force by limiting rotation of the roller support member, and a power transmitting member disposed in the roller support member to transmit the rotational force to the pickup roller.
US09254969B2
A transporting device includes a support frame, a driving mechanism, a first picking mechanism, and a second picking mechanism. The driving mechanism is mounted on the support frame. The first picking mechanism includes a first sliding member slidably mounted on the support frame and driven by the driving mechanism, a first driving member mounted on the first sliding member, a hinge member comprising a hinge portion driven by the first driving member, a first connection portion rotatably connected to the hinge portion, and a second connection portion rotatably connected to the first connection portion. The second driving member includes a driving portion capable of telescoping and selectively latching with the second connection portion. Thus, the first connection portion and the first picking member are rotatable relative to the second connection portion.
US09254964B2
A conveyor belt module has a textured top surface to prevent adhesion of products thereto. The textured top surface is formed by a pattern of humps. The pattern comprises sets of asymmetric and symmetric humps. The symmetric humps are perpendicular to the asymmetric humps. Openings through the module are formed in between the humps.
US09254963B2
A tube conveyor belt system for use in conjunction with a support. At least a portion of the support has a concave shape. The tube conveyor belt system has a belt and at least one cleat. The belt has a surface. The at least one cleat extends from the surface of the belt. The at least one cleat includes a plurality of paddle regions and a plurality of web regions. The plurality of paddle regions is in a spaced-apart configuration. The web regions have a flexibility that is greater than a flexibility of the paddle regions. One of the web regions is positioned between adjacent paddle regions.
US09254961B2
An apparatus for collecting drugs dispensed from drug dispensing boxes includes a main conveyor on which the dispensed drugs are placed and discharged to a first end thereof, and an auxiliary conveyor configured to be hidden at a lower portion of the first end of the main conveyor or to be expanded outside of the first end so as to increase a discharging path of the dispensed drugs. Due to the auxiliary conveyor, when the drugs are discharged or are redelivered to another apparatus, it is possible to control the drugs to fall down to a desired position.
US09254960B2
A conveyor system for controlling two conveyer belts with a single motor comprises a housing including at least one inclined section. A first conveyor belt is operably connected to a drive pulley and a first idler pulley. A second conveyor belt is operably connected to a second and third idler pulley. A drive unit includes a motor in communication with the drive pulley and a first and a second sprocket. A roller chain extends between the drive pulley, the sprockets, and the third idler pulley, wherein the roller chain causes the drive pulley and the sprockets to rotate in one of a clockwise and a counterclockwise manner and the third idler pulley to rotate in the other of a clockwise and the counterclockwise manner.
US09254952B2
A microwave heating construct may include a widened base. The construct may be erected by folding end panels of the construct towards one another and optionally securing the panels in the folded position. The construct may be formed from a blank. The construct and/or blank may include a removable portion at least partially defined by a line of disruption.
US09254950B2
A device is described to encapsulate solid flavoring substances, particularly tea or coffee, added to a liquid, particularly water, with a wing-shaped rotary slider supported rotational about a rotary axis between an initial position and an end position, which in its end position limits a space accepting the solid flavoring substances, with the device being embodied for the installation in a container with its top showing an opening to fill in or discharge the liquid, which can be closed by a lid, which for closing and opening the container opening is subjected to a rotary motion, characterized in that the rotary slider comprises at least one engagement means by which the rotary slider can be made to engage the lid at least during the rotary motion in order to close the container opening and can be rotated into its end position.
US09254935B2
A compact, portable carrier for a flexible bag containing a comminuted material and having a bottom discharge spout, including a frame structured to encompass such bag and attach such bag in suspended relation thereto, be transported to a spaced site and be operated to jostle the material contained in such suspended bag to facilitate the discharge thereof through the spout thereof.
US09254931B2
Pallet roping and wrapping machines having a plurality of spools of stretch film supported on one or more spools and guides that form ropes of stretch film without cutting. Specific implementations of guides include guides formed or rings and rollers. Positions of guides may be adjustable. A primary roll of stretch film may be positionally coupled to a primary spool core, and a plurality of secondary rolls of stretch film may be positionally coupled to one or more secondary spool cores. The wrapping machines may include a plurality of guides positioned to narrow the stretch film from the plurality of secondary rolls to form a plurality of ropes fully overlapping a web of the primary roll of stretch film when wrapped around a palletized load.
US09254929B2
Provided is a reusable food storage container, comprising a vessel that can store a food and/or beverage and a removable cap that closes the vessel. The cap can have a tube or other through-passage formed therein to enable a user to squeeze or draw out the contents of the vessel. The cap can include a mouthpiece and a plug to close the mouthpiece. The cap can be configured to make at least one of a seal, e.g., an airtight and/or water tight-seal, with the vessel, by being press fit into the top of the vessel. And the plug can be configured to close and seal the mouthpiece.
US09254926B2
To provide a warning system that can issue a stall warning taking a flight environment into account. The warning system according to the present invention is a warning system for an aircraft, for issuing a warning in the case where there is a possibility of the aircraft stalling, and includes a selecting section for selecting one of two or more calculation criteria based on an icing state of the aircraft, a calculating section for calculating a stall angle based on the selected calculation criterion, and a warning section for comparing the calculated stall angle with a current angle of attack of the aircraft and issuing a stall warning if the current angle of attack exceeds the stall angle.
US09254925B2
An APU air intake having a foldable intake door, including a frame with airfoil profiles. The frame is turned to an aperture angle (α) with respect to the frame support, and each airfoil profile is turned to a profile angle (βi) with respect to the frame. The aperture angle (α) varies from 0° to 22°, and the profile angles (βi) vary from 0° to 110°. The frame is moved by an actuator and the airfoil profiles are operated by extendable rods and secondary rods each secondary rod having rod supports. A latching mechanism is assembled onto each extendable rod, including a rare earth magnet and either a magnet contact plate or a plate with another magnet.
US09254924B2
An exemplary pressure influencing assembly for an aircraft auxiliary system an inlet opening to an aircraft auxiliary system and an exhaust opening from the aircraft auxiliary system. Both the inlet opening and the exhaust opening face at least partially radially away from an axis. At least some of the inlet opening is circumferentially aligned with at least some of the exhaust opening relative to the axis.
US09254917B2
In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for generating a display of information regarding passengers of an airplane flight. The method includes displaying a graphical depiction of passenger seats for a particular airplane flight. The method includes identifying that multiple passengers booked to the particular airplane flight have a particular status. The method includes identifying that the multiple passengers that have been identified as having the particular status have been assigned to respective multiple passenger seats. The method includes displaying a graphical indication in association with each of the multiple passenger seats, concurrently with the display of the graphical depiction of the passenger seats.
US09254914B2
A restraint system for a transmission in an aircraft can include a first strut having a first fluid chamber, a first piston resiliently coupled to a first housing with a first elastomeric member. The restraint system can include a second strut having second fluid chamber, a second piston resiliently coupled to a second housing with a second elastomeric member. The restraint system can include a fluid line between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber. The first strut and the second strut collectively provide not only torque restraint, but also torque measurement and fore/aft vibration isolation.
US09254912B2
An anti-lofting deflector for landing gear having two wheels on an axle. The deflector comprises a stationary support (5) for being fastened in service to a portion of the landing gear that carries the axle in order to extend between the wheels and present a distal end behind the wheels. It also has a first flap (2) hinged to the support via its distal end about a first hinge axis (X1) substantially parallel to the axle and a second flap (3) hinged to the first flap about a second hinge axis (X2) substantially parallel to the first hinge axis. Finally, there is a a return member (11) arranged so as to urge the second flap against an abutment of the first flap that prevents the second flap from becoming aligned with the first flap, and to urge the first flap against an abutment of the stationary support that prevents the first flap from folding against the support.
US09254909B2
A system for optimizing a flap setting of an aircraft may include a flap optimizing computer configured to compute an optimum flap setting for one or more flaps of an aircraft. The system may further include a flap control system communicatively coupled to the flap optimizing computer. The flap control system may be operable to select any one of a plurality of flap settings including a designated flap setting. The flap control system may be configured to automatically command the one or more flaps from a first position to a second position corresponding to the optimum flap setting in response to the selection of one of the plurality of flap settings using the flap control system.
US09254902B2
An underwater vehicle may include a buoyancy control system configured to use a dual-internal-reservoir configuration to enhance efficiency of changing buoyancy of the underwater vehicle. The buoyancy control system may utilize an incompressible fluid (e.g., oil or water) that is transferred between a first internal reservoir and an external chamber to affect buoyancy of the underwater vehicle. In exemplary implementations, a compressible fluid (e.g., air) may be used to inflate or deflate a second internal reservoir. The second internal reservoir may be disposed within the buoyancy control system so that it can act on the first internal reservoir by applying a compressive force or a tensive force on the first internal reservoir, depending on the pressure differences between the two reservoirs.
US09254898B2
A hull robot includes a turbine subsystem actuatable by fluid moving past the hull, a drive subsystem for maneuvering the robot about the hull, and an adjustment subsystem for either the turbine subsystem or the drive subsystem. A controller is configured to operate the adjustment subsystem to adjust the position of the turret subsystem relative to the drive subsystem until fluid flowing past the hull results in an optimal flow of fluid with respect to the turbine subsystem.
US09254889B2
A vehicle sprocket chain maintenance apparatus that includes a brush for cleaning the vehicle sprocket chain and a device for applying lubricant to the vehicle sprocket chain is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle and used on the vehicle sprocket chain while running the vehicle. The vehicle sprocket chain maintenance apparatus includes a mechanism for individual remote control of actuating the brush and the device for applying lubricant on the vehicle sprocket chain while running the vehicle.
US09254888B2
A straddle-type electric vehicle includes a seat disposed farther forward than a rear wheel, foot rest portions configured to support feet of an occupant seated on the seat, stands between a front wheel and the rear wheel and supported so as to swing, a leg shield including a surface which extends in a vertical direction, a receptacle facing an opening portion provided in the leg shield, and a body frame which supports the front wheel, the rear wheel, the seat, the stands, the leg shield, and the receptacle. The receptacle is disposed between a ground contact point of the front wheel and the leg shield; includes a connecting port which is opened to the top, left, or top left; and is configured so that a force received by the receptacle via the body frame when a charging plug is fitted therein is transmitted to the front wheel.
US09254885B2
A frame unit for a bicycle includes: a left frame body in which a part of a head tube, a part of a seat tube, a part of a frame, and a left stay are integrally formed; and a right frame body in which a part of the head tube, a part of the seat tube, a part of the frame, and a right stay are integrally formed, in which the left frame body and the right frame body are coupled so as to integrally form the head tube, the seat tube, and the frame, and a support ring is installed to the head tube.
US09254882B2
A tandem bicycle is provided that have a shortened wheel base between the front and rear wheels that allows a rider to ride comfortably alone from either the front or rear seats, or with a passenger in the front seat. The frame length of the inventive tandem bicycle is comparable to a standard single seat bicycle. The reduced proximity between riders, and the ability to steer for both the front or rear seats on the inventive tandem bicycle improves the level of participation and interaction between the riders. The wheelbase is reduced by bringing the front wheel closer to the front seat position. A reduced diameter front wheel is provided to accommodate rotational clearance of the front pedals thereby allowing two riders to ride on bicycle frame with a length common to single rider bicycle.
US09254881B2
A beverage holder is provided. The beverage holder may include a strap assembly connected to a beverage assembly. The beverage assembly is adapted to retain beverage containers therein. The strap assembly may include a first strap member and a second strap member. The first strap member may terminate in an arm loop and an opposing clasp end. The clasp end may form a clasp loop for securing a strap clasp. The second strap member may terminate in an arm loop and an opposing return end. The return end may provide both of one half of a mating hook-and-loop combination. The hook portion and the loop portion may be securely engaged to form a return loop, whereby the overall desired length of the entire resulting strap assembly may be varied by adjusting the portion of the hook portion that overlaps the loop portion. A user may place each arm loop over each of a pair of armrests, whereby both strap members are routed around the backrest so as to slide the return end through the strap clasp. Then the user may fold the return end to form the return loop by mating the hook and the loop portion so as to define the desired length of the entire resulting strap assembly and tightness about the backrest.
US09254879B2
An aluminum alloy rolled sheet product for forming into automotive body panels, and having a yield strength of more than 160 MPa after being subjected to a paint-bake cycle, and having a gauge in a range of 0.5 to 4 mm, and preferably 0.7 to 3.5 mm, and having a composition of, in wt. %: Zn 1.5 to 4.0, Mg 0.3 to 1.5, Cu 0 to 1.0, Ti 0 to 0.15, Fe 0 to 0.35, Si 0 to 0.5, other elements and unavoidable impurities, and balance aluminum. An automotive body part formed from such an aluminum sheet. A method of manufacturing an automotive body part. Also, the use of the aluminum alloy sheet product in such a method of manufacturing.
US09254857B2
Systems and methods for transporting an object on a carriage in tandem with a wheeled case are presented. A carriage in one embodiment includes a generally planar platform supported by one or more rolling members, a fence strap for holding the seat against a fence that extends upwardly from the platform, and an anchor strap connecting the seat to the wheeled case. The carriage may be used to transport any object or seat, such as a child safety seat. In another embodiment, the platform includes a leading section connected to a trailing section. The trailing section may include an opening that is sized shaped to receive at least a portion of the rolling members therethrough when the two sections are folded together.
