US09429139B2
Transportation assemblies for rotor blades are provided. A transportation assembly includes a protection cap including a nose portion and a plurality of sidewall portions extending from the nose portion, the protection cap having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional profile. The transportation assembly further includes a restraint assembly including a first protrusion and a second protrusion each extending from the protection cap, the first protrusion and the second protrusion spaced apart along a width of the protection cap.
US09429108B2
A filter device includes a cylindrical filter, a lid member, and an urging member. The filter catches foreign matter contained in gaseous fuel. The filter has a first opening located in one end and a second opening located in the other end of the filter opposite to the first opening. The filter is arranged in the drain tank with the first opening closed with a wall member such that gaseous fuel is allowed to be drawn into the filter through the inflow portion. The gaseous fuel that has passed through the filter flows out of the drain tank through the outflow portion. The lid member closes the second opening of the filter. The urging member urges the lid member toward the filter.
US09429102B2
A metal bead gasket (11) with a sealing region (12) having at least one bead (9), at least one bracing region (13) having at least one recess (21) for receiving a bracing means (5), in particular a screw, and at least one intermediate region (14) which connects the sealing region (12) to the bracing region (13). The intermediate region (14) is configured to be more deformationally unstable perpendicularly to the bracing direction (4) than the sealing region (12) and/or the bracing region (13).
US09429100B2
A cooling duct piston (1) for combustion engines. The cooling duct piston has a piston basic body (2) that is connected to a lining part (3), which is facing an assigned combustion chamber. Here, the lining part (3) completely forms the piston surface (4) of the cooling duct piston (1) that faces the combustion chamber. An encircling depression (5) is provided in the surface of the piston basic body (2) facing the combustion chamber. The lining part (3) provides a permanent connection at least with the surface of the piston basic body (2) facing the combustion chamber, and thus bridges the encircling depression (5), such that the encircling depression (5), with the lining part (3) that bridges it, forms a cooling duct (6).
US09429098B2
A fuel injection controller includes an output detecting portion detecting a first output generated by a combustion of a fuel which a sensor-injector injects and a second output generated by a combustion of a fuel which the second fuel injector injects, a first injection quantity computing portion computing, based on a detection value of the fuel pressure sensor, a first injection quantity injected by the sensor-injector injector to generate the first output, and a second injection quantity estimating portion estimating a second injection quantity injected by the second fuel injector to generate the second output, based on the first output, the second output and the first injection quantity.
US09429082B2
A method of operating an internal combustion engine includes the steps of: determining an upper torque curve at which exhaust emissions from the internal combustion engine are acceptable; determining a lower torque curve at which exhaust emissions from the internal combustion engine are acceptable; and operating the internal combustion engine using a command torque curve ranging between the lower torque curve as a lower limit and the upper torque curve as an upper limit.
US09429075B2
A method of operating a fuel heating system is provided. The method includes performing pre-ignition diagnostic checks on a plurality of components of the fuel heating system, wherein at least one inlet damper and at least one outlet damper of an exhaust flow circuit are each in a closed position. The method also includes purging the fuel heating system of unburned hydrocarbons. The method further includes operating the fuel heating system in a normal operating condition. The method yet further includes operating the fuel heating system in a cool down condition, wherein the at least one inlet damper is in the closed position.
US09429072B2
In an aircraft including a gas turbine engine, a system for cooling the gas turbine engine includes a tank provided in a wing of the aircraft, the tank being configured to store a cooling fluid supply; and a heat exchanger provided in the gas turbine engine configured to exchange heat from the compressor discharge air to the cooling fluid.
US09429067B2
Provided is a two stroke engine that can vary the timing of opening and closing the scavenging port (43) by using a highly simple structure. An end of the scavenging port (43) on the side of the combustion chamber (44) is defined by scavenging orifices (42c) formed in a cylinder sleeve (42), and a shutter (73, 74) is provided on the cylinder sleeve so as to selectively project into the scavenging orifices (42c) from an upper edge (42d) thereof by moving along an axial line (3X) of the cylinder bore (3a).
US09429065B2
An internal combustion engine (1), preferably for a motor vehicle, having at least one cylinder (2) which encloses a combustion chamber (3) and in which a piston (4) is situated in such a way that it may perform a stroke movement, and having at least one injector (5) per cylinder for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber (3). The respective injector (5) has multiple injection openings (9, 10) through which the fuel exits from the injector (5) and enters into the combustion chamber (3).To be able to react more fuel, first injection openings (9) and second injection openings (10) are situated relative to one another in such a way that first injection jets (15) from the first injection openings (9) reach the piston (4) essentially without contacting second injection jets (18) from the second injection openings (10).
