US09401020B1

Systems, methods and computer program products to perform multi-modality vertebrae recognition are provided. Aspects of the present disclosure disclosed and described herein enable a multi-modality vertebrae recognition engine that recognizes vertebrae by using a three-stage recognition approach: landmark detection, global shape registration, and local pose adjustment. These stages cover the matching from local to global spine structures. The three stages are implemented by three modules in the hierarchical deformable model, the local appearance module, global geometry model, and local geometry model. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the overall workflow can be understood as a three-stage top-down registration. The goal of the registration is: 1) to align the global shape of the spine model, and 2) to align the vertebrae poses with the local image structures around identified landmarks.
US09401016B2

Methods and systems for determining a position of inspection data with respect to a stored high resolution die image are provided. One method includes aligning data acquired by an inspection system for alignment sites on a wafer with data for predetermined alignment sites. The predetermined alignment sites have a predetermined position in die image space of a stored high resolution die image for the wafer. The method also includes determining positions of the alignment sites in the die image space based on the predetermined positions of the predetermined alignment sites in the die image space. In addition, the method includes determining a position of inspection data acquired for the wafer by the inspection system in the die image space based on the positions of the alignment sites in the die image space.
US09401011B2

A method is described to increase the efficiency of the removal of defects from document images by reorienting the conceptual framework within which an image is filtered. Rather than arbitrarily applying a filter to an entire landscape of a document image, the disclosure describes a methodology by which a document image is separated into regions of darkness and regions of light, or viewed alternatively, regions of darkness and regions of lack of darkness. Filtering is then adaptively applied to each region to remove defects.
US09401001B2

The present disclosure relate generally to color science and digital watermarking. A full color visibility model has been developed which has good correlation to subjective visibility tests for color patches degraded with a watermark. A relatively better correlation can be achieved with a model that applies a luminance correction to the contrast sensitivity functions (CSF). The model can be applied during the watermark embed process, using a pyramid based method, to obtain equal visibility. Better robustness and visibility can be obtained with equal visibility embed than uniform strength embed. Of course, other features, combinations and claims are disclosed as well.
US09400987B2

A system and method for deriving income from URL based context queries. A URL based user context query is received over a network from a user, wherein the user context comprises at least one user context criteria. A query is formulated based on the context criteria so as to search for user profile data, social network data, spatial data, temporal data, topical data and context query bid data that is available via the network and relates to the context so as to identify entries in a context query bid database that relate to user context criteria. A dynamic webpage is generated having content relating to the query and advertisements associated with the selected bid are inserted into the webpage. The dynamic webpage is transmitted to the user. The advertiser associated with the selected bid is charged a fee when a user interface event relating to the dynamic webpage occurs.
US09400982B2

A multimedia client receives, over a subscription multimedia network, television content for presentation to a viewer, where the television content includes an advertising break and identifies a keyword associated with the television content. The multimedia client sends, over the subscription multimedia network, the keyword to an advertisement server and receives from the advertisement server, an advertisement corresponding to the keyword. The multimedia client then provides, for display to the viewer, the advertisement within the advertising break.
US09400979B2

A system and method facilitating purchase transactions over a computer network, including the purchase of electronically storable items. The embodiments herein encrypt “customer identifier string” in an encryption stream and cause the encryption stream to be transferred from the customer to a merchant in the purchase transaction. A verification entity receives the encryption stream which is sent by the merchant for identity verification and payment authorization. Then, the verification entity verifies the identifiers contained in the encryption stream and transfers an identity verification and payment authorization from the verification entity to the merchant.
US09400971B1

In some examples, a reader system is provided for managing inventory items in an inventory system. The reader system may be configured to read tags associated with items stowed in an inventory holder. The inventory holder may be detachably coupled to a mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit may move the inventory holder to a first position near an antenna of the reader system and the tags may begin to be read. While reading or at other times in the reading process, the mobile drive unit may move the inventory holder relative to the antenna. The identified tags may be compared to a manifest list of items expected to be stowed in the inventory holder.
US09400966B2

Disclosed is a process of determining, at a point during shipment, whether the solid phase refrigerant in a shipment is sufficient to preserve the shipment cargo, which is blood or other biological products, for the remaining shipment period, by: monitoring the temperatures encountered to said point and estimating the temperatures likely to be encountered during the remaining shipment period; determining the likelihood that the remaining refrigerant can maintain the shipment cargo within a specified temperature range during the remaining shipment period; and if the risk that the remaining refrigerant cannot maintain the shipment cargo within said range during the remaining shipment period is above a cut-off level, then taking action to preserve the value of the cargo.
US09400965B2

According to some embodiments, a business bar code application may execute at a mobile user device associated with a user. The user may initiate a capture of an image of a bar code, and responsive to said capturing, information about the user may be automatically fetched. Information associated with the bar code may be transmitted to a remote business bar code server. The business bar code server may automatically determine a business model associated with the received bar code information and interact with an enterprise system to execute a business process workflow for the user in accordance with the determined business model.
US09400940B2

The general field of the invention is that of the methods of processing an initial digital image IIN(p) made up of pixels (p). The method according to the invention comprises the following successive steps: Step 1: calculating the logarithm of the initial image in order to obtain a first intermediate image Log(IIN(p)); Step 2: filtering said first intermediate image using a low-frequency filter in order to obtain a second intermediate image BF(p); Step 3: determining the value of the minimum intensity and the value of the maximum intensity in the low-frequency image; Step 4: calculating a third intermediate image Log(IOUT(p)) using the following linear combination: Log(IOUT(p))=[Log(IIN(p)−BF(p)]·[K1·BF(p)+K2]+K3·BF(p)+K4 K1, K2, K3 and K4 being constants; Step 5: calculating the final image IOUT(p) by applying the exponential function to the third intermediate image.
US09400937B2

In an example embodiment, a method, apparatus and computer program product are provided. The method includes facilitating capture of at least one image of a scene including a foreground object by at least one rolling shutter sensor. The at least one image includes a pattern in an image region of the foreground object comprising a series of alternate dark and bright pixel regions. The at least one image is captured by setting exposure time of the sensor as equal or less than a read-out time of a set of pixel rows of a plurality of pixel rows, and by facilitating a repeating sequence of ON and OFF of flash such that flash is ON while capturing the set of pixel rows, and OFF while capturing subsequent set of pixel rows. The method includes determining a contour of the foreground object in the at least one image based on the pattern.
US09400932B2

An identification method and an apparatus utilizing the method are disclosed. The disclosed method comprises capturing a first examining image at a first direction, performing a face detection process on the first examining image to identify a first face image in the first examining image, detecting a number of straight lines which are within a detecting image block of the first examining image but outside the first face image, comparing the number of straight lines with a quantity threshold to obtain a first judgment value, and judging if the first face image pass an examination at least according to the first judgment value.
US09400931B2

Methods are described for presenting in an user interface information regarding the subject faces that will appear in upcoming images. In general, many of the images available to display will be comprised of images containing subject faces. Based on a subject affinity score between the viewer and the subjects, an image affinity is computed. Based on the image affinity scores, images are selected for presentation on the display. As images are displayed, the system analyzes one or more upcoming images to determine information to display. As each image is displayed, subject information comprising the subject's face is presented in an area of the display adjacent to the current image.
US09400930B2

Embodiments disclosed obtain a plurality of measurement sets from a plurality of sensors in conjunction with the capture of a sequence of exterior and interior images of a structure while traversing locations in and around the structure. Each measurement set may be associated with at least one image. An external structural envelope of the structure is determined from exterior images of the structure and the corresponding outdoor trajectory of a UE. The position and orientation of the structure and the structural envelope is determined in absolute coordinates. Further, an indoor map of the structure in absolute coordinates may be obtained based on interior images of the structure, a structural envelope in absolute coordinates, and measurements associated with the indoor trajectory of the UE during traversal of the indoor area to capture the interior images.
US09400929B2

An object detection device includes a raster scan execution unit that executes a raster scan on an input image using a scan window in order to detect an object within the input image which is input by an image input unit, a scan point acquisition unit that acquires scan points of the scan window which are positions on the input image during the execution of the raster scan, and a size-changing unit that changes a relative size of the input image with respect to the scan window. When the relative size is changed by the size-changing unit, an offset is given to the starting positions of the scan points after the change with respect to the starting positions of the scan points before the change.
US09400928B2

A method for compensating for transmission channel distortion effects for a data signal transmitted from a first computing device via the transmission channel to a second computing device is provided. The method includes combining the data signal with a reference marker, the reference marker including predetermined signal parameters, to create a composite data signal, transmitting the composite data signal from the first computing device to the second computing device, extracting the reference marker and the data signal from the received composite data signal received at the second computing device, analyzing the signal parameters of the extracted reference marker, comparing the analyzed signal parameters of the extracted reference marker with the predetermined signal parameters of the reference marker in order to determine transmission channel distortions, and adjusting the extracted data signal based on the determined transmission channel distortions in order to compensate for transmission channel distortion effects.
US09400927B2

An information processing apparatus includes: an arrangement unit that arranges documents within a multidimensional space in accordance with features of the documents; a clipping unit that clips a region in which the documents are distributed, from the multidimensional space in which the documents are arranged by the arrangement unit; an extraction unit that extracts a vector indicating a closed curved surface which is the region clipped by the clipping unit; and a retrieval unit that retrieves information corresponding to the vector extracted by the extraction unit, from a storage unit that stores the vector in the multidimensional space in association with information indicating meaning of the vector.
US09400909B2

A method and system for reading an identifier from an object having a portion of a repeating image imparted thereon. The system preferably includes an imaging apparatus for imaging a portion of the repeating image from the object, the repeating image repeating in the direction of continuous travel of one or more objects through a printing location, at least the portion of the repeating image being printed to each of a plurality of objects, including the object, as the plurality of objects reach the printing location. The system further preferably includes a comparator for comparing one or more expected attributes of the imaged repeating image with one or more corresponding actual attributes of the imaged repeating image.
US09400900B2

An apparatus includes a display and one or more user-assertable surfaces. When asserted by a user, such a surface selectively couples a corresponding near-field RFID tag to a far-field component such that information stored by the near-field RFID tag is transmitted via the far-field component. The display, in turn, presents at least some information that the apparatus receives via an RFID transceiver. Depending upon the design this RFID transceiver can be the same as the aforementioned near-field RFID tag or can comprise a different RFID tag (such as but not limited to a far-field RFID tag). By one approach the aforementioned user-assertable surfaces comprise discrete push buttons. When the far-field component comprises a far-field antenna, asserting such a push button can serve to place the corresponding near-field RFID tag into operable proximity to the far-field antenna.
US09400898B2

A device and method for determining redundancies in near field communication tag detection are provided. A device comprising: a sensor configured to receive NFC tag identifiers from at least one near field communication (NFC) tag; and, a processor configured to: compare a first NFC tag identifier to a second NFC tag identifier, both the first NFC tag identifier and the second NFC tag identifier having been received by the sensor within a given time period; when the first NFC tag identifier and the second NFC tag identifier are the same, infer that the first NFC tag identifier and the second NFC tag identifier are associated with a single NFC tag; and when the first NFC tag identifier and the second NFC tag identifier are not the same, infer that the first NFC tag identifier and the second NFC tag identifier are associated with two different NFC tags.
US09400892B2

A secure integrated circuit (IC) to provide access to an electronic storage, the secure IC including a memory and a processor. The processor may generate a first key and a second key, and enable storing the first key in the memory and storing the second key in a device memory of a device. The processor may then receive the second key from the device when the device wants to access the electronic storage, and grant the device access to the electronic storage by using the first key and the second key received from the device.
US09400887B2

A program analysis/verification service provision system (1) includes: a tool registration/search section (313) for extracting, from a plurality of program analysis/verification tools (virtual machines) stored in a tool storage section (320), a virtual machine (T) in which a program analysis/verification tool for use in analysis/verification of a target program (P) has been installed and set; and a virtual machine execution environment section (120) for analyzing/verifying the target program (P) with use of the virtual machine (T) thus extracted.
US09400886B1

A system, method and computer program product for identifying malicious code running on a computer, including an operating system running on the computer with a data storage device; and a trusted software component running simultaneously with the operating system. An online snapshot process of a current state of the data storage device copies data blocks from the storage device to intermediate storage. Processes running under the control of the operating system have access to the data storage device. A scanning procedure runs under control of the trusted software component that has access to data representing the snapshot of the data storage device from the trusted software component. The scanning procedure analyzes the snapshot of the data storage device for the malicious code, and, in response to a “write” directed to a data block in the snapshot area of the storage device, that data block is written to the intermediate storage.
US09400883B2

A computer-implemented method for preventing password leakage into a non-password field includes detecting that a user of an electronic device has entered a character in a non-password field appearing on a display associated with the electronic device. The character is echoed to at least the display, and stored to provide a stored character string. The stored character string is compared to a set of valid entries for the non-password field, when length of the stored character string reaches a predetermined threshold value. An alert is transmitted when the stored character string fails to match at least a substring of an element of the set of valid entries for the non-password field.
US09400882B2

The present invention relates to various aspects for maintaining and utilizing login preference information of users of a network-based transaction facility. In one embodiment, user interface information is communicated to a client via a communications network. The user interface information includes information concerning a plurality of features within the network-based transaction facility. The user interface information also specifies a login interface that facilitates user input of login preference information pertaining to each of the plurality of features. Further, the login preference information is received from the client via the communications network and utilized to control user access to any of the plurality of features within the network-based transaction facility via the communications network.
US09400870B2

A method includes a) loading a first number n of image sets with an image size ky, the ky images of which are distributed in a regular manner over a volume, which is to be loaded in its entirety as a result; b) loading a number nx of image sets starting with a factor x=1, with the images loaded in total being distributed in a regular manner over the volume; c) determining a camera distance and voxel size based on the number of images loaded, a camera distance and voxel size being suitable as parameters for a volume rendering; and d) repeating the two preceding steps b) and c) while increasing the number of image sets with a factor x=x+1, until all the images of the volume have been loaded in their entirety and/or until the step sequence ends.
US09400868B2

A method, computer program and system to identify peaks generated by different physical ions in a solution including substances by analyzing mass and intensity coordinates of all peaks in a set of mass spectra measured with errors for a certain concentration c of the solution is here disclosed. The peaks in different mass spectra are associated to a same ion if they are sufficiently ‘close’ according to specific discrimination criteria that go beyond the proximity of mass values.
US09400866B2

A method comprises providing a non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium storing a partial netlist of at least a portion of a previously taped-out integrated circuit (IC) layout, representing a set of photomasks for fabricating an IC having the IC layout such that the IC meets a first specification value. A computer identities a proper subset of a plurality of first devices in the IC layout, such that replacement of the proper subset of the first devices by second devices in a revised IC layout satisfies a second specification value different from the first specification value. At least one layout mask is generated and stored in at least one non-transitory machine readable storage medium, accessible by a tool for forming at least one additional photomask, such that the set of photomasks and the at least one additional photomask are usable to fabricate an IC according to the revised IC layout.
US09400841B2

In a question-answering (QA) environment, a first answer sequence is identified. As identified, the first answer sequence includes a first answer and a second answer. A corpus is analyzed using the first answer and the second answer. Based on the analysis, a set of influence factors corresponding to both the first answer and the second answer are identified. A first answer relationship between the first answer and the second answer is then generated based on the set of influence factors.
US09400839B2

An enhanced find operation on a web page includes: activating an enhanced find operation on a web page and obtaining an entered keyword; obtaining one or more keywords on the web page related to the entered keyword and one or more categories associated with the one or more related keywords; displaying the one or more categories associated with the one or more related keywords with contents of the web page; detecting a selection of one of the one or more categories; and enhancing a display on the web page of the one or more related keywords associated with the selected category. Events for an activation of a find operation on the web page are monitored. In response to detecting the activation of the find operation, the find operation is intercepted, and the enhanced find operation is activated instead.
US09400830B2

A system and method of key figure data filters are presented. The key figure data filters are implemented in an analytical engine of a business warehouse system. The key figure data filters employ conditions, which can be expressed as a kind of selection that describe a set. A key figure data algorithm can be implemented by the analytical engine using the conditions, yet still respect hierarchies in the business warehouse database.
US09400828B2

Placement of object replicas in a distributed storage system includes, at a first instance, opening a journal for storage of object chunks. An object is received, which comprises one or more chunks. Each chunk comprises one or more storage blocks. The blocks for a single chunk are stored in a single journal. Global metadata for the object is stored, which includes a list of chunks for the object. Local metadata for the chunk is stored, which includes a block list identifying each block of the plurality of blocks. The local metadata is associated with the journal. The journal is later closed. The journal is subsequently replicated to a second instance. The global metadata is updated to reflect the replication, whereas the local metadata is unchanged by the replication.
US09400826B2

A method for content extraction and modeling by a computer system for incorporating the content into a domain model including the steps of extracting by an acquisition module content stored on a computer readable medium of at least one data source, determining whether the content is structured or unstructured; wherein structured content has a first content model associated therewith defining at least a format of the structured content and unstructured content has no model associated therewith. Upon a condition in which the content is structured, incorporating the structured content into the domain model; and, upon a condition in which the content is unstructured, determining by the computer system a second content model to transform the unstructured content into newly structured content and incorporating the newly structured content into the domain model.
US09400823B2

A stream data processing computer comprises: a query execution module to receive an input stream of stream data, manage execution order of operators for executing a query, and output an output stream, the operators including static recursive execution modules, a judge operator, and a dynamic recursive execution module; and a memory including a temporal store to store data generated in executing the query. The static recursive execution modules are configured to conduct a recursive number of static recursive execution of the query. The judge operator is configured to determine whether a preset condition is met after the recursive number of static recursive execution of the query. The dynamic recursive execution module is configured, if the preset condition is not met, to continue execution of the query by dynamic recursive execution from a last result of a last module of the static recursive execution modules, based on a dynamic recursive value.
US09400813B2

Correspondence is determined among i) groups in a first version of one or more groups of related tables and ii) groups in a second version of one or more groups of related tables. The tables have schema and table names and determining the correspondence includes matching groups that have matching tables, wherein the matching tables have matching schema and table names. A user interface is displayed, including first and second portions. A group name list is displayed for the one or more groups of the first version in the first user interface portion and of the second version in the second portion. A list of one or more tables within each respectively displayed group is displayed. Within each group of the first version the one or more table names are in visual alignment with respective matching one or more table names of the respective corresponding group of the second version.
US09400803B2

A system and method for communicating, browsing, verifying and routing data in storage operation systems using network attached storage devices is provided. In some embodiments, the system may include a management module and a media management component connected to the management server, which interoperate with network attached storage devices to provide the communicating, browsing, verifying and routing functions.
US09400798B2

An information processing devices transmits a request including identifying information that identifies the information processing device. The information processing device receives a first file and first location information that represents a location of a first terminal device. The information processing device receives a second file and second location information that represents a location of a second terminal device. The information processing device determines a positional relationship between the first and second terminal devices based on the first and second location information. The information processing device merges the first and second files in an arrangement based on the positional relationship between the first and second terminal devices. Some information processing devices receive a first file request and particular identifying information identifying a particular terminal device. The information processing devices transmit a second file request and a particular response including a particular file in response to receiving the first file request.
US09400795B2

Systems and methods are disclosed in which a self-describing file is generated and utilized to provide applications with the ability to properly preserve unknown file content. A self-describing file may contain, or be associated with, an extension section that provides information that an application can use to properly calculate unknown file content. The extension section may include functions of formulas that the application can use to calculate values for data that the application would not otherwise support. This allows for the content of the self-describing file to be modified by an application that does not support all of the capabilities of the file while maintaining the integrity of the file and user experience when the file is subsequently accessed by a full featured application.
US09400791B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a simple, bi-directional control that allows the user to express one of two opposing opinion on a particular item and make a comment. For example, the user may be provided a bi-direction widget that indicates whether a user loves or hates a particular subject.
US09400790B2

Profile information and other information about users are received from information sources into a unified messaging platform. Multimedia messages and files for users are converted to text using approximation algorithms. Text and multimedia messages and files for users are analyzed using confidence scores and thresholds. Profile information, file keyword information and message keyword information are used to identify and transmit a limited amount of information about users to information consumers and content service providers. Information consumers and content service providers can customize their content that is presented to users.
US09400785B2

An item of information (212) is transmitted to a distal computer (220), translated to a different sense modality and/or language (222), and in substantially real time, and the translation (222) is transmitted back to the location (211) from which the item was sent. The device sending the item is preferably a wireless device, and more preferably a cellular or other telephone (210). The device receiving the translation is also preferably a wireless device, and more preferably a cellular or other telephone, and may advantageously be the same device as the sending device. The item of information (212) preferably comprises a sentence of human of speech having at least ten words, and the translation is a written expression of the sentence. All of the steps of transmitting the item of information, executing the program code, and transmitting the translated information preferably occurs in less than 60 seconds of elapsed time.
US09400777B2

A data management system operating within a third-party spreadsheet application environment includes a plurality of template worksheets within the third-party spreadsheet application. The plurality of template worksheets comprise at least a dashboard interface worksheet, and at least one settings interface, generated by at least one processor, comprising at least one worksheet within the third-party spreadsheet application. The at least one settings interface further comprising a plurality of selectable settings options configured to modify at least one parameter of the dashboard interface worksheet, wherein the dashboard interface worksheet comprises a plurality of selectable dashboard options comprising at least one of the following: a choose columns to display option, an insert contact option, a delete contact option, a sort ascending option, a sort descending option, a hide averages option, a hide totals option, an import contacts option, an export contacts option, and/or a clear sorting option.
US09400770B2

A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: receiving indication of an election of a rules packet, the elected rules packet including one or more rules for selecting one or more selective parts of a base document for selective presentation; and presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) for editing the base document, the GUI including at least a first view for displaying at least a segment of the base document and a second view for displaying at least a segment of the one or more selective parts of the base document selected based on the elected rules packet, the segment of the base document to be displayed through the first view including at least a portion of the one or more selective parts of the base document, and the portion of the one or more selective parts of the base document to be displayed through the first view being highlighted in the first view. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US09400767B2

Embodiments relate to subgraph-based distributed graph processing. An aspect includes receiving an input graph comprising a plurality of vertices. Another aspect includes partitioning the input graph into a plurality of subgraphs, each subgraph comprising internal vertices and boundary vertices. Another aspect includes assigning one or more respective subgraphs to each of a plurality of workers. Another aspect includes initiating processing of the plurality of subgraphs by performing a series of processing steps comprising: processing the internal vertices and boundary vertices internally within each of the subgraphs; detecting that a change was made to a boundary vertex of a first subgraph during the internal processing; and sending a message from a first worker to which the first subgraph is assigned to a second worker to which a second subgraph is assigned in response to detecting the change that was made to the boundary vertex of the first subgraph.
US09400765B2

Apparatus for calculating service life expectancy of wellbore intervention tools comprising one or more sensors, power means, control means and wireless connectivity means. Also a method of the measuring and calculating the service life expectancy of wellbore intervention tools using this apparatus.
US09400764B2

Electrical interfaces, addressing schemes, and command protocols allow for communications with memory modules in computing devices such as imaging and printing devices. Memory modules may be assigned an address through a set of discrete voltages. One, multiple, or all of the memory modules may be addressed with a single command, which may be an increment counter command, a write command, a punch out bit field, or a cryptographic command. The commands may be transmitted using a broadcast scheme or a split transaction scheme. The status of the memory modules may be determined by sampling a single signal that may be at a low, high, or intermediate voltage level.
US09400763B2

Expansion boxes have been traditionally used to provide additional expansion slots to those that are provided in the computer system. As the speed of expansion busses has increased, it has become increasingly difficult to provide an expansion box and interconnect to that expansion box that is reliable and low cost. For example, PCI Express Gen 3 provides a very high speed interconnect, allowing data rates up to 32 GBytes/sec in some configurations. Various techniques to maintain the signal integrity of this expansion bus, even over distances greater than 1 meter, are disclosed. Some of these techniques include proper selection of cable impedance, proper selection of PC board materials, and specific PC layout guidelines.
US09400748B2

A method may comprise receiving a page of data to be stored on a storage resource. The method may also comprise determining, for each particular inversion mode of a plurality of inversion modes, the number of bits of the page of data to be inverted to store a representation of the page of data in accordance with the particular inversion mode. The method may additionally comprise determining a selected inversion mode from the plurality of inversion modes for the page of data, the selected inversion mode comprising the inversion mode for which the least number of physical bit transitions are required to store the representation of the page of data in accordance with the selected inversion mode. The method may further comprise storing the representation of the page of data in a data memory in accordance with the inversion mode.
US09400743B2

An electronic control apparatus includes: a plurality of processing devices each having a rewritable non-volatile memory and each executing a predetermined process in accordance with stored data that is stored in the non-volatile memory, wherein one of the processing devices extracts, from rewriting data transmitted from an external rewriting apparatus and including a plurality of individual rewriting data each corresponding to one of a plurality of dedicated address ranges, one of the individual rewriting data which corresponds to one of the dedicated address ranges that is individually allocated in advance for the one of the processing devices, and rewrites the stored data that is stored in the non-volatile memory of the one of the processing devices by using the one of the individual rewriting data.
US09400738B2

A method, computer program product, and computer system for receiving, by a computing device, a selection of one or more files for which to have one or more automated unit tests generated for an application under test. An action in the application under test is received while the application under test is used. Behavior data of how the application under test responds to the action is tracked. An automated unit test of the one or more automated unit tests is generated for underlying code of the application under test invoked when receiving the action based upon, at least in part, the behavior data of how the application under test responds to the action.
US09400734B2

Apparatuses and methods implemented therein are disclosed for generating event codes that include the source of the events that caused the generation of the event codes. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises a memory, a processor, logic element and an event generator. The memory is configured to store instructions corresponding to a scheduler and instructions corresponding to a first thread and a second thread. The processor is configured to execute instructions corresponding to the scheduler wherein the scheduler selects a one of the first or second thread wherein the processor executes instructions corresponding to the selected one of the first or second thread. The logic element is configured to receive an identifier corresponding to the selected thread and a received asynchronous event. The logic element produces a concatenated event identifier comprising the thread identifier and the received asynchronous event.
US09400732B2

A method and system includes calculating a performance metric for each of a plurality of builds of a software application in view of a respective performance test result associated with each of the plurality of builds, calculating a respective difference in performance metrics for each pair of consecutive builds of the plurality of builds, determining a largest performance drop in view of respective differences in the performance metrics among the pairs of consecutive builds of the plurality of builds, wherein the largest performance drop is associated with a first pair of consecutive builds comprising a first build and a second build, determining, by a processing device, a confidence level associated with the largest performance drop in view of performance test results associated with the first build and the second build, in response to determining that the confidence level is greater than or equal to a threshold, identifying one of the first build or the second build as a problematic build of the software application.
US09400730B2

In a virtual machine system where a first stage VM and a second stage VM generated on the first stage VM are executed, a processor is configured to perform a first determination as to whether to physically instruct to start execution caused by a virtual execution start of the second stage VM and a second determination as to whether a physical end is detected as a result of a virtual end of the second stage VM, and calculate an execution time of the second stage VM based on results of the first determination and the second determination.
US09400729B2

Devices and methods may allow for a first process associated with a probe process to receive a message transmitted across a network from a second process, the message including data and an identifier for the second process. The probe process may transmit identifiers for the first and second process to a server. A server may receive a message from a probe process including entity identifiers, and update a record recording a connection between the entities.
US09400728B2

A method and system for real-time monitoring of processes to obtain job data of jobs running on different non-compatible platforms with a Java monitoring agent, then saving, reporting and making the job data available at any time for viewing by a system administrator on a single display monitor.
US09400727B2

A virtual machine console is recorded. A method for monitoring a virtual machine may comprise monitoring a virtualization environment, detecting a new virtual machine and associated console, creating an additional instantiation of the console by generating a reflection of the console on a video capture device and recording a real time video of an image of the additional instantiation of the console on the video capture device. Prior to recording, the image may be analyzed to determine a change and the recording of the image can be triggered based upon the analysis.
US09400721B2

The technology disclosed herein provides a method of verifying data read from a data block when the cell number of the data block does not match an ECC value stored in the data block. In particular, the method includes designating as unusable a data block in an indexed sequence of data blocks, wherein each data block is associated with a physical index; associating a cell number with a subsequent usable data block following the identified data block in the indexed sequence; and recording in an offset table accessible by an error detection and correction module an offset in association with the cell number of the subsequent usable data block, wherein the combination of the offset and the cell number represents a seed for the error detection and correction module.
US09400708B2

An integrated circuit comprises a write bus coupled to a register for storing control data. A storage unit is arranged to store reference signature data encoding a reference collective state of the register. First logic circuitry generates actual signature data encoding the actual collective state of the register. Second logic circuitry is coupled to the storage unit, receives the actual signature data and compares the actual signature data with the reference signature data. The second logic circuitry comprises an alert output to provide an alert signal in response to the comparison identifying a difference between the actual signature data and the reference signature data, thereby ensuring detection of a data integrity error in respect of the register. An alert inhibitor comprises a control input and is responsive to the control input and arranged to inhibit selectively onward propagation of the alert signal from the alert output.
US09400706B2

An adaptive network has respective network nodes and network connections between the network nodes, the network nodes each having a transceiver which is coupled with a respective network connection. The respective transceiver is designed for providing a mean error value (MSE_i) which is representative of deviations of a received signal from predefined reference signal values. In a reference operating state of the adaptive network, a respective reference error value (MSE_REF) is determined as a function of the mean error value (MSE_i) provided by the respective transceiver. In at least one predefined operating state of the adaptive network, a respective actual error value (MSE_AV) is determined as a function of the mean error value (MSE_i) provided by the respective transceiver. As a function of the respective reference error value (MSE_REF) and the assigned actual error value (MSE_AV), it is determined whether a fault is present in the respective network connection which is coupled with the respective transceiver.
US09400693B2

An apparatus includes a monitoring unit configured to monitor memory usage of a process in which multiple application programs are running, and a control unit configured to terminate one or more of the application programs when the memory usage of the process exceeds a first threshold.
US09400692B2

A memory management system for managing objects which represent memory in a multi-threaded operating system extracts the ID of the home free-list from the object header to determine whether the object is remote and adds the object to a remote object list if the object is determined to be remote. The memory management system determines whether the number of objects on the remote object list exceeds a threshold. If the threshold is exceeded, the system batch-removes the objects on the remote object list and then adds those objects to the appropriate one or more remote home free-lists.
US09400681B1

Tasks scheduled to be performed at future times within a virtual space may be managed. Selections of one or more tasks performable within the virtual space may be received. The one or more tasks may include a first task associated with a first duration. The first task may be scheduled to be performed at a first time. The first time may be the first duration later than a time of receipt of the selection of the first task. Managing the scheduling of the first task may include one or more of (1) delaying performance of the first task so that the first task is scheduled to be performed at a time later than the first time, (2) advancing performance of the first task so that the first task is scheduled to be performed at a time before the first time, or (3) canceling performance of the first task.
US09400680B2

In a parallel computing method performed by a parallel computing system comprising a plurality of central processing units (CPUs), a main process executes. Tasks are executed in parallel with the main process on CPUs not used in executing the main process. Results of completed tasks are stored in a cache, from which the main process retrieves completed task results when needed. The initiation of task execution is controlled by a priority ranking of tasks based on at least probabilities that task results will be needed by the main process and time limits for executing the tasks. The priority ranking of tasks is from the vantage point of a current execution point in the main process and is updated as the main process executes. An executing task may be pre-empted by a task having higher priority if no idle CPU is available.
US09400670B2