US09254856B2
A quick service cart is provided with multiple functionality including a conventional cabinet structure that allow the technician to store tools and instruments for use in servicing or repairing a vehicle. The drawers of the cabinet are configured to prevent the drawers from tipping the cart over when fully extended. The cart also includes features for connecting to electrical and pneumatic tools and instruments, as well as structure for supporting separate tools, instruments and accessories. The cart includes a pair of handles that are ergonomically configured and positioned to facilitate moving the cart with minimal effort and minimal risk of tipping the cart over.
US09254851B2
The invention relates to a means of enabling inspection of engineering components, such as rails used in the railway industry.A rail inspection device comprises a sensor (24) and a compliant spacer (26). The compliant spacer (26) has an inner surface and outer surface. The sensor (24) is urged against the inner surface of the spacer (26) and, when in use, the outer surface of the spacer (26) is in contact with the rail under inspection.
US09254840B2
A technique for controlling engine starting while shifting a hybrid vehicle is provided that minimizes fuel consumption of the engine by determining an improved engine starting time and drivability when a current operating state of the hybrid vehicle requests a kick down shift required to start the engine and coupling of the engine clutch. In particular, the technique controls engine starting while shifting a hybrid vehicle by employing an information detector configured to detect a current operating state of the hybrid electric vehicle, and a controller configured to control an operation of a transmission, a motor, an engine, and an engine clutch based on output signals from the operating information detector.
US09254839B2
A control device for a vehicle. While subject control is performed, a second engagement control unit controls the engagement pressure of the second engagement device to a mid-control set pressure that has been set to be equal to or more than a first engagement pressure and equal to or less than a second engagement pressure. The first engagement pressure is a lower limit engagement pressure capable of maintaining the second engagement device in the directly coupled engaged state, in a state in which requested torque that is torque required to be transmitted to the wheels is transmitted to the wheels. The second engagement pressure is a lower limit engagement pressure capable of maintaining the second engagement device in the directly coupled engaged state, in a state in which maximum output torque of the rotary electric machine is transmitted to the wheels.
US09254838B2
A hybrid diesel-electric powertrain includes an electric motor in electrical communication with a traction battery, a diesel engine in power-flow communication with the electric motor and with an automatic transmission, and a controller. The diesel engine and electric motor are configured to provide a combined torque to the automatic transmission. The powertrain further includes an exhaust aftertreatment device in fluid communication with the diesel engine. The controller is configured to: receive a regeneration request from the exhaust aftertreatment device; determine if a state-of-charge of the fraction battery is within a predetermined range of a target value; initiate a regeneration event if the state-of-charge of the traction battery is within the predetermined range of the target value; receive an immediate torque request from the automatic transmission; and provide a torque command to the electric motor in response to the immediate torque request.
US09254836B2
A control device of a vehicle provided with an engine, and a fluid-operated power transmitting device provided with a lock-up clutch and configured to transmit a drive force of said engine to drive wheels, and an engine connecting/disconnecting clutch configured to selectively place a power transmitting path between said engine and said fluid-operated power transmitting device in a power transmitting state and a power cutoff state, said vehicle being able to run in an engine drive mode in which said engine is operated as a vehicle drive power source while said engine connecting/disconnecting clutch is placed in a fully engaged state, comprising: a lock-up clutch control portion configured to bring said engine connecting/disconnecting clutch from the fully engaged state into a slipping state and temporarily place the engine connecting/disconnecting clutch in the slipping state while said lock-up clutch is placed in a slipping state, when a lock-up slip control is implemented to place said lock-up clutch from a fully released state into the slipping slip and gradually bring the lock-up clutch into a fully engaged state, in response to an increase of a required amount of acceleration of said vehicle, during running of the vehicle in said engine drive mode with said engine connecting/disconnecting clutch being placed in the fully engaged state.
US09254835B2
In a hybrid vehicle, a criterion temperature for locking a first electric motor/generator is set to a first temperature when the engine is in a reduced-cylinder operation. The criterion temperature is set to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature, when the engine is in an all-cylinder operation. If the temperature of the first electric motor/generator is higher than the criterion temperature, the first electric motor/generator is set to a locked state.
US09254832B2
In a method for reducing a mechanical stress of a component of a drive train of a motor vehicle with at least two wheels, of which at least one wheel is a drive wheel, wherein the motor vehicle has an anti-lock braking system and an electric machine which is coupled to the drive wheel, wherein each wheel of the motor vehicle has a dedicated friction brake, the anti-lock braking system operates individually on each friction brake. During activation of the anti-lock braking system, mechanical stress of an articulated shaft connecting the electric machine and the coupled drive wheel is determined, and the electric machine coupled to the drive wheel is controlled so as to counteract the mechanical stress. A motor vehicle making use of the method si also disclosed.
US09254823B1
In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for releasing a vehicle brake. A computing system receives an indication that a user has provided input to cause a momentary release in a vehicle braking system. The computing system provides a signal so as to cause the momentary release in the vehicle braking system. A length of the momentary release in the vehicle braking system is independent of a length of time that the user provided the input to cause the momentarily release in the braking system.
US09254821B2
A stabilizer pad and handle apparatus is provided having a substantially C-shaped handle, or U-shaped handle with ends of the handle inserted into seating holes extending inwardly from the side walls of the pad. An anchor hole and anchors may be provided extending downward through and perpendicular to the seating holes and through the handle. The pad may be rectangular or square shape or substantially circular in shape. A substantially trapezoidal recess is provided in the circular pad into which the seating holes are provided, and may be angled inwardly away from the side walls, with the handle provided in the recess. At least a portion of the top surface of the handle may be aligned with the outer circumference formed by the circular shape of the pad. The circular pad may be rolled on its side wall edge. Multiple handle means may be provided.
US09254807B1
An active bolster for an automotive vehicle has a outer trim panel with a welding track. An expandable bladder member has a central section configured to attach to a support structure of a vehicle, a welding flange along a peripheral edge, and a pleated region between the central section and the welding flange. The welding track and the welding flange are joined by a hot weld to form a sealed chamber. The welding track includes a plurality of radially-spaced stepped pits. Each pit has an upper section defining a first opening with a respective first cross-sectional area and a lower section defining a second opening with a respective second cross-sectional area smaller than the respective first area. A perimeter of each upper section is melted by the hot weld and a perimeter of each lower section is not melted by the hot weld.
US09254800B2
A bumper beam has a U-profile with its top directed toward the vehicle. It has fixedly welded mounting plates (16, 17) in the form of horizontal hat-shaped profiles. The mounting plates are bolted to end plates (19) on the side rails (18) of the vehicle, so that collision stresses are transferred to all four sides (29, 30, 32, 33) of the respective side rail.
US09254798B1
A system and method(s) for conserving vehicle power when a primary power system of a vehicle is powered down during a voice call. The method includes the steps of: (a) receiving an indication that the vehicle's primary power system is powered down during the voice call; (b) after a predetermined period of time, determining whether to power down a secondary power system associated with a vehicle telematics system; (c) when it is determined that the secondary power system should be powered down, powering down the secondary power system; and (d) when it is determined that the secondary power should not be powered down, waiting the predetermined period of time before again determining whether to power down the secondary power system. The determination of steps (b) and (d) include detecting an absence of voice activity during the predetermined period of time of steps (b) or (d).
US09254797B2
The operation and/or power of a plurality of energy loads and/or energy supplies configured to supply power to the energy loads are managed in a coordinated manner. The coordinated control over the energy loads and/or energy supplies may enable the execution of missions including a one or more objectives by energy loads with an enhanced efficiency, autonomy, and/or effectiveness. Aspects of the planning and/or management of execution of the missions may be automated according to predetermined rules and/or criteria.
US09254795B2
In a water drain plug (10) for a cavity (16) of a vehicle, in particular a side sill (14), comprising a base body (18) which can be fixed in an aperture (12) of the cavity (14) and has an opening (20) in which a sealing element (22) is arranged that is adapted to be moved between a closing position in which the opening (20) is tightly closed, and an opening position in which the opening (20) is open, the sealing element (22) is mounted in the base body (18) for pivoting movement about a retaining axis (36).
US09254793B2
A cell phone holder that has a case with a back portion having an angled surface on an inside end surface of said back side so that a cell phone housed in said case is slanted with its face tilted at an angle for better viewing through said opening in said front surface and to provide room in said case to store a retractable ear phone device behind said cell phone. The back surface has a top portion curving backward with respect to the front surface of the case to provide an overhanging portion forming a clip to mount said case and is mountable in a recess between the driver side inner window surface and the driver side inner door so that the holder hangs on the driver side below the window and near the driver so as to be within range of a driver.
US09254786B2
A vehicle horn control assembly comprises a sensor assembly and a controller. The sensor assembly has a sensor array that includes a plurality of sensor zones, with each of the sensor zones being configured to output a respective pressure signal in response to a respective amount of force applied thereto. The controller is configured to determine, based on the respective pressure signals output over a period of time, a touching characteristic representing a manner in which a user touches the sensor assembly to activate a vehicle horn. The controller is further configured to set a respective pressure threshold for each of the sensor zones above which the controller activates the vehicle horn based on the touching characteristic.
US09254780B2
Aspects for rigidly positioning a load-bearing bar are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes positioning a bar between two surfaces so that one end is oriented towards one surface, and the other end is oriented towards another surface. The method also comprises rotating a crank to facilitate having each end make contact with its corresponding surface. Here, rotating the crank extends an extension shaft away from a control shaft, whereas rotating in an opposite direction inserts the extension shaft into the control shaft. An apparatus is also disclosed, which includes a control shaft comprising a crank that rotates a gear assembly, and an extension shaft coupled to the control shaft. Here, the extension shaft extends away from the control shaft when the gear assembly rotates in a first direction, and retracts when the gear assembly rotates in an opposite direction.
US09254779B2
The frame of a large heavy duty ratchet supports a spool about an axis of rotation. A handle, pivotable about the axis of rotation, includes protrusions engageable with toothed wheels on opposed sides of the spool to urge incremental rotation of the spool upon repetitive pivotal movement of the handle. A pair of spring-loaded pawls engage the toothed wheels to limit the direction of rotation of the toothed wheels. A cam, formed as part of the handle, disengages the pair of pawls from the toothed wheels upon pivotal movement of the handle to a certain extent to permit rotation of the spool in either direction.
US09254766B2
A sidewall integrated armrest includes a plurality of armrest segments upon which an arm may rest. Each of the plurality of armrest segments are supported by a structure proximate a sidewall and adjacent to but not supported by a seat. Each of the seats is disposed in a line along the sidewall and spaced apart at a seating pitch. The armrest further includes at least one armrest spacer disposed between the plurality of armrest segments. The at least one armrest spacer has a combined length between the plurality of armrest segments to establish a pitch between the plurality of armrest segments substantially equal to the seating pitch.
US09254763B2
A vehicle seat (car seat (S)) includes a seat cushion (S1), a seat back (S2), and a headrest (S3), the seat back (S2) including a seat back frame constituting a frame of the seat back (S2), and a seat back pad covering the seat back frame, and the vehicle seat being configured to allow an upper body of an occupant to sink into the seat back (S2) when a backward movement load acts on the seat back from the occupant's upper body. The seat back pad includes a center portion (51) configured to face a back region of the occupant's upper body, and right and left side portions (52) provided at right and left sides of the center portion (51) and each configured to protrude frontward farther than the center portion (51), and each of the right and left side portions has an upper side portion (52A) corresponding to a height of a chest region of the occupant and a lower side portion (52B) corresponding to a height of a lumbar region of the occupant, which are configured such that when they receive the backward movement load, the upper side portion (52A) is more easily deformable than the lower side portion (52B).
US09254745B2
There are provided an operational member and a body portion supporting the operational member rotatably, clockwise or counterclockwise, from a home position and movably in a vehicle longitudinal direction from its rotated position. The body portion is configured to allow the rotated or moved operational member to return to the home position automatically. A shift range is changed to a neutral range when the operational member is rotated from the home position, and the shift range is changed to a traveling range (a drive range or a reverse range) when the operational member is moved in the vehicle longitudinal direction from the rotated position after the operational member is rotated from the home position. Herein, changing of the shift range to the drive range or the reverse range depends on the direction of the rotation of the dial from the home position.
US09254740B2
A drivetrain for a hybrid-electric vehicle (200), including an engine (210), a first electrical machine (220), a second electrical machine (230), and at least one driveshaft (260). The first (220) and second (230) electrical machines are axial-flux electrical machines. The first electrical machine (220) is arranged to be driven by the engine (210) so as to operate as a generator and to supply electrical power for the second electrical machine (230). The second electrical machine (230) is arranged to receive electrical power so as to operate as a motor and to drive the at least one driveshaft (260). The drivetrain includes a clutch (225) selectively operable to provide inter-engagement between the rotor of the first electrical machine (220) and the rotor of the second electrical machine (230) to transmit rotary power therebetween.