US09429063B2
A cylinder block including a water jacket for maintaining an engine at a proper temperature during operation thereof may include a plurality of cylinders formed within the cylinder block so that a number of pistons are respectively inserted into the cylinders, and a heat sink formed in the water jacket provided to enclose side surfaces of the plural cylinders.
US09429051B2
A compression-release brake system comprises an exhaust rocker arm, an actuation piston slidable in a piston bore in the exhaust rocker arm so as to press an exhaust valve, a supply conduit formed within the exhaust rocker arm, and an exhaust valve reset device mounted to the exhaust rocker arm. The actuation piston defines an actuation piston cavity within the actuation piston bore between the piston bore and the actuation piston. The exhaust valve reset device includes a reset check valve disposed between the supply conduit and the actuation piston cavity to hydraulically lock the actuation piston cavity by closing the reset check valve when a pressure of the hydraulic fluid within the actuation piston cavity exceeds the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the supply conduit. The reset check valve is biased closed by the pressure of the hydraulic fluid within the actuation piston cavity during the brake-on mode.
US09429049B2
An intake valve actuation (IVA) system for a dual fuel engine is disclosed. The IVA system is retrofittable between the dual fuel engine and a diesel fuel engine and includes a cam lobe with a cam-profile, a rocker arm, and an IVA piston. The rocker arm has a pad surface, which includes a plane that passes through a central axis of a rocker shaft. The rocker arm is operably connected with the cam lobe and intake valves. A rotational movement of the cam lobe corresponds to switch between the open and closed positions of intake valves. The IVA piston has a face portion, which selectively abuts against the pad surface, to temporarily lock the intake valves in open position. The IVA system defines a hand-off when the face portion abuts against the pad surface. The cam-profile facilitates constant velocity of the intake valves at the hand-off.
US09429039B2
A containment case for a gas turbine including: a cylindrical outer casing extending about an axis and having a radially outer and a radially inner surface; a coaxially arranged cylindrical inner skin formed of a harder material than the outer casing joined to the inner surface of the cylindrical outer casing; and an array of ribs extending radially from the inner skin towards the axis. The case for can have the coaxially arranged cylindrical inner skin formed of a harder material than the outer casing joined to the inner surface of the cylindrical outer casing by a galvanic isolation layer.
US09429036B2
The present application provides a control valve actuator cooling system for providing a flow of cooling air to a control valve actuator. The control valve actuator cooling system may include a pressurized air source with the flow of cooling air, an air timing valve system, and a cooling air discharge port positioned about the control valve actuator such that the air timing valve system provides the flow of cooling air to the control valve actuator on an intermittent basis.
US09429016B2
The invention relates to a method for replacing a disk cutter (1) mounted with preload in a casing (2) attached to the cutting head of a tunnel boring machine, operated using a disk cutter (1) bearing, firmly attached thereto, an element (4) for locking into the housing (2) and preloading means (5), the method involving the steps of: a) removing a worn disk cutter (1) from said housing (2): • clamping a disk cutter (1) handling device (3) onto the housing (2); • taking hold of the disk cutter, • releasing the preload, • unlocking, • extracting the disk cutter (1), • unclamping the device (3), b) fitting a replacement disk cutter (1) in reverse order.
US09429014B2
A downhole tool includes a body including an opening and a cavity extending into the body from the opening. A sample container is fixed in the cavity and includes an elongated container for holding a formation fluid sample and a sheath coupled to an outer surface of the elongated container and at least partially surrounding the elongated container.
US09428992B2
A ball seat valve employed in a downhole tool string includes a split-ring baffle that is configured to radially expand and to radially contract to catch a dropped ball.
US09428990B2
A rotationally activated downhole well valve for connection in a tubing string is disclosed that can be repeatedly opened and closed selectively to place the tubing string in communication with the annulus. The valve is moved between the closed position and the open position by rotating the string in the first direction.