The disclosed network resource management system employs a hardware configuration management (HCM) information handling system (IHS) that may couple to a single administered IHS or to multiple administered IHSs via an administrative network. An HCM tool in the HCM IHS may generate, modify and store hardware configuration information, including physical network identifications (PNet IDs), in an HCM database and share the HCM database with the administered IHSs. The administered IHS may be a load balancing IHS. A load balancing tool may extract hardware configuration information, including PNet IDs, from the HCM database. The load balancing tool may utilize the hardware configuration information to enable the load balancing IHS to balance adapter loads in the load balancing IHS. The load balancing tool may also utilize the hardware configuration information to enable the load balancing IHS to failover from a failing adapter to other adapters in the load balancing IHS.
US09400663B2

A method, system, and computer program product for managing a managing a middleware architecture is disclosed. As such, a plurality of specification levels can be managed concurrently within a same runtime. An application manager and a set of runtime execution stacks are established to form a middleware. The application manager is configured to establish an interface to the set of runtime execution stacks. The runtime execution stacks are configured to run independent of one another using representative specification technology runtimes. A request to start an application is received. The application includes an application manifest. A particular runtime execution stack of the set of runtime execution stacks on which to run the application is determined. The determination is made based on the application manifest and the representative specification technology runtimes. Using the particular application runtime execution stack, the application is started.
US09400657B2

Embodiments relate to dynamic management of a transaction retry indication. One aspect is a system that includes a transactional facility configured to support transactions that effectively delay committing stores to memory or results to an architectural state until transaction completion, and a processor configured to identify a transaction abort reason associated with an aborted transaction of an initiating program. Transaction success and transaction abort history are tracked. Based on determining by the processor that the transaction abort reason was caused by the initiating program, a retry indication is assigned based on a static mapping of the transaction abort reason. Based on determining by the processor that the transaction abort reason was not caused by the initiating program, the retry indication is assigned based on a retry process using the transaction abort reason, the transaction abort history, and a current processor configuration.
US09400656B2

Embodiments include a method for chaining data in an exposed-pipeline processing element. The method includes separating a multiple instruction word into a first sub-instruction and a second sub-instruction, receiving the first sub-instruction and the second sub-instruction in the exposed-pipeline processing element. The method also includes issuing the first sub-instruction at a first time, issuing the second sub-instruction at a second time different than the first time, the second time being offset to account for a dependency of the second sub-instruction on a first result from the first sub-instruction, the first pipeline performing the first sub-instruction at a first clock cycle and communicating the first result from performing the first sub-instruction to a chaining bus coupled to the first pipeline and a second pipeline, the communicating at a second clock cycle subsequent to the first clock cycle that corresponds to a total number of latch pipeline stages in the first pipeline.
US09400653B2

A data processing system and method of clearing and rebuilding dependencies, the data processing method including changing a counter associated with a first entry in response to selecting a second entry; comparing the counter with a threshold; and indicating that the first entry is ready to be selected in response to comparing the counter with the threshold; wherein the first entry is dependent on the second entry.
US09400651B2

In an embodiment, a processor includes an issue circuit configured to issue instruction operations for execution. The issue circuit may be configured to monitor the source operands of the instruction operations, and to issue instruction operations for which the source operands (including predicate operands, as appropriate) are resolved. Additionally, the issue circuit may be configured to detect a null predicate that indicates that none of the vector elements will be modified by a corresponding instruction operation. The issue circuit may be configured to issue the corresponding instruction operation with the null predicate even if other source operands are not yet resolved.
US09400647B2

A metamodel selector may determine a semantic metamodel for at least two software applications, the semantic metamodel including a description of semantics, processes, and data that are applicable to the at least two software applications. A metadata manager may determine application metadata describing an application of the at least two applications. A transformation engine may transform the application metadata into an application-specific metamodel instance of the semantic metamodel, and an integration engine may integrate the at least two software applications, based on the application-specific metamodel instance.
US09400643B2

Methods and systems for updating components on a computing device are described herein. A computing device may perform an example method, which may include receiving, at the computing device, a notification of an update corresponding to an existing component on the computing device. Responsive to receiving the notification, the computing device may receive inputs from sensors of the computing device, which may provide information indicative of a given state of use, time of day, and location associated with the computing device. Based on a weighted combination of the inputs, the computing device may determine whether to update the existing component on the computing device and update the existing component. In some instances, the computing device may use information provided by another computing device to determine whether or not to initiate an update process.
US09400638B2

Reactive programming is facilitated. Reactive expressions can be generated automatically from non-reactive expressions or in other words standard expressions. Additionally or alternatively, reactive expressions can be optimized in a number of different ways to minimize computational work.
US09400637B1

Modeling an enterprise architecture includes associating a plurality of desired business capabilities with a plurality of requirements and associating each of a plurality of technology components with one or more of the plurality of requirements, based on a respective technology supporting the one or more requirements. Then a model may be constructed that includes linking each of the technology components with one or more of the desired business capabilities based on the associating of the plurality of desired business capabilities with the plurality of requirements and the associating of each of the plurality of technology components with one or more of the plurality of requirements.
US09400636B2

An apparatus for calculating a result of a scalar multiplication of a reference number with a reference point on an elliptic curve includes a random number generator and processor. The random number generator generates a random bit. The processor calculates the result of the scalar multiplication based on a calculation algorithm using a first auxiliary variable storing a first interim result representing an integer multiple of the reference point or a coordinate of an integer multiple of the reference point and a second auxiliary variable storing a second interim result representing another integer multiple of the reference point or a coordinate of another integer multiple of the reference point. The processor swaps a value stored by the first auxiliary variable and a value stored by the second auxiliary variable during calculation of the result of the scalar multiplication, if a swap condition depending on the generated random bit is fulfilled.
US09400634B2

Embodiments are provided for communicating notifications and other textual data associated with applications installed on an electronic device. According to certain aspects, a user can interface with an input device to send (218) a wake up trigger to the electronic device. The electronic device retrieves (222) application notifications and converts (288) the application notifications to audio data. The electronic device also sends (230) the audio data to an audio output device for annunciation (232). The user may also use the input device to send (242) a request to the electronic device to activate the display screen. The electronic device identifies (248) an application corresponding to an annunciated notification, and activates (254) the display screen and initiates the application.
US09400623B2

A print server includes a job acquisition unit that acquires a print job, a job holding unit that holds the acquired print job, a transmission unit that transmits an email containing a URL for instructing execution of the held print job to an address corresponding to the print job, and an execution control unit that, in response to an access of the URL, communicates with a printing apparatus and causes the printing apparatus to execute printing that is based on the held print job.
US09400616B2

Controlling accesses to target devices such as disk drives by modifying the duty cycle profile of those devices to improve device reliability is disclosed. The utilization of a target device is monitored, and if a device is being overused, that device is given a rest period by reserving it for a special initiator that does not send any commands to the device for a certain period of time. This reduced utilization has the effect of increasing the reliability of the target device. This period of time also adds a delay to the processing of commands for the target device being overutilized so that the device becomes less responsive. This performance penalty creates pressure on system administrators to reduce the number of commands sent to that target device and/or move data to proper devices (that can handle the high number of accesses).
US09400615B2

A method, apparatus, and system of a priority command queues for low latency solid state drives are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system of a storage system includes a command sorter to determine a target storage device for at least one of a solid state drive (SSD) command and a hard disk drive (HDD) command and to place the command in a SSD ready queue if the SSD command is targeted to a SSD storage device of the storage system and to place the HDD command to a HDD ready queue if the HDD command is targeted to an HDD storage device of the storage system, a SSD ready queue to queue the SSD command targeted to the SSD storage device, and a HDD ready queue to queue the HDD command targeted to the HDD storage device.
US09400609B1

Disclosed are systems, computer-readable mediums, and methods for transforming data in a file system. As part of a recycling process, a determination is made that transformations should be attempted. A data block is determined to be in use by at least one user of the storage system. If a transformation should be attempted on the data block is determined. Parameters associated with the performance of the file system can be used in this determination. A type of transformation to be done is determined. The data block is transformed based upon the selected transformation. The transformed data block is written to the storage system. As part of the recycling process, the transformation requires no additional input/output requests.
US09400608B2

Systems capable of transformation of logical data objects for storage and methods of operating thereof are provided. One method includes identifying among a plurality of requests addressed to the storage device two or more “write” requests addressed to the same logical data object, deriving data chunks corresponding to identified “write” requests and transforming the derived data chunks, grouping the transformed data chunks in accordance with the order the requests have been received and in accordance with a predefined criteria, generating a grouped “write” request to the storage device, and providing mapping in a manner facilitating one-to-one relationship between the data in the obtained data chunks and the data to be read from the transformed logical object. The method further includes obtaining an acknowledging response from the storage device, multiplying the obtained acknowledging response, and sending respective acknowledgements to each source that initiated each respective “write” request.
US09400601B2

Techniques are disclosed for providing a page flipping mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The user can engage the page flipping mode by performing an activation gesture, which causes the device to display a magazine page flipping mode or a fast page flipping mode. The page flipping modes may show paginated content such as an opened book or magazine in a single stack or side-by-side layout. The fast page flipping modes may show a single page lying relatively flat or somewhat curled with the edges of subsequent pages visible at the right edge of the page. A page flipping gesture may prompt an animation showing one or more pages folding up to display subsequent pages to the user. In some cases, the number of pages being flipped and/or the speed at which the pages are flipped, is dependent upon the speed and/or length and/or duration of the page flipping gesture.
US09400600B2

A graphical user interface, method and apparatus for providing visual effects on a touchscreen display, including: displaying a first screen; detecting a multi-point touch on the first screen; detecting a first touch event based on the multi-point touch; turning the first screen into a garbage object in response to the first touch event; and removing the garbage object by moving the garbage object to a trash bin icon.
US09400599B2

An apparatus and a method for editing an object in an electronic device are provided. In the method, when a first event occurs depending on detected touch information of at least one object among a plurality of objects displayed on a display unit, a movement interval is determined depending on a characteristic of the first event. A position of the at least one object is changed depending on a movement interval corresponding to the characteristic of the first event.
US09400588B2

A computing system provided according to an aspect of the present invention contains a server system operable to send a same hierarchical menu to client systems which display the sub-menus of the hierarchical menu in a overlapping style or a cascading style. As a result, the implementation of server systems supporting such client systems may be simplified. According to another aspect, an event handler is also implemented on the server system, to process the events generated by client system displaying menus in both the overlapping style and the cascading style. According to yet another aspect, a server system stores a in-memory representation of a context menu, and thereafter serves requests from different clients for the same hierarchical menu based on such in-memory representation.
US09400577B2

A touch panel is provided. The touch panel includes a first conductive pattern, a first insulation layer, a second conductive pattern, a first metal electrode, a second metal electrode, and a second insulation layer. The first conductive pattern is formed on a transparent substrate. The first insulation layer is formed on the first conductive pattern. The second conductive pattern is formed on the first insulation layer. The first metal electrode is connected to one end of the first conductive pattern. The second metal electrode is connected to one end of the second conductive pattern. The second insulation layer is formed on the second conductive pattern, the first metal electrode or the second metal electrode.
US09400573B2

The present invention relates to an optical touch screen, the screen including a flat plate display panel, a square ring-shaped case mounted and assembled with the flat plate display panel, brackets assembled on corners of the case, a camera module mounted on the brackets.
US09400558B2

A multi-touch display layer may have a texturizing polymer layer. The texturizing polymer layer may elevate a surface portion of the texturizing polymer layer to a level to texturize information displayed on the multi-touch display layer. A gesture may be detected for the elevated surface portion.
US09400556B2

An electronic device 100 includes a touch panel 102 for accepting a touch operation by a user to detect a touch position, a vibrating section 203 for vibrating the touch panel 102 in a first vibration mode and a second vibration mode, and a vibration control section 301 for controlling the vibration of the vibrating section 203. The number of vibration nodes occurring on the touch panel 102 in the first vibration mode is different from the number of vibration nodes occurring on the touch panel 102 in the second vibration mode. The vibration control section 301 vibrates the touch panel 102 in at least one of the first vibration mode and the second vibration mode depending on the touch position of the user.
US09400548B2

A gesture-based system may have default or pre-packaged gesture information, where a gesture is derived from a user's position or motion in a physical space. In other words, no controllers or devices are necessary. Depending on how a user uses his or her gesture to accomplish the task, the system may refine the properties and the gesture may become personalized. The personalized gesture information may be stored in a gesture profile and can be further updated with the latest data. The gesture-based system may use the gesture profile information for gesture recognition techniques. Further, the gesture profile may be roaming such that the gesture profile is available in a second location without requiring the system to relearn gestures that have already been personalized on behalf of the user.
US09400544B2

Methods and apparatuses for reducing leakage power in a system cache within a memory controller. The system cache is divided into multiple sections, and each section is supplied with power from one of two supply voltages. When a section is not being accessed, the voltage supplied to the section is reduced to a voltage sufficient for retention of data but not for access. The cache utilizes a maximum allowed active section policy to limit the number of sections that are active at any given time to reduce leakage power. Each section includes a corresponding idle timer and break-even timer. The idle timer keeps track of how long the section has been idle and the break-even timer is used to periodically wake the section up from retention mode to check if there is a pending request that targets the section.
US09400541B2

Techniques pertaining to analyzing power consumed by a processing unit in a mobile computing device caused by execution of certain modules are described herein. A power trace is generated that indicates an amount of power consumed by the processing unit over time, and the power trace is aligned with an execution log. Spikes are extracted from the power trace, and computing operations are performed over the spikes to acquire data pertaining to power consumed by the processing unit that are attributable to modules in the execution log.
US09400537B2

In a power supply impedance optimizing apparatus, first and second noise detecting circuits detect noises of first and second power supplies by magnetic field coupling between bonding wires of the first and second power supplies and bonding wires for first and second noise detection. A noise determining circuit determines a noise level using a frequency component in each of one or more frequency ranges as extracted from each of the noises of the first and second power supplies. The noise determining circuit controls ON/OFF state of the first switch connected between pads of the first and second power supplies and the second switch connected between pins of the first and second power supplies based on a determination result of the noise level.
US09400532B2

A storage device includes a first portion including drive media, and a second portion. The second portion includes a first end wall that is in physical communication with first and second side walls, and a second end wall that is in physical communication with the first and second side walls. The second portion also includes a printed circuit board mounted within the cavity, a plurality of ribs within the cavity, and an air channel within the cavity. The air channel has a lower air flow impedance than other portions of the storage device including the first portion, the printed circuit board, and the ribs. The air channel extends along a direction between the first end wall and the second end wall of the storage device.
US09400530B2

An electronic apparatus includes: a housing; a mounting member pivotably mounted to the housing; a displacing member including an L-shaped shaft hole formed in at least one of the mounting member and the housing member, and a shaft located in the shaft hole; the displacing member be configured such that the shaft is located at a first position of the L-shaped shaft hole when the mounting member is in a falling position and the shaft is located at a second position of the L-shaped shaft hole different from the first position when the mounting member is in an erected position; and a rotation suppressing member configured to hold the mounting member when the mounting member is displaced, and suppress the rotation of the mounting member.
US09400526B2

Bumpers for electronic devices are provided. The bumpers may be formed from a polymer coupled to a housing via a primer. The primer may include a first functional group configured to form a chemical bond with the housing a second functional group configured to form a bond with the polymer. Accordingly, externally-mounted bumpers that do not impinge upon internal space within a housing may be provided. However, the bumpers may be employed for various other purposes. Related portable electronic devices, assemblies, and methods are also provided.
US09400521B2

Flexible portable electronic device capable of elaborating information, including a flexible body arranged to be capable of being secured to a part of the user's body, the flexible body including a lower flexible band and an upper flexible band. The flexible portable electronic device includes an electronic assembly for processing information, the electronic assembly for processing information including at least a first electronic component with a substantially flat surface, housed between the upper flexible band and the lower flexible band of the flexible body. The first electronic component is secured on only one portion of the surface thereof to one of the upper or lower flexible bands.
US09400510B2

An evaporator has a manifold and a plurality of refrigerant tubes extending downward in the direction of gravity from the manifold. The evaporator includes at least one PCM housing engaging the upper portion of the refrigerant tube for storing a phase change material. When operating in a first operating mode, heat is transferred from the phase change material to the refrigerant to freeze and cool the phase change material. When operating in a second operating mode, heat is transferred from the refrigerant to the frozen phase change material to condense the refrigerant. The condensed refrigerant falls downwardly through the tubes and receives heat from a flow of air to cool the air and evaporate the refrigerant. The evaporated refrigerant rises upwardly back to the low pressure of the cold manifold.
US09400496B2

A pre-read/analysis process is carried out to analyze a code in a block, and whether or not the analyzed data contains an inter-path waiting code is determined. When the block contains an inter-path waiting code, the pre-read/analysis process is suspended, and whether or not a preset specified condition is met is judged. When the specified condition is met, inter-path waiting is started. When the inter-path waiting is established, code analysis data created before creation of execution data is discarded, and a pre-read/analysis process on the next block is immediately started.
US09400491B2

The embodiments described herein include one embodiment that provides a control method, including determining a first stabilizing feasible control trajectory of a plurality of variables of a controlled process, determining a second stabilizing feasible control trajectory for the plurality of variables for a second time step subsequent to the first time step, determining a first cost of applying the first feasible control trajectory at the second time step, determining a second cost of applying the second feasible control trajectory at the second time step, comparing the first and second costs, selecting the first feasible control trajectory or the second feasible control trajectory based upon the comparison in a predetermined time frame, and controlling the controlled process by application of the selected control trajectory.
US09400485B2

In a cooling device that includes a cooling roller that comprises a hollow tubular member and a cooling medium transport unit for transporting a cooling liquid to the inside of the cooling roller and contacts a sheet-like member to cool down the paper, a turbulence generating unit that generates turbulence in a cooling liquid is disposed near an inner wall of the outer tube.
US09400483B2

Image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an image forming unit removable from the casing in a first direction; and plural developer cartridges. The cartridges may be attached and detached with respect to the image forming unit in a second direction that is inclined toward the first direction. Other image forming apparatuses include: a casing; an exposure device; a plurality of cartridges configured to be attached and detached with respect to the casing in a first direction; and a recording medium transport system for transporting recording media adjacent the photosensitive members in a second direction. The first direction may be inclined with respect to the second direction, and at least a portion of optical paths of the light emitted from the exposure device may extend parallel with the first direction. Aspects also relate to image forming units, e.g., for use in image forming apparatuses as described above.
US09400478B2

An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charge eliminating device eliminating charges on the photosensitive member, a charging device charging the photosensitive member, a developing device attaching charged developer to an electrostatic latent image formed on the charged photosensitive member and developing the electrostatic latent image, and a control device configured to switch a luminescence intensity of the charge eliminating device between a first luminescence intensity and a second luminescence intensity, the second luminescence intensity being lower than the first luminescence intensity, and to adjust a density of an image, which is obtained by developing the electrostatic latent image by the developing device, in response to the luminescence intensity being switched from the first luminescence intensity to the second luminescence intensity or from the second luminescence intensity to the first luminescence intensity.
US09400473B1

A media supply device includes a tray feeding printable media into a printing device. The tray has a first section sized for a first size of printable media and a second section sized for a second size of printable media. The first section is within the second section. The tray has a base with a first end and a second end. A first endwall is perpendicularly connected to the first end of the base. A second endwall is perpendicularly connected to the second end of the base. Sidewalls having a top edge are connected to edges of the base between the first endwall and the second endwall. The top edge of the sidewalls is a first height above the base in the first section and a second height above the base in the second section. The first and second heights are different.
US09400468B2

A method and apparatus for preventing premature or unnecessary replacement of a consumable used in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include sensing the removal of the consumable from the image production device, determining if the removed consumable's life span is greater than a predetermined threshold, the predetermined threshold relating to the consumable's expected life span, wherein if it is determined that the removed consumable's life span is not greater than the predetermined threshold, sending a notification to a user at a user interface for the user to enter an identification code, receiving an identification code at the user interface, determining if the correct identification code has been entered, wherein if it is determined that the correct identification code has been entered, permitting operation of the image production device, otherwise, preventing operation of the image production device.
US09400467B2

An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure is an image forming apparatus of which the apparatus main body is provided with an IC card reader that reads data input to a noncontact IC card. The IC card reader is installed at an angle enabling a detection surface to face downward relative to the apparatus main body.
US09400466B2

An image forming apparatus includes a movable image-bearing member, a sensor opposed to the image-bearing member, a shutter member arranged between the image-bearing member and the sensor and capable of moving between an open position and a closed position, a rotatable cam configured to move the shutter member, and an execution portion configured to selectively execute a first mode in which the shutter member is opened or closed by rotating the cam within a first phase range and a second mode in which the shutter member is vibrated by rotating the cam at least through a second phase range different from the first phase range.
US09400454B1

An oil routing system has a first fluid transport device to transport clean oil from an oil recycling apparatus of an imaging system to a first storage tank, the oil having been recycled after use in the imaging system by the recycling apparatus, a second fluid transport device to transport clean oil to a second storage tank, and a third fluid transport device. The clean oil is to be stored in the first storage tank and second storage tank as clean oil, and the third fluid transport device to return clean oil from the first storage tank to the imaging system for reuse, wherein of the first and second storage tanks, the oil routing system routes clean oil to the imaging system for reuse only from the first storage tank.
US09400452B2

An image forming unit includes a first developer supply member that is arranged inside a developer container and supplies a developer to a developer carrier, a seal member of which a fixed end is fixed on a case.The case has a first wall part that extends from the fixed end obliquely downward with respect to a vertical direction and a second wall part that continues from the first wall part and extends along an outer peripheral surface of the first developer supply member, and a first distance between an inner peripheral surface of the first wall part and the outer peripheral surface of the first developer supply member becomes smaller with increasing distance from the fixed end of the seal member.
US09400440B2

The present disclosure describes toner particles that have polyester resin and styrene/acrylate resin in the core.
US09400436B2

A detection device that detects a mark provided on the back side of an object, the detection device includes a first detection unit configured to detect the mark from a surface side of the object; a second detection unit configured to detect a surface position of the object; and a processing unit. The processing unit determines a thickness of the object based on a difference between a first focus position acquired with reference to the position of the mark detected by the first detection unit and a second focus position acquired with reference to the surface position detected by the second detection unit.
US09400435B2

A method of correcting an overlay error includes the following steps. First, an overlay mark disposed on a substrate is captured so as to generate overlay mark information. The overlay mark includes at least a pair of first mark patterns and at least a second mark pattern above the first mark patterns. Then, the overlay mark information is calculated to generate an offset value between two first mark patterns and to generate a shift value between the second mark pattern and one of the first mark patterns. Finally, the offset value is used to compensate the shift value so as to generate an amended shift value.
US09400433B2

A lithography illumination system, along the transmission direction of the laser light, successively having a laser light source, a collimating and expanding unit, a pupil shaping unit, a first micro-lens array, a micro-integrator rod array, a micro-scanning slit array, a second micro-lens array, a condenser lens group, a mask, and and a motion control unit for controlling the motion of the micro scanning slit array.
US09400428B2

A polymer compound includes a carboxyl group and a siloxane chain and is obtained in the presence of an acid catalyst by condensation of at least; (I) a siloxane compound having phenol groups at both terminals, as shown by formula (1), (II) phenols shown by formula (2) and/or phenols shown by formula (3), and (III) one or more kinds of aldehydes and ketones shown by the following general formula (4). The polymer compound can be used suitably as a base resin of a chemically amplified negative resist composition with which the problem of delamination generated on metal wires, an electrode, and a substrate, can be improved, and with which a fine pattern can be formed without generating a scum and a footing profile in the pattern bottom and on the substrate, using a widely used aqueous 2.38% TMAH solution as a developer.
US09400427B2

The present invention is a method of manufacturing a fine structure body which manufactures the fine structure body by repeating a basic fine structure body forming step that forms a basic fine structure body by pressing a fine structure mold against a curable resin (photocurable resin film) on a surface of a base material and a release and moving step that releases the fine structure mold from the base material and moves the fine structure mold, wherein the fine structure mold includes at least a first mold depression pattern which is disposed at center area of it, and a second mold depression pattern which is disposed in at least one side part in circumference area of it, and a size of the second mold depression pattern is smaller than a size of the first mold depression pattern.
US09400426B2

An imprint apparatus molds an uncured resin on a substrate and cures the resin to form a pattern of the cured resin on the substrate. The apparatus includes a mold holding unit that holds the mold, a substrate holding unit that holds the substrate, a deforming unit that deforms the mold held by the mold holding unit into a convex shape toward the substrate, a driving unit that changes an attitude of the mold or the substrate during a releasing operation in which the mold deformed into the convex shape is released from the resin to thereby make the position of a contact region at which the mold is brought into contact with the resin movable, a measuring unit that acquires image information indicating a state of the contact region, and a control unit configured to control the operation of the driving unit based on the image information.
US09400418B2

A light source module and a projection apparatus including the light source module, an optical engine module, and a projection lens are provided. The light source module includes a lamp holder, a casing, a light source, and a heat dissipation fan. The lamp holder has a cover having a first inlet and a first outlet. The casing is connected to the lamp holder and has a second inlet and at least one second outlet. The light source is fixed to the lamp holder fixed to a housing of the projection apparatus. The heat dissipation fan generates a heat dissipation airflow through an outflow side. A first part of the heat dissipation airflow enters the cover through the first inlet, and leaves the cover through the first outlet. A second part of the heat dissipation airflow enters the casing through the second inlet, and leaves the casing through the second outlet.
US09400406B2

The present invention provides a liquid crystal panel in which warping is controlled. The liquid crystal panel includes a liquid crystal cell 20, a first polarizing film 31 disposed on a viewer side of the liquid crystal cell 20 and a second polarizing film 32 disposed on a side of the liquid crystal cell 20 opposite to the viewer side. A thickness (d1) of the first polarizing film 31 is smaller than a thickness (d2) of the second polarizing film 32.
US09400404B2

An acousto-optical filter element (114) is provided which has an acousto-optical crystal (118) having an acoustic signal transmitter (120) for generating acoustic signals in the acousto-optical crystal (118). The acousto-optical crystal (118) is designed to selectively spatially deflect light of a target wavelength from an input light beam (116) entering into the acousto-optical crystal (118), as a function of a high frequency applied to the acoustic signal transmitter (120), and to thereby produce a target light beam (126) having the target wavelength. In addition, the acousto-optical filter element (114) includes a spatial filter element (132) which is located in the target light beam (126) and is designed to selectively suppress the intensity of the target light beam (126) in a plane perpendicular to the propagation direction of the target light beam (126).
US09400402B2

Disclosed is a technology related to an optical waveguide which is insensitive to an ambient temperature and is capable of adjusting a wavelength error due to a manufacturing processing deviation. The optical waveguide includes: a clad layer positioned on a substrate; a core layer positioned between the substrate and the clad layer, and including patterns positioned in a first region and a second region; and a wavelength adjusting unit positioned in the first region between the substrate and the clad layer, and configured to adjust a wavelength of an optical signal propagated through patterns passing through the first region based on received electric energy, in which the clad layer includes a material having a Thermo-Optic Coefficient (TOC) with an opposite sign to that of a material included in the core layer.
US09400380B2

A binocular-type viewing apparatus designed in such a manner that a user, wanting to view an object located at a distance above the viewer's horizontal line of sight, need only direct his/her view downward into the apparatus to view the elevated object. Thus the eyepiece component has an optical axis inclined downwardly and an objective optical component of the apparatus has an optical axis inclined upwardly. An optical structure is disposed between the objective and the eyepiece to redirect the image optical path from the objective optical component to the eyepiece component and into the viewer's eyes. The binocular may have a fixed deviated optical axis or a variably adjustable optical axis from in-line up to or exceeding 90 degrees.
US09400377B2

A focusing method for an optical instrument for magnified viewing of an object includes producing at least two images with different focal positions and applying several different sharpness functions. Each function has an absolute extremum which specifies the optimum focal position to be set for the viewing and which lies in a close focus range of the sharpness function adjoined on both sides by a far focus range which contains local secondary extrema. For each of the at least two images an evaluation thereof is performed with the focal position as a variable such that a sharpness function variation direction of the focal position is calculated for each sharpness function in order to arrive at the optimum focal position. A determination is made for main variation direction based on all sharpness function variation directions, which is then used during further focusing.
US09400376B2

A Z-axis focusing mechanism having a scanner and a prism whose front and rear faces are not normal to the direction of travel of a light beam prior to the light beam impinging upon the front face of the scanner. The scanner and the prism are oriented with respect to one another such that when a light beam is scanned onto the front face of the prism, a scanned beam having varying Z-axis focus points at distinct lateral locations exits the rear face of the scanner. Alternatively, the rear face of the prism may be normal to the light beam as it passes through the prism, which generates a retro-reflected, scanned light beam that exits the front of the prism.
US09400374B2

A zoom lens including, in order from an object side, positive, negative, positive, positive, and positive lens units, or positive, negative, positive, positive, positive, and positive lens units. 1.5
US09400369B2

One holder of the first and second holders in an optical apparatus has first and second adjustment face groups. The first and second adjustment face groups respectively include a plurality of first adjustment faces and a plurality of second adjustment faces. The second adjustment face group is provided along a first rotation direction from the first adjustment face group. The other holder has first and second abutting portions respectively abutting against any one of the plurality of first and second adjustment faces. A position on the optical axis of an adjustment face arranged at an end in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction among the plurality of first adjustment faces is approximately equal to a position on the optical axis of an adjustment face arranged at an end in the first rotation direction among the plurality of second adjustment faces.
US09400365B2

A filter wheel assembly includes a filter wheel and an optical assembly. The filter wheel includes a plurality of viewing openings. The optical assembly includes an optical element secured within an aperture of a housing. The optical assembly is securable to the filter wheel at a viewing opening by a magnetic force. An optical apparatus includes an optical assembly receiver and first and second optical assemblies. The first optical assembly is securable to the optical assembly receiver and the second optical assembly is securable to the first optical assembly by a magnetic force to align the optical assembly receiver and the optical assemblies.
US09400358B2

An alignment jig for an optical lens array is furnished on an optical alignment apparatus. The alignment machine is for performing active optical alignment operations of a sensor chip located on a circuit board and a lens socket plugged with a fiber plug. The alignment jig includes a support arm, a pick-up mechanism and a pushing mechanism. The support arm is fixed to the optical alignment apparatus for supporting the alignment jig. The pick-up mechanism is furnished on the support arm for picking-up and holding the lens socket in a detachable manner at a predetermined position corresponding to the sensor chip. The pushing mechanism holds the plugging status when the fiber plug is plugged into the lens socket and provides a pushing force, such that the fiber plug has a tendency to be pushed toward and engage the lens socket tightly.
US09400356B2

A mechanism is provided for a fiber pigtail. The fiber pigtail includes a single mode fiber optic ribbon having a section of polymer ribbon removed to expose bare fibers, a fiber optic ferrule in contact with the single mode fiber optic ribbon at one distal end, and an integrated polymer lid permanently attached to the bare fibers of the single mode fiber optic ribbon at another distal end of the single mode fiber optic ribbon.
US09400355B2

An optical fiber fastening device holds an optical fiber which includes a core and a cladding layer surrounding the core. The cladding layer includes strips peeled from the core. The optical fiber fastening device includes a clamping member and a fastening sleeve. The clamping member includes a first and a second clamping portion buckled together to clamp the optical fiber, with one including at least one locating rod configured for being wrapped around by the strips, and the other including at least one locating hole receiving the at least one locating rod. The fastening sleeve sleeves over and holds the first and the second clamping portion together.
US09400350B2