US09254726B2
A bearing component has a first structural component and a second structural component and supports a transverse leaf spring. The first structural component and the second structural component are connected with each other in a hinge-like fashion for rotation and surrounded by a sleeve. The first structural component has a hinge head which is positively held in a hinge head receptacle of the second structural component. The sleeve has a bellow section and protects the structural components of the bearing component from contamination.
US09254721B2
Provided is a base tire securing cut resistance while retaining rolling resistance performance of the tire and a tire built on such a base tire. A base tire includes a base rubber which forms the outer periphery of the base tire to which a tread rubber is applied, a pair of mini side rubbers, each protecting the axial edge of the base rubber, and a pair of outer rubber layers, each overlapping the axially outer side of the mini side rubber.
US09254715B2
Inner liner rubber composition for a pneumatic tire, which enables improvements in handling stability, fuel economy, elongation at break, sheet processability, air barrier properties, and compounding cost in a balanced manner. Also, pneumatic tire including inner liner formed from the rubber composition. The rubber composition includes: reclaimed butyl rubber; halogenated butyl rubber other than the reclaimed butyl rubber; at least one semi-reinforcing filler selected from finely ground bituminous coal having a specified average particle size, talc, mica, and hard clay; and carbon black having a specific N2SA and/or silica having a specific N2SA. The rubber composition has a predetermined reclaimed butyl rubber content, a predetermined combined content of the reclaimed butyl rubber and the halogenated butyl rubber, a predetermined total semi-reinforcing filler content, and a predetermined combined content of the carbon black and the silica.
US09254714B2
A wheel comprising: an inner hub including a first side, a second side being generally parallel to and opposite of the first side, an axle shaft emanating up from the second side, a plurality of inner spokes emanating up from the second side and outward from the axle shaft and engaging an inner circumferential member; an outer hub engaged to the inner circumferential member, a plurality of outer spokes emanating from the inner circumferential member, the outer spokes being engaged to the inner circumferential member at a proximal end of the spokes and engaged to an inner surface of an over mold substrate at a distal end of the spokes, the over mold substrate also having an outer surface being generally parallel to and opposite of the inner surface; and a over mold tread chemically bonded to the outer surface of the over mold substrate.
US09254712B2
A high temperature warning system for a vehicle steer axle an air pressure supply, a normally-closed valve in fluid communication with pressure supply, a heat sensitive control capable of opening the normally-closed valve upon a predetermined temperature, the heat sensitive control mounted adjacent to the wheel end assembly in a heat exchange relationship therewith, and a warning system connected to the air pressure supply for actuation upon opening of the normally-closed valve.
US09254711B2
The present invention concerns a wheel rim and a method for making a wheel rim of the type suited for use on an agricultural or construction vehicle. The new feature of the wheel rim according to the invention is that the central hub plate at the outer periphery includes a number of tabs extending away from the center of the central hub plate, where the second hub plate at its inner periphery also includes a number of tabs extending towards the center of the hub plate, where the tabs have a geometric shape such that the tabs fit between each other, where the tabs include holes arranged at the same pitch circle diameter and at right angles to the tabs. In connection with the making of the hub plate, the second hub plate and the central hub plate can be produced from a single piece of suitable material, preferably steel plate, as the mentioned tabs extend over each other when two parts are separated and turned such that the tabs come to lie upon each other. The two hub plate parts are then joined by bolts in the holes formed in the mentioned tabs.
US09254710B2
A supporting device is adapted to be mounted on a bicycle wheel and includes a central cap unit, a plurality of end seats, and a plurality of covering units. The bicycle wheel includes a hub and a wheel rim. The central cap unit is sleeved fixedly on the hub and has coupling portions. The end seats are connected fixedly on the wheel rim, and are formed respectively with coupling sections registered respectively with the coupling portions. Each of the covering units has an inner end portion connected to a respective one of the coupling portions of the central cap unit and an outer end portion connected to one of the coupling sections of the end seats that is registered with the respective one of the coupling portions, so as to enhance a structural strength of the bicycle wheel.
US09254709B2
An adhesive decorative pattern with a pliable polymer film includes first and second pliable polymer films, a first decorative element made out of fabric and consisting of a plurality of fabrics each extending in irregular directions, and a releasing paper defining a front releasably coated with a glue layer. The first pliable polymer film, the first decorative element, the second pliable polymer film, and the releasing paper are stacked together into a pile. The first decorative element is sandwiched between the first and second pliable polymer films. The glue layer is sandwiched between the second pliable polymer and the front of the releasing paper. The adhesive decorative pattern with the pliable film includes the first pliable polymer film, the first decorative element, and the second pliable polymer film bonded securely together, and includes the releasing paper being able to be released from the glue layer.
US09254703B2
A file folder includes a rotatable cover and a closure mechanism. The closure mechanism secures the rotatable cover against a front of the file folder to maintain the file folder in a closed position. The closure mechanism further secures the rotatable cover against a back of the file folder to maintain the file folder in an opened position. The closed position protects contents of the file folder, while the opened position allows access to the contents of the file folder.
US09254698B2
A printing apparatus comprises supports for holding a roll of print media during printing, said supports being accessible from one side of the printer to insert a roll of print media, and an auxiliary media tray suitable for holding in a stable position a roll of print media placed with its outer surface resting on the tray, said auxiliary tray being attached to the printer on the same side of the printer from where the supports for the roll of print media are accessible.
US09254695B2
Printing apparatus for printing an image on a printing medium and conveyance control method therefor
An apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises: an acquiring unit configured to acquire data generated at a predetermined period in accordance with driving of a conveyance unit configured to convey a printing medium; a first specify unit configured to specify an average value of the data based on a plurality of data acquired by the acquiring unit; a second specify unit configured to specify a conveyance velocity of the printing medium based on the average value of the data specified by the specify unit; a deciding unit configured to decide a number of data, used by the second specify unit, for specifying the average value of the data in accordance with the conveyance velocity specified by the second specify unit; and a control unit configured to control the conveyance unit using the average value of the data specified by the second specify unit as position data of the printing medium.
US09254693B2
If a print medium size is set as a print setting for print target data, a print control apparatus causes a printing unit to print an image with a size corresponding to the print medium size based on the print target data. If the print medium size is not set as the print setting, the print control apparatus causes the printing unit to print an image with a size corresponding to a candidate print medium size obtained by a sensor detecting the size of the print medium.
US09254692B2
Provided is a printing method for multi-pass printing with column thinning in which the multi-pass number is not restricted to being a multiple of the column thinning number. A mask pattern of a size corresponding to the number of printing elements in use is prepared, and divided into blocks 1 to P. Taking R(x) to be the mask pattern for the region corresponding to block x (where x=1 to P), these P block mask patterns satisfy the following condition. Namely, for all integers s obtainable between the values from 1 to M, the arrangements of printing pixels exist in a complementary relationship with each other in the combination of mask patterns R(s), R(s+M), R(s+2M), and so on to R(s+N×M). However, for all s, N is taken to be the largest integer satisfying s+N×M≦P.
US09254691B2
A first feeder contacts a first surface of a first sheet held in a first tray and feeds the first sheet toward a recording unit. A second feeder contacts a first surface of a second sheet held in a second tray and feeds the second sheet toward the recording unit. An inner member is disposed above a standing plate. An outer member comprises an upstream portion opposing the standing plate, and a downstream portion opposing the inner member. The inner member guides the first surface of the first sheet and the first surface of the second sheet. The standing plate guides the first surface of the second sheet. The upstream portion of the outer member guides a second surface of the second sheet, and the downstream portion guides a second surface of the first sheet and the second surface of the second sheet. The standing plate moves relative to the outer member.
US09254686B2
A printing device includes a device main body that has a feeding unit for feeding a recording medium and a printing section for printing by ejecting ink from a liquid drop ejecting head onto the recording medium that has been fed by activation of the feeding unit, and a heating unit disposed on a downstream side in a feed direction of the recording medium with respect to the device main body. The heating unit has a medium passage through which the recording medium after printing passes, a heating unit provided with a heat generator disposed in an intermediate position of the medium passage to heat the recording medium after printing with heat generated by the heat generator, and an air discharging unit for forcibly discharging air in the medium passage.
US09254672B2
In one example, a structure for supporting a printhead includes: a substrate having a first side and a second side; an inlet tower through which liquid may be introduced into the structure; an opening through the substrate near the inlet tower; and an air channel along the substrate connecting the opening in the substrate to the atmosphere.
US09254660B2
A process for producing a liquid ejection head including a silicon substrate having a supply port to supply a liquid to a flow path, and an ejection-orifice-forming member forming the flow path between the ejection-orifice-forming member and the silicon substrate and having an ejection orifice to eject the liquid in the flow path. The process includes forming an etching protection film so as to cover the ejection-orifice-forming member; forming the supply port passing through the silicon substrate by anisotropic etching using an alkaline aqueous solution; and removing the etching protection film. The etching protection film includes an organic polymer material having a storage modulus at 80° C. of 1.0×106 Pa or higher.
US09254649B2
A liquid ejection head including: a support member, a plurality of printing element boards arranged linearly on the support member, an electric wiring member fixed to the support member, and configured to transmit an electrical signal necessary to eject a liquid to the plurality of printing element boards, a plurality of conductive members arranged in an arranging direction of the plurality of printing element boards, and configured to electrically connect the plurality of printing element boards to the electric wiring member, and a thermosetting sealing member extending in the arranging direction and covering the conductive members, connecting points of the printing element boards with the conductive members, and connecting points of the electric wiring member with the conductive members, wherein the sealing member is divided at, at least one place in the arranging direction.
US09254648B2
A recording apparatus includes a recording head, a carriage having an opening on which the recording head is mounted in a state that the liquid ejection surface of the recording head faces the opening, the carriage being configured to reciprocate, a ground member that is mounted on the carriage so as to ground the recording head, and a sensor unit that is mounted on the carriage so as to perform sensing by using reciprocation of the carriage and has a ground mechanism which is connected to the ground member, wherein the ground member is disposed at a position in contact with the recording head mounted on the opening.
US09254647B2
A liquid discharging apparatus includes: a liquid discharge head including plural nozzle rows each arrayed with plural nozzles and discharging liquid droplets onto a workpiece by a multi-pass method using n recording passes (n is an integer of 3 or more); and a head drive section that controls driving of n nozzle groups corresponding to the n recording passes in each of the nozzle rows with a discharge duty upper limit specific to each nozzle group, and for a pair of nozzle groups adjacent across the nozzle rows, when controlling driving of one of the nozzle groups with a discharge duty upper limit being the maximum discharge duty upper limit of one nozzle row containing the one nozzle group, controls driving of the other nozzle group with a discharge duty upper limit that is not the maximum discharge duty upper limit of another nozzle row containing the other nozzle group.
US09254644B2
The image processing device divides image data into regions corresponding to a first pixel row, a second pixel row, a third pixel row, and a fourth pixel row, and generate output data, in which a generation rate of an ink droplet with a relatively large size, a generation rate of an ink droplet with a relatively small size, and the amount of ink discharged per unit area vary depending on a gradation value of the image data, for each of the divided regions. At the time of the generation of the output data, different output data items are generated for a third nozzle corresponding to the third pixel row when the first gradation value indicates a relatively high gradation and when the first gradation value indicates a relatively low gradation.
US09254636B2
Techniques are disclosed for a cutting apparatus that can be used to cut a target layer within a display module, e.g., a liquid crystal display that includes a protective cover glass. The cutting apparatus includes a platform that supports a track. The cutting apparatus also includes a linear slide that is configured to both hold the display module in place and travel along the track, where the movement of the linear slide along the track is driven by a mass that is in free fall. The cutting apparatus further includes a cutting wire, where the cutting wire is positioned relative to the target layer and oscillates to cut the target layer as the linear slide moves along the track. Additional techniques are disclosed and directed toward a method for operating the cutting apparatus described above.
US09254631B2
Disclosed herein is a lamination apparatus including: a mechanism configured to transport a belt-like flexible substrate including a transfer layer and a supporting layer layered on each other; a mechanism configured to transport a sheet-like rigid substrate; a mechanism configured to coat adhesive to the transfer layer while transporting the belt-like flexible substrate; a mechanism configured to cut the transfer layer having the adhesive coated thereon into a sheet while transporting the belt-like flexible substrate; and a mechanism configured to laminate the transfer layer cut out into the sheet to the rigid substrate through the adhesive while transporting the belt-like flexible substrate and the sheet-like rigid substrate.
US09254619B2
Method and tooling apparatus for forming a composite charge into a contoured composite blade stringer including an elongate punch and an elongate die flexible along their lengths. The charge is press formed by using the punch to drive the charge into the die. The punch and the die are mounted between a pair of flexible plates. A press coupled with the plates contours the charge by bending the plates into a desired contour. The stringer is allowed to cool down to room temperature while being constrained, before withdrawing the stringer from the tooling apparatus in order to reduce wrinkling.