US09428988B2
A method and apparatus for completing a horizontal hydrocarbon well includes cementing a casing string in the well and creating passages through the casing string adjacent float equipment near the casing toe by slowly dissolving a plug with completion fluid used to pump cement into an annulus between the casing string and bore hole. By the time the cement sets up, the plug dissolves leaving passages in the casing string through which a first frac job may be pumped or which allows pumping perforating equipment into the horizontal leg without requiring a coiled tubing run. The technique can also be used in vertical wells to save a perforating gun run.
US09428979B2
A shaped charge casing cutter is constructed with the cutter explosive formed into radial section modules aligned in a toroidal cavity between a pair of housing plates. The center sections of the housing plates are contiguously aligned with opposite parallel surfaces of a center disc. The housing plates comprise annular edges or rims, and the rims can be offset from respective center disc planes in opposite directions from each other to form a toroidal cavity. The toroidal cavity is enclosed by a circumferential belt secured to said housing plate rims. V-grooved shaped charge explosive in the form of multiple pi sections is distributed about the cavity to intimately contact a pair of frusto-conical liners. Assembly tolerance space between the pi sections is filled by dense paper card stock.
US09428973B2
A coiled tubing injector unit insert assembly includes a gripping insert configured to be coupled to a carrier block, the insert comprising a tongue with a first cutout configured to engage a shaft extending within a carrier block pocket, the shaft having a first diameter portion and a second larger diameter portion and a junction between the two shaft diameters that is located within the carrier block pocket to couple the gripping insert to the carrier block.
US09428970B2
A handling device for handling drill string components (8, 8′,8″) in a rock drilling rig (1), wherein the handling device includes a gripper unit (11) for gripping drill string components (8, 8′,8″) to be put into and be brought out from the rock drilling rig, and wherein the gripper unit (11) includes grippers (12,13,14) operational for gripping components positioned in a gripping position, which defines a grip position axis (G). The gripper unit (11) is supported swingable between: a) a first position, wherein the gripper unit is positioned for engagement with an end portion of a first drill string component (8′) and an end portion of a second drill string component (8″) in and aligned with said active drill string position (A), and b) a second position, wherein a gripper unit (11) is positioned for engagement with an end portion of a drill string component in a delivering position for drill string components that are to be brought into respectively taken away from said active drill string position (A). The invention also concerns a rock drilling rig and a method.
US09428964B2
An excavating tool includes a casing pipe that forms a cylindrical shape about an axis line and in which a stepped portion whose inner diameter is decreased by one step is formed in an inner peripheral portion of an distal end; an inner bit where a contact portion which can come into contact with the stepped portion is formed in an outer periphery, which is inserted into the casing pipe, and whose distal end portion protrudes from a distal end of the casing pipe; an engagement convex portion that is disposed on the outer periphery of the distal end portion of the inner bit so as to be retractable; a ring bit that forms an annular shape and is arranged around the distal end portion of the inner bit; and an engagement concave portion that is formed in an inner peripheral portion of the ring bit.
US09428958B1
A removable ladder tray on a ladder having a base with a ladder opening formed therein. The ladder tray is attached and removed without tools. The ladder tray has an open containment area with a collared ladder opening for insertion of the ladder. The ladder opening is generally rectangular and formed adjacent the back of the tray. The ladder opening is surrounded by two spaced apart side edges and two spaced apart ladder leg edges forming a truncated pyramid shaped ladder box. The ladder tray press fits onto the ladder between the top of the ladder and the rungs. The ladder box surroundingly fits around the ladder holding the base top extending away from the user thereby allowing full use and access to the all the climbing rungs and the top platform on the ladder.
US09428952B2
A vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window assembly and method for making same is provided in which a variation in the final edge seal height is preferably 0.20 mm or less, more preferably about 0.15 mm or less. Controlling final edge seal height variations substantially reduces breakage of the glass substrates of the VIG window assembly during vacuum pump-down of the cavity between the glass substrates. Edge seal height variation may be controlled, for example, by controlling initial dispensing of green frit material, controlling temperature variations during firing, and/or controlling cycle times during firing.
US09428941B1
A padlock comprises a housing, a shackle, a locking member, and a limiting set. The housing has a front cover and a rear cover which is pivoted at the front cover. The rear cover has a sliding groove. The rear cover which corresponds to the sliding groove has a through hole and a locking hole. A penetrating groove is formed at the sliding groove. The shackle has a pivoting portion which passes through the through hole and moved toward the cavity. The locking member is slidably arranged in the sliding groove and limited by or separated from the locking portion of the shackle. The limiting set has a limiting member and a releasing member. The limiting member includes an entry slot, an embedded end, and an inclined surface. The limiting member is slidably arranged in the sliding groove. The releasing member is slidably arranged in the penetrating groove.