Disclosed is an optical connection component manufacturing apparatus that manufactures an optical connection component in which a refractive index matching body is attached to a front end face of an optical fiber. The optical connection component manufacturing apparatus includes: a holding unit that includes a holding face holding a refractive index matching liquid including the refractive index matching body; a dispenser that supplies the refractive index matching liquid to the holding face; and a static electricity generating device that charges the optical fiber so that the refractive index matching liquid held on the holding face is adsorbed onto the front end face of the optical fiber, wherein the holding face has an outer peripheral edge connected in a curved line.
US09400347B2

A display device includes: a first light source which emits light; a second light source which emits light; a display panel which displays an image; a first light guide plate and a second light guide plate which guide, to the display panel, the light from the first light source and the light from the second light source, respectively; and a control unit which causes one of the first light source and the second light source to emit the light. A first divergence angle obtained when the light from the first light source enters the first light guide plate is larger than a second divergence angle obtained when the light from the second light source enters the second light guide plate.
US09400341B2

A multi-spectral detection device is provided that includes a housing, a bezel spacer, a microphone, an end cap and electro-optical sensors mounted to the end cap. The housing has an inner chamber that holds sensor components. The bezel spacer has a first end and an opposed, second end. The first end of the bezel spacer extends from a first end of the housing. The bezel spacer has a central bezel passage leading to the inner chamber of the housing. The bezel spacer further has at least four side walls. Each side wall is positioned 90 degrees away from an adjacent side wall. A microphone is coupled to each side wall of the bezel spacer in such a manner that each microphone is faced 90 degrees with respect to an adjacent microphone to form a compact acoustic array. The end cap is coupled to the second end of the bezel spacer and the electro-optical sensors are mounted to the end cap.
US09400340B2

Methods, systems, devices, and products for estimating at least one parameter of interest of a volume of an earth formation, including density, porosity, and fluid saturation of the volume. Methods may include normalizing radiation information relating to radiation emissions from a spatially distributed nuclear source and indicative of a property of the earth volume using a correction factor determined using an estimated lithology of the volume. The nuclear source may be in the volume. Radiation emissions may be generated by neutron irradiation of at least one nuclide in the volume. The correction factor may be determined using any of nuclear density of the at least one nuclide; an estimated concentration of the at least one nuclide in the volume; or a parameter relating to concentration of the nuclide in the volume. The emissions may include gamma rays.
US09400333B2

A survey meter according to the present invention is a portable radiation measurement device. The survey meter comprises a tip portion, an intermediate portion, and a grip portion. A display unit is provided on the top surface of the intermediate portion. The tip portion extends to the intermediate portion with a bent portion therebetween. The tip portion forms an inclined portion. The grip portion has a constricted portion. A radiation detection unit is provided inside the tip portion and is formed by a plurality of sensors arranged in the right-left direction.
US09400330B2

Disclosed herein is a system for detecting manipulation of a global time source such as a Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS) signal and mitigating against such manipulation. A plurality of receivers with geographical diversity receive GNSS signals, and calculate a time signal to be distributed to consuming devices. The receivers also communicate calculated time signals with other receivers. The receivers compare the time signals, and when a difference between the time signals exceeds a predetermined threshold, the receivers indicate that manipulation is likely. Such indication is shared across the network of receivers. The indication is further shared with consuming devices of the time signal from the compromised receiver. A second time signal that is not compromised may be shared with the consuming devices and/or used by the consuming devices. The consuming devices may modify their behavior when in receipt of the indication.
US09400309B2

An apparatus includes a probe card having a probe board with a conductive path electrically connected to a tester and probes enabling to respectively contact connection pads of a semiconductor wafer on a chuck top and moving relatively to the chuck top, and an elastic heat conducting member arranged between a working surface of the chuck top or the semiconductor wafer on the working surface and the probe board. The elastic heat conducting member can abut on the working surface of the chuck top or the semiconductor wafer on the working surface and the probe board when the probes do not abut on the respective corresponding connection pads and is elastically deformable not to prevent abutment between the probes and the respective corresponding connection pads.
US09400308B2

The systems and method described herein provide efficient (e.g., low power and low area) techniques to track performance in numerous supply domains with heterogeneous circuits that are used in a large system-on-a-chip integrated circuit (SoCs). The heterogeneous circuits can include circuits made with different devices, different cell libraries, and different hard macros that are in different power supply domains. Performance measurements from performance sensors (or process-voltage-temperature (PVT) sensors) that are spread about the SoC are collected and processed to determine voltage levels for each of the supply domains. A single controller can receive can determine voltage levels for a whole SoC. The performance sensors are connected to the controller by a scan chain. The techniques are flexible and can be easily adapted for use in SoCs with different power supply domains and types of circuits.
US09400306B2

An apparatus for determining solar cell characteristics includes a quantum efficiency measurement tool configured to measure an external quantum efficiency of the solar cell and a reflectivity measurement tool configured to measure the reflectivity of the solar cell. The apparatus also includes a capacitance measurement tool configured to measure the capacitance of the solar cell and a processor configured to calculate a diffusion length of the solar cell based on the measured quantum efficiency, reflectivity and capacitance of the solar cell.
US09400302B2

A leakage detector is provided with the addition of an output control circuit that monitors a circuit wire-to-ground voltage, which is at the root of a suffered operation and produced between a transformer B-class grounding phase of a monitored circuit and a D or C-class grounding electrode or a ground structure etc. of an electrical equipment connected to the grounding electrode, execute a phase judgment of a leakage current detected by a zero-phase current transformer on the basis of the monitored voltage, and stop an output operation of the leakage detector when the leakage current is a suffered current flowing from a load side L of the detecting zero-phase current transformer toward the power side K, i.e. the transformer and when the circuit wire-to-ground voltage exceeds an appropriately-established dynamic sensitivity voltage value.
US09400286B2

A sample analyzer comprises a reaction tray, a sample/reagent tray, and a probe. The reaction tray performs a first number of stops and rotations during an operating cycle, wherein the first number is configured to cause each of the reaction vessels to stop once at a position for the test before any of the number of the reaction vessels stops at the position for a second time. The sample/reagent tray rotates one of a sample container and reagent containers to a sample/reagent retrieving position during an operating cycle. The probe dispenses test sample(s), first reagent, and second reagent during different periods in different stop periods during an operating cycle. A method for analyzing samples is also disclosed.
US09400273B1

Described herein are compounds, methods, and kits for long-term tracking of cell proliferation, differentiation, and/or function. The compounds of the present invention are novel cell-tracking reagents, efficiently excitable with a 405-nm violet laser, that provide bright fluorescence intensity, uniform cell staining, and good retention within cells as well as low toxicity toward cells.
US09400270B2

One example of testing for water contamination in geographic areas to determine a risk of water contamination includes determining a risk of water contamination. A computer system receives identification of a geographic area in which a risk of water contamination is to be determined. In response, the system determines a number of potential complaints of water contamination in the geographic area by applying the number of one or more correlated sources of water contamination located in the geographic area. The system determines a risk factor representing a risk of water contamination in the geographic area based, in part, on the number of potential complaints. The system can provide the risk factor as the risk of water contamination in the geographic area.
US09400269B2

Systems and methods for detecting target chemicals are disclosed. A system includes a chemical sensor configured to filter light. The chemical sensor includes a referencing arm configured to output light at a first intensity level and a sensing arm sensitive to a target chemical. The sensing arm is configured to output light at a second intensity level. A difference between the first intensity level and the second intensity level indicates a presence of the target chemical.
US09400268B2

An electrolytic method for suppressing liquid eluent containing previously separated sample analyte anions, counterions to the sample anions, and non-sample anions suppressible to weak acids in an electrolytic device comprising a housing defining at least a sample stream flow channel and an ion receiving flow-through channel separated by an ion exchange bather. The sample stream flow channel includes an upstream channel portion and a downstream channel portion. A first current is applied across the upstream channel portion for substantially completely suppression. A second current is applied across the downstream channel portion at a magnitude of less than 10% of the magnitude of the first current.
US09400265B2

A switching valve is described that has a stator which is arranged in a housing and which has multiple connection ports. The switching valve also has a rotatable rotor which is arranged in the housing and which, in predetermined switching positions defined by associated angular positions, interacts with the stator for the fluidic connection or separation of predetermined connection ports. The rotor is rotatably mounted, and acted on with a predefined pressing force in the direction of the stator, by means of a bearing and pressing device arranged in the housing. The bearing and pressing device has a spring device which exerts a load on the rotor or on an element that is capable of performing a wobbling movement.
US09400264B2

An ultrasonic test equipment includes: a signal generating mechanism that generates a voltage waveform; an ultrasonic transmitting mechanism that excites ultrasonic vibrations having a lower frequency than a predetermined frequency to an object to be tested; an ultrasonic receiving mechanism that receives an ultrasonic response from the object to be tested; an AD converting mechanism that digitizes the received ultrasonic waveform; an analyzing mechanism that performs frequency analysis of the digital ultrasonic waveform digitized by the AD converting mechanism; an evaluating mechanism that extracts a variation of a nonlinear ultrasonic component from a frequency component of the digital ultrasonic wave obtained by the frequency analysis, compares the variation with defect data information in a defect information database, identifies a physical quantity of defect information of the object to be tested, and evaluates a defect in the object to be tested; and a control mechanism that partly or entirely controls a measurement system.
US09400258B2

This control device for an internal combustion engine includes: an exhaust purification catalyst that is provided in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine; a downstream air-fuel ratio sensor that is provided downstream of the exhaust purification catalyst; and an air-fuel ratio control device that controls such that the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust purification catalyst reaches a target air-fuel ratio. The downstream air-fuel ratio sensor is configured such that the applied voltage thereof at which the output current becomes zero decreases as the exhaust air-fuel ratio increases. If the target air-fuel ratio is richer than the reference air-fuel ratio, the voltage applied to the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor is set to a higher voltage than the voltage at which the output current becomes zero when the exhaust air-fuel ratio is the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. If the target air-fuel ratio is leaner than the reference air-fuel ratio, the voltage applied to the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor is set to a lower voltage than the voltage at which the output current becomes zero when the exhaust air-fuel ratio is the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. A control device for an internal combustion engine using an air-fuel ratio sensor that can reliably detect when the absolute value of the exhaust air-fuel ratio reaches a prescribed air-fuel ratio richer than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio is thus provided.
US09400256B2

A system may include a thermal camera and a computing device configured to receive master image data representative of a geometry and thermal response of at least one of a theoretical component, a fabricated gold standard component, or an average of a plurality of components; receive, from the thermal camera, thermographic image data representative of a thermal response of a tested component; morph the thermographic image data to substantially align with the three-dimensional image data and produce morphed thermographic image data; and output a representation based on the morphed thermographic image data for display.
US09400253B2

A system for in-situ spectroscopic measurements in heterogeneous catalytic reactors includes a reactor having a reactor chamber, a device for collecting a sample, and a device for collecting spectroscopic information. The device for collecting the sample includes a sampling capillary having an orifice situated inside the reactor chamber. The device for collecting spectroscopic information includes at least one optical radiation guide for guiding optical radiation onto the sample for excitation and for collecting optical radiation emitted, absorbed, reflected or scattered by the sample. The at least one optical radiation guide may be inserted into the sampling capillary, such that a tip of the at least one optical radiation guide is proximate to the orifice. A method for analyzing a reactor state including the steps of providing a reactor; collecting spectroscopic information from a sample inside the reactor chamber; and analyzing the collected spectroscopic information is also provided.
US09400241B2

A solute concentration measurement device is disclosed. The device may comprise a filter membrane, an exchange chamber, a sensing chamber, a separator, and a sensor. The device may be configured to be placed in fluid communication with a sample solution containing a solute and a solvent. The filter membrane may provide selective fluid communication between the solution and the exchange chamber. The separator may separate the exchange chamber from the sensing chamber and cause a change in a condition of the sensing chamber corresponding to a change of a condition of the exchange chamber. The sensor may sense the condition pertaining to the sensing chamber and calculate the concentration of the sample solution corresponding to this change.
US09400240B2

The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for measuring the density of a material. According to one aspect, a material property gauge includes a nuclear density gauge for measuring the density of a material. A radiation source adapted to emit radiation into a material and a radiation detector operable to produce a signal representing the detected radiation. A first material property calculation function may calculate a value associated with the density of the material based upon the signal produced by the radiation detector. The material property gauge includes an electromagnetic moisture property gauge that determines a moisture property of the material. An electromagnetic field generator may generate an electromagnetic field where the electromagnetic field sweeps through one or more frequencies and penetrates into the material. An electromagnetic sensor may determine a frequency response of the material to the electromagnetic field across the several frequencies.
US09400229B2

A method and an apparatus are disclosed for monitoring the state of a roller bearing. The apparatus includes a vibration sensor, configured to detect vibrations which occur during operation of the bearing, and to generate a first signal as a function of the detected vibrations. A diagnosis electronics system is configured to output an item of information about a state of the bearing on the basis of the first signal and at least one limit value stored in the diagnosis electronics system. A sound emission sensor is provided, configured to pick up noises, produced in the event of plastic deformation of the bearing at least in regions. A second signal is then transmitted to the diagnosis electronics system, taking into account the picked-up noises.
US09400221B2

A method for monitoring a torsional state of a cable having a central longitudinal axis, includes providing a cable including a torsion sensor longitudinally extending along the cable, the torsion sensor including a single-mode optical fiber arranged substantially along the central longitudinal axis of the cable, and at least three longitudinal structural elements, at least one of the longitudinal structural elements being an electrically conductive core, wherein the torsion sensor is mechanically coupled with at least one of the longitudinal structural elements; measuring a torsional state of the single-mode optical fiber by polarization-sensitive optical reflectometry; and associating the torsional state of the cable along the longitudinal axis with the measured torsional state of the single-mode optical fiber.
US09400217B2

Apparatus and method for thermally mapping a component in a high temperature environment. An optical probe (10) has a field of view (14) arranged to encompass a surface of a component (15) to be mapped. The probe (10) captures infrared (IR) emissions in the near or mid IR band. An optical fiber (16) has a field of view to encompass a spot location (18) on the surface of the component within the field of view (14) of the probe (12). The fiber (16) captures emissions in the long IR band. The emissions in the long IR band are indicative of an emittance value at the spot location. This information may be used to calibrate a radiance map of the component generated from the emissions in the near or mid IR band and thus map the absolute temperature of the component regardless of whether the component includes a TBC.
US09400215B2

A diagnostic system includes a semiconductor light emitter(s) configured to generate an input beam having a wavelength shorter than about 2.5 microns. An optical amplifier(s) configured to receive a portion of the input beam communicates an intermediate beam to an output end of the optical amplifier. An optical fiber(s) configured to receive a portion of the intermediate beam forms an output beam with an associated wavelength. A subsystem having lenses or mirrors receives a received portion of the output beam and delivers a delivered portion of the output beam to a sample. The delivered portion has a temporal duration greater than approximately 30 picoseconds and a repetition rate between continuous wave and Megahertz or higher. A time averaged intensity of the delivered portion is less than approximately 50 MW/cm2. A light detection system collects and analyzes a fraction of the delivered portion that reflects or transmits from the sample.
US09400213B2

A spectroscopic sensor that applies lights in a wavelength band containing plural wavelengths to an object and spectroscopically separates reflected lights or transmitted lights from the object using plural light band pass filters that transmit the respective specific wavelengths and plural photosensor parts to which corresponding transmitted lights are input based on output results of independent photosensors. The spectroscopic sensor may be integrated in a semiconductor device or module by integration using a semiconductor process and downsizing may be realized.
US09400210B2

A single aperture three channel optical system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the optical system includes a front optical group and a back optical group that is disposed in substantially close proximity to the front optical group. Further, the optical system includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a third sensor. The front optical group and the second optical group receives an object beam and splits into a reflected beam having first wavelengths and a transmitted beam of second wavelengths. Furthermore, the front optical group and the second optical group splits the reflected beam having first wavelengths into a transmitted beam having third wavelengths and a reflected beam having fourth wavelengths. The first sensor, the second sensor and the third sensor receive the transmitted beam of second wavelengths, transmitted beam of third wavelengths, and reflected beam of fourth wavelengths, respectively and produce the coaxial three channel images.
US09400203B2

A vibratory flow meter (5, 300) is provided. The vibratory flow meter (5, 300) includes a flow meter assembly (10, 310) including at least two vibration sensors (170L and 170R, 303 and 305) that generate at least two vibrational signals and meter electronics (20, 320) that receives the at least two vibrational signals, generate a new time difference (Δt) using multiple time difference measurements obtained for a flow material, and determine if the new time difference (Δt) is within predetermined bounds of an old time difference (Δt0).
US09400202B2

A modular gas level measuring device in a liquefied gas tank includes a plurality of modular float assemblies releasably connecting together. Each of the plurality of modular float assemblies includes a float. A sensing assembly releasably connects with the plurality of modular float assemblies and includes a biasing member subject to weights of the plurality of modular float assemblies and with an original length. The biasing member deforms from the original length thereof and has various deformed lengths with respect to displacements of the plurality of modular float assemblies.
US09400201B1

Rising water alarms include a generally elongated alarm housing having an alarm end and a detection end, an alarm circuit, a source of electrical current connected to the alarm circuit, an audible alarm carried by the alarm end of the alarm housing and electrically connected to the alarm circuit and a pair of spaced-apart sensor contacts carried by the detector end of the alarm housing and electrically connected to the alarm circuit. The sensor contacts activate the alarm circuit upon establishment of electrical contact between the sensor contacts by rising water.
US09400196B2

A method of detecting E-line loss in a disc stack centrifuge is provided, comprising: collecting data from at least one instrument associated with the centrifuge over a specific time period; calculating one or more indicators by comparing the collected data with expected values from a normally operating centrifuge, the indicators being indicative of a start of an E-line loss event; calculating the probability of E-line loss by applying weighted voting to the indicators to yield a probability value; and activating an alert upon determination that the probability value exceeds a threshold value.
US09400193B2

An antenna is adapted for receiving via a CDMA/1×RTT digital wireless cellular radio communications network incoming data from a client remote control station, and for transmitting via a wireless cellular communications network outgoing data to the client remote control station. A cellular modem is connected to the antenna for establishing a wireless telephony data connection, and a processor is connected to the modem for receiving and processing incoming data, and for processing and communicating outgoing data to the modem for transmission via the antenna and the wireless cellular communications network to the client remote control station. A communication interface, such as a WiFi hotspot, is connected to the processor and connectable to the meter for communicating incoming data from the processor to the meter, and for communicating the outgoing data from the meter to the processor. A power supply is connected for supplying power to the processor and the modem.
US09400188B2

A vehicle multimedia system simplifies a user's interaction with the system. A user may access a specific media unit by actuating a switch corresponding to a media unit. A preference unit detects the user's selection of the media unit and selects an end item based on a programmed criterion. The preference unit may automatically activate the end item. The preference unit may be overridden by the user when a switch corresponding to the selected media unit is actuated multiple times. The preference unit may also manage data lists and data packets that store the information used for the criterion comparison.
US09400183B1

An autonomous vehicle may access portions of a map to maneuver a roadway. The map may be split into one or more levels that represent different regions in space. For example, an overpass may be represented by one level while the road below the overpass may be on a separate level. A vehicle traveling on a particular level may use map data that is associated with that level. Furthermore, if the vehicle travels through a warp zone, it may transition from the current level to a destination level and thus begin to use map data associated with the destination level.
US09400179B2

A position sensing system including a waveguide, a magnet movable relative to the waveguide, and a compensator configured to compensate for a change in propagation velocity of the waveguide in determining a position of the magnet relative to the waveguide. The compensator coupled to the waveguide and configured to receive a pulse, an end of line pulse corresponding to the pulse transmitted through the waveguide, and a reflected pulse corresponding to a reflection of the pulse at a point in the waveguide. The compensator configured to determine the point based at least in part on the pulse, the end of line pulse, and/or the reflected pulse.
US09400169B2

A space-division multiplexing optical coherence tomography apparatus and system is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a light source, a reference arm, and a sample arm. The sample arm splits the sampling light into a plurality of sampling beams which may be scanned simultaneously onto a surface of a sample. An optical delay may be introduced into the sampling beams before scanning. A plurality of reflected light signals returned from the sample is collected. In one arrangement, the signals may be combined to produce a single reflected light signal. The reflected light signal(s) and a reference signal are combined to produce an interference signal comprising data representative of digitized images captured of the actual object. In one embodiment, a single sample arm may be used for scanning and collecting image data. A related method is also provided.
US09400167B2

A fiber-optic sensor can have a Michelson sensor portion and a Mach-Zehnder sensor portion. A first splitter-coupler can be configured to split incoming light between a first fiber portion and a second fiber portion. A first polarization-phase conjugation device can be configured to conjugate a polarization phase of incident light corresponding to the first fiber portion, and a second polarization-phase conjugation device can be configured to conjugate a polarization phase of incident light corresponding to the second fiber portion. Each of the first and second polarization-phase conjugation devices can be configured to reflect light toward a detector and through the respective first and second fiber portions. A coupler can be configured to join light in the first fiber portion with light in the second fiber portion, and a third fiber portion can be configured to receive light from the coupler and to illuminate a second detector.
US09400164B2

A magnetic field sensor provides an angle error value to correct errors of the magnetic field sensor. The angle error value is a function of temperature and magnetic field strength and is used to correct a measured magnetic field angle. Associated methods are also described.
US09400161B2

An optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe using lead zirconate titanate (PZT). In the OCT probe using PZT, a sine wave is induced from a vibrator made of a piezoelectric element, so that an image in which the scanning range is increased can be captured due to the vibration of the vibrator. A decrease in the vibration of the vibrator can be minimized by optimizing the position where the base fixes the vibrator.
US09400154B2

A releasable mount comprising two mounting posts that releasably engage into notches in the ends of a resilient, generally C-shaped bracket. The releasable mount is particularly useful to releasably mount an archery accessory such as an arrow quiver to an archery bow, tree or tree stand or the like. The arrow quiver may include a hood having an arrow retaining insert for receiving an arrow with a single-point or a 2-4 bladed broadhead. The quiver may also include an arrow gripper having a plurality of fingers whose sides define expandable oval slots between adjacent fingers into which the arrows are loaded.
US09400153B2

A combined stabilizer/quiver for a bow is provided that may store arrows and may also function as a stabilizer. The combined stabilizer/quiver may comprise a shaft that extends forward from the front side of a bow and functions as a stabilizer, and arrows may be disposed substantially parallel to the shaft and contribute to the stabilizing function. With two components combined into one, the bow has less weight, improved accuracy and precision, and greater versatility. Alternatively, a quiver is provided which is adapted to attach to a conventional stabilizer which is attached to a riser of a bow.
US09400145B2

A guide tube pitch adjustment apparatus for aligning distal ends of lance guide tubes in registry with tube openings in a heat exchanger tube sheet is disclosed. A guide tube pitch clamp assembly carried within and supported from a housing. The pitch clamp assembly has at least two V-blocks fastened to a threaded rod. One V-block is fastened to a portion of the threaded rod having right hand threads, and another V-block is fastened to another portion of the threaded rod having left hand threads. Each of the V-blocks supports a portion of one of the guide tubes, and a cross bar clamp within the housing is oriented to span across the V-blocks and adjustably hold the portions of the guide tubes in a spaced relationship such that spacing between the distal ends of adjacent guide tubes may be adjusted by rotation of the threaded rod.
US09400144B2

A heat exchange fill apparatus for use with a cooling tower that employs a support frame assembly. The heat exchange fill apparatus has a media fill pack that includes a fill pack media modules wherein a stake, prevents the modules from shifting with respect to one another. The modules are installed in a cooling tower of the like via a hanging fill support.
US09400140B2

A cooling tower including a hot-water basin comprising a first cooling cell and a second cooling cell; and at least one means for controlling fluid communication between the first and second cooling cells is provided. A method of maintaining the efficiency of a cooling tower and a method of servicing a cooling tower are also provided.
US09400138B2

A melting reduction assembly (1) has a melting gasification zone, including a packed bed (4) formed by solid carbon carriers and ferrous input materials, the zone has a lower section for receiving liquid pig iron (6) or raw steel material and liquid slag (7), a tap (9) for liquid slag and liquid pig iron. A plurality of oxygen nozzles (5) supplies oxygen. The nozzles are in at least two nozzle planes arranged spaced apart from each other and parallel in the vertical direction and horizontally distributed over the circumstances of the shell (10) of the melting reduction assembly (1) and arranged offset to each other in their respective nozzle planes.
US09400135B2

An apparatus and process for separating air by cryogenic distillation includes a heat exchanger, a column system having at least one cryogenic distillation column, a conduit for supplying the column system with cooled air from the heat exchanger, a storage tank, a conduit for removing a liquid from the column system and sending it to the storage tank, at least one pump, at least one conduit for sending pumped liquid from the outlet of the or each pump to the heat exchanger, at least one conduit connected to the outlet of the pump or at least one outlet of at least one pump and to a column of the column system, said conduit passing directly to the column without passing via the storage tank.
US09400121B2

A solar thermal lamp used for heating water inside a tank. The thermal lamp includes a transparent glass bulb with a threaded male coupling for attaching to a female coupling in the tank. The lamp also includes a heat tube with an enlarged water heating condenser. The condenser is received inside the tank. The heat tube can include a copper coil, copper fins, a glass coil, a copper lamp, a glass lamp, and the like for receiving solar energy and conducting the heat to the heating condenser for heating the water inside the tank. Also, the invention can be in the form of a solar thermal globe. The solar globe is self-contained and includes a water tank. Another embodiment of the globe tracks with the daily movement of the sun and change with seasons.
US09400119B2

A system and methods providing real-time monitoring, management and control of a variable frequency drive retrofit to a constant volume air handling unit without making significant mechanical or control system changes. Customers and vendors are provided with a more informative and economically attractive air handling unit. The system also provides a finer granularity of control over conditioned air properties such as temperature, humidity and air quality.
US09400115B2

A top plate unit includes a top plate on which an object to be heated is placed, an underframe for holding the top plate placed on an upper surface thereof, the underframe being adapted to be placed on an upper surface of a kitchen counter in a manner in which a lower surface of the underframe is held in contact with the upper surface of the kitchen counter, and a decorative panel 6 for covering an upper portion of an outer peripheral edge of the top plate. The decorative panel has an inwardly bent portion that has been formed by bending an outer peripheral edge portion of the decorative panel inwardly toward a lower surface of the underframe to hold the outer peripheral edge of the underframe.
US09400113B2

To provide a multifuel gas turbine combustor capable of combusting gases containing hydrogen in a high concentration with a low NOx while maintaining a low emission performance brought about by the pre-mixture combustion in the main burner, the gas turbine combustor includes a main burner (12) for supplying to and combusting a premixed gas (M), containing a first fuel (F1), within a first combustion region (S1) of a combustion chamber (10), and a supplemental burner (20) for supplying to and combusting a second fuel (F2) of a composition different from that of the first fuel (F1) within a second combustion region (S2) defined downstream of the first combustion region (S1) within the combustion chamber (10). The first fuel (F1) is of a hydrocarbon system and the second fuel (F2) is a gas containing hydrogen in a concentration exceeding the stable combustion limiting concentration of the hydrogen.
US09400108B2

An acoustically dampened gas turbine engine having a gas turbine engine combustor with an acoustic damping resonator system is disclosed. The acoustic damping resonator system may be formed from one or more resonators positioned within the gas turbine engine combustor at an outer housing forming a combustor basket and extending circumferentially within the combustor. The resonator may be positioned in a head region of the combustor basket. In one embodiment, the resonator may be positioned in close proximity to an intersection between the outer housing and an upstream wall defining at least a portion of the combustor. The acoustic damping resonator system may mitigate longitudinal mode dynamics thereby increasing an engine operating envelope and decreasing emissions.
US09400107B2

The current disclosure relates to a new fluid composite, a device for producing the fluid composite, and a method of production therewith, and more specifically a fluid composite made of a fuel and its oxidant for burning as part of different systems such as fuel burners, where the fluid composite after a stage of intense molecular between a controlled flow of a liquid such as fuel and a faster flow of compressed highly directional gas such as air results in the creation of a three dimensional matrix of small hallow spheres each made of a layer of fuel around a volume of pressurized gas. In an alternate embodiment, external conditions such as inline pressure warps the spherical cells into a network of oblong shape cells where pressurized air is used as part of the combustion process. In yet another embodiment, additional gas such as air is added via a second inlet to increase the proportion of oxidant to carburant as part of the mixture.
US09400105B2

This invention relates to a premix burner for operating a heat generator, the burner at least having a swirl generator, a mixing section downstream of the swirl generator and a transition piece for transferring the swirl flow from the swirl generator into the mixing section. The invention further refers to a transition piece for such a premix burner. The transition piece includes an inlet, connected to the swirl generator, an outlet, connected to the mixing tube, and a continuing flow limiting interior contour between said inlet and said outlet, wherein at least in an inlet section said interior contour is curved radially inwards towards the inner diameter of the mixing tube and wherein at the outlet the interior contour is flush with an interior flow limiting contour of the mixing tube.
US09400103B1

A refillable liquid candle includes a container; a nonflammable combustible liquid fuel disposed within the container; and a wick located in the container and having a portion of the wick disposed in the liquid fuel and an exposed portion of the wick located above the fuel and exposed to air for providing a flame site, the wick configured to transport the fuel to the flame site. The candle consumes the liquid fuel when ignited to provide a flame at the flame site, and the liquid fuel may be replaced by adding additional liquid fuel to replace the consumed liquid fuel.
US09400102B2

In a heat exchanger that includes an expanded part of a duct, a heat-transfer tube bundle accommodating duct, and a plurality of heat-transfer tube bundles provided in the heat-transfer tube bundle accommodating duct in a flow direction of flue gas with a distance therebetween, a bare-tube-part upstream-side regulating plate and a bare-tube-part downstream-side regulating plate at an upstream side and a downstream side of a bare tube part of each of the heat-transfer tube bundles and a plurality of regulating plates in an introducing unit arranged either in the expanded part of a duct or in the heat-transfer tube bundle accommodating duct on an upstream side to the heat-transfer tube bundle are provided. A drift at the bare tube part of the heat-transfer tube bundles can be significantly reduced.
US09400100B2

A light emitting diode (LED) module is in thermal communication with front and back heat sinks for dissipation of heat therefrom. The LED module is physically held in place with at least the back heat sink. A mounting ring and locking ring can also be used to hold the LED module in place and in thermal communication with the back heat sink. Key pins and key holes are used to prevent using a high power LED module with a back heat sink having insufficient heat dissipation capabilities required for the high power LED module. The key pins and key holes allow lower heat generating (power) LED modules to be used with higher heat dissipating heat sinks, but higher heat generating (power) LED modules cannot be used with lower heat dissipating heat sinks.
US09400094B2

A lighting apparatus may include a holding member, a lighting panel, and an attachment bracket for removably attaching the lighting panel to the holding member. The lighting panel may form a first position in which a light-emitting surface of the lighting panel and a light-emitting surface of a lighting panel are located substantially on the same plane with each other and a second position in which the lighting panel is pressed from its light-emitting surface side so that the attachment bracket pivots around a portion where the attachment bracket is attached to the holding member and the lighting panel is inclined with respect to the lighting panel. As the lighting panel forming the second position is moved in a direction away from the holding member the attachment bracket is released from the holding member, and the lighting panel forming the second position is readily removed from the holding member.
US09400092B2