US09254613B2
This invention relates to a method for manufacturing a composite member, where a number of different material layers including at least one layer of gelcoat are applied in a mold, and where resin is applied for joining of the layers. The method is new in that particles are added to the gelcoat, whereby the gelcoat comprising such particles forms an outermost layer on at least a part of the manufactured composite member. Hereby is obtained a composite with a hydrophobic and lotus-like surface yielding good self-cleaning properties and which is on the same time self-regenerating. The invention furthermore relates to composite members comprising such a gelcoat layer with particles and to the use of gelcoat comprising particles for giving regenerating self-cleaning properties.
US09254608B2
The present invention provides an imprint apparatus which performs an imprint process in which a resin on a substrate is cured, in a contact state in which a mold is kept in contact with the resin, to transfer a pattern onto the substrate, the apparatus including a stage configured to move upon holding the substrate, a detection unit configured to detect a first mark formed on the mold, and a second mark formed on the substrate, and a processing unit configured to perform alignment of the mold and the substrate in the contact state.
US09254603B2
Disclosed is an apparatus for the processing of plastics, with a container with a mixing implement rotatable around an axis of rotation, wherein, in a side wall, an aperture is formed, through which the plastics material can be removed, and a conveyor, with a screw rotating in a housing, wherein the imaginary continuation of the longitudinal axis of the conveyor in a direction opposite to the direction of conveying passes the axis of rotation, and wherein the L/D ratio of the screw is ≧7, and wherein the setting angle (γ) of the radially outermost mixing implement, closest to the base, complies with the following relationship: γ=k*d+K, where d is the diameter of the screw in mm, K is a factor in the range from 15 to 35, k is a factor in the range from 0.08 to 0.2.
US09254602B2
A position detector detects the position of a die opening/closing device on a machine frame of an injection molding machine. A shielding object is provided between the position detector and an oil scattering source of a mechanical section of the injection molding machine.
US09254600B2
An injection foam molding machine of the invention includes: a movable mold platen; a fixed mold platen; a mold fastening hydraulic cylinder that is provided at each of four corners of both mold platens; a tie bar that is driven by the hydraulic cylinder to fasten the molds; two sets of mold opening and closing actuators that drive the movable mold platen to move close to or away from the fixed mold platen; two sets of dedicated core back devices; and a control device that controls the two sets of mold opening and closing actuators and the two sets of dedicated core back devices, wherein the control device includes a dedicated core back program that simultaneously controls the two sets of mold opening and closing actuators and the two sets of dedicated core back devices during a foaming core back operation of moving the movable mold platen away from the fixed mold platen.
US09254592B2
Item comprising thermoplastic polyurethane, which has, respectively, direct-contact adhesive bonding not only to rubber but also to engineering plastic.
US09254584B2
The invention relates to a process for manufacturing composite material which contains fiber based and polymer based material, wherein the manufacture includes a preliminary treatment process to form a raw stock mixture. According to the invention, the preliminary treatment process includes a hot-cold mixing device which comprises at least a heating stage, and that raw stock, which contains lignin-free material, and a coupling agent are fed to the mixing device to form the raw stock mixture, and adhesion between fiber based and polymer based substances of the raw stock is ameliorated by the coupling agent.
US09254583B2
For each of a plurality of production facilities, a series of operations is performed. For each of a plurality of batches of a concrete mixture produced at the respective production facility based on a formulation, a first difference between a measured quantity of cementitious and a first quantity specified in the formulation is determined. A first standard deviation is determined based on the first differences. For each of the plurality of batches, a second difference between a measured quantity of water and a second quantity specified in the formulation is determined. A second standard deviation is determined based on the second differences. A first benchmark is selected from among the first standard deviations, and a second benchmark is selected from among the second standard deviations. An amount by which costs may be reduced by improving production at the production facility to meet the first and second benchmarks is determined.
US09254580B2
A modular guard system for a power saw includes a riving knife mounted to the saw rearwardly of the blade and having first and second notches with openings facing away from each other. A blade guard assembly is releasably mounted on the riving knife and configured to cover the blade. The blade guard assembly includes a mounting portion configured to receive a top portion of the riving knife having the first and second notches and a release mechanism provided in the mounting portion and having a spring member for engaging the first notch and a latch member connected to the spring member for engaging the second notch. The latch member exerts a force on the spring member to cooperatively hold the first and second notches between the spring member and the latch member to retain the riving knife in the mounting portion.
US09254578B2
A system for processing a line of material along a path and a tear-assist apparatus. The tear-assist comprising a driving portion that drives the line of material along the path, a sensing unit that detects pulling of the line of material in a first direction along the path away from the driving portion, and a cutting member for cutting the line of material. The sensing unit can be associated with the driving portion such that upon detecting movement of the line in the first direction, the sensing unit causes the driving portion to drive the line of material in a second direction along the path for drawing the line of material against the cutting member to cut the line of material. In another configuration, when the sensing unit detects the movement in the first direction, the sensing unit can cause the driving portion to, drive the line of material in the second direction sufficiently for severing the portion of the line of material. The driving portion can also be configured to drive the line of material in the first direction along the path to dispense the material.
US09254574B2
A robot arm assembly with tubes or pipes carrying fluids or electrical cables which do not get bent and are relatively straight, and are not disrupted by, the moving parts of the robot arm includes a first robot arm, a second robot arm, a third robot arm, and a flexible carrying tube. The second robot arm includes a first axle base, a first input shaft, a first bevel gear, and a second bevel gear. The flexible tube is inserted into the first bevel gear and the second bevel gear along a first axis, and fixed to the output shaft.
US09254572B2
A robotic tool changer removably attaches a robotic tool to a robotic arm. The changer includes a tool module connected to the robotic tool, and a master module connected to the robotic arm. To attach and detach the robotic tool, the changer couples and uncouples the tool module and the master module. A master electrical signal module (ESM) affixes to the master module and a tool ESM affixes to the tool module. In accordance with design requirements, the changer applies the same power supply to both the master ESM and the tool ESM. The changer, however, selectively suppresses application of the power supply to the tool ESM, while maintaining application of the power supply to the master ESM, during the coupling or uncoupling of the master module and the tool module. In doing so, the changer enables such coupling and uncoupling, while also preventing the formation of transient electric arcs.
US09254568B2
A robot control method of controlling a robot that has a flexible module including ‘n’ first nodes participating in pan motion and ‘n’ second nodes participating in tilt motion may include: measuring a translational motion distance, a pan motion angle, and a tilt motion angle of the flexible module; calculating state vectors of the ‘n’ first nodes and the ‘n’ second nodes using the measured translational motion distance; calculating operating angle distribution rates of the ‘n’ first nodes and operating angle distribution rates of the ‘n’ second nodes using the calculated state vectors of the ‘n’ first nodes and the calculated state vectors of the ‘n’ second nodes; and/or calculating operating angles of the ‘n’ first nodes and operating angles of the ‘n’ second nodes using the calculated operating angle distribution rates and the measured pan motion angle and tilt motion angle.
US09254548B2
A method for making a conditioner disk used in a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process comprises applying a first layer of at least one binder over a substrate; disposing a plurality of diamond particles on the first layer of the at least one first binder at the plurality of locations; and fixing the plurality of diamond particles to the substrate by heating the substrate to a raised temperature and then cooling the substrate. The plurality of diamond particles disposed over the substrate are configured to provide a working diamond ratio higher than 50% when the conditioner disk is used in a CMP process.
US09254547B2
A method and apparatus for facilitating equalized conditioning of a polishing surface of a polishing pad is described. The apparatus includes an extension device coupled to a base adjacent a peripheral edge of a polishing pad that is adapted to support a conditioning device, the extension device includes a body that is movable relative to the polishing pad, and a sacrificial pad comprising a polishing material coupled to a mounting surface of the body.
US09254545B2
A polishing pad has structural parts embedded therein; sensors, a memory for storing detected information obtained by the sensors, and a communication unit driven by a power supply unit to communicate with outside in a non-contact manner. The polishing pad and a communication unit configured to communicate with the communication unit of the polishing pad in a non-contact manner constitute a polishing information management system. The polishing pad and a communication unit configured to transmit and receive the information to and from the communication unit of the polishing pad in a non-contact manner constitute a polishing apparatus.
US09254543B2
A machine tool is provided with a tool mounting part mounting and holding a tool for working a workpiece, a motor rotating the tool mounting part such that an edge of the tool is inclined with respect to the workpiece, a control device holding the tool standby such that the edge of the tool is positioned at a working standby position proximal to a surface of the workpiece and starting a working movement from the working standby position. In the machine tool, the control device includes a working standby position correcting device to correct the working standby position to a corrected working standby position according to a diameter d of the tool and a rotational angle θ of the tool mounting part such that the tool does not interfere with the workpiece when the tool is held standby at the working standby position in a rotated state by the motor.
US09254538B2
A compound optical assembly is constructed from a plurality of stacking elements for spacing, aligning, and retaining optical elements within the assembly. Stacking faces of the stacking elements are measured and low-order surface errors are extracted, represented by mathematical approximations having a primary angular frequency. The stacking elements including the optic holders are relatively oriented to promote complementarity between the low-order surface errors of mating stacking faces.
US09254537B2
A process for repairing combined heavy erosion and thermal fatigue cracks and/or other defects, such as large cracks, in a high temperature superalloy component, such as a vane in a turbine section of a gas turbine engine, that does not require mechanical grinding to prepare the defect site. The process includes depositing a loose finely granulated superalloy powder or a low viscosity superalloy slurry in the crack up to a suitable level and then depositing a superalloy putty layer on the superalloy powder or slurry at the top of the crack A braze putty layer is then deposited over the superalloy putty layer and the component is sintered in a vacuum furnace to harden the superalloy putty and powder or slurry to repair the defect.
US09254533B2
Methods of removing material from a defective opening in a glass mold using a laser pulse, repairing a glass mold and a related glass mold for injection molded solder (IMS) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a glass mold including a plurality of solder filled openings; identifying a defective opening in the glass mold; removing material from the defective opening by applying a laser pulse to the defective opening; and repairing the defective opening by filling the defective opening with an amount of solder by: removing a redundant, non-defective solder portion from an opening in the glass mold by applying a laser pulse to the opening, and placing the redundant, non-defective solder portion in the defective opening.
US09254531B2
Provided is a method for mounting a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The method includes providing a solder cream on a predetermined region of a bottom surface of the PCB except for a region requiring insulation, mounting the PCB on a mounting region of a housing on which the PCB is to be mounted, and fixedly coupling the PCB to the housing by melting and hardening the solder cream provided on the bottom surface of the PCB.
US09254529B2
A wire electric discharge machining apparatus is provided to equip with an automatic wire threader more reliably threading a wire electrode through an start hole. The wire electric discharge machining apparatus includes an automatic wire threader including: a feed roller disposed higher than the start hole and feeding a wire electrode toward the start hole; and a vertical drive device disposed between the feed roller and the start hole, and supplying compressed air in the upward and downward directions to vertically move the wire electrode slightly. The vertical drive device includes wire guides having guide holes through which the wire electrode is passed. The wire guides are constructed so that upward movement by the compressed air is possible.
US09254518B2
A method of manufacturing a crankshaft comprising providing two parts, each part comprising two webs, a portion of a crank journal and a portion of a main journal, welding the two portions of the crank journal together, heating the crank journal, inserting a shim between the webs, and upset forging to reduce the length of the crank journal to form a forged segment. Alternatively, the portions of the main journal may be welded, heated, shimmed, and forged to form a forged segment. The crankshaft may be lengthened by adding additional parts or forged segments using the same steps. A production line for carrying out this method when producing a crankshaft with n number of crank journals, where n is an even integer.
US09254513B2
A method for lubricating rolls, especially work rolls (2, 3) of a rolling stand, and rolling stock (6) passed between the rolls during the rolling operation, in which a lubricant-gas mixture, a lubricant-water-gas mixture, a lubricant-water mixture and/or a grease-medium mixture is applied to the rolls (2, 3) or the rolling stock (6) on the run-in side of the rolling stand, is characterized by the fact that the mixture is prepared with at least one mixing device (14, 17, 27, 29, 31, 35) in the area upstream of the rolling stand.
US09254509B2
A cleaning device for cleaning a marine streamer towed underwater and related methods are provided. The cleaning device includes a housing configured to be attached to the streamer, a motor mounted inside the housing, a propeller configured be rotated by the motor and to drive the housing along and relative to the streamer in a towing direction, and a controller configured to control the motor and the propeller.
US09254508B2
To introduce a mixture to be processed, in which powder and granular material with relatively large specific gravity and hardness and accompanying lightweight foreign substances are mixed together, inside a system and separate the same by a dry method.Disclosed is a powder and granular material separation processing device X that is connected to an external suction machine such as a dust collection device and an electric vacuum cleaner, introduces by suction a mixture to be processed into a separation processing container 1, and discharges lightweight foreign substances to the outside of a system while collecting powder and granular material inside the system. The separation processing container 1 has a suction introduction tube 2 that is attached and sealed as the upper part structure of a hopper tank 4 that collects and stores the powder and granular material and receives the mixture to be processed on the circumferential surface thereof, and a suction discharge tube 3 that is connected to an external suction machine on the upper surface thereof. In addition, the separation processing container 1 has a separation cone 11 with a funnel-shaped bottom surface and a cylindrical opening 13 that hangs in a protruding shape downward from the tip part of the separation cone 11 and of which the opening diameter thereof is reduced stepwise to have multiple steps. The suction discharge tube 3 has a multiple tube configuration at the tip part thereof in which each tube is given a small diameter corresponding to each opening diameter of the cylindrical opening 13 to be loosely inserted and face the tip part of an opening.