US09428937B2
A lock includes a deadbolt assembly having a deadbolt and a deadbolt actuator. The lock also includes a latch assembly discrete from the deadbolt assembly. The latch assembly includes a shoot bolt and a shoot bolt actuator. A blocking element may block actuation of the shoot bolt from an unlocked position to a locked position when the deadbolt is in a retracted position. Alternatively or additionally, the blocking element may block actuation of the shoot bolt from a locked position to an unlocked position when the deadbolt is in an extended position.
US09428934B1
A fence system, and method for making same, includes at least one support member, and at least one infill material having an edge. At least one union strip is coupled to the at least one support member, the at least one union strip including at least one channel configured for receiving the edge of the at least one infill material. In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one channel is U-shaped, and the edge is configured in a U-shape for matingly engaging the at least one U-shaped channel.
US09428926B2
A prefabricated building includes a sheet folded to form a structural member defining an interior space. The structural member defines an upper guide hole that extends from the interior space of the structural member to the exterior of the structural member, and a lower guide hole that extends from the interior space of the structural member to the exterior of the structural member. The prefabricated building also includes a guide member that is fixed relative to a foundation. The structural member is aligned so that the guide member passes through the upper guide hole and the lower guide hole.
US09428924B2
An exit device includes a rail having opposite first and second ends and a rear portion with a first opening adjacent the first rail end for attachment to the door surface, the first rail end further having a front portion that inhibits access to the first rail opening in a direction normal to the rail rear portion. The method for installing the rail includes securing a mount having a cantilevered portion extending therefrom to the door at the surface first end such that the mount cantilevered portion provides a space between the cantilevered portion and the door and placing the rail against the door surface such that the mount extends through the first rail opening, sliding the rail to engage the rail rear portion adjacent the first rail opening between the mount cantilevered portion and the door and securing the second rail end to the door surface.
US09428922B2
Apparatus includes body assembly configured for installation to wall assembly and baseboard. Visual-reveal feature is formed between body assembly and baseboard once body assembly and baseboard are positioned, body assembly is installed to wall-support structure that abuts against and supports weight of wall assembly, and baseboard is installed to body assembly. Body assembly includes wall-support contact portion configured for positioning adjacent to wall-support structure. First engagement assembly extends from wall-support contact portion. Second engagement assembly is configured to attach to baseboard. Second engagement assembly and first engagement assembly are configured to engage with each other. Body assembly also includes wall-contact portion configured to contact outer wall surface of wall assembly. Finished-edge portion extends from wall-contact portion. Finished-edge portion is configured for positioning proximate to wall edge of wall assembly. Visual-reveal feature is positioned between baseboard edge of baseboard and wall edge of wall assembly. Visual-reveal feature includes channel having vertical height and horizontal depth.
US09428917B2
Provided is an improved multi-function expansion joint filler which combines the functions of building element spacer, surface finishing screed, masking attachment tape, sealant groove creation, and sealant groove backing material into a single strip for simplified sealing of building cladding joints, intersections or wall penetrations such as windows, doors, or other exterior facade penetration.
US09428914B2
A gutter cleaning assembly for PURPOSE includes a first pipe coupled to a fluid source. The first pipe is structured to have an inverted J-shape such that the first pipe positionable within a gutter. A valve is coupled to the first pipe. The valve selectively allows or restricts a flow of the fluid through the first pipe. A second pipe is coupled to the first pipe. The second pipe is structured to have an L-shape such that the second pipe directs the flow of the fluid into the gutter. A plurality of spray heads is each selectively coupled to the second pipe. The spray heads increase a pressure of the flow of the fluid into the gutter so the fluid clears the gutter of debris.
US09428901B2
A building having a foundation and abutting wall panels seated on the foundation. Together they define at least one wall section, tied together by orthogonal tensioners. The tensioners include vertical tensioners located parallel and between adjacent wall panels and fixed to the foundation and at a respective anchor positioned at the top of the adjacent wall panel. These vertical tensioners allow a binding of the adjacent wall panel by said vertical tensioner onto the seat of the foundation. The tensioners also a horizontal tensioner extending between said anchors at each end of the wall section to allow a horizontal binding of wall panels of the wall section together.