The present invention refers to a multifunctional easy-to-install LED lamp, including a lamp shade, a lamp body and a base. The lamp body includes a base plate, and an upper surface of the base plate is configured with a positioning bump and a locking bump. The base includes a bottom plate, and a lower surface of the bottom plate extends downwards to form a surrounding wall, which is constituted by a left wall, a front wall, a right wall and a back wall. A lower edge of the front wall extends towards the back wall to form a front hanging plate, a lower edge of the back wall extends towards the front wall to form a back hanging plate, the front hanging plate has a front gap for holding the locking bump, and the back hanging plate has a back gap for holding the locking bump.
US09400086B2

An exemplary printable composition of a liquid or gel suspension of diodes comprises a plurality of diodes, a first solvent and/or a viscosity modifier. An exemplary apparatus comprises: a plurality of diodes; at least a trace amount of a first solvent; and a polymeric or resin film at least partially surrounding each diode of the plurality of diodes. Various exemplary diodes have a lateral dimension between about 10 to 50 microns and about 5 to 25 microns in height. Other embodiments may also include a plurality of substantially chemically inert particles having a range of sizes between about 10 to about 50 microns.
US09400084B2

A lubrication device is provided comprising a lubricant container (1) for containing a lubricant, an outlet opening and an adjustable release mechanism. The outlet opening is provided at a first end of the lubricant container (1) for releasing the lubricant. The adjustable release mechanism comprises, at a second end of the lubricant container (1), an insert (5) which is rotatable relative to the lubricant container (1) for setting a release rate of the lubricant. The lubrication device (1) further comprises a protective cap (6) comprising a hard cover (7). The hard cover (7) covers the insert (5) and the second end of the lubricant container (1). The hard cover (7) has a smooth outer surface and an inner surface comprising engaging means (9) for engaging with the insert (5), such that the protective cap (6) is rotatable together with the insert.
US09400080B2

One jack stand includes a stand assembly having a base and a tubular receiving member extending upwardly therefrom. A latch extends from the tubular member. A support bar having upper and lower ends is telescopically housed in a cavity of the tubular member. First and second sides of the bar each have multiple embedded slots. A third side of the bar has multiple holes with angled surfaces such that positioning the latch in any of the holes restricts the bar from moving upwardly yet allows the bar to move downwardly. An automatic lifting device is at least partially inside the cavity and imparts an upward force upon the bar. A stopper selectively interacts with the stand assembly and the bar to restrict the bar from moving downwardly, yet allows the bar to move upwardly. The stopper passes at least partially inside two of the slots to interact with the bar.
US09400078B1

Embodiments of the present invention can be categorized as aids and/or docking assemblies for handheld electronic devices. The docking assembly described herein serves at least as (a) an aid for holding and using handheld computing appliances, and/or (b) a protective case for handheld computing appliances, and/or (c) a stand for handheld computing appliances.
US09400076B2

The invention provides an all electrical autonomous pipeline isolation tool for use in offshore and onshore pipeline isolation; the electrical autonomous pipeline isolation tool comprising a first part and a second part, the first and second parts being moveable relative to each other, the electrical autonomous pipeline isolation tool also comprising at least one sealing member which is moveable between an unset condition in which the sealing member is disengaged and the isolation tool is able to travel along inside a pipeline to a predetermined location; and a set condition in which the sealing member is engaged against an internal wall of a pipline such that a seal is formed between the sealing member of the isolation tool and the internal wall of the pipeline; the isolation tool being moveable between the unset condition and the set condition under action of the first part and the second part moving relative to each other. The all electrical pipeline isolation tool of the invention is controlled using an Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) communications system.Advantageously, the all electrical pipeline isolation tool of the invention is completely autonomous, without the necessity for a hydraulic pump and motor, hydraulic accumulator, hydraulic valving, hydraulic piston or hydraulic piping and hydraulic control system.
US09400071B1

A gasket for preventing separation of interconnected pipes including a compressible body having a plurality of multi-sectioned metal segments partially embedded therein. The multi-sectioned metal segments are arranged in groups of two or more or as a continuous ring of segments. The multi-sectioned anti-slip segments are free to articulate according to the curvature of the outer surface of the spigot in a pipe joint. The presence of the multi-sectioned or articulating anti-slip segments increases the resultant segment density on large diameter pipes.
US09400069B2

A threaded connector for a large diameter tubular member includes a pin member having an external thread formed thereon with a first contact surface located on one side of the external thread and a sealing element located on the other side of the external thread, and a box member having an internal thread formed thereon with a first contact surface located on one side of the internal thread and a second contact surface located on the other side of the internal thread. The first contact surface of the pin member and the second contact surface of the box member correspond with and are configured to engage with each other, and the first contact surface of the box member and the sealing element of the pin member correspond with and are configured to engage with each other.
US09400063B2

A hydraulic control valve actuated by a diaphragm's integral spring whose thicker part acts with greater force to close the diaphragm and plug unit of the valve and whose thinner part may complete the closing motion so that the integral spring may weaken faster than linearly in relation to displacement of the diaphragm and plug unit. A snap seat supporting the plug may include a seat portion and a grip skirt portion integrally joined at an acute angle. A bracket and sliding guide may guide a helical rotor touching an indicator. Movement of the diaphragm and plug unit may rotate the helical rotor and the indicator without the indicator rising out of the valve. The cover may have an internal control passage in communication with a base of the valve to allow the cover to be installed horizontally and vertically conveniently and without disconnecting the control tubing above the valve.
US09400061B2

Fluid valve apparatus having enclosed seals are disclosed. An example fluid valve includes a movable flow control member positioned between an inlet and an outlet of a fluid flow passageway of the fluid valve. A retainer is removably coupled to the flow control member such that the retainer and the flow control member define a sealing cavity when the retainer is coupled to the flow control member. A seal is positioned within the sealing cavity to define a sealing surface of the flow control member. The seal has an inner core composed of a first material, where the core is substantially encased with a sheath composed of a second material different than the first material. The retainer clamps the seal to the flow control member.
US09400060B2

A pneumatically controlled assembly, system, method and device for the regulation of pressure of a gas as it flows in a pressurized line and including at least one loading valve which is set to respond to variations in pressure in conjunction with a pneumatically actuated process control valve so as to effectively regulate and maintain pressure of the gas in the pressurized line.
US09400055B2

A mechanical seal support system includes a bladder accumulator with a first connection to the top of the bladder accumulator and a second connection to the bottom of the bladder accumulator with a device that is responsive to the pressures at each of the first and second connections of the bladder accumulator for providing an output determined by the difference between the pressures. The mechanical seal support system further includes a display for displaying the output in a manner indicative of the volume of the fluid in the bladder accumulator relative to a predetermined volume.
US09400053B2

A mechanical seal has a stationary face and rotating assembly adjacent to the stationary face. The rotating assembly includes an upper bellows ring, a lower bellows ring and a runner between the lower bellows ring and the stationary face. A bellows extends between the upper bellows ring and the lower bellows ring. In preferred embodiments, the bellows is constructed from a perfluoroalkoxy polymer and is secured within the upper bellows ring and the lower bellows ring by a selected locking mechanism. The locking mechanism may include the use of crimp rings configured for a press fit engagement within the upper and lower bellows rings. Alternatively, the locking mechanism may employ locking rings configured for threaded engagement with the upper and lower bellows rings.
US09400048B2

A planetary drive having at least one set of first planetary gears on a planet carrier, which gears are disposed radially spaced apart from a central axis and of which every first planetary gear is in toothed engagement with a first central gear, wherein the central gear has the central axis as the axis of rotation thereof, and wherein each of the first planetary gears is respectively mounted on a pin so as to be rotatable about an axis of symmetry of the pin, wherein the pin has internally a lubricating channel extending along the axis of symmetry of the pin and is mounted at least on one side at the end in a planet carrier, and wherein the pin is seated at least on one side at the end of a cup-shaped sleeve seated in the planet carrier.
US09400044B2

A differential comprises a first side gear and a second side gear facing the first side gear. A pinion gear set can be between the first side gear and the second side gear. A cam plate comprises a ramped side facing a ramped side of the first side gear. A first lock plate comprises a first side abutting a second side of the cam plate. The first lock plate further comprises a toothed side. A second lock plate comprises a toothed side facing the toothed side of the first lock plate.
US09400038B2

A camshaft includes a carrier shaft to be mounted rotatably along a shaft axis and at least one cam pack or package axially displaceably disposed on the carrier shaft. The cam pack includes at least two cams and at least one adjusting member for axial adjustment of the cam pack. The cams and the at least one adjusting member are connected to one another in an axially adjacent configuration and can be mounted axially displaceably as a composite structure in a direct configuration on the carrier shaft by a rolling element guide with rolling elements. A cam pack or package and a method for producing a camshaft are also provided.
US09400028B2

A hydraulic pressure spring includes a hollow cylindrical cylinder having a threaded portion at one end thereof; a closure means which is threadedly engaged with the threaded portion at the one end of the cylinder and closes the one end of the cylinder; a closure means which is provided at the other end of the cylinder and closes the other end of the cylinder; a compressible liquid which is sealed in an interior of the cylinder and is pressurized to a predetermined pressure; a rod which is passed through the closure means movably in an axial direction A and causes the liquid in the interior of the cylinder to undergo a pressure rise as the rod enters the interior of the cylinder; and a piston disposed in the interior of the cylinder and attached to one end of the rod.
US09400027B2

An elliptical coned disc spring can be accommodated in a rectangular installation space, can yield non-linear load characteristics, and can reduce stress differences between a bending part at a long radial part side and a bending part at a short radial part side. An elliptical coned disc spring has a body in which an outer circumference is an ellipse in a disc shape. A hole is formed at the center of the body. The hole may have various shapes such as a circle, an ellipse, etc. The body has a long radial part 111 and a short radial part. A plate width of the long radial part is set to be greater than a plate width of the short radial part (that is, a>b).
US09400023B2

A guideway for a motor vehicle disc brake is configured to mount at least one brake pad in a slidable manner with respect to a brake disc along an axially oriented axis of sliding. The guideway includes at least one brake pad application element which is configured to act axially. The guideway is fixed to a fixed carrier, and includes an elastically deformable leg and a guide face that has a contact zone. The elastically deformable leg is configured to exert a constant elastic force. The guide face includes a damping element. The elastically deformable leg further includes a bent-over portion configured to contact the at least one brake pad such that the guide face is opposite a contact zone of the at least one brake pad.
US09400021B2

In some embodiments, an actuation system includes a plurality of threaded member portions, a plurality of roller nuts, a driving member configured to receive mechanical energy from a power source, a plurality of driven members, and a magnetorheological (MR) fluid disposed between the plurality of driven members and at least one braking surface. An output member may be coupled between the rotor system and either the plurality of threaded member portions or the plurality of roller nuts and configured to translate linearly in response to the threaded member portions advancing or receding within the roller nuts.
US09400018B2

The present invention provides improved clutch plates for use in wet friction pack clutches and brakes which exhibit greatly reduced flutter particularly at high rotational speeds. Friction clutches and brakes include a first plurality of circular clutch plates or discs coupled to a first member comprising a metal core plate having bands of friction material affixed to both faces. These clutch plates are interleaved with a second plurality of circular metal reaction plates which are coupled to a second member. The metal core plate of the first plurality of clutch plates includes a plurality of radial slots spaced about the core plate which extend inwardly a portion of the radial width of the clutch core plate. Different numbers of slots, different spacings and different configurations of slots provide reduced plate flutter with varying thicknesses of core plates and ranges of rotational speeds.
US09400014B2

A rail segment for a rotating assembly of a machine is provided. The rail segment includes a first surface configured to face a support structure of the machine. The rail segment further includes a second surface configured to face a roller of the rotating assembly. The second surface includes an arcuate shape along a circumferential direction with respect to a rotation axis of the rotating assembly. Furthermore, the second surface is substantially parallel along a radial direction with respect to the rotation axis of the rotating assembly.
US09400006B1

A pin that includes a head and a shank that extends from a shoulder of the head to a terminal surface. A primary channel is formed in a portion of the pin and extends from a portion of the head, along a longitudinal axis of the pin, into a portion of the shank. The primary channel includes a primary recess formed proximate each end of the primary channel. An installation channel is formed in a portion of the pin that extends from a portion of the primary channel, along a longitudinal axis of the pin, towards the terminal surface. The installation channel includes an installation recess formed proximate an end of the installation channel.
US09400005B2

A self-clinching fastener suitable for connection to a member having a shank of a diameter less than a head portion, the head portion having at least eight lands extending outwardly along the underside of the head portion spaced about the shank, each land having a face surface extending beyond the shank to a diameter less than or equal to the radius of the head portion, the width of the lands reducing from adjacent the shank toward the radius of the head portion. The fastener further includes an axial annular engagement groove having a diameter larger than the shank, the annular engagement groove axially extending from the lands to a retaining collar adjacent the shank, the groove adapted to relieve material of a member on installation by receiving material as the lands in the underside of the head portion mechanically interlock with the member.
US09400003B2

Disclosed is a hydraulic pump control system for minimizing flow loss by optimally limiting the discharge flow volume of the hydraulic pump when an upper swivel body is made to swivel abruptly. The hydraulic pump control system according to the present invention comprises: a swivel motor which is connected to a hydraulic pump; a control spool for the swivel motor, which controls the hydraulic fluid supplied to the swivel motor during switch back by means of a control signal for a remote control valve; an orifice which is provided on the furthest downstream side of a center bypass pathway; a regulator which controls the angle of inclination of the swash plate of the hydraulic pump; a swivel operation signal detection means which detects a swivel operation signal output from the remote control valve; an electronic proportional pressure reducing valve which outputs a secondary pressure proportional to the detection signal of the swivel operation signal detection means; and a shuttle valve of which the input sides are respectively coupled to the orifice and the electronic proportional pressure reducing valve, and the output side is coupled to the regulator.
US09399987B2

The invention relates to a method for controlling/regulating the boosting of a brake force of a brake system (1), in particular of a power-assisted brake system (1) of a motor vehicle, wherein the brake system (1) comprises a brake force booster (100) having an actuator (130) by means of which a variable additional force (F100) can be imparted to a master brake cylinder (200) of the brake system (1), wherein if a relatively high additional force (F100) is demanded, a partial volume of a brake fluid is discharged from a brake circuit (300) of the brake system (1) in such a way that the actuator (130) of the brake force booster (100) can be placed relatively quickly into a position in which it can impart a greater additional force (F100) to the master brake cylinder (200). The invention also relates to a brake force booster for boosting a brake force of a brake system (1), in particular of a power-assisted brake system (1) of a motor vehicle, having a gearing (120) which can be driven by an electric motor (110), wherein the gearing (120) has an actuator (130) by means of which a piston (210) of a master brake cylinder (200) can be actuated, and wherein the gearing (120) is a cam mechanism (120), in particular an asymmetrical cam mechanism (120), having a control surface (125) or a control groove.
US09399976B2

A fuel delivery system including a high pressure fuel pump assembly. The assembly includes first and second output fuel paths each in communication with a fuel pump chamber. A main pressure relief fuel path is in communication with the fuel pump chamber and includes a pressure relief valve. A first relief fuel path is in communication with both the first output fuel path and the main pressure relief fuel path. A second relief fuel path is in communication with both the second output fuel path and the main pressure relief fuel path. The first and the second relief fuel paths are configured to restrict fuel flow therethrough between the first and the second output fuel paths.
US09399975B2

A fluid injector includes a valve structure movable in the passageway between a first position and a second position. The valve structure includes a hollow tube having a longitudinal axis and a valve member connected to an end of the tube by a weld, with a weld zone being defined inside of the tube generally adjacent to the weld. The tube has surfaces defining a through-hole that is disposed transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube. The through-hole permits the fluid to enter an interior of the tube. Corrosion prevention structure is disposed in the tube between the through-hole and the valve member to prevent the fluid in the tube from accessing the weld zone.
US09399958B2

To accurately specify an EGR rate from an output value of an in-cylinder pressure sensor, a specifying method of an EGR rate in an internal combustion engine of the present invention acquires an output value of an in-cylinder pressure sensor at an intake stroke to calculate comparison data related to an in-cylinder pressure at the intake stroke from the acquired sensor output value. An output value of the in-cylinder pressure sensor at an exhaust stroke of the same cycle is also acquired to calculate comparison data related to the in-cylinder pressure at the exhaust stroke from the acquired sensor output value. Two comparison data are compared to specify the EGR rate of an air-fuel mixture provided for combustion from a difference between the values.
US09399955B2

A method and apparatus for local loop closure is provided. The apparatus includes a component for use in a gas turbine engine. The component includes at least one of an actuator and a servo-valve, at least one sensor, and an electronic module comprising controller electronics and memory. The electronic module is configured to receive and process commands for the at least one of an actuator and a servo-valve and queue received commands in an input buffer.
US09399951B2

Louver systems for gas turbine bleed air systems are disclosed. An example louver system may include a bleed system discharge opening arranged to vent bleed air from a bleed flow conduit and a plurality of pivotable louvers disposed proximate the discharge opening, the pivotable louvers being pivotable between a shut position and an open position. In the shut position, individual louvers may at least partially obstruct the discharge opening. In the open position, individual louvers may at least partially control a direction of flow of the bleed air exiting the discharge opening.
US09399935B2

In an oil pan inner tank valve structure, a disc-shaped float valve is arranged below a valve port that provides fluid communication between the inside and outside of a bottom wall of an inner tank, and a lower cover is arranged below the float valve. In addition, a center recess is depressed at a lower surface center of the float valve, and a lateral movement restricting pin is upright from the lower cover and is constantly engaged with the center recess by recess/protrusion engagement. The lower cover restricts a vertically movable range of the float valve. In addition, the lateral movement restricting pin restricts lateral movement of the float valve so that a top portion of an upper surface bulged portion vertically constantly faces an area inside a valve seat.
US09399931B2

Cogeneration method, according to which a hot source (2) produces steam that is released in at least one turbine (3) having a low-pressure steam outlet (5) linked to a condenser; at least a fraction (Q) of the steam leaving the turbine (3) is directed towards a Venturi thermocompressor (14) into which a fluid having higher pressure and temperature than the outgoing steam is injected, resulting in a fluid having higher pressure and temperature than the outgoing steam, and this mixture is directed towards a second condenser (21) where the heat of the mixture is transferred to an auxiliary fluid of a circuit (23) external to the thermodynamic cycle.
US09399929B2

A steam turbine plant of one embodiment includes a boiler to change water into steam, a high pressure turbine including plural stages of rotor and stator vanes and to be driven by the steam from the boiler, a reheater to heat the steam from the high pressure turbine, a reheat turbine including plural stages of rotor and stator vanes and to be driven by the steam from the reheater, a condenser to change the steam from the reheat turbine into water, a collector to collect water from, for example, the steam existing upstream of an inlet of the final-stage rotor vane in the high pressure turbine, and a path to cause collected matter in the collector to flow into, for example, the steam between an outlet of the final-stage rotor vane of the high pressure turbine and an inlet of the final-stage rotor vane of the reheat turbine.
US09399928B2

A steam power plant is suggested having, parallel to the low-pressure passage (VW1 to VW2), a heat reservoir (A) which is loaded with preheated condensate in weak-load times. This preheated condensate is taken from the heat reservoir (A) for generating peak-load and inserted downstream of the low-pressure preheater passage (VW1 to VW2) into the condensate line that contacts the feed water container (8). Thus it is possible to quickly control the power generation of the power plant in a wide range without significantly having to change the heating output of the boiler of the steam generator (1). A steam power plant equipped according to the invention can thus be operated with bigger load modifications and also provide more control energy.
US09399926B2

A circumferentially extending sealing band is located within sealing band receiving slots formed in adjacent turbine engine disks. The sealing band includes a plurality of seal strips forming overlap joints defined by overlapping end portions, each formed by a tongue portion extending from a seal face of one seal strip past a seal face of the adjacent seal strip, along a radially inward facing side of the adjacent seal strip. A joint gap is defined within at least one overlap joint between the seal face of the one seal strip and the seal face of the adjacent strip, and a spacer is affixed to the one seal strip and is located at a position within the joint gap between the seal faces to limit circumferential movement of the seal faces toward each other.
US09399921B2

A hub for mounting propeller blades has a plurality of mount locations for receiving propeller blades at a radially outer location. The hub has a piloting diameter centered on a center axis. The hub has a plurality of openings to receive a drive member for transmitting rotation/torque from an adapter. There are reliefs cut into the piloting diameter at locations circumferentially aligned with the openings.
US09399918B2

A blade for a continuous-flow machine is disclosed, especially an aircraft engine, whereby, starting from the middle section, the cross section of the blade tip is reduced with respect to the middle section, at least over a front partial section in the direction of the leading edge and over at least a rear section in the direction of the trailing edge, and a continuous-flow machine having at least one row of blades including such blades is also disclosed.
US09399915B2

A dumping system, for the dumping of material, in particular for the filling of a former strip mine, includes a conveyor belt with belt modules (7) suspended on cables and a traveling tripper (15), which is arranged traveling in the direction of conveying. The belt modules (7) are fastened by braced carrier cables (3) and suspension cables (5) fastened thereto in a mostly horizontal alignment. The traveling tripper (5) can travel on the belt modules (7). Furthermore, the slack of the carrier cables (3) may be compensated by a different length of the suspension cables (5), such that the belt modules (7) are aligned mostly horizontally. It is thus possible to span over the area to be dumped (for example, a pit) with cables and to dump material by the traveling tripper at all points of the bracing. Thus, it is not necessary to drive the dumped material.
US09399914B2

The invention relates to a bit holder for a road milling machine or the like, having a base part on which a bit shank and a projection are shaped, the projection comprising a bit receptacle, and the bit receptacle being constituted from a socket-shaped insert made of hard material. With a bit holder of this kind, good rotational behavior of the bit can be assisted and stable bracing thereof can be guaranteed, with little parts outlay, if provision is made that the bit receptacle is embodied as a stepped bore that comprises a first and a second diameter region, the first diameter region having a larger inside diameter than the second diameter region.
US09399913B2

A method includes drawing formation fluid from a formation into a pressure test chamber of a downhole tool while the downhole tool is positioned at a location within a wellbore. The method also includes, while the downhole remains positioned at the location, measuring pressure of the formation fluid drawn into the pressure test chamber and operating a first pump to route additional formation fluid from the formation through the downhole tool and out into the wellbore. Still further, the method includes operating a second pump to expel the formation fluid from the pressure test chamber and to mix the formation fluid with the additional formation fluid such that the formation fluid expelled from the pressure test chamber is also routed through the downhole tool and out into the wellbore along with the additional formation fluid.
US09399910B2

An inspection system and method for use in underground utility construction, especially underground boring operations, is provided. The inspection system generally includes a sensor, a sensor carrier apparatus, and an output device. The sensor is employed to obtain inspection data regarding the condition of a tunnel created in an underground boring operation. The sensor carrier is adapted to incorporate the sensor and connect to means for transporting the sensor through the tunnel. The output device receives an output signal from the sensor corresponding to the inspection data and presents it to an operator for interpretation and/or otherwise documents and/or records the inspection data.
US09399905B2

A method of treating a subsurface formation includes circulating at least one molten salt through at least one conduit of a conduit-in-conduit heater located in the formation to heat hydrocarbons in the formation to at least a mobilization temperature of the hydrocarbons. At least some of the hydrocarbons are produced from the formation. An electrical resistance of at least one of the conduits of the conduit-in-conduit heater is assessed to assess a presence of a leak in at least one of the conduits.
US09399904B2

A system and process for recovering oil from an oil-bearing formation. An oil recovery formulation that is first contact miscible with a liquid petroleum composition that is comprised of at least 15 mol % dimethyl sulfide is introduced together with steam or hot water into a subterranean oil-bearing formation comprising heavy oil, extra heavy oil, or bitumen, and oil is produced from the formation.
US09399882B1

A portable adjustable panel assembly provides end assemblies that include a plurality of adjustable hinged arms connected to a base element and a panel support element by hinge assemblies to support a panel and provide adjustable pivot of an attached panel 360 degrees about a longitudinal axis. Geometric recesses of the portable adjustable panel assembly components correspond to geometric ends of the hinge assemblies and access apertures in hinged arm ends allow the portable adjustable panel components to be releasably pivoted and repositioned, and then locked into a desired position relative one to the other. Panel positions relative to the assembly likewise are adjustable by similar manipulation of hinge assemblies corresponding to panel support element ends. The panel assembly can be collapsed into a substantially planar assembly for portability.
US09399877B2

Robotic apparatus cleans swimming pools and has road and pulley wheels with belts thereon, on opposite sides and drive motors that rotate a wheel on each side to move the frame along a pool surface. Pairs of outside wheels have friction surfaces to engage pool surfaces to also moving the frame. Forward and rearward brush assemblies are driven to brush the pool surface. Oppositely facing and angled duck bill valves allow water into free volumes in the frame and are covered by a filter bag for filtering out debris under the action of a dual pump assembly that pumps water out through a pair of outlet opening in a top of the frame. A computer processor controls the drive motors and pump assembly to move the frame along programmed paths and rechargeable batteries power the drive motors, pump assembly and computer processor.
US09399857B2

A reader writer (communication device) executes at least one of reading identification information stored in an IC tag and writing the identification information to the IC tag. The reader writer includes: a wireless control circuit that generates output for communication; a temperature sensor (temperature detector) that detects a temperature in an environment in which an RFID chip, balun, filter circuit, power amplifier, and coupler (elements for forming the wireless control circuit) are used; a temperature judging unit that judges whether or not the environment in which the element is used falls within a usable temperature range of the element based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor; and a wireless power supply controller that suppresses a supply of power to the wireless control circuit when the temperature judging unit judges that the element is not in the environment within the usable temperature range.
US09399853B2

A mobile digging and backfill system for removing and collecting material above a buried utility. The system comprises a mobile chassis, a collection tank mounted to the chassis, a water pump mounted to the chassis for delivering a pressurized liquid flow against the material for loosening the material at a location, a vacuum pump connected to the collection tank so that an air stream created by the vacuum pump draws the material and the fluid from the location into the collection tank, and at least one backfill reservoir mounted to the chassis for carrying backfill for placement at the location.
US09399852B2

A method of installing a support pile when refusal is encountered comprising the steps of: side drilling a ground surface proximate to a support pile to a predetermined embedment depth; thereby creating a void; driving the support pile to a predetermined embedment depth; and backfilling the void using a suitable filler material.
US09399847B2

A method for installing a self-supporting tower at a sea bed. An anchoring mechanism (32) is installed on the bed. A float (18) and a tubular pipe (68) are submerged and then driven towards the bed (12) to attach to one of the ends (72) of the anchoring mechanism (32), while the float (18) is fastened to the other (70) of the ends keeping the pipe (68) vertical above the anchoring mechanism (32). The tubular pipe (68) and the float (18) are supplied separately. The float (18) is kept submerged at a distance away from the anchoring mechanism (32). The tubular pipe (68) is suspended from the float via the other (70) of the ends of the pipe.
US09399835B2

A method to make pulp adapted for forming a corrugated medium, the method includes: cooking chips in a cooking vessel using a caustic carbonated pulping soda/caustic (SC) cooking liquor injected into the cooking vessel; fiberizing the chips discharged from the cooking vessel to form a pulp, and removing lignin from the pulp or oxidizing lignin in the pulp by injecting oxygen (O2) into the fiberized pulp.
US09399834B1

An odor removal assembly comprising a flexible bag that, when open, allows a user to place items into the bag's interior, and when closed, prevents a user from placing items into the interior of the bag. The bag may include a fastening mechanism for closing the bag. The assembly includes an ozone generator that generates ozone and expels the ozone through a conduit that extends between an outlet of the ozone generator and the interior of the bag. The assembly may also include an ozone destruction catalyst for removing ozone from the interior of the bag. In various embodiments, the odor removal assembly includes an automatic shutoff system for preventing the ozone generator from generating ozone gas if: the ozone level exceeds a pre-determined level outside of the bag, if the ozone level exceeds a pre-determined level within the interior of the bag, and/or if the bag is open.
US09399823B2

An immersion wand device for immersion into a receptacle containing an aqueous metal halide salt solution includes an elongated housing having a handle at a first end and an immersion head at a second end, at least two iridium-coated electrodes each disposed at a distance from one another within the immersion head, a control module to control application of electricity to cause the electrodes to be oppositely charged, and a sensor in communication with the control module for determining a concentration of free available chlorine in the aqueous metal halide salt solution. The control module controls the application of electricity to the electrodes in a manner to perform electrochemical activation (ECA) of the aqueous metal halide salt solution in the receptacle to create an ECA product solution and wherein the distance between the at least two electrodes is automatically adjustable during ECA in response to a measurement by the sensor.
US09399819B2

A deposition apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of reactors; a plurality of gas supply units connected to the plurality of reactors; and a plurality of plasma supply units connected to the plurality of reactors. Each of the plasma supply units includes: a plasma power supplier; a plurality of diodes connected to the plasma power supplier; and a reverse voltage driver connected to the plurality of diodes through respectively corresponding switches.
US09399813B2

Disclosed is a TiAgN coating layer, formed by subjecting a substrate having a surface roughness of about 0.05˜0.1 μm to plasma coating by periodically turning on/off an Ag source while a Ti source is continuously turned on in a nitrogen gas atmosphere, a TiAgN coating method, and a TiAgN coating apparatus.
US09399799B2

The invention provides methods and compositions, including, without limitation, algorithms, computer readable media, computer programs, apparatus, and systems for determining the identity of nucleic acids in nucleotide sequences using, for example, data obtained from sequencing by synthesis methods. The methods of the invention include correcting one or more phenomena that are encountered during nucleotide sequencing, such as using sequencing by synthesis methods. These phenomena include, without limitation, sequence lead, sequence lag, spectral crosstalk, and noise resulting from variations in illumination and/or filter responses.
US09399794B2

A method of detecting a target nucleic acid in a test sample utilizes a learning statistical classifier system to build a general linear classifier based on an amplification-dependent parameter for the target and the control nucleic acids, in order to classify the test sample as containing or not containing the target nucleic acid.
US09399791B2

Methods are provided for the prognosis, diagnosis and treatment of various pathological states, including cancer, chemotherapy resistance and dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease. The methods provided herein are based on the discovery that various proteins with a high level of sialylation are shown herein to be associated with disease states, such as, cancer, chemotherapy resistance and dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease. Such methods provide a lysosomal exocytosis activity profile comprising one or more values representing lysosomal exocytosis activity. Also provided herein, is the discovery that low lysosomal sialidase activity is associated with various pathological states. Thus, the methods also provide a lysosomal sialidase activity profile, comprising one or more values representing lysosomal sialidase activity. A lysosomal sialidase activity profile is one example of a lysosomal exocytosis activity profile. As such, the level of lysosomal exocytosis activity and/or lysosomal sialidase activity is predictive of a diagnosis and/or prognosis of cancer, chemotherapy resistance or dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease.
US09399788B2

The present disclosure describes a method capable of easily and rapidly inspecting the susceptibility of bacteria or fungi to an antimicrobial drug. The inspection method of the present disclosure is a method for inspecting susceptibility of bacteria or fungi to an antimicrobial drug using a micro-device having flow channels, including: incubating a mixture of the antimicrobial drug and a suspension to be inspected in the flow channels of the micro-device; and detecting bacteria or fungi derived from the suspension to be inspected in an observation area of the flow channels of the micro-device. The detecting step can be performed by detecting an increase or decrease in the number of or a change in shape of bacteria or fungi derived from the suspension to be inspected in the observation area by a microscope or the like.
US09399785B2

Methods for the improved acylation of chemical substrates using LovD acyltransferases, thioesters having acyl groups, and (i) thiol scavengers and/or (ii) precipitating agents are presented. An improved method for the production of simvastatin using (i) activated charcoal as a thiol scavenger and/or (ii) ammonium hydroxide as a precipitating agent is also presented.
US09399780B2