US09254504B2
The invention relates to an arrangement for simulating creping of tissue. The arrangement comprises a sled with a test surface, which sled is arranged to travel along a linear path; heating means for heating the test surface; a spray unit with at least one spray nozzle, the spray unit being arranged along the linear path of the sled and the at least one spray nozzle being arranged to spray a chemical on the test surface; a creping unit comprising a creping blade, the creping unit arranged along the linear path of the sled after the spray unit and the creping blade arranged to pass over the test surface when the sled passes the creping unit; and measurement means for measuring data related to force between the creping blade and the test surface. The invention relates also to a method for simulating creping of tissue.
US09254497B2
In the ionization probe, an assist gas nozzle, coaxial with a nozzle, is provided around a nozzle that discharges a liquid sample. A housing inside which is formed an annular assist gas channel is provided around the assist gas nozzle. A gas inlet for introducing gas into the assist gas heating channel and gas outlet for feeding gas from channel to assist gas nozzle are provided at opposite locations across the center of the channel. Gas introduced into the assist gas heating channel is heated by a substantially annular heater, and high temperature gas is discharged through gas discharge hole of the assist gas nozzle. The heater and the channel through which high temperature gas flows are arranged solely at the tip part of the ionization probe, so thermal insulation of the probe base part can be easily accomplished.
US09254491B2
The invention relates to a file shredder with a device for detecting metallic objects introduced into the paper feed of the file shredder, a cutting unit with rotating cutting tools, a motor for driving the cutting tools and a transmission device for connecting the motor to the rotating cutting tools. According to the invention, substantially all of the metallic components of the cutting unit of the file shredder surrounding the rotating cutting tools, the motor and the transmission device are connected with one another in an electrically conducting manner such that they lie on a common defined electric potential.
US09254467B2
Disclosed is an air-permeable filter with an adhesive layer. This air-permeable filter is imparted with oil repellency and includes: a porous membrane having a surface coated with an oil-repellent agent; and an adhesive layer disposed on the surface. The oil-repellent agent contains a linear fluorine-containing hydrocarbon group represented by (1) —R1C5F10CH2C4F9 or (2) —R2C6F13, where R1 and R2 are each independently an alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms or a phenylene group. This air-permeable filter is imparted with oil repellency without significantly reducing its adhesive strength to the adhesive layer.
US09254464B2
A filter module includes a first filter stage and a second filter stage which are substantially concentrically arranged. The first filter stage and the second filter stage each include a plurality of hollow fiber membranes having a first fiber end and a second fiber end, which are embedded in a respective casting compound. The first filter stage is a filter stage for the filtration of a first medical fluid, and the second filter stage is a filter stage for the filtration of a second medical fluid. The first filter stage has unilaterally closed fiber ends, and is surrounded by a boundary element which separates the first filter stage and the second filter stage from one another. The boundary element has at least one opening which provides fluid communication between the first filter stage and the second filter stage.
US09254461B2
Methods, systems, and devices for liquid hydrocarbon fuel production, hydrocarbon chemical production, and aerosol capture are provided. For example, a carbon-oxygen-hydrogen (C—O—H) compound may be heated to a temperature of at least 800 degrees Celsius such that the C—O—H compound reacts through a non-oxidation reaction to generate at least a hydrocarbon compound that may be at least a component of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel or a hydrocarbon chemical. The liquid hydrocarbon fuel may be a liquid when at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. The C—O—H compound may include biomass. In some cases, the hydrocarbon compound produced through the non-oxidation reaction includes a hydrocarbon aerosol form as the hydrocarbon compound at least as it is produced or cools. Some embodiments include aerosol capture methods, systems, and devices, which may include passing a hydrocarbon aerosol form through a material in a liquid phase in order to gather the aerosol material.
US09254456B2
A liquid filter with a replaceable filter insert and a housing having a raw liquid inlet, a central clean liquid outlet, and an eccentric liquid discharge channel. A standpipe extends above the liquid outlet and receives the insert. The insert has an eccentric closing pin. A first positioning arrangement is arranged on the clean liquid outlet and a lower end region of the standpipe so that, when the standpipe is plugged into the clean liquid outlet, the standpipe is guided into a particular position relative to the filter housing. A second positioning arrangement is arranged on the standpipe and the insert so that, when the insert is plugged onto the standpipe, it is guided into a particular position relative to the standpipe. The positioning arrangements are matched to one another so that the closing pin on the insert enters into engagement with the discharge channel in the filter housing.
US09254441B2
The present invention is directed to provide a game apparatus and a game program, which are capable of more strategically conducting a battle with an enemy character, deepening interest, winning a battle with a formidable enemy even without any level up, and enjoying a game that is rich in strategic feature. When an enemy character starts to attack a player character (step S11), time counting to set a chink occurrence flag starts. When an attack operation of the player character on the enemy character is received (step S12) and the attack hits the enemy character (step S13), it is determined whether or not a chink occurrence flag remains set on the enemy character (step S14). When the chink occurrence flag remains set (YES in step S14), a special effect is generated (step S15).
US09254433B2
An article is provided that includes a core including a plurality of triangular core members. Two or more edges of each triangular core member are each attached to respective edges of other triangular core members in the plurality of triangular core members by respective hinges in a plurality of hinges. Each hinge in the plurality of hinges joins respective edges of a respective pair of substantially adjacent triangular core members in the plurality of triangular core members, is of a length to provide an offset between the pair of triangular core members, has a thickness less than thicknesses of the pair of triangular core members, and is integrally connected to the pair of triangular core members.
US09254426B2
An anti-theft device for a golf club having a cover comprising an internal surface adapted to conform to a golf club hosel and a portion of a golf club shaft. One or more sensors are disposed within the internal surface of the cover and adapted to actuate between a passive state and an alarm alert state. An alarm is coupled to the one or more sensors, the alarm emitting a signal when the one or more sensors are actuated from the passive state to the alarm alert state. The one or more sensors are retracted in the passive state when the golf club hosel is housed within the cover. The one or more sensors are advanced in the alarm alert state when the golf club hosel is removed from the cover.
US09254421B2
A golf ball is provided that includes a coating. The coating is designed to allow a golfer to modify or increase the tackiness of the coating. The coating changes tackiness when exposed to a soaking material. A method of determining a desirable length of soak is also disclosed.
US09254415B2
Disclosed herein is a stretching device which makes it possible for a user to stretch muscles such as the calf muscles and Achilles tendons. The foothold unit (10) includes a base plate (12), and an inclined foothold (11) disposed above the base plate at a position spaced apart from the base plate. A support pole unit (30) is disposed in a central portion of the foothold unit. The support pole unit includes a lower tubular member (31) fixed to the base plate (12), an upper tubular member (32) disposed in the lower tubular member so as to be adjustable in height, with a handle (36) provided on an upper end of the upper tubular member, and a fastener (33) fastening the upper tubular member to the lower tubular member. The inclined foothold is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the support pole unit.
US09254409B2
Embodiments of a strength training apparatus and related methods are provided. In one embodiment, the strength training apparatus includes a base member and a tower structure coupled with the base member. At least one arm is pivotally coupled with the tower structure. A flywheel and a cable and pulley system are associated with the at least one arm, wherein displacement of at least one cable of the cable and pulley system effects rotation of the flywheel. The strength training apparatus may include a selectively adjustable magnetic braking mechanism associated with a flywheel that is configured to apply a selected resistance to the rotation of the flywheel. A torque sensor may be associated with the flywheel and the measured torque during operation of the apparatus may be used to calculate the work expended in rotating the flywheel. In one embodiment, the calculated work may be expressed in units of watts.
US09254408B1
An exercise bar having a frame and a pair of rails positioned interiorly of the ends of a frame. A pair of moveable handles engaged with and mounted upon the rails. The moveable handles have a user grip. A pair of spring assemblies is located at each end of the frame and attached therein between and to the frame and one end of each respective moveable handle. During exercise, a user place weights on the outer ends of the frame and may then move the exercise bar in a general vertical swinging motion up or down, similar to existing barbells, and add additional stress via a compound movement by moving the handles in towards the center of the load and concurrently handle towards the center of the exercise bar to produce a transverse stress upon the user and user's musculature.
US09254395B1
A microcurrent stimulation device with a power supply, two or more electrodes electronically coupled to the power supply, a microcontroller configured to generate an electromagnetic waveform, an impedance measurement module configured to measure electrical impedance of one or more biological tissues between the two or more electrodes. A first safety circuit monitors electric current flow through one or more components of the microcurrent stimulation device and interrupts electric current flow if the electric current flow through the one or more components is above a predetermined level. A second safety circuit interrupts electric current flow through the one or more components if a firmware failure occurs.
US09254392B2
Systems and methods are described herein for determining whether anodal capture of the right ventricle is occurring when delivering left ventricular pacing with a cross-chamber pacing vector. The systems and methods may be measure cross-chamber sense times from left ventricular pacing and right ventricular pacing and compare the cross-chamber sense times to determine whether anodal capture of the right ventricle is occurring.
US09254387B2
A system and method for generating an estimated volume of activation (VOA) corresponding to settings applied to a stimulation leadwire includes a processor performing the following: determining, for each of a plurality of neural elements, one or more respective parameters characterizing an electrical distribution along the neural element, looking up the one or more parameters for each of the neural elements in a look-up table (LUT), obtaining threshold values for each of the neural elements recorded in the LUT in association with the looked-up parameters, comparing, for each of the neural elements, a value of the leadwire settings to each of the respective threshold value, estimating based on the comparisons which of the neural elements would be activated by the settings, and generating a structure corresponding to a region including the neural elements estimated to be activated.
US09254383B2
Devices and methods are disclosed that treat a medical condition, such as migraine headache, by electrically stimulating a nerve noninvasively, which may be a vagus nerve situated within a patient's neck. Preferred embodiments allow a patient to self-treat his or her condition. Disclosed methods assure that the device is being positioned correctly on the neck and that the amplitude and other parameters of the stimulation actually stimulate the vagus nerve with a therapeutic waveform. Those methods comprise measuring properties of the patient's larynx, pupil diameters, blood flow within an eye, electrodermal activity and/or heart rate variability.
US09254382B2
An electro-acupuncture device for controlling over active bladder is described. The device includes a housing, circuitry for generating electro-acupuncture stimulus disposed within the housing, and at least one strap for securing the housing to the ankle. The device also includes a pair of D-shaped electrodes received within the bottom outer surface of the housing. The housing of the device is flexible with a low profile and is shaped so that it is conformal to a person's ankle. When the device is strapped to a patient's ankle, the electrodes contact the ankle and provide electric stimulation to the tibial nerve within the ankle.
US09254370B2
A nasal or full-face mask frame includes a main body and a vent assembly provided to the main body. The vent assembly includes a plurality of holes arranged in at least one column. The holes are positioned on a relatively flat and/or non-recessed portion of the main body.
US09254357B2
A container (10) comprising a plurality of compartments (A, B, C) separated by compartment dividers (6), and an inlet connector (3) for receiving a liquid via a connection tube (2). The compartment dividers rupture when a sufficient pressure is applied by a liquid or gas introduced into the container (10) through the inlet connector (3). Some of the compartments comprise powder, which dissolves at the introduction of liquid into the container. A system, process and use in the field of dialysis are also disclosed.
US09254354B2
Devices for concentrating fluids that comprise discrete or particulate material dispersed in a liquid medium, such as whole blood, by removal of a proportion of the liquid medium, and a method of producing blood cell concentrates from whole blood using reduced pressure. The devices comprise an outer bag formed of an impermeable material and an inner bag formed of a permeable material, the inner bag containing an absorbent material or being adapted for connection to a source of reduced pressure.
US09254349B2
The present invention relates to a medical device comprising both pyrolytic carbon and an NO generator, methods of making same, and methods of using same.
US09254339B2
Auristatin compounds and conjugates thereof are provided herein. The conjugate comprises a protein based recognition-molecule (PBRM) and a polymeric carrier substituted with one or more -LD-D, the protein based recognition-molecule being connected to the polymeric carrier by LP. Each occurrence of D is independently an Auristatin compound. LD and LP are linkers connecting the therapeutic agent and PBRM to the polymeric carrier respectively. Also disclosed are polymeric scaffolds useful for conjugating with a PBRM to form a polymer-drug-PBRM conjugate described herein, compositions comprising the conjugates, methods of their preparation, and methods of treating various disorders with the conjugates or their compositions.
US09254332B2
The present invention is based on the surprising discovery that the inclusion of an anionic polymer in the adenovirus formulation enhances long-term stability of the vector composition. An aqueous formulation comprising an adenovirus vector and at least one anionic polymer is provided, together with methods of the preparation of a storage stable adenovirus aqueous formulation.
US09254328B2
The present invention relates to novel tigecycline compositions with improved stability in both solid and solution states and processes for making these compositions. These compositions comprise tigecycline, a suitable carbohydrate, and an acid or buffer.