US09428899B2
A fluid flow control and debris intercepting apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid and the introduction of debris into the entrance of a water diversion system such as a curbside storm drain.
US09428891B2
Provided is a valve body of a water faucet including a water outlet pipe seat and two water valve seats configured to receive a cold water valve cartridge and a hot water valve cartridge respectively at two sides of the water outlet pipe seat. Each valve seat is formed with a water inlet pipe enclosed by a cooper casing pipe. Each valve seat is fixed to a corresponding copper casing pipe via injection molding. The valve body of a water faucet in accordance with the present invention is formed with a copper casing pipe which can be connected to an external water pipe around each water inlet pipe. Therefore, lifespan of the water faucet is prolonged remarkably.
US09428890B2
A water outlet structure of a dual-connected faucet inner core comprises a faucet inner core body, multiple metal conduits integrally formed on two water inlet pipes of the faucet inner core body, and an adapter movably connected to the water outlet of the faucet inner core body. The configuration of the subject dual-connected faucet inner core body can fit in with different shapes of faucet housings by different adapters, thereby decreasing the manufacturing cost effectively and enhancing the market competitiveness of the product.
US09428886B2
A ground engaging tip of a tooth assembly for a base edge of a ground engaging implement, is provided, wherein the tooth assembly includes an adapter configured for attachment to a base edge of the ground engaging implement and having a forwardly extending adapter nose. The adapter nose and an adapter cavity of the tip may be configured with surfaces to increase retention when downward forces are applied to the tip.
US09428881B1
A bucket for a machine includes a pair of spaced apart side sections that define a width of the bucket and a hinge plate assembly positioned between the pair of side sections. The hinge plate assembly includes a pair of spaced apart hinge plates, with each of the hinge plates including a front boss and a rear boss, a base plate having a first thickness, and an upper wrapper plate having a second thickness that is less than the first thickness. A wrapper has a third thickness that is less than the second thickness and a lip plate includes a lower cutting edge. A receptacle is defined by the pair of side sections, the base plate, the upper wrapper plate, the wrapper, and the lip plate.
US09428880B2
Modules for use in an assembly for managing the flow of water beneath a ground surface and assemblies of such modules are disclosed. The modules include supports and a deck portion and the supports are spaced apart and form channels with a main section of the deck portion. The deck portion also includes at least one section extending from a main section.
US09428877B2
A portable and modular foundation that can be utilized to support a monopole includes a central hub and a plurality of legs. A proximal end of each leg is removably attached to the central hub. A plurality of floor panels extends from proximate the hub to a perimeter of the foundation and define a substantially uninterrupted floor. With the plurality of floor panels attached to the legs, the foundation can optionally be buried where the soil or other material is positioned on top of the floor panels to provide the necessary ballast to allow the foundation to retain a monopole with a piece of equipment in an elevated position. Alternatively, if the foundation is to be utilized above ground, a plurality of wall panels can be attached to the floor panels and the legs with braces to retain the wall panels in a substantially vertical position. The plurality of wall panels forms a substantially continuous wall about a perimeter of foundation such that ballast can be placed therein.
US09428872B2
An anti-ram vehicle barrier system adapted to arrest an impacting vehicle of substantial mass within a selected distance of the barrier. The barrier system includes a fence portion and/or a gate for selectively allowing passage through an entry port. The fence portion includes a pair of terminal posts positioned in and secured to the ground in a spaced apart relationship and cables connected between the terminal posts. The gate includes a cable extending across a panel that is connected on opposing ends to opposing posts positioned on opposite sides of the entry point. For passage the panel is moved relative to the posts and to the ground.
US09428870B2
A pipe rack and a method for making a pipe rack where the pipe rack may include at least one foundation, two legs, and a horizontal support. The two legs are supported by the at least one foundation. Each of the two legs includes at least one aperture. The horizontal support has two ends. The first end is located in an aperture in a first leg of the two legs and a second end of the horizontal support is located in an aperture in a second leg of the two legs. A rod forms a joint between the foundation and one of the two legs. The rod is located in the aperture in the upper surface of the foundation and in an aperture in a lower surface in the one of the two legs.