The present invention provides a method for producing a virus vector, which involves a step of culturing a cell capable of producing the virus vector in a culture medium containing a retinoic acid compound, a histone deacetylase-inhibiting substance and a substance capable of forming a chelate; and a culture medium for use in the production of a virus vector, which is characterized by containing a retinoic acid compound, a histone deacetylase-inhibiting substance and a substance capable of forming a chelate as active ingredients.
US09399775B2

The present invention provides RNAi agents, e.g., double stranded RNAi agents, that target the transthyretin (TTR) gene and methods of using such RNAi agents for treating or preventing TTR-associated diseases.
US09399773B2

This invention generally relates to a composition for developing novel anti-cancer drugs and/or vaccines and producing microRNA precursor (pre-miRNA) and/or its shRNA homologs/mimics/derivatives, and a method thereof. The present invention also relates to a use of a composition in producing novel prokaryote-produced microRNA precursor (pro-miRNA) capable of being delivered into human cells and processed by the cells into microRNA-like effectors to elicit specific silencing effects on certain targeted oncogenes, subsequently leading to a therapeutic result of tumor suppression and cancer therapy. Specifically, the method of the present invention includes inducing an expression of the pre-miRNA/pro-miRNAs, particularly human pre-miR-302, in prokaryotes through pol-2 or pol-2-like RNA promoter. Most importantly, the composition of the present invention is further a novel pre-miRNA-based drug that is capable of reprogramming the malignant properties of high-grade human liver cancers into a low-grade benign or even relatively normal stage—a mechanism called “Cancer Reversion”.
US09399772B2

A series of independent human-induced non-transgenic mutations found in an expansin gene (LeExp1) of tomato; tomato plants having these mutations in their LeExp1 genes; and a method of creating and identifying similar and/or additional mutations in the LeExp1 gene by screening pooled and/or individual tomato plants. The tomato plants of the present invention exhibit fruit that soften more slowly post-harvest without having the inclusion of foreign nucleic acids in their genomes.
US09399766B2

Provided are compositions comprising recombinant DNA polymerases that include amino acid substitutions, insertions, deletions, and/or exogenous features that confer modified properties upon the polymerase for enhanced single molecule sequencing or nucleic acid amplification. Such properties include enhanced performance with large nucleotide analogs, increased stability, increased readlength, and improved detection of modified bases, and can also include resistance to photodamage, enhanced metal ion coordination, reduced exonuclease activity, reduced reaction rates at one or more steps of the polymerase kinetic cycle, decreased branching fraction, altered cofactor selectivity, increased yield, increased accuracy, altered speed, increased cosolvent resistance, and the like. Also provided are nucleic acids which encode the polymerases with the aforementioned phenotypes, as well as methods of using such polymerases to make a DNA or to sequence a DNA template.
US09399760B2

A molecular marker for detecting a cancer stem cell in a cell mass which is a subject of interest, wherein the molecular marker can be detected in a cancer stem cell contained in the subject of interest but cannot be detected in a normal cell and a cancer cell that is different from a cancer stem cell; a method for determining the presence or absence of a cancer stem cell in a subject of interest by using the molecular marker as an measure; a kit for determining the presence or absence of a cancer stem cell, which comprises at least a reagent for detecting the molecular marker; a polypeptide encoded by the molecular marker; an antibody capable of recognizing an epitope of an expression product of a gene derived from the molecular marker; a nucleic acid capable of inhibiting the expression of the molecular marker; and a nucleic acid vaccine comprising a gene derived from the molecular marker.
US09399753B2

A method for cleaning residues from a semiconductor substrate during a nickel platinum silicidation process is disclosed, including a multi-step residue cleaning, including exposing the substrate to an aqua regia solution, followed by an exposure to a solution having hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide. The SC2 solution can further react with remaining platinum residues, rendering it more soluble in an aqueous solution and thereby dissolving it from the surface of the substrate.
US09399751B1

The present invention relates to a novel compound and its use as fragrance material.
US09399743B2

The embodiments disclosed herein can provide a process for converting a hydrocarbon feed. The process may include hydrocracking the hydrocarbon feed slurried with a particulate catalyst in a presence of hydrogen in a hydrocracking reaction zone to produce a hydrocracked stream, separating at least a portion of the hydrocracked stream, and passing the at least the portion of the hydrocracked stream through a thermal cracking heating zone at conditions effective for thermally cracking the at least the portion of the hydrocracked stream.
US09399736B2

To provide an optically anisotropic substance having a negative uniaxial phase difference film and a positive uniaxial phase difference film, and excellent heat resistance and sputtering resistance. The positive uniaxial phase difference film is formed in combination with a bifunctional polymerizable liquid crystal compound, the negative uniaxial phase difference film is formed in combination of the bifunctional polymerizable liquid crystal compound with an optically active compound having a polymerizable binaphthol moiety, and additional thermosetting treatment (postcure) is applied after the negative uniaxial phase difference film is photocured, and when glass transition temperature after the negative uniaxial phase difference film is cured is 85° C. or higher and 115° C. or lower, additional thermosetting treatment temperature is adjusted to 220° C. or higher and 250° C. or lower, and when the glass transition temperature is higher than 115° C., the additional thermosetting treatment temperature is adjusted to 200° C. or higher and 250° C. or lower.
US09399735B2

A mannich-base inhibitor for decalcification, a preparation method and application thereof are provided. The inhibitor comprises 10-80% mannich-base component calculated in the total weight percent of the inhibitor, while the rest is at least one compound selected from imidazoline inhibitor with molecular weight between 110 and 750, and alkynyloxy amine inhibitor. The mannich-base inhibitor component is prepared through mannich reaction with 1 mol organic polyamine containing three or more primary amine bases and/or secondary amine bases, 3-7 mol ketones, and 3-7 mol aldehydes. The inhibitor which can be effectively compounded and cooperated with oil demulsifying agent and oil decalcifying agent, have the advantages of stable property, strong absorbability, high film strength and film density with its inhibition rate exceeding 90%. The inhibitor is especially adapted for inhibiting the steel corrosion caused by the mixed medium of salt, acid and water from the desalination and dehydration apparatus of oil refinery below 160° C.
US09399733B2

A luminescent material, containing yttrium oxide, oxides of rare-earth metals, as well as aluminum, gallium and indium oxides in a ratio that produces compounds corresponding to the general formula: [(Y1-x-y-zCex(Ln-1)y(Ln-2)z]3-α(Al1-p-qGapInq)5O12-1.5α, where α is a value varying within the 0.20≦α≦2.80 range; x is cerium atomic fraction, in the range of 0.0010; p and q are atomic fractions of Ga and In in the aluminum sub-lattice. Their ranges are: 0
US09399732B2

Low-HF or HF-free processes for improving color stability of a Mn+4 doped phosphor of formula I include contacting the phosphor of formula I with a solution that contains hexafluorosilicic acid, and isolating a treated phosphor of formula I having improved color stability relative to an untreated phosphor of formula I Ax[MFy]:Mn+4  (I) wherein A is Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, R4 or a combination thereof; M is Si, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, Al, Ga, In, Sc, Y, La, Nb, Ta, Bi, Gd, or a combination thereof; R is H, lower alkyl, or a combination thereof; x is the absolute value of the charge of the [MFy] ion; and y is 5, 6 or 7.
US09399729B2

A method of servicing a wellbore in a subterranean formation comprising placing a wellbore servicing fluid in the wellbore and/or subterranean formation, wherein the wellbore servicing fluid comprises a viscosifying polymeric material, a breaking agent comprising an inorganic peroxide of a divalent metal M(II) characterized by the general formula MO2, and a break rate controlling additive comprising a M(II) soluble salt, a M(II) precipitating salt, a M(II) surface precipitating salt, a M(II) solution precipitating salt, or combinations thereof, allowing the wellbore servicing fluid to break, and flowing back to the surface at least a portion of the broken wellbore servicing fluid.
US09399724B2

Pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions and articles containing the pressure-sensitive adhesives are provided. The pressure-sensitive adhesives contain an (meth)acrylic-based elastomeric material prepared from (2-isopropyl-5-methyl)hexyl (meth)acrylate.
US09399723B2

A pressure-sensitive adhesive composition comprising a) a polymer-metal blend comprising at least one pressure-sensitive adhesive and at least one metal component melting in the temperature range from 50° C. to 400° C., and b) at least one fibrous, electrically conductive filler, the filler being present at least partly in the form of a bound fiber network with the metal component.
US09399707B2

A composite comprising a flame retardant, such as ATH and an expandable graphite is disclosed.
US09399684B2

A method for adjusting the average particle size of a spherical catalyst support, in particular a spherical catalyst support comprising a magnesium dihalide-ethanol-adduct, a spherical catalyst support obtained by the method, a solid catalyst composition comprising the spherical catalyst support, and the use of the solid catalyst composition for the polymerization of an olefins.
US09399675B2

Compositions comprising monoclonal antibodies raised against CAP37 (Cationic Antimicrobial Protein of Mr 37 kDa) and isoforms thereof, along with antigen binding fragments thereof, are disclosed. The antibodies are used in the diagnosis and early detection of Alzheimer's disease and Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
US09399666B2

The present invention relates to peptides having one or more stable, internally constrained α-helices, and that include a sequence that mimics at least a portion of the C-terminal transactivation domain of HIF-1α. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing these peptides and methods of using these peptides, for example to reduce gene transcription, treat or prevent disorders mediated by interaction of HIF-1α with CREB-binding protein and/or p300, reduce or prevent angiogenesis in a tissue, induce apoptosis, decrease cell survival and/or proliferation, and identify potential ligands of CREB-binding protein and/or p300.
US09399648B2

The present invention relates to modulators of ATP-Binding Cassette (“ABC”) transporters or fragments thereof, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator, compositions thereof, and methods therewith. The present invention also relates to methods of treating ABC transporter mediated diseases using such modulators.
US09399641B2

A compound with the formula I wherein: R2 is of formula II where Q is selected from OH, SH and NRN, and RN is selected from H, methyl and ethyl, as well as drug-linkers and drug-conjugates made from this compound.
US09399639B2

The present invention provides substituted azaindole prodrugs, methods of making said prodrugs, pharmaceutical compositions of said prodrugs and methods of using said prodrugs and pharmaceutical compositions thereof to treat or prevent diseases or disorders such as cancer.
US09399637B2

The present invention provides novel heteroaryl compounds, pharmaceutical acceptable salts and formulations thereof useful in preventing, treating or lessening the severity of a protein-mediated disease. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising such compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of protein kinase-mediated disease.
US09399634B2

The invention relates to the compounds of formula I or its pharmaceutical acceptable salts, as well as polymorphs, solvates, enantiomers, stereoisomers and hydrates thereof. The pharmaceutical compositions comprising an effective amount of compounds of formula I, and methods for treating or preventing depression may be formulated for oral, buccal, rectal, topical, transdermal, transmucosal, intravenous, parenteral administration, syrup, or injection. Such compositions may be used to treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety, neurological diseases, general anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, vasomotor symptoms, diabetic neuropathy, epilepsy, bipolar disorder, migraine, schizophrenia, cancer, menopause, HIV and familial adenomatous polyposis.
US09399630B2

Provided herein are novel, commercially viable and industrially advantageous processes for the preparation of benzofuran-2-carboxamide derivatives and their intermediates, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in high yield and purity. Provided particularly herein are novel, commercially viable and industrially advantageous processes for the preparation of vilazodone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in high yield and purity. Provided also herein is an improved and commercially viable process for the preparation of 3-(4-hydroxybutyl)-1H-indole-5-carbonitrile, in high yield and purity, using novel intermediate compound 3-(4-hydroxybutyryl)-1H-indole-5-carbonitrile.
US09399622B2

Polymerization inhibitor compositions are provided. The polymerization inhibitor compositions may include at least one hydroxylamine of a nitroxide and at least one phenylenediamine. Methods of inhibiting the unwanted polymerization of monomers are also provided. The methods include adding the presently disclosed polymerization inhibitor compositions to a fluid containing the monomers. The monomers may be ethylenically unsaturated monomers, such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrolein, methacrolein, acrylate, methacrylate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, vinyl acetate, butadiene, ethylene, propylene, and styrene.
US09399619B2

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention comprise sulfamoylbenzamide derivative useful as pregenomic RNA encapsidation inhibitors, useful for the treatment of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
US09399610B2

A continuous process for converting carbohydrates to ethylene and propylene glycol. The carbohydrates are mixed with water and passed through a reactor at a temperature that hydrolyzes the carbohydrate mixture at least partially to monosaccharides. The reactor has a first zone comprising a retro-aldol catalyst and a second zone comprising a reducing catalyst. The aldose is converted in the first zone into glycolaldehyde by the retro-aldol catalyst and the glycolaldehyde, in the presence of hydrogen, is converted to ethylene glycol in the second zone of the reactor. The reaction products are removed from the reactor and the ethylene glycol is recovered. The selectivity to propylene glycol can be enhanced via feeding ketose as the carbohydrate.
US09399609B2

The present process relates to a method for minimizing the formation of 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane in a liquid phase reaction of 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and HF in the presence of a hydrofluorination catalyst comprising: (a) reacting HF with sufficient amount of 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene in the presence of a hydrofluorination catalyst under conditions effective to form 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane, the hydrofluorination catalyst being present in sufficient amounts to catalyze said reaction and the 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane being formed with both a conversion of greater than 80% and a 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane selectivity lower than 20%; and (b) maintaining the 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane being formed with both a conversion of about 80% or more and a 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane selectivity of about 20% or less by adding said hydrofluorination catalyst to the reactor in small increments.
US09399604B2

A process for making an alkylate is presented. The process includes mixing an isoparaffin stream with an olefin stream in an alkylation reactor. The alkylation reactor includes a catalyst for performing the reaction. The catalyst is an ionic liquid that is a quaternary chloroaluminate based ionic liquid, and the reaction is performed at or near ambient temperatures.
US09399593B2

A method of forming a glass article includes drawing a glass ribbon from a draw housing in a downstream direction, heating portions of only a bead of the glass ribbon to form compressive stress regions in the bead, scoring the glass ribbon to form a score line on which the glass ribbon is broken. The bead is heated at a position upstream from the score line. An apparatus for manufacturing a glass article includes a draw housing for forming a glass ribbon having a bead, a heating apparatus with a heat source for forming compressive stress regions in portions of only the bead of the glass ribbon, and a scoring apparatus that forms a score line on which the glass ribbon is broken to form the glass article. The heat source moves downstream simultaneously with the glass ribbon.
US09399580B2

Granules of graphene oxide may be produced from a dispersion of nanoscale graphene oxide sheets by a spray drying method. Such granules have a three-dimensional corrugated morphology. The complexity of the corrugations, and the size distribution of the granules can be varied through selection of the spray-drying equipment used, and variation of the composition of the dispersion and the spray-drying parameters. Structural modifiers may be included in the graphene oxide dispersion to control the ultimate morphology of the granules. The granules of graphene oxide may be thermally reduced at a moderate temperature of 220° C. to increase the granules' electrical conductivity. The reduced granules may be used to fabricate electrodes for supercapacitors. The power and energy density of such an electrode material is comparable to those of conventional/commercial activated carbon-based electrodes.
US09399568B2

An arrangement for dispensing an additive into a liquid stream is provided. The arrangement includes a conduit for guiding a liquid stream and a dosing device. An opening is provided through a wall of the conduit. The dosing device is arranged at the opening of the conduit for dispensing an additive into the stream through the opening. The dosing device extends above the conduit. The conduit and the dosing device are arranged such that a vertical distance is defined between the dosing device and the liquid stream to prevent direct contact between them when in use. A refrigerator door that includes the arrangement and a method of dispensing an additive into a liquid stream are also provided.
US09399565B2

A method is used for synchronizing the speed of a hydraulic crane drive having at least one hydraulic consumer, which is fed with a variable volumetric rate of flow by way of at least one hydraulic variable displacement pump. The at least one hydraulic variable displacement pump is driven by way of a drive unit of the crane. By way of the crane control system, a swashplate angle of the at least one variable displacement pump is open and/or closed loop controlled as a function of the demanded volumetric flow rate for at least one consumer and/or on the basis of one additional parameter.
US09399561B2

A drive roll carrier is provided for use with a wire feeder for a welder that includes a hub that can be rotated by a gear and that may include at least one lug that extends longitudinally along and radially out from the hub and at least one retainer that extends from an outer surface of the hub. The retainer may be fixed in a longitudinal direction with respect to the hub and may be movable in a radial direction for allowing mounting of a drive roll onto the hub. An outer end of the lug may include an alignment segment that has a different profile shape than the rest of the lug to facilitate alignment of a mounting groove of the drive roll with the lug.
US09399557B1

Methods and devices for measuring attributes of objects such as containers and container content without opening the containers are disclosed. Measurements of containers are obtained during conveyance via conveyor. For example, a sensor, such as a pressure sensing system, may measure pressure or contact between the container and the conveyor conveying the container. The measurements may be analyzed to determine characteristics of the container such as the weight, weight distribution and/or dimensions of the container. The conveyor may be configured to jostle the container such that an inertial property of the container and/or container content may be measured and analyzed. The measurements obtained may be used to ascertain a problem or characteristic of the container and/or container content without opening the container, such as damage, packing condition, number of units, presence of liquids, and the like. The method and device may be used through a materials handling facility.
US09399555B2

A conveyor module for a reverse vending machine, which is mountable to a docking unit, and includes at least one conveyor belt; a housing for supporting the at least one conveyor belt, and a force receiving element for receiving a driving power for driving the at least one conveyor belt, which force receiving element is accessible from outside of the conveyor module through an opening in the housing. Further, a docking unit for a conveyor module of a reverse vending machine includes a housing, and a force feed element for outputting a driving power to the conveyor module, which force feed element is accessible from outside of the docking unit through an opening in the housing.
US09399554B2

An overhead conveyor, components therefor and method for making same, in which the conveyor chain has a nominal pitch “X,” bit a maximum allowable chain pull value which is equal to or greater than the maximum allowable chain pull value for a chain having a nominal pitch of X+1. Trolleys can be attached to the chain at intervals which differ from the intervals of a chain with pitch of X+1. Fewer synchronized drives are required for driving longer chains. A lower pitch chain can be used to drive larger trolleys, without sacrificing the maximum allowable chain pull value always used in conjunction with the larger trolley.
US09399540B2

A dispensing container includes a plurality of sheets of products stored within a housing. The container includes a dispensing orifice having a length that extends along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end. In particular embodiments, the dispensing orifice has a maximum width disposed not less than 20% and not more than 49% of the distance from the first end to the second end, a midpoint width disposed halfway between the first end and the second end, the midpoint width being less than the maximum width, and a third width disposed 80% of the distance from the first end to the second end, the third width being no greater than 80% of the maximum width. In particular embodiments, the dispensing orifice is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis but asymmetrical about a transverse axis. In particular embodiments, the dispensing orifice has an ovoid shape.
US09399537B1

An exemplary device for semi-solid foods includes a separator for insertion in a food container having an optional lid. The separator provides an upper compartment for solid foods and a lower compartment for liquids. The separator has a base, and a ramp extending upwards therefrom. The separator preferably provides a barrier such that liquid in the container does not traverse the intersection between the separator and the container sidewall inner surface. When the container is tilted to dispense the food therein, liquid in the lower compartment flows out through a ramp opening (such as an aperture in the ramp or a separation between the ramp and the container sidewall), without flowing through a base aperture. When the container is returned to a level position, any fluid in the upper compartment may return to the lower compartment via an optional fluid channel in the ramp and through the base aperture.
US09399531B2

A sheet interleaver is provided for a slicing machine that includes a slicing plane for slicing an elongated food product and a sheet from web material beneath the elongated product. The interleaver includes a supply of web material, a drawing station, a feed station, and a controller. The drawing station has a first driver for drawing web material from the supply. The feed station has a second driver for receiving web material from the drawing station and driving the web material through a cutting nip into the slicing plane. The controller is in signal-communication with at least one of the first and second drivers to drive web material at select differential speeds by the first and second drivers such that tension between the drawing station and the feed station is controlled to allow a slackened length of web material between the drawing station and the feed station.
US09399530B2

A system for moving heavy objects about a manufacturing yard is provided. In one embodiment, the system can include a pair of rails disposed on the ground of the manufacturing yard; a plurality of multi-ton rollers configured to mate with the rails, each multi-ton roller configured to be attached to a movable platform which is configured to accept a packed column section; and a winch disposed between the pair of rails and secured to the ground of the manufacturing yard, the winch having a spool of cable with one end configured to be attached to the movable platform, the winch configured to apply a force to cause the movable platform to travel about a length of the pair of rails.
US09399521B2

The invention concerns an aircraft propulsion control system for an aircraft with a plurality of gas turbine engines mounted at different spaced positions relative to an airframe. One or more sensor is arranged to sense a condition indicative of vapor trail formation by an exhaust flow from one or more of the plurality of engines. A controller is arranged to be responsive to thrust demand for the aircraft and selectively to control each of the engines so as to modify the exhaust flow of at least one engine relative to at least one further engine according to the positions of the engines on the airframe. The proximity of an engine to a vortical wake flow created by the airframe may be used to determine suitable exhaust flow modifications. The controller may output a separate throttle control signal to each engine and/or may adjust the fuel composition supplied to each engine.
US09399514B2

An aerial delivery system is configured to allow delivery of one or more releasable items after the system is extracted from an aircraft. One or more linear guidance devices and releasable securing mechanisms allow the aerial delivery system to deploy one or more releasable items at an appropriate time. The releasable securing mechanisms may utilize one or more rotatable latch plates. The one or more releasable items may be deployed simultaneously, or in a staged or staggered fashion. Through use of drag or lift-producing devices, the system may be recovered and reused. The attitude and/or azimuth orientation of the system may be varied prior to, during, and/or after release of a releasable item.
US09399512B2

According to one embodiment, a bearing is situated in a rotor system. The bearing features a housing having a first opening therethrough, a first member disposed within the first opening and having a second opening therethrough, and an elastomeric bearing disposed within the second opening and having a third opening therethrough configured to receive a shaft. The first member having at least one substantially curved surface. A sliding element bearing disposed between the housing and the first member.
US09399507B2

A method of forming a direct bearing joint includes providing a load bearing structure including a first structural feature having an arcuate shape and providing a composite skin including a second structural feature also having an arcuate shape. The method also includes coupling the first structural feature to the second structural feature such that the first and second structural features are mated against each other to facilitate distributing compressive loads induced into the load bearing structure into the composite skin.
US09399506B2

A self transportable aerostat system comprising: a first motorized mooring truck; a mooring tower removably attached to a base assembly of the first mooring truck, generally vertically arranged in relation to the bed of the first mooring truck; a proximal and distal boom deck removably attached to the base assembly; a flying sheave for redirecting a tether carried by the base assembly and attachable to an aerostat; a second motorized mooring truck attachable to the outer edge of the distal boom; and, an aerostat truck having an electrical connection for connecting to the first mooring truck and having an aerostat storage compartment for storing the aerostat is a retracted configuration.
US09399504B2

An aerodynamic wingsail and mast assembly, which does not utilize a boom or gaff, and which is simply designed to include a singular sailcloth and resilient bow rod which are removably attached to a free standing mast. The bow rod includes a pair of open-ended brackets to engage the mast, and is positioned in a curved sleeve on the trailing edge of the sailcloth. The sailcloth includes a forward sleeve for receiving the mast. Flanges on the mast engage the brackets, and the sailcloth is simply slid off the mast by releasing the brackets and tension of the bow rod. Alternative embodiments are described for 3 dimensional wingsails.
US09399498B2

A foot pedal structure for a saddle-type vehicle for preventing peripheral components in the periphery of a brake pedal from being damaged even though the brake pedal and the peripheral components are not widely spaced from each other. A brake pedal includes at least an arm extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle from a step support member and a pedal member mounted on a distal end of the arm and extending in a vehicle widthwise direction. An upward extension in the form of a plate member extends upwardly from a treading surface of the pedal member and is disposed on an inner end of the pedal member in the vehicle widthwise direction.
US09399493B1

An air deflector device configured for mounting on the hood of a motor vehicle adjacent a windshield for deflecting air away from the windshield as the vehicle moves rapidly forward. This deflector device comprises an elongate deflector member configured to be mounted substantially horizontally on the hood of the vehicle, transverse to its central, longitudinal axis (the deflector member having a forward edge and a rearward edge when so mounted); and a hinge on the forward edge of the deflector member to enable the rearward edge of the member to be raised and lowered in front of the windshield. A drive or spring bias mechanism may also be provided to raise and lower the member between a first position in which it is substantially parallel (e.g., flush) with the surface of the hood and a second position, with the rearward edge raised, in which the member deflects air upwards and away from the windshield.
US09399486B2

The turning amount of a turning unit is controlled according to the steering amount of a steering unit mechanically uncoupled from the turning unit. A steering reaction force characteristic in which the larger the self-aligning torque, the larger the steering reaction force is set on coordinates with the self-aligning torque and the steering reaction force as coordinate axes. When the steering reaction force corresponding to the self-aligning torque is applied to the steering unit based on the steering reaction force characteristic, the steering reaction force characteristic is offset on the coordinates in such a direction that the closer the lateral position of an own vehicle to a white line, the larger the absolute value of the steering reaction force.
US09399485B2

There is provided an electric power steering system that makes it possible to reduce an uncomfortable feeling given to a driver even when current feedback control is executed in a state where a detected steering torque value is held. The electric power steering system includes a torque sensor that outputs a detection signal corresponding to a steering torque; and a controller that controls driving of a motor. The controller computes a detected steering torque value based on the detection signal from the torque sensor, and executes current feedback control for causing an actual current value of the motor to follow a current command value based on the detected steering torque value. When the detected steering torque value is held, the controller makes a feedback gain of the current feedback control smaller than a feedback gain that is used when the detected steering torque value is not held.
US09399478B2

A compact collapsible stroller includes a mobile base provided with front and rear wheels. A push handle is coupled to the mobile base.
US09399472B2

A vehicle control system including human-control members generating signals for manual piloting of actuators of the vehicle, an automatic control module generating signals for automatic piloting of the actuators of the vehicle, and a switching module to select the manual-piloting signals in a manual mode of operation and the autonomous-piloting signals in an autonomous mode of operation. The automatic control module includes a block for automatic formulation of at least one calculated autonomous piloting signal and a security block to transmit to the switching module a calculated autonomous piloting signal in a case of normal autonomous operation and an emergency autonomous piloting signal in a case of abnormal autonomous operation.
US09399451B2

A system for tracking a path of a motor vehicle, the system including: an instantaneous speed sensor on each wheel of front and rear axle systems; a mechanism to calculate speed loss between wheels of a single axle system; a mechanism to calculate difference between the speed losses of each axle system; and a mechanism to compare the difference with a stored threshold value. A method for tracking a path of a motor vehicle includes: calculating speed losses for wheels of front and rear axle systems; calculating speed loss difference between each front and rear axle system; and comparing the speed loss difference with a stored threshold value.
US09399449B2

A vehicle travel control device includes a control instruction value calculation unit, a driver acceleration intent quantification unit, and a control instruction value correction determination unit that determines whether correction of a control instruction value is required in response to a quantified driver's acceleration intent. The vehicle travel control device also includes a control instruction value correction unit that corrects the control instruction value in response to a correction determination result of the control instruction value correction determination unit. The driver acceleration intent quantification unit quantifies the driver's acceleration intent using an integral value of the longitudinal jerk occurring according to the brake operation of the driver.
US09399443B2

A pedestrian protection apparatus for use with a motor vehicle having a windshield, a cowl and an engine hood is provided. The apparatus includes a deployable hood extender, movable between a stowed position within or beneath the hood and a deployed position, wherein the hood extender substantially overlaps the cowl or an area of increased component stiffness rearward of the vehicle hood and beneath at least a portion of the windshield. The hood extender may include a positional control portion, an energy absorbing portion, a bending control feature, and softened edges. The hood extender may be a single moveable panel or may comprise a plurality of moveable panels, strips or rod-like elements, wherein the plurality of elements may be rigidly or pivotally attached to one another for linear or rotational displacement between stowed and deployed positions. The hood extender may be an expandable lattice structure. An actuation lock is included.
US09399442B2

An assembling apparatus of a curtain airbag in a vehicle includes an inflator and an airbag cushion. The airbag cushion includes a body part configured to be unfolded if necessary to protect a passenger, an inlet configured to transmit air from the inflator into the body part, and a first extending part having a predetermined length and extending from the inlet towards the inflator side of the inlet. Also included are at least one bracket on which the inflator is supported and at least one fixed member configured to fix the inflator, enclosing an outside of the inflator.
US09399440B2

In a side air bag of a vehicle side air bag device, a front bag portion and a rear bag portion are partitioned by a tether portion. A plurality of gas feed openings is formed in the tether portion. Further, a forward extending portion is extended from an upper end of the rear bag portion toward an upper end side of the front bag portion. The forward extending portion and the front bag portion are partitioned by a seam portion.
US09399439B2

In a vehicle side air bag device, an air bag is fixed to a side frame portion of a seatback frame via an inflator at a fixed part set in a rear end of a vertically intermediate part. An upper insertion portion into which an upper end of a reaction plate is inserted is formed on an upper-part side in a rear end of the air bag, and a lower insertion portion into which a lower end of the reaction plate is inserted is formed on a lower-part side in the rear end of the air bag. The reaction plate is modularized with the air bag, the inflator, and so on, and is fixed to the side frame portion via the inflator.
US09399438B2

A vehicle front structure includes a bumper beam formed as a hollow body having open ends, and elongation members received within the open ends and extending laterally outward.
US09399436B2

The disclosure relates to a sound reduction system comprising a sound reduction device. The sound reduction device comprises a sound reducing material. The system further comprises a channel wherein a gaseous medium is arranged to flow. The sound reduction device is mounted inside the channel, thereby placing the sound reducing material inside the channel.
US09399432B2

This invention relates to a mechanism for attaching shelving, hooks, and organizers to a vehicle seatback. The attachment mechanism fits over the vehicle seat headrest posts, providing stability to the shelving, hooks, or organizers. The mechanism is formed as a single piece, thus it can be installed and removed without any additional components such as screws, bolts, straps, or other parts.
US09399423B2

An anchor detachably connects a wheelchair securement apparatus to a support surface within a motor vehicle and includes a plate having a top surface defining an opening therein, a receiving member secured to the plate and defining an elongated bore to receive and engage a pin coupled to the wheelchair securement apparatus, a plunger within and axially movable along the bore, and a first biasing member between a bottom surface of the plunger and a wall of the bore. The plate and the receiving member are together mountable to the support surface. The first biasing member acts against the bottom surface of the plunger to bias the plunger away from the wall of the bore toward the opening defined through the plate, and the plunger movable toward the wall of the bore against a biasing force of the first biasing member.
US09399421B2

A hinge includes a first frame, a second frame, a bolt, a gear, an adjusting nut, a spring component, a shield, and an engaging component, the first frame has two first clamping portions for clamping the gear, the second frame has two second clamping portions for clamping the two first clamping portions, the adjusting nut is screwed on the bolt and provides clamping force, an accommodating cavity is opened in the second frame, the engaging component is configured therein and engages with the gear, the engaging component disengages from the gear when a first sidewall thereof presses against a sidewall of the accommodating cavity, the gear is prevented from rotating when a second sidewall of the engaging component presses against another sidewall of the accommodating cavity, the spring component is configured between the second frame and the engaging component, and the shield shields the gear.
US09399418B2