US09254327B2
A lipid particle can include a cationic lipid. Synthesis of the cationic lipid can include a ylide-based reaction, such as a Wittig reaction or sulfur ylide reaction. In some cases, the synthesis can also include a Michael addition or a related addition reaction.
US09254312B2
The present invention relates to a method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of multiple sclerosis, and to the use of erythropoietin for this purpose and for the manufacture of a medicament for the intermittent treatment and/or intermittent prophylaxis of multiple sclerosis.
US09254309B2
A method for treating disorders involving deregulation of cell proliferation and/or angiogenesis comprising the administration of an effective amount of a multivalent synthetic compound comprising a support on which at least 3 pseudopeptide units are grafted, said compound being of formula (I).
US09254307B2
The present invention is directed to a flowable composition that is suitable for use as a controlled release implant. The flowable composition includes a biodegradable thermoplastic polyester that is at least substantially insoluble in aqueous medium or body fluid. The flowable composition also includes a biocompatible polar aprotic solvent. The biocompatible polar aprotic solvent is miscible to dispersible in aqueous medium or body fluid. The flowable composition also includes leuprolide acetate.
US09254303B2
This invention relates to a preparation comprising N-acetyl-lactosamine and/or an oligosaccharide containing N-acetyl-lactosamine and a probiotic Lactobacillus sp. The invention extends to nutritional compositions comprising said preparation and to the use of the preparation in the prevention and treatment of pathogenic infections of the gastro-intestinal and upper respiratory tracts.
US09254299B2
Administration of hypoxia activated prodrugs in combination with Chk1 inhibitors for treating cancer
Cancer can be treated by administration of TH-302 in combination with a Chk1 inhibitor.
US09254297B2
The current disclosure provides pharmaceutical compositions containing an oxidized phospholipid, such as 1-hexadecyl-2-(4′-carboxybutyl)-glycero-3-phosphocholine (VB-201) and a thermosoftening carrier, e.g., a poloxamer. The pharmaceutical compositions may further comprise an anti-adherent agent, such as talc and/or a thixotropic agent. The current disclosure further provides processes for preparing the pharmaceutical compositions. The disclosure further provides capsules containing the pharmaceutical compositions. Uses of such pharmaceutical compositions and capsules in treating inflammatory disorders are also disclosed.
US09254285B2
Methods of treatment of diseases that include or are characterized by inappropriate or pathological neovascularization are disclosed. These diseases include diseases of the eye, such as diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, and choroidal neovascularization which can occur in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Disclosed methods include administering agents that cause directly or indirectly upregulation of the ABCA1 transporter protein in macrophages. These agents include, without limitation, LXR agonists. In some embodiments, inhibitors of CETP expression or activity can also be effective. Administration routes can include, without limitation, intraocular, periocular, or systemic administration.
US09254282B2
The present invention provides methods of treating cognitive deficits associated with mental retardation. The methods comprise combining cognitive training protocols and a general administration of phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors.
US09254275B2
The present invention is directed to a method of preventing or treating a gastrointestinal condition in a subject, that includes administering one or more branched chain fatty acid to the subject under conditions effective to prevent or treat the gastrointestinal condition in the subject. In general, branched chain fatty acids, in accordance with the present invention, may be non-esterified fatty acids or covalently linked to a lipid, including wax esters, sterol esters, triacylglycerols, or any other lipid-related molecular species, natural or artificial. The branched chain fatty acid can be a C11 to C26 branched chain fatty acid and mixtures thereof.
US09254269B2
The present disclosure relates to treatment and management of Cushing's syndrome, Headache disorders and Neuropathic using a composition comprising asiaticoside and madecasosside optionally along with at least one excipient. The treatment can be extended to Myalgia and other related disease conditions.
US09254268B2
Compositions are provided comprising a lipophilic active compound, e.g., a human or veterinary drug or a nutraceutical, interwoven with a polymeric matrix formed by two or more polymers, wherein one of the polymers is an amphiphilic polymer and the other polymer is either an amphiphilic polymer with a different hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance or a hydrophilic polymer, and the active lipophilic compound has modified physicochemical properties. The composition forms colloidal nanodispersion upon contact with aqueous media.
US09254257B2
The present invention relates to a method for treating, reducing or preventing acne. In particular, the present invention relates to methods for reducing the total number, incidence and severity of acne lesions on the skin which includes both inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions. Further, the invention relates to reducing the incidence and severity of adverse events resulting from topical application of anti-acne agents resulting in improvement of skin tone. The method includes administering a novel and stable topical anti-acne pharmaceutical composition.
US09254246B2
Self-adhesive dental restorative composition comprising (i) 10 to 40 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition of a mixture of hydrolysis-stable polymerizable monomers of the following formula (I): wherein R is a m+n valent organic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and optionally 1 to 5 atoms selected from the group of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur atoms; A independently represents a moiety of the following formula (II): wherein L is a hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group, a C3-8 cycloalkyl group, a C6-14 aryl group or a group of the following formula (III) wherein R′ is a hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group, a C3-8 cycloalkyl group, or a C6-14 aryl group; X is O, S, NH or NR″ wherein R″ is a C1-6 alkyl group, a C3-8 cycloalkyl group, a C6-14 aryl group; a is 0 or 1; M is a group of the following formula (IV) wherein Y is O, S, NH or NR′″ wherein R′″ is a C1-6 alkyl group, a C3-8 cycloalkyl group, a C6-14 aryl group; b is an integer of from O to 3; c is O or 1; d is an integer of from O to 3; provided that when b is O, then Y cannot be O; x is 0 or 1; y is 0 or 1; provided that x and y cannot be both 1, and provided that x cannot be 1 when L or a group of formula (III) is a hydrogen atom, and provided that when x is 0 then a is also 0, and provided that when y is 0 then b is greater than 0 or c is 0; B independently represents an acidic group; m is an integer of from 1 to 5; n is an integer of 0 to 3; and m+n is at least 2; (ii) 60 to 90 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition of a filler; and (iii) an initiator system; wherein the portion of monomers of formula (I) wherein n is greater than 0 is at least 1 percent by weight based on the total weight of the mixture.
US09254244B2
An illuminating baby bottle with a removable container includes a first container, a second container, a release mechanism, a connecting member, a liquid-flowing system, a bottle cap, and a lighting device. The first container and the second container are axially attached to each other through the connecting member while the release mechanism is concentrically positioned in between the first container and the connecting member. The release mechanism selectively rotates in between a locked position and an unlocked position in such a way that the locked position separately stores baby formula and water while the unlocked position allows the mixing of baby formula and water. The liquid-flowing system releases baby formula mixture from the first container so that infants or young children can be fed with the baby formula mixture. The lighting device is positioned on the bottle cap and can selectively operate in between an on-position and an off-position.
US09254242B2
A connector device for connecting two containers with first and second members slidably displaceable in regard to each other along an axis between a first and a second position is presented. The first member comprises a needle parallel to the axis so that the first container's septum is penetrated by one end of the needle when the first container is introduced into the first member. The second member comprises a coupling to the second container. The other needle end penetrates the second container's septum when the members are in the second position establishing a connection between the two containers. The first member comprises a coupling to the second container coupled to the second member. The first member can couple to the second container when the two members are in the second position and cannot couple to the second container when the two members are in the first position.
US09254241B1
A holding apparatus system for releasably holding injectable fluid bottles, comprising a pair of elongate elements for releasably gripping a neck portion of a bottle, and a retaining structure for permitting the elongate elements to be moved between a closed position configured to grip the neck portion of the bottle and an open position configured to release the neck portion of the bottle from being gripped by the elongate elements. In other embodiments, the elongate elements each have a first end and a second end, and the first ends of the elongate elements being relatively closer together than the second ends of the elongate elements so that the elongate elements diverge toward the second ends. A method of dispensing an injectable substance from a bottle using a bottle holder apparatus is also disclosed.
US09254240B2
An inflatable spa having improved strength includes a water cavity that receives massaging air bubbles and/or jetted water.
US09254239B2
A system and method of treating hyperactivity of an eyelid closing muscle in a subject includes providing a stimulation system in the subject with the hyperactivity of the eyelid closing muscle, sensing an activity of the eyelid closing muscle, and selectively stimulating eyelid opening muscle(s) or innervating nerves, eyelid opening reflexes, or eyelid opening reflexes in non-muscular tissue, using the stimulation system, without substantially activating the eyelid closing muscle. The system and method evokes eyelid movement in the subject.
US09254236B2
A system including a mobility-assistance apparatus and a bag. The apparatus includes one or more shafts. The shaft defines a lumen, has an open end in communication with the lumen, and defines a longitudinally-extending slot in communication with the lumen. An end cap is releasably engagable with the open end to enclose the lumen of the shaft. The bag includes a body and one or more attachment members coupled to the bag via flange portion(s). The attachment member is configured for receipt within the lumen of the shaft with the flange portion extending through the slot of the shaft. The attachment member is insertable into and removable from the lumen of the shaft when the end cap is disengaged from the open end of the shaft, and is retained within the lumen of the shaft when the end cap is engaged with the open end of the shaft.
US09254233B2
An apparatus to lift persons includes: a base; wheels attached to the base; a vertical assembly including a fixed subassembly and a traveling subassembly; a mechanism such as an actuator that powers vertical movement of the traveling subassembly; a fork system attached to the traveling subassembly and comprises a pair of forks; and a substantially flat seat plate that is removably attached to the fork system and includes a pair of channels along opposite sides of the seat plate. The seat plate is removed from the fork system, placed onto the floor, and is then mounted by a person. The seat plate is reattached to the fork system by inserting the forks into the channels, and the actuator is activated to lift the person from the floor. The base and fork system may be pivotally attached to the fixed subassembly and traveling subassembly, respectively, so that the apparatus is collapsible.
US09254227B2
A composite foam cushion for a sound control device. The cushion includes a core formed of a polymeric foam material and a polymeric coating overlying at least a portion of the core of polymeric foam material. The polymeric coating includes an outer coating layer and an inner polymeric coating layer bonded to the core of polymeric foam material. The inner coating layer may provide the cushion with strength, while providing a high degree of flexibility and suppleness to closely conform around contours and obstructions. The outer coating layer may provide the cushion with enhanced abrasion resistance and/or chemical resistance while having an aesthetically pleasing feel and appearance.
US09254226B2
The present invention relates to an automatic welding filter that changes from a light transmission state to a dark transmission state in response to incident welding light and includes a color-tunable filter whose spectral transmittance can be varied to optimize the visual appearance of a welding task. The color-tunable filter comprises at least one low twist liquid crystal cell disposed between polarization filters having substantially parallel polarization directions. The user is able to adjust the color of the automatic welding filter in the dark transmission state, independently of the shade, in response to a user selected color signal which alters the birefringence properties of the low twist liquid crystal cell.
US09254223B2
An instrument and method for creating a precise capsulorhexis as a step in cataract surgery is described. The instrument has a curvilinear cutting band attached to a longitudinal support component and cutting band extending on two sides of the support. In an embodiment, the cutting band has a sinusoidal shape. The support is coupled to a supporting structure, and then to a handle, the supporting structure is shaped to permit it to pass through an incision at a side of a cornea of the eye while positioning the cutting band on an anterior surface of an anterior capsule of a lens of the eye. In an embodiment of the method, the incision in the anterior capsule is formed by pressing the cutting band into the anterior capsule, and capsulorhexis is extended by tearing away the two tabs formed and defined by curvature of the cutting band.
US09254222B2
The aim of the invention is to machine a material by application of non-linear radiation. The aim is achieved by modifying the laser radiation emitted by a laser beam source with the aid of a polarization modulator in such a way that laser radiation focused into the material is polarized in a linear fashion, the direction of polarization varying across the cross section of the beam.
US09254220B1
The present invention provides a system for assessing the severity and stage of PAD including at least one sensor that measures skin perfusion pressure; a knowledge base that provides data on lower extremity angiosomes; and a processing device in operable communication with the sensor and the knowledge base, the processing device that outputs a visual representation of at least one of the lower extremity angiosomes that guides the sensor in the mapping of a testing site relative to a target vessel where the skin perfusion pressure measurement will be taken.
US09254211B2
A thin-walled guide wire tube is fixedly and sealably attached to both a proximal section and a distal section of a balloon angioplasty catheter. A stent is co-axially mounted onto the inflatable balloon of the balloon angioplasty catheter. Because the guide wire tube forms an inner liner for the balloon angioplasty catheter, the fluid inflation lumen of the catheter is sealed so the inflation liquid that pressurizes the balloon will not leak as it would be if there were no “inner liner” and the balloon angioplasty catheter were attached to the guide wire itself. By not having a traditional inner shaft through which a conventional guide wire slides, the deflated balloon on which the stent is mounted can have a reduced diameter.
US09254200B2
An active prosthetic socket including a prosthetic socket shaped to fit a residual limb. An active adjustment system is integrated with the prosthetic socket and is configured to dynamically adjust the fit of the active prosthetic socket to the residual limb of a user during ambulation or motion.