US09428859B2
The sheet manufacturing apparatus includes the defibrating unit configured to carry out a dry-type defibrating process on defibration object by rotating a rotating unit, and manufactures sheets by accumulating and heating at least a portion of defibrated material on which the dry-type defibrating process is carried out. The rotating unit includes a rotor that has a plurality of protruding sections on an outer circumference of the rotor, and a feeding blade configured to generate a flow of air and arranged on a side section of the rotor on a side of the input section for the defibration object.
US09428857B2
A method of preparing a woven carpet comprising applying a coating compound as an adhesive layer to the woven carpet to form a coated woven carpet, wherein the coating compound comprises an aqueous dispersion comprising a base polymer, a stabilizing agent, and a liquid medium, wherein the base polymer comprises a polyolefin-based polymer; and a wetting agent. A woven carpet comprising a woven substrate; and an adhesive layer comprising a dehydration product of a coating compound comprising an aqueous dispersion comprising a base polymer, a stabilizing agent, and a liquid medium, wherein the base polymer comprises a polyolefin-based polymer; and a wetting agent.
US09428854B2
A washing machine including a suspension system is provided. The suspension system includes a wash tub, a basket rotatably coupled within the wash tub, and a drive and motor assembly. The washing machine further includes a controller configured initiate a spin cycle by increasing a spin speed of the basket to a target spin speed, identify an out-of-balance load prior to reaching the target spin speed, and limit the spin speed of the basket to a spin speed lower than a natural frequency of the suspension system for a predefined period of time.
US09428852B2
A circular needling table for needling a textile structure made from an annular fiber preform, includes: a horizontal top on which an annular fiber preform is to be placed; a driver system constructed and arranged to drive the fiber preform in rotation about a vertical axis of rotation; and a needling device for needling the fiber preform, the device including a needling head extending over a predetermined angular sector of the table top and to be driven with vertical reciprocating motion relative to the table top, and a mover system constructed and arranged to move the needling head in a direction that is radial relative to the axis of rotation of the fiber preform.
US09428833B1
Method and apparatus for reducing backside deposition by controlling one or more wafer supports are disclosed. A processing chamber, such as a processing chamber for atomic layer deposition, can include a pedestal and one or more wafer supports configured to extend from the pedestal. A wafer can be provided over the pedestal, the one or more wafer supports can contact the backside of the wafer to support the wafer, and the one or more wafer supports can be positioned to a height to cause an outer edge of the wafer to sag. The outer edge of the wafer can sag to substantially contact the pedestal or a carrier ring surrounding the pedestal. This can create an edge seal to limit access by process gases to the backside of the wafer during a deposition process.
US09428826B2
The invention relates to a coating that comprises at least one compound of oxygen and/or nitrogen with at least two metal materials, said compound being present at least partly in spinel structure. The invention also relates to a method for coating and to a coated substrate.
US09428824B2
A metallic coated steel strip includes a steel strip and a metallic coating on at least one side of the strip. The metallic coating includes an Al—Zn—Mg—Si overlay alloy layer and an intermediate alloy layer between the steel strip and the overlay alloy layer. The intermediate alloy layer has a composition of, by weight, 4.0-12.0% Zn, 6.0-17.0% Si, 20.0-40.0% Fe, 0.02-0.50% Mg, and balance Al and unavoidable impurities.
US09428823B2
A surface-treated steel sheet includes: a steel sheet; and a coated layer which is formed on one surface or both surfaces of the steel sheet and includes zinc and vanadium, wherein the coated layer has a vanadium content of 1% or higher and 20% or less and a coating weight of 3 g/m2 or higher and 40 g/m2 or less, and has a plurality of dendritic arms that are grown in a thickness direction of the steel sheet, and a ratio x/y of a content x of vanadium that is present outside the arms to a content y of vanadium that is present inside the arms is 1.1 or higher and 3.0 or less in terms of vanadium element.
US09428816B2
A method of treating ethanol production byproduct is provided by treating wet distillers grain or stillage with a solution containing at least one α-hydroxysulfonic acid to produce at least one fermentable sugar containing product. Fermentable sugar useful for the production of biofuels or ethanol can be produced from such methods. The α-hydroxysulfonic acid can be easily removed from the product and recycled.
US09428809B2
Provided are a solid-phase carrier for solid-phase synthesis of nucleic acid having improved amino group reactivity, and an aminated oligonucleotide to which an amino group has been attached. The present invention relates to an aminated oligonucleotide represented by formula (I).