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat frame. A first leg support is pivotally coupled with a forward portion of the seat frame. The first leg support is operable between raised and lowered positions. A first extendable member is disposed on a top portion of the first leg support and is operable between extended and retracted positions. A second leg support is adjacent to and independent of the first leg support and is pivotally coupled with the forward portion of the seat frame. The second leg support is operable between raised and lowered positions. A second extendable member is disposed on a top portion of the second leg support and is operable between extended and refracted positions.
US09399405B2

An inverted vehicle control apparatus includes a plurality of driving wheels, a plurality of drive means each of which drives a respective one of the plurality of driving wheels, skid detection means for detecting a skid state between the driving wheels and a road surface, operation information acquisition means for acquiring operation information of a rider, and control means for controlling the drive means to control the driving wheels. The control means controls, based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means, the driving wheel for which no skid is detected by the skid detection means, and the control means controls the driving wheel for which a skid is detected by the skid detection means so that a friction reaction force exerted from the road surface to the driving wheel is exerted in such a direction that the inverted vehicle is raised by the friction reaction force.
US09399404B2

An objective of the present invention is to provide a charging system, capable of increasing the rapid charging capacity of an on-vehicle all-solid-state battery, and reducing the effect of confining pressure on the all-solid-state battery. This is achieved by a charging system for an all-solid-state battery to be mounted in a vehicle, the charging system comprising: a charging section that charges an all-solid-state battery, a pressing section that applies confining pressure to the all-solid-state battery, and a pressure control section that controls the confining pressure, wherein the pressure control section directs the pressing section so that the confining pressure during charging is higher than the confining pressure during discharging.
US09399403B2

A method for controlling charging and discharging of a battery, as well as a server and a mobile terminal for controlling charging and discharging of a battery, are provided. The server is configured to obtain electricity pricing information, to provide the electricity pricing information to a mobile terminal, to receive an instruction from the mobile terminal to charge or discharge a battery; and to provide the instruction to a battery management device to charge or discharge the battery resource according to the instruction. The mobile terminal comprises an enquiry unit configured to send an enquiry instruction for information about electricity price to a server, a displaying unit configured to receive the information about electricity price from the server and to display the electricity pricing information; and an inputting unit configured to receive an instruction to manage a battery resource.
US09399401B2

A battery charging apparatus for an electric vehicle includes a first converter part configured to convert a first voltage, which is inputted with rectification, into a second voltage; and a second converter part configured to output a third voltage for charging a battery for the electric vehicle by converting the second voltage into a direct current. The output end of the first converter part comprises a first and a second output terminal. The second converter part comprises a first switching element connected with the first output terminal; a second switching element connected with the second output terminal; a first output capacitor serially connected with the first switching element; and a second output capacitor serially connected with the second switching element. The time during which the first switching element is turned on does not overlap the time during which the second switching element is turned on.
US09399399B2

A method for controlling an internal-combustion engine comprises steps of: determining a current value of a driving torque requested to the internal-combustion engine and a first time derivative of the current value of the driving torque; comparing the current value of the driving torque and first time derivative with first and second threshold values, respectively; determining a “sport driving” condition only if the current value of the driving torque is higher than the first threshold value and the first time derivative is higher than the second threshold value; and controlling the internal-combustion engine as a function of the “sport driving” condition.
US09399382B2

Agricultural vehicle comprising a body to which a front axle is pivotally connected. The agricultural vehicle includes a hydraulic cylinder mounted as a suspension system between the body and the axle. The hydraulic cylinder is fluid-connected, via a steerable valve, to one of an open oil reservoir and an accumulator.
US09399381B2

Provided is a suspension device in which a load axis of a spring is significantly inclined with respect to a center axis of an absorber. The suspension device includes a support section formed between an end portion of the spring on a spring seat side and a mount, for realizing a “full contact state” during assembly and a “partial contact state” after assembly. With this, it is possible to provide the suspension device in which the assembly is facilitated and the load axis of the spring is significantly inclined with respect to the center axis of the absorber.
US09399380B1

The present invention is to provide a vibration-type electric generator, which comprises an electric generator fixed on an automobile, having stators fixed at the inner rim of the generator, and having rotors rotatably installed inside the generator, such that when the rotors are rotated, the rotors generate a time-varying magnetic field to induce electricity on the stators; two one way bearings having shafts fixedly linked to a shaft of the rotors, respectively, such that when the bearings are respectively driven to rotate toward the same direction, the rotors are driven simultaneously to rotate toward the same direction and subsequently generate the electricity on the stators; and a hydraulic system pivotally connected to two suspension members on the automobile which are able to generate relative movement in response to the vibration of the automobile, so as to subsequently generate two forces for driving the bearings to rotate toward the same direction.
US09399370B2

A wheel assembly includes a circular frame arranged about a hub of a hub assembly, and shock absorbers coupling the hub assembly to the circular frame for providing relative motion between the circular frame and the hub assembly. Each of the shock absorbers extends along a tangent line to a circle that is coaxial with respect to the circular frame and the hub for providing tangential shock absorption along each tangent line.
US09399364B2

In one example, an encoding station of a printing system forms a pattern of non-printed features onto flowing print media. The non-printed features are detected, and timing signals generated from the detected features. The timing signals cause the media to be printed at a desired resolution in the direction of the flow.
US09399361B2

A stamp face forming apparatus includes a stamp face forming part including a plurality of heating elements arranged in a direction along a surface holding a porous stamp face material that can be made non-porous by heating, and a drive circuit for controlling heat generating states of the plurality of heating elements to form a stamp face on the stamp face material; and a controller for controlling the drive circuit of the stamp face forming part by adjusting a signal to be applied to the drive circuit such that an amount of heat per dot for a dot to be heated directly adjacent to a dot to be non-heated is less than an amount of heat per dot for a dot to be heated not directly adjacent to the dot to be non-heated in image data for forming the stamp face.
US09399354B2

A treatment-liquid application apparatus includes a rotary treatment-liquid applicator, a rotary treatment-liquid supplier, a transfer rotator, and a contact load adjuster. The contact load adjuster adjusts a contact load of the rotary treatment-liquid supplier on the treatment-liquid applicator. After feeding of a recording medium is initiated by contact between the treatment-liquid applicator and the transfer rotator, an acceleration time until a feed speed of the recording medium reaches a constant speed during printing is set. Before feeding of the recording medium is initiated, the rotary treatment-liquid supplier contacts the treatment-liquid applicator and imparts a contact load L0. During an acceleration operation of the recording medium after feeding of the recording medium is initiated, the transfer rotator contacts the treatment-liquid applicator via the recording medium and imparts a contact load L1, and the contact load adjuster adjusts the contact load L1 to be greater than the contact load L0.
US09399351B2

An ink containing device includes an ink cartridge and an adaptor. The ink cartridge comprises a first main body comprising a chamber configured to store ink, and an ink outlet portion disposed on a first surface of the first main body configured to direct the ink from the chamber to an exterior of the first main body, and an ink detecting portion configured to detect an amount of the ink stored in the ink chamber. The adaptor is configured to attach to the ink cartridge. The adaptor comprises a second main body comprising a second surface, and an electrical interface disposed on the second surface.
US09399346B2

The object is to reliably remove dirt and/or stains on the nozzle surface of a printer head. To accomplish the object, an inkjet printing device (100) is provided with a rotating brush (50) in a cap (103) mounted on a printer head (1), and a piezoelectric element (150) disposed on the side wall of the cap (103). The piezoelectric element (150) is ultrasonically vibrated at a predetermined frequency by means of a controller (20) and a power source (9). The ultrasonic vibration is transmitted into a cleaning solution in the cap (103) to remove dirt and/or stains adhered to a nozzle surface (3a). The rotating brush (50) is rotated by a motor, and its bristles (53) are vibrated by the ultrasonic vibration. Accordingly, dirt and/or stains on the nozzle surface (3a) are mechanically removed.
US09399341B2

A liquid ejecting apparatus according to the invention includes: a modulation unit that generates a modulated signal which is obtained by pulse-modulating an original signal; a transistor that generates an amplified and modulated signal which is obtained by amplifying the modulated signal; a switching circuit; a low pass filter that generates a drive signal by demodulating the amplified and modulated signal; a feedback circuit that generates a feedback signal and feeds back the feedback signal to the modulation unit; a feedback terminal that electrically connects the modulation unit to the feedback circuit; a piezoelectric element that is displaced by the drive signal; a cavity; and a nozzle, in which a distance between the feedback terminal and a closest point to the feedback terminal in the modulation unit is shorter than a distance between the feedback terminal and a closest point to the feedback terminal in the switching circuit.
US09399338B1

Systems for constructing complex composite structures include a conveyor and two or more stations operatively and sequentially positioned relative to the conveyor. Each station is configured to operatively deposit a layer of composite material on the conveyor. Methods of constructing a complex composite structure include laying up a first layer of composite material having a first configuration and laying up a second layer of composite material having a second configuration at least partially over the first layer.
US09399337B2

An injection molded product formed from an inner layer, or substrate, to which an aesthetic IMD layer is bonded during a first injection molding process, leaving a portion of the substrate exposed about the perimeter(s) of the substrate. A transparent outer layer, or overmold, is then injection molded over the top of the IMD layer and substrate, bonding substantially to the IMD layer and to the substrate where it remains exposed following the first injection molding. The process of forming a product through the disclosed two-step injection molding process creates a customizable, aesthetic product with an aesthetic IMD layer completely encapsulated between the substrate and a clear overmold in such a way to protect the IMD layer from the environment in which the product is used.
US09399329B2

A method for producing a closed-section portion of an aircraft wherein a strain gauge is glued on a first face of a flat tape that, in turn, is fastened on a face of a tool comprising a rigid elongated body covered by an extensible sack. The tool supporting the tape is arranged in a cavity of an aircraft structure. A vacuum is then created to obtain the expansion of the vacuum sack and perform the pressure gluing of the tape onto a wall of said cavity. The tool is subsequently extracted from the cavity. Upon conclusion of these operations, the tape is integrally fastened onto a wall of the cavity so that any deformation applied to this wall is transmitted to said strain gauge.
US09399327B2

Method for stake-fastening an accessory (4) into a plastic fuel tank, whereby: the accessory (4) is equipped with at least one orifice (5) which passes right through the accessory (4); at least some of the plastic of which the wall of the tank (1) is made is melted; and some of the molten plastic is forced through the orifice (5) of the accessory without becoming detached from the remainder of the molten plastic; the protruding molten plastic is given an appropriate shape (8) to obtain a self-formed plastic rivet, and is left to solidify; the size and shape of the orifice (5) and/or of the solidified plastic (8) being such that the accessory (4) is mechanically fastened to the tank by at least some of the solidified plastic (8), the stake-fastening of the accessory (4) occurring at the time of manufacture of the tank (1) through the molding of a split or at least two-part parison.
US09399320B2

A three-dimensional part printed using an additive manufacturing technique, which includes sets of printed cell layers, each defining an array of hollow cells with wall segments, and sets of printed transition layers, each being disposed between adjacent printed cell layers, where the sets of printed transition layers each comprise sloped walls that diverge from a first portion of the wall segments and that converge towards a second portion of the wall segments to interconnect the hollow cells of adjacent printed cell layers, and where the sloped walls of adjacent printed transition layers have printing orientations that are rotated from each other in a build plane.
US09399315B2

A device for manufacturing a fan casing of a turbomachine made of composite material, in which a mold includes a cylindrical body of lengthways axis and side flanges, and in which a counter-mold includes a cylindrical body and side counter-flanges. The counter-flanges are configured to be attached securely to the flanges, the body of the mold and the body of the counter-mold are concentric, the preform is configured to be positioned between the body of the mold and the body of the counter-mold, and the material of the body of the mold has an appreciably higher expansion coefficient than that of the body of the counter-mold.
US09399311B2

The present invention relates to an electrode paste manufacturing system that includes, a twin screw extrusion mixer, a mohno pump that is connected at an inlet thereof to an outlet of the twin screw extrusion mixer, a deaerating tank that is connected to an outlet of the mohno pump, and a vacuum pump that is connected at an inlet thereof to the deaerating tank. The vacuum pump is configured such that a conduit system on the deaerating tank side of an airtight line formed at a contact portion between a rotor and a stator of the mohno pump is a closed system with the airtight line being a boundary.
US09399304B2

A blade heating system for a heated razor includes electrically conductive blades contained in a blade cartridge. A switch lever is hingedly attached to the blade cartridge and is selectively positionable between a closed position, wherein the switch lever is closed against the back of the blade cartridge, and an open position, wherein the switch lever is opened away from the back of the blade cartridge. Electrically conductive leads are connected to positive and negative terminal ends of a battery carried on the switch lever. One or more electrically conductive blade contacts are provided for electrically connecting the one or more blades to the conductive leads and battery when the switch lever is in the closed position for delivering electric current to the one or more electrically conductive blades. In a preferred embodiment, magnets are used to releasably hold the switch lever closed against the back of the blade cartridge.
US09399302B2

An electric shaver includes a rod-shaped body part, a head part, and an interposer. The head part projects from one end portion, in a longitudinal direction, of the body part and swingably attached to the body part. The head part includes a shaving portion and a drive mechanism. The interposer is configured to support the head part swingably about a first swing axis parallel with a longitudinal direction of the shaving portion, and to be supported on the body part swingably about a second swing axis orthogonal to the projecting direction of the head part and orthogonal to the first swing axis.
US09399293B2

A method for calculating weight and center of gravity of an object lifted by a robot includes lifting an object, measuring a change in angle of each joint through an angle sensor provided for each joint of the gripper in the event of the lifting, and calculating angular velocity and acceleration of each joint, calculating, via a controller, acceleration of the object, measuring an upper pressing force and a lower pressing force using force sensors installed on the joints, and calculating, via the controller, the weight of the object using a vertical component of the acceleration of the object, gravitational acceleration, and the upper and lower pressing forces.
US09399287B2

A spatial-link-type manipulator, comprising a drive device (10), links and rotating shafts connected between the links; the drive device comprises a connecting shaft (13); the connecting shaft comprises an outer wall (131) and an inner wall (133); each link comprises a large boom (20), a small boom (30), an oblique large boom (60), an oblique small boom (50) and a terminal component (40); the large boom and the oblique large boom are respectively a straight link; the small boom and the oblique small boom are respectively a bent link; the large boom, the small boom and one end of the terminal component form a primary motion chain; the oblique large boom, the oblique small boom and the other end of the terminal component form a secondary motion chain; the drive device drives the large boom to move around a rotating shaft A so as to drive the primary motion chain, and drives the secondary motion chain via the terminal component so as to realize rectilinear motion of the terminal component. The present invention has a simple structure and is easy to realize.
US09399285B2

An industrial robot that can control the abrasion and damage of a bearing unit, and also control the deformation of an arm, even in the case of transferring a high-temperature transfer object in a vacuum. The industrial robot includes a bearing unit for supporting an arm at a joint section as a connection section between the arm and the main body. At the joint section, the arm has a first protrusion section protruding toward the main body, and meanwhile the main body has a first housing section in which a first hollow section for housing the first protrusion section is formed. The first protrusion section and the first housing section are formed of a material having higher thermal conductivity than the bearing unit has, and a semisolid thermally-conductive substance, having higher thermal conductivity than the bearing unit has, is placed in the first hollow section. Moreover, the main body includes; a heat radiator being formed of a material having higher thermal conductivity than the bearing unit has, and being positioned in the atmosphere; and a connecting section for connecting the first housing section and the heat radiator, the connecting section being formed of a material having higher thermal conductivity than the bearing unit has.
US09399276B2

A polishing apparatus which can perform power supply, signal transmission, and communication in a non-contact type to respective equipments in a polishing head and/or a polishing table by providing a non-contact type transmission connector having no physical contact point on at least one of the polishing head and the polishing table is disclosed. The polishing apparatus includes a non-contact transmission connector provided on at least one of the polishing table and the polishing head and configured to transfer electric power or signals or to perform communication between a stationary unit and a rotating unit which face each other in a non-contact manner. The electric power or the signals are transmitted or communication is performed between equipment provided in at least one of the polishing table and the polishing head, and the outside of the polishing table or the polishing head through the non-contact transmission connector.
US09399275B2

A tool machine has a housing assembled by two separate housing parts and an air directing element arranged in the housing, wherein the air directing element is implemented independently from a connection device for connecting the housing parts. The air directing element is forced by a housing part axially in a seat in the other housing part, wherein in the transmission path between the housing parts and the air directing element a spring element is arranged.
US09399265B2

It enables to use very limited energy and an easily transportable device. Comprises: a) a consumable ignition element with a resistive wire to be heated as the electric current passes through it and cause a remote ignition; b) a reusable intermediate element, provided with fitting means to be electrically connected with the ignition element; c) a portable case to house a portable power source and, d) an ignition switch that is housed in the case, with a push button to activate the power source, as well as a first indicator adapted to turn on if the power source is available and a second indicator adapted to turn on if the contact between the first tracks and the second tracks is correct.
US09399262B2

A method of joining, e.g., by fusion welding, titanium, and titanium-based alloys to ferrous metals, and the intermetallic weld pool created by practice of the method is described. The instant invention involves the use, inclusion or deployment of tantalum into the weld pool and upon cooling a weld, to create a surprisingly strong intermetallic bond, weld, or joint.
US09399259B2

A boring device according to the present invention includes: a hollow main shaft; a table supporting the main shaft rotatably about a predetermined axis; a tool holder extending in the form of a bar and configured to rotate coaxially with the main shaft; a radially protruding tool provided at a distal end portion of the tool holder; a tilting unit provided between the main shaft and the tool holder in the axis direction and configured to cause the tool holder to be inclined from the axis; a drawbar configured to be movable back and forth in the axis direction within the main shaft; a first drive unit configured to rotate the main shaft about the axis; and a second drive unit configured to move the drawbar back and forth in the axis direction.
US09399251B2

A method of manufacturing a gear wheel with stub toothing for a change-speed gearbox includes drop-forging a gear wheel body and forming the stub toothing by cold die-grooving in the forging die using a forming tool with forming parts which are arranged in a fan-shaped manner. The forming ends penetrate into the tooth spaces, wherein the forming parts are guided jointly between an upper and a lower receiving plate and are moved in a direction radially inwards in such a way that material is displaced out of the region of the tooth flanks into the tooth root regions.
US09399250B2

A thread rolling method for a gear using cylindrical dies in which no slippage occurs. The method includes placing a work having a cylindrical outer surface to be supported to a support to be freely rotatable about a rotation axis of the cylindrical outer surface; placing a pair of the cylindrical dies each rotatable about an axis parallel to the rotation axis to face each other across the work; thrusting the pair of cylindrical dies against the work; and determining an outer diameter of the work, when rotary movement of the cylindrical dies and the work rotated together is shifted from friction gear movement to gear movement, in which a dimension obtained by dividing an outer circumferential dimension of a dedendum circle of the tooth grooves by the number of teeth to be formed is equal to an addendum circular pitch of each of the cylindrical dies.
US09399245B2

A method of providing flatness control for rolling a strip in a mill including a plurality of rolls controllable by actuators. The method includes the steps of: receiving flatness measurement data pertaining to a flatness of the strip; determining a flatness error as a difference between a reference flatness of the strip and the flatness measurement data; determining an adjusted flatness error based on the flatness error and weights for actuator position combinations which provide a flatness effect below a threshold value; and utilizing the adjusted flatness error for the control units to control the actuators to thereby control the flatness of the strip. A computer program product and a control system for carrying out the above method are also presented herein.
US09399243B1

A method of preparing carbon-coated cuprous oxide, including: (1) preparing a liquid polyacrylonitrile (LPAN) solution, stirring the LPAN solution to yield a cyclized polyacrylonitrile solution; (2) heating the cyclized LPAN solution to yield a thermally-oxidized polyacrylonitrile (OPAN); (3) mixing the thermally-oxidized polyacrylonitrile with a copper compound to yield a mixture, and adding to the mixture a hydrophilic solvent or a hydrophobic solvent, thus yielding a polyacrylonitrile coated copper compound; (4) drying the polyacrylonitrile coated copper compound in an oven until the solvent is evaporated completely and the polyacrylonitrile coated on the copper compound is crosslinked to form a solid, where yielding a carbonized precursor coated copper compound; and (5) calcining the carbonized precursor coated copper compound in the presence of an inert gas flow of between 10 and 500 mL/min.
US09399242B2

A method of preparing polyurethane prepolymer does not require using a toxic isocyanate monomer (manufactured by harmful phosgene) as a raw material. Epoxy resin and carbon dioxide are used as major raw materials to form cyclic carbonates to be reacted with a functional group oligomer, and then amino groups in a hydrophilic (ether group) or hydrophobic (siloxane group) diamine polymer are used for performing a ring-opening polymerization, and the microwave irradiation is used in the ring-opening polymerization to efficiently synthesize the amino-terminated PU prepolymer, and then an acrylic group at an end is added to manufacture an UV cross-linking PU (UV-PU) oligomer which can be coated onto a fabric surface, and the fabric is dried by UV radiation for a surface treatment to form a washing-resisted long lasting hydrophilic or hydrophobic PU fabric.
US09399240B2

A waterproof coating process machine and its negative pressure coating and atomized coating methods are disclosed. The machine includes a coating process tank disposed at a top end, a drying chamber and a control panel. A discharge port connected with a discharge pipe on an outer side is disposed at a bottom of the coating process tank; and at least one negative pressure suction port connected with a suction pipe of a suction pump is disposed on a back side. An opening of the drying chamber in combination with a movable door is disposed at a front side of a lower section of the machine. An infrared outlet, an infrared spiral wave outlet and a circulation fan are disposed inside the drying chamber. The control panel is disposed on the front side of the machine between the coating process tank and the drying chamber.
US09399236B2

The printing machine includes a support plate provided on its periphery with a plurality of receiving elements for articles rotatably mounted on the support plate, and a device for rotating the support plate in order that two articles, mounted on their associated receiving elements, respectively face two separate printing stations, the printing stations being supported by a single base. The machine further has a device for generating a relative translational movement between the base and the support plate so that patterns are helically printed on the articles during the rotation of the receiving elements.
US09399235B2

This casing device (22) comprises a member (34) for actuating dispensing of cosmetic product, and a protective band (36). The device (22) comprises an intermediate locking member (38) arranged between the band (36) and the actuating member (34), the intermediate member (38) being suitable for moving between a position for locking the actuating member (34) in an idle position and a position for releasing the actuating member (34), when switching the band (36) between a protective configuration and an operating configuration.
US09399231B2

A bearing air passage through which bearing air is supplied toward an air bearing of an air motor and a turbine air passage through which driving air is supplied toward a turbine are provided in a housing. An annular space surrounding the air motor is provided between the housing and a cover. A bearing air branch passage connecting the annular space and the bearing air passage to each other and a turbine air branch passage for connecting the annular space and the turbine air passage to each other are provided. The air branch passages lead a part of the compressed air to the annular space and keep the cover in a heated state.
US09399221B2

A bowl liner for use in a cone crusher that is comprised of a pair of bowl liner sections joined to each other to define the bowl liner. Each of the bowl liner sections includes first and second ends that engage opposite first and second vertical ends of the second bowl liner section. The first and second ends include key features that limit the axial movement of the first and second bowl liner sections relative to each other. Each of the first and second bowl liner sections further include a radial key and mating key slot to limit the radial movement between the bowl liner sections. The vertical joint between the bowl liner sections includes an inner relief that allows for manganese growth during use of the bowl liner.
US09399218B2

A specimen collection container includes inner and outer tubes. The inner tube includes a bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an interior. The sidewall includes an inner surface and an outer surface having at least one annular protrusion extending therefrom. The inner tube includes at least one funnel portion adjacent the top end for directing a specimen into the inner tube interior, and an annular ring disposed about a portion of the outer surface of the sidewall adjacent the top end. The outer tube includes a bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween, the sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an annular recess adapted to receive a portion of the annular protrusion therein. The inner tube is disposed within the outer tube and a portion of the top end of the outer tube abuts the annular ring.
US09399212B2

The present invention relates to a method for producing an anhydrosugar alcohol and, more specifically, to a method for producing an anhydrosugar alcohol which, when the step of subjecting a hydrogenated sugar to a dehydration reaction in a reactor so as to convert same to an anhydrosugar alcohol is performed, allows the hydrogenated sugar to be continuously introduced into the reactor and the produced anhydrosugar alcohol to be continuously discharged out of the reactor while the dehydration reaction is carried out, also prevents a reaction mixture from circulating inside and outside the reactor while the dehydration reaction is carried out, and thereby can significantly improve production efficiency compared with a conventional process adopting a batch or semi-batch-type dehydration reaction and thus can be appropriately applied particularly to a large-scale anhydrosugar alcohol production process.
US09399202B2

An apparatus, system and method for mixing and dispensing dental impression materials is described. A dental impression material mixing machine comprises a water dispenser fluidly coupled to a hollow mixing axle, the mixing axle extending through a pulley, wherein an inner circumference of the hollow mixing axle forms a water conduit and an outer circumference of the hollow mixing axle forms a hub connector, a closeable valve inserted at a water entrance to the water conduit and electronically coupled to a water pump, an electronically commutated motor rotateably coupled to the pulley, wherein the hub connector receives a tubular rotatable hub of a disposable mixing vessel comprising dry dental impression powder, and wherein water is dispensed from the water dispenser into the disposable mixing vessel through the water conduit and hub orifice.
US09399201B1

An exemplary homogenizer includes a valve plate stack having a shim sandwiched by a pair of valve plates, the stack being concentrically aligned by a center stud. Each of the valve plates includes a middle annulus radially situated between an outer rim and an inner raised hub. Each middle annulus includes annulus apertures that help increase flow rate. When the homogenizer is in a working position, the valve plate stack is compressed, and fluid entering through an inlet is homogenized as it passes through a gap between outer rims of adjacent valve plates. The minimum gap between the valve plates is set by the thickness of the shim. In a cleaned-in-process cleaning position, pressure is relieved from the stack, and a spring between adjacent valve plates separates adjacent valve plates. Enhanced drainage, and springs that are substantially sealed from fluids by spring retainers and O-rings, help promote sanitation.
US09399197B2

This invention relates to an aerator that resides fully in the neck of a bottle or other liquid vessel. Through differential pressure, created through a venturi, the aerator mixes air with the fluid contained in the bottle. More specifically, the aerator can be used to mix air with wine as the bottle is inverted thus essentially instantly decanting the wine.
US09399194B2

Draw solutions comprising at least one N-cyclicalkyl-cycloalkylamine and a secondary solvent. The N-cyclicalkyl-cycloalkylamine comprises the chemical structure: wherein n is 0, 1, or 2, n′ is 0, 1, or 2, and each of R1-R6 is independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an acetyl group, an aryl group, a hydrogen group, a hydroxyl group, and a phosphorus-containing group. Methods of treating a liquid using the draw solution are also disclosed.
US09399193B2

A draw solute for forward osmosis may include a copolymer including a first structural unit, where a temperature-sensitive side chain is graft polymerized, and a second structural unit including a hydrophilic functional group. The temperature-sensitive side chain may include a structural unit for a side chain including a temperature-sensitive moiety. The temperature-sensitive moiety may be represented by Chemical Formula 1, Chemical Formula 2, or Chemical Formula 3: wherein R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or a linear or branched C3 to C5 alkyl group, provided that at least one of R1 and R2 is not hydrogen, R3 is a C3 to C5 alkylene group, and R4 is a linear or branched C3 to C5 alkyl group. The draw solute may be used to form an osmosis draw solution for use in a forward osmosis water treatment device and method.
US09399192B2

The present invention provides a carbon dioxide absorber capable of efficiently and stably removing carbon dioxide in a gas or solution. This carbon dioxide absorber contains an amine compound, a weakly acidic compound and water, the pKb value of the amine compound in an aqueous solution at 30° C. is 4.0 to 7.0, the pKa value of the weakly acidic compound in an aqueous solution at 30° C. is 7.0 to 10.0, and the weakly acidic compound is present in an amount within the range of 0.01 equivalents to 1.50 equivalents with respect to amino groups of the amine compound.
US09399183B2

According to some embodiments, a vent filter for a waste tank system is provided having a housing which eliminates or reduces the amount of bypass of odorous air moving through the vent system and precludes the odorous air from escaping without passing through filtering material. The housing includes a region wherein the cross-sectional area is reduced, inhibiting bypass of odorous gas past the filtering material.
US09399167B2

An electronic game system and a method of its operation are provided for virtual space mapping of a variable activity region in physical space. A calibration input may be received from a positioning device of a game controller that indicates waypoints that define an activity region in physical space. A scale factor may be identified between the activity region and an interactive game region in virtual space based on the calibration input. Positioning information may be received from the positioning device that indicates a position of the positioning device within the activity region. The position of the positioning device within the activity region may be mapped to a corresponding virtual position within the interactive game region based on the scale factor.
US09399165B2

A game device includes an owned card storage unit for storing player cards owned by a game player, and a player card exchange unit for exchanging a player card owned by the game player with an exchangeable card presented by a CPU, wherein the player card exchange unit includes an exchangeable card presentation unit for determining the exchangeable cards based on the player cards owned by the game player to be presented on a screen, an exchange condition presentation unit for setting an exchange condition for exchanging the exchangeable card with the player card owned by the game player to be presented on the screen; and an exchange execution unit for approving the exchange of the player card and the exchangeable card when the player card that satisfies the exchange condition is selected by the game player, and updating the memory content of the owned card storage unit to a content after the approval of the exchange.
US09399163B2

A athletic training assembly includes a base that may be positioned on a support surface. A pair of guide rods is each movably coupled to the base. Each of the pair of guide rods is curved between a first end and a second end of the pair of guide rods. The first end and the second end of each of the pair of guide rods is coupled together. The pair of guide rods forms a crescent shape. A user slidably engages an athletic implement to each of the pair of guide rods. The athletic implement travels upwardly and downwardly between the first and second ends of the pair of guide rods when the user swings the athletic implement. The pair of guide rods retains the athletic implement on a correct trajectory. The user is trained in swinging the athletic implement in the correct trajectory.
US09399162B2

An apparatus and method for catching a golf ball is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a compact golf ball catching apparatus having a first energy absorbing layer located at a frontal portion of the apparatus, a second energy absorbing layer located at a rear portion of the apparatus, and a frame adapted to connect the first and second energy absorbing layer as well as provide structural integrity to the first energy absorbing layer; wherein the first energy absorbing layer slows down the speed of a golf ball as it enters and penetrates the apparatus and hinders the golf ball's ability from exiting the apparatus post impact.
US09399160B2

A throwing sleeve with visual biofeedback may be provided. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be comprised of a sleeve. The sleeve may be comprised of a plurality of segments forming a single, internal passageway with at least one opening. A first opening may be configured to receive an object (e.g., baseball or softball) into the internal passageway of the sleeve. A second opening may be configured to receive a user's hand. Embodiments may further comprise a means for securing the user's hand within the internal passageway of the sleeve. Still further, embodiments may comprise at least one stripe running parallel to an edge of each of the plurality of segments.
US09399158B2

Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion and a plurality of weight portions. The body portion may include a front portion, a rear portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a bottom portion having an outer surface associated with an outer surface curve, and a weight port region located at or proximate to the bottom portion. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09399155B2

A sports racquet extends along an axis and is configured for use with a quantity of racquet string forming a string bed about a string plane. The racquet includes a frame formed of a thermoplastic material, and including first and second halves including first and second spaced apart hoop regions, and first and second handle regions, respectively. The hoop regions includes projections extending from hoop regions in a direction orthogonal to the string plane. At least one of the hoop regions defines a set of bores. The projections are configured to matably engage the bores. The projections extend through the string plane and define curved bearing surfaces configured for engaging and supporting the racquet string. The projections include first and second projections having first and second radii of curvature, respectively. The first radius of curvature being at least 0.5 mm greater than the second radius of curvature.
US09399148B2