US09254198B2
An intervertebral implant for insertion into an intervertebral disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies or between two bone portions. The implant includes a spacer portion, a plate portion operatively coupled to the spacer portion and one or more blades for securing the implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies. The blades preferably include superior and inferior cylindrical pins for engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies. The implant may be configured to be inserted via a direct lateral trans-psoas approach. Alternatively, the implant may be configured for insertion via an anterior approach.
US09254193B2
Provided are porous, biocompatible implant bodies and materials. These materials suitably comprise a population of randomly arranged thermoplastic constituents, with at least some of the constituents being bonded to one another The implant bodies are capable of being manipulated at room temperature from a first shape to a second shape, and of maintaining the second shape at about internal body temperature. Also provided are related methods of fabricating such implants and installing the implants into a subject.
US09254189B2
A vision prosthesis includes an optical element having a characteristic function associated with refraction therethrough. The characteristic function is selected to reduce aberration in an eye when the optical element is implanted at a location therein.
US09254187B2
A terminal soft tissue attachment and repair device has a sheet of mesh with two longitudinal sides and two lateral ends angled to the sides. One end has a smooth surface where the healing tissue rests and the sides mutually overlap. The device attains a frusto-conical shape of a proximal component and a distal component. The two sides and one end of the proximal component have suture holes. The other end of the proximal component merges with both sides and joins them to the distal component. From the joint, the two sides extend in a V shape spanned by laced suture. A surgeon places an end of tissue within the device. The surgeon then laces suture and then pulls it from one location to secure the invention upon the tissue and the distal component to a bony insertion. The invention attains a shape like the natural tissue.
US09254183B2
The present invention relates to a dental implant and to a process for fabricating the dental implant.
US09254173B2
A microwave applicator having a probe which comprises an elongate shaft (14), the shaft having an external tubular wall (18), a radiating portion (15) disposed at the distal end of the shaft (14), a transmission line (17) extending to the radiating portion internally of the tubular external wall (18), and an elongate flow dividing member (19) which co-extends with the transmission line (17) longitudinally of the shaft (14), the side wall of the transmission line (17) and the side wall of the flow dividing member (19) contacting each other and contacting the internal surface of the external tubular wall (18) at two-spatially separated discrete positions, thereby defining a pair of flow channels (20, 21) inside the shaft (14). In use, cooling fluid can pass down one channel (20) and return via the other channel (21). The structure of the probe is uncomplicated and the probe is straightforward to assemble.
US09254171B2
An apparatus comprises an end effector, a shaft, and a handpiece. The end effector is operable to manipulate tissue. The shaft is in communication with the end effector. The shaft includes a firing beam operable to actuate a portion of the end effector. The handpiece comprises a pivoting trigger that is operable to distally advance a firing beam driver to advance the firing beam. The handpiece also comprises an activation button and lockout assembly. The lockout assembly is movable between a locked and unlocked state. In the locked state, the lockout assembly blocks a portion of the firing beam driver from advancing. In the unlocked state, the lockout assembly allows the firing beam driver to advance. The activation button switches is operable to unlock the lockout assembly.
US09254164B2
System and method for selectively applying electrical energy to structures within or on the surface of a patient's body and controlling the flow of an electrically conductive fluid from the application site to provide or maintain a desired operating condition of the electrosurgical device. An electrosurgical probe is in communication with a fluid transport apparatus through a fluid transport lumen having an opening at an end proximate the application site and disposed proximate the electrosurgical probe. A controller in communication with the fluid transport apparatus provides control signals to the fluid transport apparatus in response to at least one operating parameter associated with the system. Based on the received control signals, the fluid transport apparatus adjusts a flow rate of the electrically conductive fluid at the application site through the fluid transport lumen in response to at least one operating parameter associated with the system.
US09254161B2
The present invention relates to the field of medical devices, and more specifically to a radiolucent surgical handle system which utilizes properties of silicone and channel geometry to create a more responsive and stable medical instrument. Channel geometry is utilized to stabilize the outer silicone gripping layer, thus preventing axial, planar, lateral or angular movement of the silicone gripping layer under conditions of torque force during a surgical operation.
US09254152B2
Treatment of spinal irregularities, including, in one or more embodiments, derotation apparatus and systems that can be used to reduce the rotation of vertebral bodies. Derotation apparatus that may comprise a tube assembly comprising an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve disposed over the inner sleeve. The inner sleeve may have a distal end for attachment to an implant. The tube assembly may further comprise a handle assembly. The tube assembly may further comprise a ball joint assembly disposed between the tube assembly and the handle assembly. The ball joint assembly may comprise a ball joint configured for attachment to a coupling rod.
US09254145B2
A device for modifying a body lumen of a mammal in need thereof is provided, comprising a helically-cut tube comprising cutting teeth, said helically-cut tube substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said device, a ramp wire that is displaced from the longitudinal axis of said device over at least a portion of said ramp wire and is enclosed by said helically-cut tube over at least a part of the length of said ramp wire, a drive rod wherein the broach may be moved proximally, distally, and/or radially via proximal, distal, and radial motions, respectively, of the drive rod. Also provided are methods for using the device.
US09254117B2
Provided is an ultrasonic endoscopic probe capable of obtaining an ultrasonic observation image having high spatial resolution. A part of a substantially tubular catheter is sealed with seal plates to provide a cavity housing: a motor including a motor casing, a rotor magnet, a bearing, and a rotating shaft; an ultrasonic transducer mounted to the rotating shaft; and a signal transmission means. The bearing includes an inner peripheral surface provided with a plurality of dynamic pressure generating grooves. An acoustic coupling fluid is sealed in the cavity and is allowed to penetrate a gap between the bearing and the rotating shaft at all times. When the ultrasonic transducer and the motor are rotated in the acoustic coupling fluid, the acoustic coupling fluid is suctioned in a preferable manner into the bearing gap having the dynamic pressure generating grooves for lubrication. Thus, a lack of an oil film on the bearing can be prevented, allowing for high accuracy rotation. Operational failure due to the development of foam in the acoustic coupling fluid can be prevented, enabling the acquisition of a high resolution ultrasonic observation image.
US09254116B2
A method of creating an ultrasound image includes receiving a return signal from a time delayed signal emitted from a plurality of transducer elements at a target the return signal comprising a measurement at each of the plurality of transducer elements formed from a plurality of reflections off of a plurality of volume elements forming a two dimensional slice of a target, computing a Van-Cittert Zernike (VCZ) curve for each of the plurality of volume elements based upon the measured return signals and creating an short-lag spatial coherence (SLSC) image comprising a plurality of pixels each associated with one of the plurality of volume elements wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises a value computed from a metric of the VCZ curve computed for each of the associated plurality of volume elements.
US09254112B2
A method of dynamic imaging and resolving respiratory motion includes acquiring volume data for a volume over a plurality of respiratory cycles, acquiring respiratory data representative of respiration over the plurality of respiratory cycles, dividing each respiratory cycle of the plurality of respiratory cycles into a set of respiratory intervals based on the respiratory data, and displaying a respective composite three-dimensional image of the volume for each respiratory interval based on the volume data acquired during the respiratory interval from each respiratory cycle of the plurality of respiratory cycles.
US09254106B2
The present invention relates to a method for generating a complete medical image data set from an incomplete image data set, comprising the method steps of: providing a first image data set which represents an image of a first region of a body, including at least a part of the surface of the body, at a first point in time; providing a second, incomplete image data set which represents an image of a second region of the body at a second point in time, wherein the first region and the second region overlap; providing a third data set which represents the contour of the body in the form of points on the surface of the body, substantially at the second point in time; adapting the first image data set to the second image data set by taking into account the third data set; and accepting the adapted first image data set as a complete image data set.
US09254103B2
An imaging system has a microscope having an objective lens and a projection device configured to project spatially modulated light in one of several preselected predetermined pattern through the objective lens and onto tissue. The system camera configured to record an image of the tissue through the microscope and objective lens as illuminated by the spatially modulated light, and an image processor having a memory with a routine for performing spatial Fourier analysis on the image of the tissue to recover spatial frequencies. The image processor also constructs a three dimensional model of the tissue, and performs fitting of at least absorbance and scattering parameters of voxels of the model to match the recovered spatial frequencies. The processor then displays tomographic slices of the three dimensional model.
US09254096B2
A computer implemented method and system is used for evaluating an intensive EEG or an EEG during anaesthesia. Time domain and/or frequency range parameters are determined from the EEG graphs. The determined parameters are used in multivariate classification functions and the intensive EEG or EEG during anaesthesia are automatically divided into stages. The EEG graphs are also analysed for interfering signal components from the quantity of biosignals of graphs characteristic of intensive EEGs or EEGs which are not performed during anaesthesia. If interfering signal components are identified, the existence of biosignals of graphs characteristic of intensive EEGs or EEGs which are not performed during anaesthesia is verified by artifact analysis in the absence of artifacts, and is not verified if artifacts are identified.
US09254094B2
An implantable device for analyzing a high frequency (HF) electrogram signal including an implantable electrode, a signal pickup configured to pick up an electrogram signal including a HF component, a signal filter connected to the signal pickup and configured to measure a HF component from the signal only during a specific portion of a cardiac cycle, and an analyzer for analyzing the HF component, wherein the signal pickup, the signal filter and the analyzer are included within an implantable container, and the analyzer is configured to analyze at least one time-varying parameter of the HF component, and the signal filter is configured to measure the signal by using a signal picked up from at least one electrode selected from a group consisting of (a) intracardiac, (b) subcutaneous, (c) a can of the implanted device, (d) a combination of two of the above. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
US09254092B2
Described herein are apparatuses (e.g., systems, devices) and methods for processing, distributing, and analyzing medical data. In particular, apparatuses and methods for processing and distributing tasks or jobs for completion by a qualified worker or specialist are described. Crowdsourcing data to specialists for interpretation can be accomplished using an auction system to match the specialists with discrete portions of the data. The data can be bundled based on one or more categories or characteristics, and then placed on an auction where the specialists can bid for each bundle by submitting a payment price. The data can be medical data, such as ECG data, imaging data and test data.
US09254091B2
Various techniques for measuring cardiac cycle length and pressure metrics based on pulmonary artery pressures are described. One example method described includes identifying a point within a derivative signal of a cardiovascular pressure signal without reference to electrical activity of a heart, initiating a time window from the identified point in the derivative signal, identifying a point within the cardiovascular signal within the time window, and determining at least one of a systolic pressure or diastolic pressure based on the identified point.
US09254090B2
Tissue contrast imaging systems are described which detect differences in tissue contrasts to obtain images of the tissue region. The systems may be used to obtain images of the cardiac tissues particularly in a blood-filled environment.
US09254081B2
A system for fitting glasses frames to a user is disclosed. The system includes an interface for receiving images of a user's head at different angles. A processor compares user head measurements determined from the images with a database of glasses frame information that includes glasses frame measurements. One or more glasses frames are selected based on the comparison and the selected glasses frames are output.
US09254079B2
A system includes a first element configured to receive a plurality of color components that are spatially separated, wherein each of the plurality of color components comprises light of a respective wavelength, and to focus the plurality of spatially separated color components onto a first surface of a second element. The system also includes a second element having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second element is configured to receive the plurality of color components via the first surface, to transmit to the second surface uniform light comprising the plurality of color components in a blended state, and to emit the uniform light via the second surface. The system also includes a slit lamp configured to receive the uniform light.
US09254066B2
A bathtub system, including a tub with a bather access opening in one sidewall and a door mounted on that sidewall. In the closed position, the door is adjacent the access opening, and in the open position the door is substantially clear of the access opening. The system includes a gray water reservoir under the tub of approximately the capacity of the tub and which can be connected to a sewer system. A high capacity toroidal tub drain conducts water from the tub into the reservoir by gravity alone very quickly.
US09254063B2
An insulated container is disclosed. The container has an outer plastic member, an inner plastic member and an insulating, e.g., vacuum space, located therebetween. A vent assembly is located in the outer member in communication with the vacuum space. The vent assembly may be arranged to prevent liquid from entering into the insulating space and may be arranged to equalize the internal pressure within the insulating space and the ambient atmospheric pressures surrounding the outer member, while allowing higher internal pressure within the insulating space to vent to the ambient atmosphere when the container is heated, and to close off to seal the insulating space to maintain the vacuum therein when the container is cooled.
US09254062B2
The present invention relates to a cooking device for cooking of foodstuffs, comprising a cooking chamber, a product conveyor, a shape-controlling belt, and a lifting member, the product conveyor being arranged to convey said foodstuffs through said cooking chamber, the shape-controlling belt being an endless belt extending along an upper return path, and a lower work path, the lifting member being arranged to shift a part of the lower work path between a first position in which the belt extending along said part is slacking and is adopted to contact said foodstuffs on the product conveyor, and a second position in which the belt extending along said part is adopted to be separated from said foodstuffs on the product conveyor. The invention further relates to a method for switching a cooking device between being adapted for shape-controlled cooking and non-shape-controlled cooking of foodstuffs, and use of the cooking device.
US09254061B2
A microwavable material having a structure that may be used to enhance the browning and crisping, and thus improve the taste and appearance, of a food item cooked therein. The material may be in the form of a sheet material or formed as a container such as a bag, pouch, or other suitable structure. The material may have one or more features that help bring the material into close contact with the food item and help conform the bag around the food item. Furthermore, the material may have a structure that avoids substantial contact with liquid released by a food item, may have a venting system suitable for the exiting of moisture, may have a coating, a transparent surface, and when formed as a container, may have a gusseted surface.