The invention relates to a therapeutic system which comprises an ultrasound therapy unit (1, 518) arranged to insonify at least a portion of a body (2, 508) of a patient with high intensity ultrasound and a MR imaging unit (3, 500) arranged to acquire MR signals from the portion of the body (2, 508) and to reconstruct a thermographic MR image from the MR signals. It is an object of the invention to enable MR guided high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment, in which temperature values within critical anatomic regions containing fat can be monitored. The invention proposes that the therapeutic system further comprises an ultrasound diagnostic unit (5, 518) which is arranged to acquire ultrasound signals from the portion of the body (2, 508) and to derive at least one local temperature value from the ultrasound signals.
US09399146B2

A photodynamic therapy lamp includes two lamp modules comprising an array of LEDs. Each of the lamp modules is movable between a first position in which an angle between the lamp modules is from 157 degrees to 180 degrees, and a second position in which the angle between the lamp modules is from 50 degrees to 70 degrees.
US09399136B2

An implantable medical device is powered by a battery to deliver one or more therapies including at least one non-life-sustaining therapy such as neural stimulation for enhancing quality of life of a patient. When the battery approaches its end of life, the implantable medical device reduces power consumption of the neural stimulation (e.g., intensity of the neural stimulation) for extending the remaining battery life while maintaining a certain amount of therapeutic benefits for the patient. In one embodiment, the intensity of the neural stimulation is reduced in a tiered manner. In one embodiment in which the implantable medical device also delivers at least one life-sustaining cardiac stimulation therapy, the neural stimulation is disabled or adjusted to reduce its power consumption (e.g., intensity) while the intensity of the cardiac stimulation therapy is maintained when the battery is near its end of life.
US09399135B2

An electronic stimulator device comprises a battery, first and second output ports, and an energy discharge circuit. The energy discharge circuit is coupled to the battery and configured to receive an electrical charge from the battery and deliver the electrical charge through an energy output port. A first switch is connected between the energy output and the first output port. A second switch is connected between the second output port and electrical ground. A third switch is connected between the second output port and the energy output. A fourth switch is connected between the first output port and electrical ground. A controller comprising a processor is configured to actuate the first, second, third and fourth switches between open and close states to deliver a biphasic current pulse between the first and second output ports.
US09399132B2

A method and system of providing therapy to a patient implanted with an array of electrodes is provided. A train of electrical stimulation pulses is conveyed within a stimulation timing channel between a group of the electrodes to stimulate neural tissue, thereby providing continuous therapy to the patient. Electrical parameter is sensed within a sensing timing channel using at least one of the electrodes, wherein the first stimulation timing channel and sensing timing channel are coordinated, such that the electrical parameter is sensed during the conveyance of the pulse train within time slots that do not temporally overlap any active phase of the stimulation pulses.
US09399126B2

Methods for allowing a user to control a neuromodulator to modify a cognitive state being experienced by the user. The user may select a waveform ensemble from a hand-held user device having an interface, and the user may adjust the perceived intensity of the applied waveform ensemble with the user device while the waveform ensemble is being applied. Also described are methods of managing communication between the hand-held user device (such as a smartphone or the like) and a wearable neurostimulator. Methods of displaying and visually tracking and controlling the applied waveform ensemble are also described herein.
US09399124B2

Embodiments provide apparatus and methods for producing markings in the skin. One embodiment provides an apparatus for marking the skin comprising a housing and reservoir for storing a skin colorant. An electrode is positioned within the housing so as to be electrically coupled to the colorant in the reservoir and is configured to be coupled to a current source and return electrode. A colorant applicator having at least one fluid pathway is coupled to a housing distal end. The applicator proximal end is positioned such that the fluid pathway is coupled with the reservoir. The applicator distal end applies colorant to the skin surface through the fluid pathway as the applicator is moved across the skin. The electrode delivers current from the current source to the skin to transport charged pigment elements of the colorant into the skin using an electromotive driving force to produce a marking in the skin.
US09399113B2

A method is provided for making a tubing, which includes forming a generally tubular inner layer by flowing a first material through an extrusion assembly. At least one non-tubular segment is formed along the length of the tubing by flowing a second material through the extrusion assembly. A generally tubular outer layer coaxial with the inner layer is formed by flowing a third material through the extrusion assembly. The segment is positioned between the inner and outer layers and oriented non-tangentially with an interface between the inner and outer layers. The resulting tubing, which may be suitable for medical applications, may have kink-resistant properties.
US09399112B2

A catheter having a catheter body with a lumen and a distal lumen opening. The catheter's lumen extends through the catheter body along a longitudinal axis of the catheter body. A hole is formed through a wall of a distal portion of the catheter body. A portion of the proximal surface of the hole is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body. The acute angle of the proximal hole surface opens proximally with respect to the catheter body.
US09399101B1

A perfusion needle system for the direct simultaneous injection of a therapeutic substance fluid within a target tissue during cryothermal ablation of the tissue includes at least one cryogenic probe for insertion in the tissue, the probe having a cooling tip for selective cooling and thawing of the tissue. An injection syringe contains a fluid substance and an injection needle is fluidly communicative with the injection syringe. The injection needle includes a port at a proximal end of the needle for connecting to the injection syringe and a tubular needle body having a wall forming said tubular body, which includes an internal insulative layer, which defines a central lumen extending through the body. An injection tip devoid of the insulative layer is affixed to a distal end of the injection needle and defines at least one opening through a side the tip and is fluidly communicative with the lumen.
US09399097B2

A medicated module (4) for an injection system to co-deliver at least two medicaments is disclosed where a primary delivery device containing a primary medicament accepts a medicated module (4) containing a single dose of a secondary medicament (2) and where both medicaments are delivered through a single hollow needle (5). The medicated module (4) is user selectable so that it will deliver both the primary (1) and secondary medicaments (2), or only the primary medicament (1). The module (4) also contains a guard (42) that locks after dose delivery.
US09399096B2

Infusion systems, infusion devices, and related operating methods are provided. An exemplary method of operating an infusion device capable of delivering fluid to a user involves identifying a condition of the user that is likely to influence a response to the fluid in the body of the user and classifying the condition as a first type of a plurality of types of conditions. After classifying the condition as the first type, the method continues by adjusting control information for operating the infusion device based on the first type and operating the infusion device to deliver the fluid to the user in accordance with the adjusted control information.
US09399089B2

The invention relates to the balancing of fluid streams in a dialysis system. In particular the invention relates to a cassette for conveying a first and a second fluid stream in a dialysis system, wherein the first and the second fluid streams can be medical fluid streams such as for example dialysate streams or blood streams, wherein the cassette has a sensor as a device for balancing the first and the second fluid stream, and wherein the sensor has a first channel for the first fluid stream and a second channel for the second fluid stream. The invention further relates to a dialysis system, which is configured to accommodate at least one cassette which is configured as described above. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an arrangement by which two channels for the first and the second fluid streams are formed. In addition, the invention relates to a method for construction of the two channels or the arrangement.
US09399086B2

Implantable medical devices are provided. In one embodiment, a device includes a body having an external surface defining an outer profile of the device. The body includes a porous matrix including a series of interconnected macropores defined by a plurality of interconnected struts each including a hollow interior. A filler material substantially fills at least a portion of the series of interconnected macropores. The external surface of the body includes a plurality of openings communicating with the hollow interior of at least a portion of the plurality of interconnected struts. In a further aspect of this embodiment, the external surface includes exposed areas of the filler material and porous matrix in addition to the exposed openings. In another aspect, the porous matrix is formed from a bioresorbable ceramic and the filler material is a biologically stable polymeric material. Still, other aspects related to this and other embodiments are also disclosed.
US09399082B2

The invention generally relates to dextran fibers which are preferably electrospun and devices formed from such fibers. In particular, such devices may include substances of interest (such as therapeutic substances) associated with the electrospun fibers. Upon exposure to a liquid the electrospun fibers dissolve immediately and the substances of interest are released into the liquid. Exemplary devices include bandages formed from electrospun dextran fibers and associated agents that promote hemostasis, such as thrombin and fibrinogen.
US09399081B2

A fragrance sampler is provided which is made from two plies, a bottom ply and a top ply, of material. A cosmetic, such as a wet fragrance, sample is deposited on the bottom ply. A well is formed in at least one of the plies and is sized and shaped to surround the sample. The two plies are then adhered together to form a liquid tight seal between the two plies and around the well.
US09399072B2

The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating pancreatic cancer in an individual who has been previously treated for pancreatic cancer (e.g., gemcitabine-based therapy) by administering a composition comprising nanoparticles that comprise a taxane and an albumin. The invention also provides combination therapy methods of treating pancreatic cancer (for example, in an individual who has been previously treated for pancreatic cancer) comprising administering to an individual an effective amount of a composition comprising nanoparticles that comprise a taxane and an albumin and another agent.
US09399063B2

The present invention provides methods and compositions for the remote control of cell function based on the use of radiofrequency waves to excite nanoparticles targeted to specific cell types. The nanoparticles may be applied to the target cell extracellularly and/or expressed intracellularly. The cell type of interest expresses a temperature sensitive channel wherein excitation of the nanoparticles results in a localized temperature increase that is transduced into a cellular response. Such cellular responses may include, for example, increases in gene expression resulting in production of one or more physiologically active proteins. The expression of such proteins can be used to treat a variety of different inherited or acquired diseases or disorders in a subject. Accordingly, the invention provides a generic approach for treatment of any disease associated with a protein deficiency.
US09399037B2

The present invention relates to the use of triazinones such as triazinediones and triazinetriones for triazinetriones for the preparation of compositions for treating animals, in particular treating animals prophylactically, against parasitic protozoans, and to these compositions.
US09399036B2

The invention provides improved methods for coadministration of colchicine with drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 (anciently referred to as cytochrome P450 isozyme 3A4) or the P-glycoprotein transporter, but not both. The method enables non-toxic coadministration of colchicine and the second drug at their ordinary levels safely and effectively without reducing the dose or frequency for either drug.
US09399035B2

The invention provides compositions and methods for the induction of cell death, for example, cancer cell death. Combinations of compounds and related methods of use are disclosed, including the use of compounds in therapy for the treatment of cancer and selective induction of apoptosis in cells. The disclosed drug combinations can have lower neurotoxicity effects than other compounds and combinations of compounds.
US09399034B1

Methods of sedating a patient undergoing critical care treatment using intravenous gaboxadol are provided.
US09399031B2

A therapy for renal diseases characterized by alterations of the kidney function, such as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), acute and chronic renal impairment, and renal diseases that develop in diabetic patients or in patients who underwent an anticancer chemotherapic treatment with a platinum derivative. The invention is a combination of compounds selected from mono- or diamide of a C12-C20 monocarboxylic acid, saturated or monounsaturated, or a C4-C14 dicarboxylic acid, saturated or monounsaturated, with an aminoalkanol, and compounds selected from Silymarin, derivatives thereof or conjugates or complexes thereof, for use in the treatment of renal diseases. The mono- or diamide of a C12-C20 monocarboxylic acid, saturated or monounsaturated, or of a C4-C14 dicarboxylic acid, saturated or monounsaturated, with an aminoalkanol and said Silymarin, derivatives thereof or conjugates or complexes thereof are formulated for a separate, sequential, concomitant administration or in admixture, also in a co-micronized or co-ultra-micronized form.
US09399030B2

A topically applied circulation enhancing agent suited for application over the entire body which has good transdermal absorptivity and causes little irritation is provided. A topically applied circulation enhancing agent is provided which contains a fatty acid ester denoted by general formula (1):
US09399021B2

Disclosed are novel pharmaceutical compositions containing N-{3-[3-cyclopropyl-5-(2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino)-6,8-dimethyl-2,4,7-trioxo-3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-pyrido[4,3-d]pyrimidin-1-yl]phenyl}acetamide dimethyl sulfoxide solvate, methods of using the compositions in therapy and processes for preparing the same.
US09399001B2

A method of making a blister sealing fixture which includes the selection of a card locating portion which has an annular wall which defines an annular recess closed by a removable bottom wall. A sealing insert portion having a cavity to receive a blister to be sealed is positioned on the bottom wall and is adapted to be moved to all positions within the recess. A sample or test card of the configuration of a production run to be handled by the sealing fixture is selected and to this card a sample or test blister is attached. The position of the blister on the card is determined by the user and has herein has at times been referred to as a desired position or location. This resulting positioning device is then placed over the recess with the test blister engaging the recess in the sealing insert.
US09398993B2

A tattoo chair, comprises a backrest (1), a seat (2), a brace (3) for supporting the said seat (2), and a base (4) for allowing the chair to stand stably, characterized in that: the lower end of the said backrest (1) is rotatablely attached to the inner side of the said seat (2); a supporting fixed plate (5) is provided under the bottom surface of the said seat (2); at least one fixed gear rack (10) is mounted from top to bottom on the rear surface of the said backrest (1); a supporting rod (50) is provided on the said supporting fixed plate (5); one end of the said supporting rod (50) is rotatablely attached to the said supporting fixed plate (5), and the other end is put into one of grooves of the said gear rack (10) on the rear surface of the said backrest (1). The present utility model facilitates the person to be tattooed to adopt different poses, so that the tattoo artist can work more easily; further, when getting tattooed, the person will feel free and easy from any discomfort in the various poses.
US09398992B1

The Pressure Free Face Rest is a device designed for any standard professional massage table to hold a clients face suspended/free of any frame while in the prone position (lying face down). The Frame is wider and The Insert Rods can be adjusted through snap locks to extend for shorter or longer necks. The Face Hammock should be able to hold faces allowing them to flex much like that of a face mask. The holes for the eyes, nose, mouth are very similar to that of a standard face mask. The mask hooks into the frame like a hammock creating the feeling of suspension. By doing this we remove the pain and pressure commonly felt by the standard design on the market today.
US09398980B2

A steerable laser probe may include a handle, an actuation lever, an optic fiber, and a housing tube. The housing tube may have a first housing tube portion having a first stiffness and a second housing tube portion having a second stiffness. The second stiffness may be greater than the first stiffness. The optic fiber may be disposed within the housing tube and within an inner bore of the handle. An actuation of the actuation lever about a pivot pin of the handle may gradually curve the optic fiber. An actuation of the actuation lever about the pivot pin of the handle may gradually straighten the optic fiber.
US09398978B2

Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for removing the fixation light reflection from an ophthalmic image. In one embodiment, an ophthalmic laser treatment system, having a digital imaging system for capturing images of a patient's eye and a visual fixation light source configured to produce a fixation light upon which the patient's eye can be focused, further includes a filter configured to remove from the image any light reflection caused by the visual fixation light source.
US09398976B2

Disclosed is a drug carrier device attachable to glasses, which is attached to the glasses and worn with the glasses around the eyes to enable transdermal delivery of drugs for medicinal ingredients for promoting eye fatigue recovery and improving eye diseases. The drug carrier device includes a drug carrier containing medicinal herb ingredients, and a fixing unit for detachably fixing the drug carrier on a frame of glasses. The fixing unit extends from the drug carrier and has a fixing loop whose end portion is bent to be hooked on frame of the glasses. The frame of the glasses is made of a metal to be magnetically coupled to a magnet and the fixing unit includes a permanent magnet magnetically coupled to the frame of glasses. The drug carrier device is attached to the glasses to enable drugs to penetrate into the skin around the eyes of the wearer during everyday life, thereby minimizing the cost burden associated with providing an additional pad fixing member and reducing feeling of irritation. In addition, the drug carrier device of the present invention may be attached to glasses worn at normal times, thus achieving maximized convenience of use.
US09398963B2

The negative gauge pressure dynamic convection system for artificial limb system is to be attached to a residual limb of an amputee. The device provides thermal energy transfer from within an artificial limb to the ambient atmosphere through regulated cyclical differential pressure airflow into the sealed environment between both the residuum and the inside of the suspension liner of an artificial limb and as an alternate embodiment between the rigid socket and the outside of the suspension liner or a combination of both. The system may include a multi-ply surface area multiplying textile layer; a limb-conformable convection suspension liner; an artificial limb socket with an over-molded enclosure for system components; a convection manifold assembly; a convection control system, which includes a continuously operating airflow generation device, and a rising edge triggered negative gauge pressure regulation device, such as an electromechanical binary airflow proportioning device, or an alternate mechanical binary airflow proportioning device.
US09398961B2

Described here are deformable monolithic, stabilization devices, or implants, suitable for use within bone and between bones, for instance, to fuse vertebral bodies, to repair herniated discs, or to repair spinal compression fractures. The implants are introduced into a chosen site at a first, smaller height and then plastically deformed to achieve a second, but unique, pre-selected, larger height. Variations of the device provide one or more specific larger heights. The devices are particularly suitable as intervertebral spinal fusion implants for the immobilization of adjacent vertebral bodies. Methods of deploying the implants are also described as are instruments for such deployment.
US09398959B2

A variable angle locking system having a humeral component with an underside at least partially defined by a cavity. A humeral stem is couplable to the humeral component and the system has a first washer defining a first through-hole and including a threaded portion. The system has an adaptor defining a second through-hole and having a shelf portion and an elongated second washer, the shelf portion being adapted to be received by the cavity of the humeral component. A spring washer is positioned between the first washer and the elongated second washer and defining a third through-hole. A screw is configured to lock the humeral component to the humeral stem at more than one angle relative to a common axis defined by the first, second and third through-holes. The screw includes a head portion having helical threads and an elongated shaft portion extending from the head portion.
US09398957B2

Various embodiments are directed to femoral and tibial bases that form structures of an implantable mechanical energy absorbing system. According to one embodiment, the bases include a low-profile body having a elongate and a curved body portion. One end of the base is elevated as compared to another end. An inner surface of the low-profile body has a raised portion extending along the elongate, straight portion of the low-profile body. The bases also include a plurality of openings positioned along the low-profile body for alignment and purposes of affixation to body anatomy.
US09398953B2

A micro-alloyed porous metal is disclosed having an optimized chemical composition to achieve targeted mechanical properties for use as an orthopaedic implant and a cell/soft tissue receptor. The porous metal may achieve a targeted compressive strength and a targeted ductility, for example. These targeted mechanical properties may allow the porous metal to be densified to a low relative density.
US09398951B2

A prosthetic heart valve for replacing a native valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent having a proximal end and a distal end, and a valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets, the valve assembly being disposed within the stent. The heart valve further includes a plurality of elongated legs each with a first end coupled to the stent and a free end, the elongated legs being configured to transition from an extended configuration to a relaxed configuration. A sealing portion connected to the plurality of legs forms a sealing structure when the legs transition to the relaxed configuration to reduce perivalvular leakage between the implanted valve and surrounding tissue.
US09398946B2

An expandable and retrievable device for treatment of a stenotic lesion in a body vessel is disclosed. The device comprises a tubular portion including a proximal end and a distal end extending from the proximal end. The tubular portion has a lumen formed therethrough between the proximal and distal ends. The device further comprises an expandable member formed helically about the tubular portion. The expandable member is configured to helically close, defining a collapsed state for delivery of the device. The expandable member is configured to helically open, defining an expanded state for treatment of the stenotic lesion in the body vessel. The expandable member has at least one filter portion that helically extends from the tubular portion at a predetermined angle. This defines a proximally faced opening when the expandable member is in the expanded state.
US09398942B2

An implant is provided for maintaining the position of pelvic organs, such as components of the urinary tract. The implant contacts the anterior surface of the urethra and is anchored to the pelvic fascia and the periurethral fascia. A method of anchoring the pelvic organs is also provided, involving inserting the implant via an anterior approach, avoiding complications and side effects that result when implants are inserted through the wall of the vagina.
US09398934B2

A remote control robot system includes a surgical robot having a surgical tool which is used to perform minimally invasive surgery. The surgical tool includes a detection member having a plurality of detection parts, a support member, and an optical fiber disposed between the detection member and support member. A magnitude of force and a distribution of the force may be measured by individually disposing a plurality of optical fiber bragg gratings (FBGs) below the plurality of detection parts, respectively. Accordingly, the surgical robot or the remote control robot system may provide a more precise control function and a hand-touch diagnosis function.
US09398931B2

A method of treating tissue is provided, including positioning a stimulation device proximate a phrenic nerve; stimulating the phrenic nerve with the stimulation device; measuring a physiological response to the stimulation; defining a threshold physiological response value based at least in part on the measured physiological response; positioning a thermal treatment element proximate to an arrhythmogenic cardiac tissue region; applying a thermal treatment regimen to the cardiac tissue region with the medical device; measuring a physiological parameter during the thermal treatment regimen application; and conveying the measured physiological parameter to a controller, the controller comparing the measured physiological parameter to the defined physiological response value threshold, the controller adjusting the thermal treatment regimen in response to the comparison of the measured physiological parameter to the defined physiological response value threshold.
US09398926B2

An interspinous stabilization device includes: (1) a supporting member with a top surface and a bottom surface both being configured to engage spinous processes; (2) two side members connected to the supporting member; (3) a fastener attached to the side members; and optionally (4) two extendable arms each secured on one of the side members.
US09398918B2

A microfracture device comprising a guide shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and defining an internal passage between the proximal and distal ends, the distal end having a curved tip, a stabilizing portion disposed along an outer surface of the guide shaft, at least a portion of the stabilizing portion being wider than the guide shaft, and a flexible element movably positioned within the internal passage of the guide shaft, the flexible element having a distal tip configured for driving into bone.
US09398913B2

A bioadhesive sealant storage and preparation system may comprise a plurality of containers and an adapter. The plurality of containers may comprise a first container having a first bioadhesive sealant component therein, and a second container having a second bioadhesive sealant component therein. The adapter may comprise a manifold comprising a plurality of channels formed therein, an inlet region sized and configured to receive the plurality of containers and facilitate fluid communication between each container of the plurality of containers and a respective channel of the plurality of channels, and an outlet region sized and configured to receive a syringe and provide fluid communication between the syringe and the plurality of channels.
US09398907B2

A suturing device for suturing a portion of biological tissue includes a needle attached to a suture, a needle holder that releasably holds the needle, and a needle driver adapted to be advanced and retracted substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the suturing device. A distal needle holder adapted to releasably hold the needle is positioned in a distal position relative to the portion of biological tissue and a distal end of the needle driver is positioned in a proximal position relative to the portion of biological tissue. The needle is positioned in either the proximal position or the distal position. The needle driver is moved longitudinally in a first direction along a path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis such that the needle and suture pass through the portion of biological tissue, thereby forming a suture incision through which the suture passes. By repeating the above-described processes, a series of stitches is thereby formed.
US09398904B2

Described are devices, methods and systems for securing sutures external to the body. In certain aspects, a suture securement device includes a base paddle defining a slot and a suture aperture in communication with the slot, and a rotating paddle having an extension arm with a suture aperture. In such embodiments, the extension arm can rotate within the slot to frictionally crimp a suture, such that the suture is substantially prevented from moving with the apertures.
US09398901B2

An implantable medical device (IMD) has a housing enclosing an electronic circuit. The housing includes a first housing portion, a second housing portion and a joint coupling the first housing portion to the second housing portion. A polymer enclosure member surrounds the joint and circumscribes the housing in various embodiments. Other embodiments of an IMD housing are disclosed.
US09398900B2

A surgical instrument for treatment of superficial varicose veins in a body is provided. The surgical instrument includes at least one vein-engaging element disposed within or on a housing being adapted for insertion into a tissue. The at least one vein-engaging element is operable to a vein-engaging state whereby it protrudes from the housing at a length thereof.
US09398899B2

According to one embodiment, a transmission/reception unit generates a reception signal. A signal extraction unit extracts a harmonic signal and fundamental wave signal from the reception signal. A calculation unit calculates a feature amount based on values corresponding to the amplitudes of the harmonic signal and fundamental wave signal. An area determination unit determines an area in a scanned area based on the feature amount and a predetermined threshold. A change unit changes the value corresponding to the amplitude of the harmonic signal in the determined area. An image generation unit generates a corrected harmonic image based on the harmonic signal in the scanned area including the determined area having the changed value.
US09398896B2

Disclosed is an ultrasound diagnostic imaging apparatus including an ultrasound probe which outputs a transmission ultrasound wave toward a subject due to a driving signal and which outputs a received signal by receiving a reflection ultrasound wave from the subject, a transmitting unit which makes the ultrasound probe generate the transmission ultrasound wave by outputting each of a first transmission signal, a second transmission signal, a third transmission signal and a fourth transmission signal as the driving signal, and a signal component extraction unit which extracts a higher harmonic component and a difference frequency component by compounding a first received signal, a second received signal, a third received signal and a fourth received signal.
US09398883B2

An example method of representing cardiac information associated with a heart rhythm disorder includes accessing a plurality of neighboring cardiac signals obtained from a patient. The method also includes eliminating far-field activations from the plurality of neighboring cardiac signals using one or more divergence criteria that define local activations in the plurality of neighboring cardiac signals, the divergence criteria being associated with divergence among the plurality of neighboring cardiac signals. The method further includes constructing a clinical representation of local activations in the plurality of neighboring cardiac signals.
US09398882B2

Method and apparatus for integrated sensor and data processing assembly is provided.
US09398881B2

A micro-analyzer is described. This micro-analyzer includes an outer surface region on a sampler surface that receives liquid droplets, and aggregates and moves the droplets radially toward an inner surface region on the sampler surface that receives the droplets. For example, the outer surface region may include a set of micro-patterned concentric rings, each of which includes a set of radially oriented wall-groove pairs. Moreover, the sampler surface may be increasingly less hydrophobic along a radial direction toward the center of the sampler surface, thereby creating an axisymmetric wettability gradient. After the droplets are aggregated, an analysis mechanism in an area within the inner surface region performs analysis on the aggregated droplets.
US09398878B2

An apparatus for measuring tension of skin comprises a first rigid leg, a second rigid leg, and means for pivotally connecting proximal ends of the first leg and the second leg such that distal ends of the first leg and the second leg can be moved toward and away from one another. A gauge is carried by one of the first leg or the second leg for giving an indication of the spacing between the distal ends of the first leg and the second leg. Indicia is carried by the other of the first leg or the second leg. A spring arm is connected for resilient, flexible movement relative to one of the first leg or the second leg.
US09398875B2

A method for biological signal analysis, including providing a multidimensional sensor array disposed at a position for sensing biological data associated with a person, wherein the multidimensional sensor array includes a plurality of sensors and each sensor of the plurality of sensors is mechanically coupled to a common structural coupling material. The method including selectively receiving an output from each sensor of the plurality of sensors, processing the output from each sensor of the plurality of sensors and outputting a biological signal based on the processing.
US09398874B2

In a mood analysis method using an electrocardiogram of a user, RR intervals in the electrocardiogram are computed, and low-frequency (LF) values and high-frequency (HF) values are also computed according to the RR intervals. Standard values of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity and parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) activity are acquired corresponding to age and sex data of the user, to establish a mood display coordinate system. Coordinates of the LF values and the HF values in the mood display coordinate system are computed to determine a mood of the user.
US09398870B2

A system includes an enclosure having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The enclosure includes a display coupled to the processor where the display is visible from an exterior of the enclosure; and a battery within the enclosure coupled to the processor and the display. The enclosure includes a probe tip coupled to an exterior of the enclosure. The probe tip includes first, second, and third sensor openings. A first distance between the first and second sensor openings is different than a second distance between the first and third sensor openings. The enclosure includes code stored in the memory where the code is executable by the processor, and includes code to receive first data associated with the first and second sensor openings, code to receive second data associated with the first and second sensor openings, and code to perform SRS using the first and the second data.
US09398868B1

This disclosure relates to systems and/or methods for subtracting in the current domain an output current primary signal from a primary sensor from an output current reference signal from a reference sensor to produce a frequency output signal indicative of the difference between the output current primary signal and the output current reference signal.
US09398860B2

An example system and method of determining a likely core of a rotational source associated with a heart rhythm disorder are disclosed. A plurality of relative diffusion shapes associated with wave fronts is calculated at a plurality of time points associated with the rotational source. The wave fronts associated with heart signals. A plurality of intersecting points of a smallest relative diffusion shape and other relative diffusion shapes is determined. A bounded polygon of the intersecting points is defined as the likely core.
US09398852B2

A medical telemetry system include: a transmitter which transmits a first signal; a first medical telemeter which transmits a second signal including biological information of a patient, the first medical telemeter which receives the first signal and which performs an operation corresponding to information included in the first signal; and a monitor apparatus which receives the second signal.
US09398849B2

An ophthalmic apparatus includes: a light projecting optical system to project light to each point on a fundus of an examinee's eye; a light receiving optical system including a light receiving element to receive light from the fundus emitted from each point on the fundus resulting from the light projected from the light projecting optical system; and a controller for controlling the ophthalmic apparatus, wherein the controller is configured to: acquire intensity information representing intensity of the light from the fundus corresponding to each point on the fundus based on a result of received light of the light receiving element; and analyze a degree of opacity in an optic media of the examinee's eye based on the intensity information.
US09398848B2

A method of performing eye gaze tracking of at least one eye of a user, by determining the position of the center of the eye, said method comprising the steps of: detecting the position of at least three reflections on said eye, transforming said positions to spanning a normalized coordinate system spanning a frame of reference, detecting the position of said center of the eye relative to the position of said reflections and transforming this position to said normalized coordinate system, tracking the eye gaze by tracking the movement of said eye in said normalized coordinate system. Thereby calibration of a camera, such as knowledge of the exact position and zoom level of the camera, is avoided. Further, it is not necessary to know the position of light sources. This results in a much more flexible and user friendly system.
US09398844B2

Embodiments related to improving a color-resolving ability of a user of a see-thru display device are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment includes, on a see-thru display device, constructing and displaying virtual imagery to superpose onto real imagery sighted by the user through the see-thru display device. The virtual imagery is configured to accentuate a locus of the real imagery of a color poorly distinguishable by the user. Such virtual imagery is then displayed by superposing it onto the real imagery, in registry with the real imagery, in a field of view of the user.
US09398839B2

A protective sleeve for an endoscope having an endoscope tube is provided. The protective sleeve of certain embodiments can include a tubular main body for holding a distal section of the endoscope tube. The main body has an open proximal end and a cover glass at the distal end. The cover glass has a spherically curved, concave inside, a spherically curved, convex outside and a constant thickness.
US09398828B1

A spray distribution assembly (14) for a hot beverage brewer (10) with a spray head (20) having a generally vertical passageway (22) for receipt of hot water and an umbrella-like member (34) with an underlying spray plate (38) having a downwardly, outwardly tapered top surface with radiating, outwardly, downwardly directed, upwardly facing grooves and an upwardly standing central core (58) snuggly received within the passageway (22) joined to the underside of the top of the umbrella-like member (34) with a plurality of vertical radially, outwardly facing grooves (68) extending from the top to the bottom to form a plurality of peripheral closed channels for passing hot water to upwardly facing grooves (74) of the umbrella-like body. The umbrella-like spray plate assembly may be attached to a cup shaped spray housing (144) in lieu of a flat spray plate (142) by means of a mounting adapter (158).
US09398821B1

Liquid serving and receiving containers are shown and described. In one embodiment, the assembly comprises a serving container having a magnetic field and a receiving container having an opposing magnetic field. In another embodiment, a method includes configuring serving and receiving containers to repel one another when aligned in an adjacent pouring position. The result is devices, assemblies, and methods for preventing cross-contamination of liquid food service containers and the like.
US09398811B1

A lounge chair having a seat shell that defines a chair back and a seat is pivotally movable about a stationary base. The stationary base includes a concave support surface having a shape that generally corresponds with a convex outer surface of the seat shell. A swivel disc is positioned between the seat shell and the base to allow the seat shell to pivot about the stationary base. The interaction between a pivot post formed on the base and a pivot limiting guide formed in the seat shell defines the range of movement for the seat shell. A tether connects the seat shell to the seat base and creates a bias force to urge the seat shell into an upright seating position. The base includes a series of glide buttons that support the swivel disc to allow the seat shell to pivot relative to the stationary base.
US09398807B2

A hook for clothes hanger has a first direction, a main body, a pressing unit and a resilient element. When in use, a hook segment of a clothes hanger is pushed to abut a slope of a blocking segment of the pressing unit, thereby moving the pressing unit along a direction opposite to the first direction. Thus, the hook segment of the clothes hanger can enter the hook. Afterwards, the resilient element pushes back the pressing unit along the first direction, such that the blocking segment is moved back to prevent the clothes hanger from falling off easily. To remove the clothes hanger, the pressing unit is directly pressed. As a result, the hook for clothes hanger does not need any specific operational effort for opening the hook, and only needs a simple press for closing the hook. Therefore, the operation is convenient and quick.
US09398792B2

A replaceable decoration unit for an accessory has an accommodating element, an outer cover and an outer decorating element. The decoration unit can be used in accessories such as earrings, watches, pendants, necklaces, waistlets, bracelets or key chains. When the outer cover is covered on the accommodating element, the outer decorating element is clamped and positioned between the outer cover and the accommodating element. The user can change the outer decorating element depending on usage demand. To change the outer decorating element, the user can open the outer cover and then remove the outer decorating element for replacement, thereby varying the look and style of the accessory. Besides, the outer decorating element can be made of solid materials such as metal or plastic, or soft materials such as fabric or leather, or the combination of the solid materials and the soft materials.
US09398789B2

Embodiments herein provide adhesive zipper tape. A zipper may be coupled to adhesive zipper tape to form a zipper assembly. In various embodiments, the adhesive zipper tape may be coupled to a piece of fabric, such as in a garment, around an opening. The zipper may then be used to open and close the opening. In various embodiments, the adhesive zipper tape may manifest an adhesive quality when activated by an activation stimulus, such as heat or air.
US09398788B2

Disclosed is a method for measuring inside dimensions of shoes. In this method a foot model can be obtained after the processes of a plastic filling material being filled into the shoe, shaping, being taken out from the shoe and being restored; then more accurate data of the inside dimensions of the shoe can be obtained by measuring the foot model. Further disclosed is a measuring tool able to be used in the present measuring method. By using the measuring method and the measuring tool, errors encountered when going shopping for shoes can be reduced to the maximum degree by a simple operation, such that the problem that an ordinary consumer could buy a pair of perfect fitting shoes only if he/she tries them personally can be solved.
US09398785B2

The invention relates to a shoe (1), especially to a sports shoe, having a shoe upper (2) and a sole (3) which is connected with the shoe upper (2), wherein the sole (3) has a longitudinal axis (L) and has a forefoot region (4), a midfoot region (5) and a rearfoot region (6). To support the foot especially during running in a more natural way the invention is characterized in that at least one first hinge (7) is provided in the sole (3) being located between the forefoot region (4) and the midfoot region (5), which first hinge (7) allows a bending of the forefoot region (4) relatively to the midfoot region (5) around a first horizontal axis (T1) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L), and that at least one second hinge (8) is provided in the sole (3) being located in the midfoot region (5), which second hinge (8) allows a bending of two adjacent parts (5a, 5b) of the midfoot region (5) around a second horizontal axis (T2) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L), wherein at least one elastic tensioning element (9) is arranged at or in the sole (3), which biases the forefoot region (4) to pivot around the first horizontal axis (T1) upwards relatively to the midfoot region (5) when the shoe is standing on the ground (10) and which biases the two parts (5a, 5b) of the midfoot region (5) to pivot around the second horizontal axis (T2) to form an arch when the shoe is standing on the ground (10).
US09398778B2

Water-resistant waders may incorporate a waist lock system to reduce the likelihood of water entering the waders below the wearer's waist area while the waders are being worn during water-based activities, such as fishing or hunting. The waders may include a waist lock system formed of a ring of water-resistant material that may be firmly positioned around the waist area of the wearer such that it may create a flap and seal structure. If water reaches the top portion of the waist lock system, the waist lock system generally may prevent or at least minimize the water that may penetrate the waist lock system and enter the waders, particularly below the wearer's waist area, such as the wearer's feet and legs.
US09398777B2

An apparatus is disclosed for providing rods formed from a continuous supply of filter material for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements, each rod having individual objects placed at predetermined spaced intervals along the length thereof. The apparatus comprises a first hopper configured to provide a reservoir for objects, a second hopper positioned to receive objects from the first hopper, and a reciprocating screen disposed between the first hopper and the second hopper. The reciprocating screen defines a plurality of passageways therein, and the reciprocating screen is configured to facilitate transfer of the objects from the first hopper to the second hopper. The apparatus also comprises an object insertion unit in operable communication with the second hopper and configured to introduce a plurality of objects into engagement with the continuous supply of filter material.
US09398774B2

A movement device, in particular for fluid or pasty products, including: a helical element (2), arranged with a helical development about a longitudinal axis (x) thereof and being predisposed to rotate concentrically externally of a cooling element (100) in such a way as to push a fluid product in advancement along the longitudinal axis (x); a first connecting element (3), predisposed to reciprocally connect and maintain the turns of the helical element (2) distant from one another; a hub (4), predisposed to enable connecting the helical element (2) to a rotating element (110) predisposed to activate the helical element (2) in rotation about the longitudinal axis (x) thereof; at least one scraper element (5, 7, 8, 9) predisposed to drag contactingly on an external surface of the cooling element (100) such as to remove accumulations and/or residues of material from the external surface.
US09398773B1

An unloader paddle for use with a poultry processing device includes an elongated arm having opposite proximal and distal ends. The elongated arm proximal end is configured to be attached to a rotatable hub and a blade is secured to the elongated arm distal end. The paddle blade includes a face, a first edge portion, a second edge portion, and a third convexly curved edge portion. The second and third edge portions of the blade extend from the first edge portion and converge to form a tip region, and the tip region is angled or bent in a direction that is transverse to the face of the blade. The blade is secured to the elongated arm distal end such that the face is oriented transverse to a longitudinal direction of the elongated arm.
US09398768B2

N-(tetrazol-5-yl)- and N-(triazol-5-yl)pyridin-3-yl-carboxamides of formula I and their use as herbicides, The invention relates to N-(tetrazol-5-yl)- and N-(triazol-5-yl)pyridin-3-yl-carboxamides of formula I and their use as herbicides. In said formula I, B represents N or CH, whereas R, R1, R3, R4 and R5 represent groups such as hydrogen, halogen or organic groups such as alkyl or phenyl.
US09398758B2

Disclosed herein is a pet leash assembly having a weighted hand grip. The hand grip has a first end and a second end. A leash is operationally connected to the first end. A container is coupled to the second end which is opposite the first end. The leash assembly may optionally include a second container, and a removable cover portion may be reversibly coupled to the containers for closing the containers. The weighted hand grip is configured so that, when in use, the weighted material is disposed in the palm of a user. Also disclosed is a kit comprising the components of a pet leash assembly.
US09398754B2

Low-dust animal litters made from one or more ingredients that function as an animal litter and one or more polyols that function to control dust in the litter are described herein. The low-dust animal litters are made by selecting one or more litter ingredients suitable for making an animal litter and combining the litter ingredients with one or more polyols, generally by applying the polyols to the surface of one or more ingredients before or during the process of combining the ingredients to produce the litter.
US09398749B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH590799. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH590799, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH590799 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH590799.
US09398748B2

The present invention provides a new and distinct hybrid variety of globe artichoke NUN 04325 AR. The new variety is of the Camus type having large ovoid, medium green heads, and is relatively early maturing and produces heads suitable for both the fresh market and/or the processing industry.
US09398740B2

A leaf corralling apparatus including a deflector plate is provided for a lawnmower to prevent an amount of leaves or other debris from being diverted around a deck of the lawnmower. The deflector plate defines a tip that is positioned at a distance from a centerline of the deck approximately equal to or greater than a distance from the centerline of an outermost point of a cutting area defined by one or more blades positioned within the deck of the lawnmower. The deflector plate additionally defines a slanted portion that extends inwardly towards the centerline and rearwardly towards a rear end of the deck.
US09398737B2

The invention refers to a soil cultivation implement with two successively and obliquely positioned frame parts, on which hollow discs on separately rotating bearings are positioned in parallel. Hollow discs of one frame part point in the direction of working with the concave sides obliquely to the front and the outside. Hollow discs of the other frame part point in the direction of working with the concave sides obliquely to the front and the center. The chords of the concave sides of the hollow discs are positioned to form an obtuse angle with the surface of the soil. The respective two hollow discs in the middle section that point towards each other with their concave sides or their convex sides are constructed so that in each case one of these hollow discs has a smaller diameter and is positioned in the direction of working offset towards the adjacent hollow discs.
US09402334B2

An air flow control assembly, system, and method for controlling air flow to a server rack. An example air flow control assembly includes a retractable barrier configured to block the air flow, at least partially, from passing through a perforated floor tile to the server rack. The air flow control assembly also includes a barrier mount configured to secure the retractable barrier proximate the perforated floor tile.
US09402331B2

An electronic device includes a substrate wafer made of an insulating material and having an electrical connection network. An integrated circuit chip is mounted to a top side of the substrate wafer. The substrate wafer contains an internal duct. The duct is formed by a covered trench located in the top side of the substrate wafer. The trench contains a thermally conductive material, for example being a fluid. Openings in the top side of the substrate wafer that are offset from the trench permit the making of an electrical connection between the integrated circuit and the electrical connection network.
US09402328B2

A server includes a case, a storage module, a connection module, a first expander board, a second expander board, a first mother board and a second mother board. The case includes a bottom case. The storage module is disposed on the bottom case and includes multiple storage units. The connection module is disposed on the bottom case and connected to the storage module. At least one first expander chip is disposed on the first expander board. At least one second expander chip is disposed on the second expander board. At least one first central processing unit is disposed on the first mother board. At least one second central processing unit is disposed on the second mother board. The first expander board, the second expander board, the first mother board and the second mother board are pluggably connected to the connection module, respectively.
US09402326B2

A fixed relocatable wireless device (FRWD) (100) includes a self-contained communications system for providing full-time connectivity to the Internet and/or to Internet protocol (IP) addresses via a built-in wired and/or wireless interface. Once configured, the FRWD allows an external local device access to the Internet without drivers or additional software in the local device, and without an external computer. The FRWD includes an operating system and application software. The FRWD utilizes a cellular modem (830) as back-haul for connectivity to the Internet. The FRWD allows a voice call to be originated and/or terminated over cellular voice channels. The FRWD includes circuitry (800) and antennas (802 and 804) that are completely enclosed in a housing (110) shaped as an AC wall adapter.
US09402322B1

According to some embodiments, an apparatus includes a circuit board made of polycrystalline diamond. The circuit board is formed by thermolysis of layers of a preceramic polymer. A plurality of tubes are formed within the circuit board and comprise a plurality of terminations at one or more surfaces of the circuit board. Each tube comprises a layer of graphene that is operable to permit each tube to conduct electrical current. Each layer of graphene is formed by thermolysis of the polycrystalline diamond circuit board at a temperature greater than or equal to 900 degrees Celsius. The apparatus also includes a plurality of optical waveguides formed within the circuit board. Each optical waveguide comprises a core of polycrystalline silicon carbide surrounded by polycrystalline diamond. The polycrystalline diamond is formed by thermolysis of poly(hydridocarbyne) and the silicon carbide is formed by thermolysis of poly(methylsilyne).
US09402321B2

Even if the strength of a solder composition close to a SnBi eutectic composition was improved, it was brittle, so when it was used for small electronic devices such as mobile phones or notebook computers, the resistance to drop impacts when the small electronic equipment was dropped was low. Therefore, interface peeling often took place between the soldered surface and a printed circuit board, resulting in the devices being destroyed. As disclosed, when soldering using a solder paste containing a SnBi-based low-temperature solder, at least one type of solder composition selected from a Sn—Ag, a Sn—Cu, and a Sn—Ag—Cu solder composition is diffused into the solder paste by simultaneously supplying at least one type of preform selected from a Sn—Ag, a Sn—Cu, and a Sn—Ag—Cu solder composition, whereby resistance to drop impacts is improved.
US09402318B2

A wiring board includes a first resin insulation layer, a conductive layer formed on the first insulation layer and including first and second conductive circuits formed adjacent to each other, and a second resin insulation layer formed on the first insulation layer and on the conductive layer such that the second insulation layer is filling a space between the first and second conductive circuits. The first and second conductive circuits are formed such that a distance between the first conductive circuit and the second conductive circuit is in a range of 10 μm or less at the first insulation layer, and each of the first and second conductive circuits has a bottom portion in contact with the first insulation layer and an upper portion on the bottom portion such that the upper portion has a roughened sidewall and the bottom portion has a sidewall which is not roughened.
US09402311B2

A semiconductor module includes a copper connector jointing an electrode formed on a top surface of a bare-chip transistor and a wiring pattern out of plural wiring patterns via a solder. The copper connector includes an electrode jointing portion jointed to the electrode of the bare-chip transistor and a substrate jointing portion arranged to face the electrode-jointing portion and jointed to the wiring pattern. The width W1 of the electrode jointing portion in a direction perpendicular to one direction is smaller than the width W2 of the substrate jointing portion in the direction perpendicular to the one direction.
US09402304B2

There is provided a printed circuit substrate and a noise suppression structure capable of minimizing constraint on a component layout on a substrate and suppressing noise. The printed circuit substrate includes conductive patterns of odd numbered layers and conductive patterns of even numbered layers which are alternately arranged in a vertical direction and hold an insulating layer between each layer. Portions excepting predetermined areas for connecting a first through-hole and predetermined areas for insulating from a second through-hole in the conductive patterns of the odd numbered layers have a same shape as portions excepting predetermined areas for connecting the second through-hole and predetermined areas for insulating the first through-hole in the conductive patterns of the even numbered layers, and the portions are laminated on one another at the same position in the vertical direction.
US09402298B2

A method of manufacturing a radio frequency accelerator that accelerates charged particles injected into a second-stage linear accelerator from a first-stage linear accelerator includes a step of setting a value of a power distribution factor R for the power distributor to supply radio frequency power to the second-stage linear accelerator and a value of a ratio L/ω of a length L of the matching section between the outlet of the first-stage linear accelerator and the inlet of the second-stage linear accelerator to the angular frequency ω of the radio frequency power, so that a charged particle beam is extracted from the second-stage linear accelerator over a range of the total radio frequency power wider than a widest allowable range among allowable total radio frequency power ranges determined for each phase of charged particles on the basis of phase acceptance of the second-stage accelerator.
US09402287B2

When a detection voltage VCS that corresponds to a voltage drop across a detection resistor RCS exceeds a first threshold value VADIM, a current limit comparator asserts a reset pulse. A zero current detection circuit asserts a set pulse configured as an instruction to turn on a switching transistor. A logic circuit generates a control pulse based on the reset pulse and the set pulse. When a transition occurs in a dimming pulse from an on level to an off level in a period in which the control pulse is set to the on level, the dimming pulse adjusting unit delays this transition to a next off period of the control pulse.
US09402286B2

A circuit includes a bridge circuit, a converter, and a controller. The bridge circuit receives power from first and second power lines of a switch and generates a rectified voltage. The switch is capable of operating in a first state in which the switch conducts power to the first power line but not the second power line, a second state in which the switch conducts power to the second power line but not the first power line, and a third state in which the switch conducts power to both the first and second power lines. The converter converts the rectified voltage to an output voltage to drive a light source, and controls a current through the light source according to a driving signal. The controller monitors the operation state of the switch and generates the driving signal based on the operation state to control brightness/dimming of the light source.
US09402280B2

Methods and apparatus for wireless communication are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus for wireless communication comprises a transmitter configured to transmit data at a first frequency on a first radio access technology. The apparatus comprises a receiver configured to receive data at the first frequency on the first radio access technology. The apparatus comprises a processor configured to tune the transmitter to the first frequency associated with the first radio access technology. The processor is configured to tune the receiver from the first frequency to a second frequency associated with a second radio access technology while the transmitter remains tuned to the first frequency associated with the first radio access technology. The processor is further configured erase data to be transmitted for the first radio access technology from at least one transmission channel slot when the first frequency and the second frequency satisfy a predetermined combination of frequencies.
US09402275B2

A method is provided for interconnecting base stations of a cellular network via a transport network which comprises a plurality of network elements (NEs), wherein at least two of the plurality of NEs are collocated with respective base stations. The method comprises the steps of: establishing in the TN at least one proximity group that comprises a plurality of geographically adjacent NEs; establishing a logical grid connectivity between NEs that are members of the same proximity group to enable direct communications there-between, thereby enabling establishment of communications paths between base stations collocated with the at least two of the plurality of NEs, wherein that path extends via the at least two respective NEs communicating directly there-between.
US09402274B1

Various embodiments include methods implemented on a mobile communication device for sharing network information among subscriptions when a first subscription is in a data communication session and a second subscription is in an idle mode. The methods may include determining whether the first subscription and the second subscription share a network operator and are camped on a same base station. If so, the first subscription may receive network information from the base station and store the network information in a shared memory of the mobile communication device that can be accessed by the second subscription. The second subscription may then perform some idle mode operations using the network information stored in the shared memory.
US09402270B2

Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with generating transient identifiers are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a memory device that stores a primary identifier that is unique to the apparatus. The primary identifier correlates with a displayed identifier of the apparatus that is used by a remote device to initiate communications with the apparatus. The apparatus includes identifier logic configured to generate a secondary identifier in response to receiving an association request that includes the displayed identifier when the apparatus is in a bootstrap mode. The bootstrap mode is a state of the apparatus when the apparatus is initializing and will accept a new association. The association request is a wireless communication that initiates establishing secure communications. The apparatus includes communication logic configured to establish secure wireless communications with the remote device by causing the remote device to identify the apparatus using the secondary identifier.
US09402268B2

A communication system includes a plurality of eNodeBs (eNBs) configured to serve one or more user equipments (UEs). The plurality of eNBs includes a first eNB and a second eNB. The first eNB is configured to wirelessly communicate on a resource with the second eNB. The resource includes a time resource and/or a frequency resource. The first and second eNBs are configured to cooperatively serve the one or more UEs. The first and second eNBs are configured to engage in wireless communication following a predetermined schedule known to the plurality of eNBs.
US09402262B2

A method of allocating a wireless communication resource to a device-to-device (D2D) pair of wireless devices may include determining an access-point interference threshold of an access point of a wireless communication network. The method may further include determining a device-to-device (D2D) signal power of a D2D signal at the access point. The D2D signal may be associated with D2D communications between a D2D pair of wireless devices. The method may also include assigning a wireless communication resource to the D2D pair based on a comparison of the access-point interference threshold with an access-point interference value where the access-point interference value is based on the determined D2D signal power at the access point.
US09402245B2

A method of connecting devices to a network is provided. The method includes providing base stations connected to a network, and at each of the base stations, receiving probe signals from terminal devices. For each of the terminal devices, the base station calculates a signature waveform based on a time-reversed waveform of a channel response signal derived from the corresponding probe signal. For each of the terminal devices, the base station determines a downlink transmit signal for the terminal device based on the downlink data and the corresponding signature waveform, and transmits the downlink signals to the terminal devices. Several base stations have overlapping broadcast regions, several terminal devices are located within the overlapped broadcast regions, the base stations transmit the downlink signals using a same frequency band, and some downlink signals transmitted by base stations having overlapping broadcast regions also overlap in time.
US09402243B2

Systems and methods for communicating in a wireless communication system are described. Various processes for reducing the initial link set up time are described. In one aspect, a method in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes transmitting a message advertising wireless communication from an access point. The method further includes receiving a plurality of access requests from a plurality of devices. The method further includes determining demand for wireless communication based on the plurality of access requests. The method further includes modifying a broadcast of the message advertising the wireless communication based on the determined demand.
US09402241B2

A method on a mobile device is described. A first registration of the mobile device is maintained with a first wireless network for a first subscription. A second registration of the mobile device is maintained with a second wireless network for a second subscription. The first registration is concurrent with the second registration. A user data stream is transferred with the second registration. The user data stream is transferred from the second registration to the first registration based on a receipt of a call request.
US09402214B2

A wireless communication technique provides mobility for a mobile station to communicate with an overlay network device, which is within a coverage area of an underlay network device, when the mobile station is within a coverage area of both devices. The overlay network device broadcasts at least two downlink channels. A cell code (e.g., a scrambling code or pseudo noise offset) of a first one of the downlink channels identifies an overlay network device exclusively. The mobile station can detect the first downlink channel responsive to an indication of the exclusive cell code from the underlay network device. A second one of the downlink channels allows for subsequent, ongoing communications between the mobile station and the overlay network device.
US09402212B2

A method is provided for single radio voice call continuity from E-UTRAN to UTRAN, comprising receiving a single radio voice call continuity request for handover from packet switched access of a source radio access network to circuit switched access of a target radio access network, sending a query to determine whether last active session is a voice only or a video session, and receiving a response to said query indicating whether said last active session is a voice only or a video session.
US09402209B1

Systems and methods for utilizing linear network coding to efficiently transfer data packets among components within a telecommunications network are provided. In embodiments, a gateway and source cell of a telecommunications network may utilize linear network coding to create a linear combination of data packets (“encoded data packets”). The encoded data packets may be sent to a target cell, where the target cell may decode the data packets. The target cell may send the decoded packets in sequential order to a user device.
US09402207B2

Wireless communication techniques are provided to receive a service priority scheme selection and determine, during reception of a first service, whether or not to switch to a second service, based on the received service priority scheme selection. Devices, systems and methods can be configured to implement the techniques for service priority scheme selection.
US09402205B2

A traffic forwarding method and system based on a virtual switch cluster is described. The method includes setting an aggregation group member list to store information about all the members of an aggregation group; setting an aggregation group traffic forwarding member list to store information of aggregation group members for forwarding traffic, wherein the list in an initial state only containing information about local members of the aggregation group; and when it is determined that traffic of a physical device exceeds the total bandwidth of the members in the aggregation group traffic forwarding member list or a threshold value related to the total bandwidth, selecting a nonlocal member from the aggregation group member list and adding the same into the aggregation group traffic forwarding member list, and forwarding traffic according to the changed aggregation group traffic forwarding member list.
US09402202B2

Provided is a terminal device that is capable of improving the characteristics of a response signal having poor transmission characteristics when ARQ is utilized in communication using an uplink unit band and a plurality of downlink unit bands associated with the uplink unit band. At the time of channel selection, a control unit (208) selects a resource used in sending a response signal from among specific PUCCH resources notified in advance from a base station (100) and PUCCH resources mapped to a CCE, and controls the transmission of the response signal. A response signal generating unit (212) supports implicit signaling with respect to any given response signal, and at the same time as supporting LTE fallback from 2CC, uses a mapping method that, between bits, smooths the number of PUCCH resources that can determine ACK/NACK simply by determining the PUCCH resource regarding which the response signal had notified.
US09402198B2

A network in which two or more communication schemes coexist, in which a wireless control device identifies a communication scheme of a frame transmitted by a wireless terminal device, making reception possible. The wireless control device, upon detecting a receive signal strength of receive data, determines a signal strength at a non-overlapping frequency band of each communication scheme and thereby judges the communication scheme of the receive data.
US09402189B2

An approach is provided for validating crowd-sourced information. The approach includes processing and/or facilitating a processing of map error data to generate at least one map job and at least one activity context associated with the at least one map job, the map error data, or a combination thereof. The approach also includes determining one or more devices based, at least in part, on the at least one activity context. Further, the approach includes causing, at least in part, a transmission of the at least one map job to the one or more devices for resolving one or more map errors indicated in the at least one map job, the map error data, or a combination thereof.
US09402179B1

Techniques and systems are provided for facilitating secure pairing of a client device with a remote device using a inductive pickup coil in the client device and an intermediate hearing-aid-compatible (HAC) mobile device. Credentials stored in or accessible to the mobile device may be encoded in an magnetic HAC signal in the audio frequency spectrum and communicated to the client device through inductive coupling with the inductive pickup coil in the client device. The client device may then use the credentials to gain access to the remote device. In some implementations, the mobile device may cease broadcasting the magnetic signal upon receipt of an indication that the client device has gained access to the remote device.
US09402177B2

A particular method includes generating, at a secure user plane location (SUPL) server, a message to be sent to a mobile device, the message including: a server certificate including an identifier of the SUPL server and a public key of the SUPL server; and a request for a device certificate of the mobile device. The method also includes receiving a reply from the mobile device that includes a device certificate of the mobile device; and authenticating the mobile device as associated with a SUPL user based on the device certificate.
US09402168B2

In a motor vehicle, messages received by a first receiving appliance and messages received by a second receiving appliance are joined to form a common message base and are output in combined form.
US09402160B2

A protocol and methodology that extends the battery power in a remote asset tracking device by storing location data more than once (i.e., “n” times), yet transmitting that data only once to a server. In other words, multiple data points are transmitted simultaneously. Devices and systems incorporating the protocol are also provided.
US09402158B2

An Aggregate Location Dynometer (ALD) in a physical wireless network alerts to a problematic crowd risk using location based services (LBS). An Aggregate Location Dynometer (ALD) comprises a Network Monitor, a Crowd Risk Determinant and an Alert Module. The Network Monitor monitors wireless traffic for a potential viral event, associated with a formation of a plurality of wireless devices. The Crowd Risk Determinant requests location information associated with a plurality of wireless devices in a given area regarding a respective viral event. The Crowd Risk Determinant determines if the viral event also indicates a crowd safety risk, based on the shape and movement of observed wireless devices. The Alert Module triggers an alert of an impending crowd problem when crowd risk is above a given threshold. Historical databases are empirically determined and maintained in the Aggregate Location Dynometer (ALD) for use in viral event and crowd risk assessment.
US09402151B2

The present invention provides a method for recognizing a position of a mobile robot by using arbitrarily shaped ceiling features on a ceiling, comprising: a providing step of providing a mobile robot device for recognizing a position by using arbitrarily shaped ceiling features on a ceiling which includes an image input unit, an encoder sensing unit, a computation unit, a control unit, a storage unit, and a driving unit; a feature extraction step of extracting features which include an arbitrarily shaped ceiling feature from an outline extracted from image information inputted through the image input unit; and a localization step of recognizing a position of the mobile robot device by using the extracted features, wherein, in the feature extraction step, a descriptor indicating the characteristics of the arbitrarily shaped ceiling feature is assigned.
US09402149B2

Provided are a tethering providing system and method using short distance communication. More particularly, second short distance communication tethering between a vehicle terminal device and a communication terminal device is set in accordance with whether first short distance communication is established, activated when the vehicle terminal device and the communication terminal device are re-connected through the first short distance communication, and deactivated when the first short distance communication is terminated, thereby providing high-speed data connection through the second short distance communication tethering while reducing battery consumption of the communication terminal device.
US09402147B2

Enhanced paging mechanisms are proposed for Machine Type Communication (MTC) devices in 3GPP networks. First, adaptive paging is proposed to adaptively allocate extra paging occasions for MTC devices with no extra procedure or power consumption on normal UEs. Second, group paging is proposed to simultaneously page a plurality of MTC devices with one paging. Group paging is controlled in different levels for optimized signaling and easier management. In one embodiment, group broadcasting and group release are used. Third, paging with response policy is proposed to pre-define or dynamically configure paging response policies for MTC devices.
US09402145B2

A speaker system comprised of more than one speaker, which utilizes the known characteristics and location of each speaker to enhance low frequency (low (bass) frequency) performance of the system.
US09402142B2

Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for wireless hearing assistance devices and in particular to a controllable range control for wireless hearing assistance device systems. An advertisement is used to allow the receiver to quickly receive streaming information, thus conserving power. In various embodiments, a system for communications with a hearing assistance device includes a wireless streaming device having a range control. The range control is configured to provide a first range for an advertisement transmission and a second range for a streaming information transmission. The first range is less than the second range, in various embodiments.
US09402137B2

A sound transducer includes a substrate with a cavity with extending from a first surface of the substrate, a body at least partially covering the cavity and being connected to the substrate by at least one resilient hinge, a first set of comb fingers mounted to the substrate, and a second set of comb fingers mounted to the body. The first set of comb fingers and the second set of comb fingers are interdigitated and configured to create an electrostatic force driving the body in a direction perpendicular to the first surface of the substrate. The body and the at least one resilient hinge are configured for a resonant or a near-resonant excitation by the electrostatic force.
US09402119B2

A communication system provided with a voice vibration adapter and microphone housing of electronic components, for respiratory protection equipment or the like, provided with means of transmission and reception, both connected either wired or wireless, in charge of allowing voice transmission fluently and clearly, in places of high acoustic index and of hazardous polluting emissions, preventing the worker from removing the protective equipment to communicate, characterized by means of voice vibration adapter (3), consists of a prismatic hollow outer body with lateral grooves (8) and a front oblong perimeter protrusion (9), inside which there is an isolating cavity (10) for receiving a microphone (1), followed by another smaller cavity (11) for acoustic resonance, which is connected to another cavity greater than the above (12), for electronic components' plate housing (2), also said voice vibration adapter (3), has an output duct (13) of a two-channel connection cable channels (14), which connects with the headset (6) and finally presents a lower perpendicular neck recess (15) of the area or lower base of the voice vibration adapter (3), which is assembled on a lower hollow neck (16), located in the upper base respiration part (4), which is assembled and fixed with the front face of a breathing mask (5).
US09402118B2

An acoustic device includes a substrate, a substrate cover, and a plurality of electrical and acoustic components. The substrate cover is disposed on the substrate and the plurality of electrical and acoustic components are disposed on the substrate and under the substrate cover. The substrate cover is constructed of a base metal and the substrate cover comprises a partially plating. The partial plating is arranged so as to prevent solder creep along a surface of the substrate cover.
US09402117B2

A wearable microphone array apparatus and system used as a directional audio system and as an assisted listening device. The present invention advances hearing aids and assisted listening devices to allow construction of a highly directional audio array that is wearable, natural sounding, and convenient to direct, as well as to provide directional cues to users who have partial or total loss of hearing in one or both ears. The advantages of the invention include simultaneously providing high gain, high directivity, high side lobe attenuation, and consistent beam width; providing significant beam forming at lower frequencies where substantial noises are present, particularly in noisy, reverberant environments; and allowing construction of a cost effective body-worn or body-carried directional audio device.
US09402116B2

The present invention relates to a bone conduction speaker and its compound vibration device. The compound vibration device comprises a vibration conductive plate and a vibration board, the vibration conductive plate is set to be the first torus, where at least two first rods inside it converge to its center; the vibration board is set as the second torus, where at least two second rods inside it converge to its center. The vibration conductive plate is fixed with the vibration board; the first torus is fixed on a magnetic system, and the second torus comprises a fixed voice coil, which is driven by the magnetic system. The bone conduction speaker in the present invention and its compound vibration device adopt the fixed vibration conductive plate and vibration board, making the technique simpler with a lower cost; because the two adjustable parts in the compound vibration device can adjust both low frequency and high frequency area, the frequency response obtained is flatter and the sound is broader.
US09402113B1

Systems and methods for visualizing audience retention for a video as a function of impression frequency are provided. In an aspect, a system includes a reception component configured to receive watch history information for a plurality of users regarding their watch history of a video, and a visualization component configured to generate a visualization based on the watch history information that graphically depicts viewer retention over duration of the video as a function of impression frequency.
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