US09254055B2
A stand for a Christmas tree or the like is adapted to cooperate with a base portion of a pole such as a tree trunk to provide a stable support for the pole with its base spaced above a support surface such as a floor. The stand comprises a plurality of support members each having a proximal end spaced above the support surface. The proximal ends of the support members cooperate to form a clamp for receiving the base portion of the pole. The clamp is arranged such that, when the base portion of the pole is received in the clamp, one or more of the support members pivots at its proximal end about the clamp to thereby cause the clamp to close and grip the base portion of the pole. The weight of the pole may be sufficient to cause the clamp of the stand to automatically grip the pole.
US09254054B1
A garment protection system operational with a horizontally disposed clothes rod, including a pair of stands, each stand including an arched surface portion coupled to a notch portion, the arched surface portion having a curve profile and the notch portion including a pair wall segments joined together defining an angle with the curve profile substantially symmetric about an axis bisecting the angle; and a semi-rigid panel configured to both substantially match the curve profile along a panel length from a first end to a second end when a panel center portion is laterally supported by the arched surface portions at the ends and to non-drapingly support lateral edges of the panel to define a span from one lateral edge to an opposing lateral edge with the rod disposed in between the lateral edges.
US09254052B2
A system and method of flavoring food, for example, snack food, is provided. The system may include a metering tray coupled to a frame. The metering tray may be configured to hold a food flavoring. A metering roller also may be coupled to the frame. An exterior axial surface of the metering roller may define a plurality of indentations, which may be configured to capture the food flavoring as the metering roller rotates. The system may also include a metering blade configured to level the food flavoring as the food flavoring is dispensed by the plurality of indentations of the metering roller as the metering roller rotates. The system also may include a displacement blade having a plurality of teeth that are configured to correspond to the plurality of indentations. The teeth may be configured to positively displace the food flavoring as the metering roller rotates.
US09254047B1
A structural design and weld fabrication method for reinforced vinyl by eliminating butt seams, leaving 100% lap seams, as well as low cost, high strength internal beams for use in high quality air bed mattresses and all inflatable items.
US09254044B2
A removable tray device is disclosed that offers a simple and easy way to eat or drink when sitting outside. The removable tray device comprises a tray component secured to a folding chair via a pinned hinge that allows the tray component to rotate vertically and a swivel component that allows the tray component to swivel horizontally. The tray component further comprises a catch or lock bracket on a leg of the chair which corresponds with a mating lock pin secured to a back edge of the tray component. Specifically, the lock pin of the tray component mates to and is secured within the catch or lock bracket to further secure the tray component to the folding chair when the tray component is in front of the folding chair or is to the side of the folding chair.
US09254042B2
A backrest member (e.g., a portable insert) for use with a seat member of a chair. The backrest member may include an adjustable platform attached to a substrate (e.g., frame) of the backrest member, and an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the adjustable platform along one or more locations of the platform to provide a desired contour for supporting the back of a user seated in the chair. The adjustable platform may comprise an elongate band attached to the substrate of the backrest member that is disposed along a central longitudinal axis of the backrest member. One end of the elongate band may be attached to the substrate, while an opposite end may be slidably attached to the substrate. In an embodiment, both ends may be slidably attached relative to the substrate. The device allows selection of a height and depth of a lumbar curve provided by the device.
US09254041B2
A furniture frame contains a support column, a furniture leg to support the support column, a foot ring, and a fastening device affixing the foot ring to the support column. The fastening device contains a first threaded bushing being non-rotatably connected to the support column and has an external thread, and a second threaded bushing being non-rotatably connected to the foot ring and has an internal thread. The internal thread engages with the external thread. The second threaded bushing is rotatable about the first threaded bushing by at least one revolution such that the second threaded bushing can be axially moved relative to the first threaded bushing. The fastening device has as a locking element which prevents a relative movement between the first and the second threaded bushing in a first operating position and enables relative movement between the first and the second threaded bushing in a second operating position.
US09254036B2
An expandable frame structure includes at least one set of a transverse plate assembly and at least two vertical frames. Each set of the transverse plate assembly includes at least two transverse plate parts. Each transverse plate part includes a quarter circular arc edge and two side edges spaced and spreading out from each other with 90 degrees in angles. Two lower hook fixing parts extend downward from two side edges, respectively. Each of the vertical frames includes a pair of vertical frame parts and at least two horizontal frame parts. So, each of the transverse plate parts is placed and installed onto the horizontal frame parts of the two vertical frames. The lower hook fixing part is inserted into and engages with the horizontal frame part to form the expandable frame structure. The advantages and effects are easy to assemble and flexible for structural assembling styles, and so on.
US09254020B2
There is provided a slider for slide fastener. A pull tab holder body includes flanges extending in a width direction and a longitudinal direction. A slider body includes slide groove portions formed in a front end portion of an upper blade to receive the flanges. One of the pull tab holder body and the slider body has a protrusion portion protruding toward the other. The other of the pull tab holder body and the slider body has a recess portion. The flanges are inserted into the slide groove portions and upper surface portions of the upper blade located above the slide groove portions are crimped toward the flanges, so that the protrusion portion is engaged with the recess portion and the pull tab holder body is fixed to the slider body.
US09254018B2
Provided is an automated shoe closure including a sole and a plurality of motors disposed in the sole. The motors are configured to expand or contract one or more shoe panels. The shoe panels each include one or more connectors configured to connect the shoe panels to each other when the shoe panels are in an expanded state. A plurality of slits are disposed in the sole. Each of the slits is configured to expand and contract a corresponding shoe panel therethrough. An expansion button is disposed in the sole. A retraction button is disposed in a side of the sole, and a charging port is disposed in the sole.
US09254015B2
A universal, readily interchangeable, and non-gaiter cover for wrapping around and decorating only the shaft of an any sized and mundane boot. The universal, readily interchangeable, and non-gaiter cover includes a decorative substrate, and apparatus for universally and readily interchangeably maintaining the decorative substrate around only the shaft of the any sized and mundane boot. The decorative substrate is for universally and readily interchangeably wrapping around only the shaft of the any sized and mundane boot and not the foot of the any sized and mundane boot so as to at least eliminate potential damage to the universal, readily interchangeable, and non-gaiter cover caused by normal flexure of the foot of the any sized and mundane boot, and in so doing, decorates only the shaft of the any sized and mundane boot.
US09254011B2
A lighted belt keeper may include a housing comprising a power source compartment that opens to a first end, wherein a power source may be enclosed by a power source compartment closure. A cover may enclose the power source and power source compartment closure. The cover may removably attach to the first end of the housing. A light may attach to a second end of the housing. The housing and cover may attach to a base which may attach to a first end of a strap by a fastener. A second and a third fastener may be attached to the strap to removably hold the strap in position while the strap may surround an object such as a utility belt, pant belt or the like. In certain embodiments, instead of a strap, the base may have wings that removably attach to each other.
US09254009B2
A circularly knitted upper or lower torso garment, such as a brassiere or brief, and method of forming a circularly knitted brassiere are provided, the garment having a circularly knitted body formed of inner and outer layers, the circularly knitted body having at least one torso or waist band, the inner and outer layers overlapping along a fold line, and an elastomeric band positioned between the inner and outer layers proximate the fold line.
US09254007B2
An electronic cigarette sucking rod comprises a nozzle cover and a connecting module respectively inserted into opposite ends of the sucking cylinder, a conduit in the sucking cylinder, a liquid guiding component and an atomizing device between the liquid guiding component and the connecting module; the nozzle cover and the liquid guiding component respectively seal opposite ends of the liquid smoke compartment, opposite ends of the conduit are inserted into the through holes of the nozzle cover and the liquid guiding component, and a smoke passage extends through the liquid guiding component and the conduit. The liquid guiding component comprises a liquid separation seat and a liquid reservoir; the liquid separation seat comprises a seat body and a vent pipe; the vent pipe has its one end engaged with the conduit, and another end sleeved with the liquid reservoir and lead to the atomizing device; the liquid separation seat defines a liquid guiding hole.
US09254004B2
A blank for hinged-lid packets for smoking articles comprises four panels extending side by side in pairs along a direction perpendicular to a direction of longitudinal extension of the packets obtainable from the blank; the blank is foldable along folding lines made between the pairs of panels and parallel to said direction of longitudinal extension, and an upper portion of one of the four panels is integral, on the outside of the selfsame four panels, with a portion forming the hinged lid of the respective packet. Also described is a method for making hinged-lid packets for smoking articles.
US09253998B2
The material container disclosed in present application, comprises a cylindrical body with end covers attached to its ends. Multiple holes are distributed across the end covers. A movable sliding rack is located inside the cylindrical body. The axial direction of movable sliding rack coincides with the axial direction of the cylindrical body. The movable sliding rack has at least two hollow columns which axis is in the same direction of the axis of movable sliding rack. Any two neighboring hollow columns are isolated by their walls. Water can be timely added into the cylindrical body through the holes, without damaging material container due to water pressure. Turning around one end cover allows the cylindrical body to be opened for food materials conveniently loading or unloading. It provides quicker loading and unloading for cup or bottle packed materials with the movable sliding rack, utilizing the space inside the cylindrical body efficiently.
US09253994B2
The present invention provides methods of improving growth performance, improving the efficiency of feed utilization, increasing feed digestibility, and decreasing mortality of immature and developing animals receiving animal feed. Methods of producing a crude keratinase enzyme extract and animal feed supplements for achieving the same are also provided.
US09253991B2
A chewing gum with a liquid-fill composition and a surrounding gum region, with one or both containing active ingredients, such as herbal, medicinal and/or mineral elements or combinations thereof, present in an amount of at least about 0.05 mg.
US09253985B2
The invention provides herbicide combinations and the use of herbicide combinations for controlling harmful plants in cereal crops wherein the herbicide combination in question comprises (A) a herbicide from the group of glufosinate derivatives of the formula (A1) in which Z represents hydroxyl, —NHCH(CH3)CONHCH(CH3)COOH or —NHCH(CH3)CONHCH[CH2CH(CH3)2]COOH, or an ester or salt thereof, and (B) a herbicide from the group of carboxylic acid derivatives of the formula (B1) in which X represents N or CH and R represents CO2H or a herbicidally active derivative thereof, and the cereal crops are tolerant, if appropriate in the presence of safeners, to the herbicides (A) and (B) present in the combination.
US09253977B2
A method of incorporating biocides into wood or a wood product, the method including the steps of synthesizing a plurality of capsules each having an outer shell of polymer and incorporating within each said capsule an additive which includes an organic biocide, and then applying the said capsules to the wood or wood product in a manner whereby the capsules penetrate the wood or wood product.
US09253968B2
A fishing rod foundation and methods for constructing and adjusting a fishing rig. The fishing rod foundation may include a cylindrical element inserted in a tubular, the tubular having at least three portions. The first portion and second portions may be configured to receive a rod blank. The third portion may be configured to provide a stop for fishing rod parts to be added to the fishing rod foundation exterior. The third portion may include a threaded section that engages a locking nut for locking and unlocking the position of the cylindrical element relative to the tubular. The method may include construction of a fishing rod by adding a rod blank and other parts to the fishing rod foundation. Another method may include adjusting the fishing rig using the locking/unlocking feature of the fishing rod foundation.
US09253955B1
A novel maize variety designated PH1VY6 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1VY6 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1VY6 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1VY6 or a locus conversion of PH1VY6 with another maize variety.
US09253950B1
A drip emitter for subsurface irrigation includes a valve chamber defining a hollow interior, an entry port and at least one exit port. A flexible diaphragm is mounted in the hollow interior of the valve chamber for movement in response to pressurized water being supplied to the hollow interior through the entry port. The drip emitter further includes a tortuous path water flow channel that limits the flow of water from the hollow interior of the valve chamber to the at least one exit port. A closure member is moved by the flexible diaphragm to open the at least one exit port when pressurized water enters the hollow interior to allow water to be discharged through the at least one exit port. A spring moves the closure member to close the at least one exit port when the supply of pressurized water is shut OFF.
US09253945B2
A feeder assembly for an agricultural harvester, including a first shaft, a second shaft opposite the first shaft, a chain extending around the first shaft and the second shaft, wherein the chain is configured to convey agricultural through the agricultural harvester, and a self-adjusting object deflector assembly positioned between the first shaft and the second shaft, wherein the self-adjusting object deflector assembly comprises a deflector biased against the chain and configured to block the agricultural material from interfering with a connection between the chain and the first shaft.
US09253937B2
A towed agricultural machine for tillage purposes and/or for sowing seeds is disclosed. The machine comprises a running gear, tillage tools, and a packer unit, the latter being coupled to the running gear and forming a constructional and/or functional unit therewith. In a first operating position, the running gear is in an active position for road traffic and the packer tools are brought outside the engagement range with the ground. In a second operating position, the running gear, or at least parts thereof, are in an inactive position out of contact range with the ground, while the packer tools are in an active mode in engagement with the ground.