US09428804B2
A mechanism is provided for ratcheting a double strand molecule. The double strand molecule is driven into a Y-channel of a membrane by a first voltage pulse. The Y-channel includes a stem and branches, and the branches are connected to the stem at a junction. The double strand molecule is slowed at the junction of the Y-channel based on the first voltage pulse being weaker than a force required to break a base pair of the double strand molecule. The double strand molecule is split into a first single strand and a second single strand by driving the double strand molecule into the junction of the Y-channel at a second voltage pulse.
US09428803B2
A mechanism is provided for ratcheting a double strand molecule. The double strand molecule is driven into a Y-channel of a membrane by a first voltage pulse. The Y-channel includes a stem and branches, and the branches are connected to the stem at a junction. The double strand molecule is slowed at the junction of the Y-channel based on the first voltage pulse being weaker than a force required to break a base pair of the double strand molecule. The double strand molecule is split into a first single strand and a second single strand by driving the double strand molecule into the junction of the Y-channel at a second voltage pulse.
US09428802B2
Disclosed herein is a self-competitive primer for preferentially amplifying a sample nucleic acid based on whether a selected region thereof has a nucleotide variation, in comparison with a selected region of a reference nucleic acid. The self-competitive primer includes a 5′-competing domain and a 3′-elongating domain. Sequences of the 5′-competing domain and the 3′-elongating domain are complementary to a first region and a second region of the reference nucleic acid, respectively. The first region includes the selected region and at least one nucleotide residue immediately downstream of the selected region of the reference nucleic acid. The second region is located downstream of the selected region of the reference nucleic acid and does not comprise the selected region of the reference nucleic acid, and the first region and the second region overlap by at least one nucleotide. Also disclosed herein is a method for preferentially amplifying a variant sample nucleic acid over a non-variant sample nucleic acid.
US09428789B2
A method is disclosed for classifying and distinguishing between type I and type II kinase inhibitors. The method involves the use of non-linear optical techniques, in particular second-harmonic generation (SHG) to identify conformational changes in kinase proteins obtained from known type I or type II inhibitors. The method further involves deducing the manner of binding of unknown inhibitors by comparison with the signal changes produced by known ligands. The method is also applied to comparing the conformational changes induced by the binding of generic and branded kinase inhibitor drugs to a target kinase.
US09428787B2
An apparatus and an assembly for processing a sample are provided. The apparatus comprises a plurality of spaced-apart reservoirs, a plurality of channels, and a plurality of outlets, each outlet comprising an effluent discharge opening. The apparatus forms a plurality of flow paths, each flow path comprising a reservoir, a channel, and an outlet. An analyte capture element can be slideably engaged in a channel in a position where it is in fluid communication with the flow path. The apparatus with the analyte capture element disposed in the flow path can be used to process a liquid sample. A method of detecting an analyte in the liquid sample is also provided.
US09428786B2
A biological sterilization indicator (BI) system and method. The system can include a BI and a reading apparatus comprising a well. The BI can include a housing, which can include a first portion, and a second portion movable between a first “unactivated” position and a second “activated” position. The BI can further include a frangible container containing a liquid and dimensioned to be positioned in the housing. The reading apparatus can be configured to detect activation of the biological sterilization indicator, for example, by detecting that the second portion is in the second position, and/or by detecting that the liquid from the frangible container is present in a specific chamber of the biological sterilization indicator. The method can include positioning the BI in the well of the reading apparatus and detecting activation, for example, by detecting one or more of the above conditions.
US09428780B2
The present invention relates to filamentous fungal host cells and particularly Trichoderma host cells useful for the production of heterologous granular starch hydrolyzing enzymes having glucoamylase activity (GSHE). Further the invention relates to a method for producing a glucose syrup comprising contacting a granular starch slurry obtained from a granular starch substrate simultaneously with an alpha amylase and a GSHE at a temperature equal to or below the gelatinization temperature of the granular starch to obtain a composition of a glucose syrup.
US09428760B2
The present invention relates to a process for increasing the phosphate content of starches of genetically modified plant cells in comparison with starches from corresponding wild-type plant cells by introducing a foreign nucleic acid molecule which codes for a soluble starch synthase II. The present invention furthermore relates to the overexpression of this soluble starch synthase II in the genetically modified plant cells. Furthermore, the present invention relates to rice starch and rice flour with improved quality characteristics, to rice grains comprising this rice starch, and to rice plants on which these rice grains grow.
US09428756B2
Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for targeted integration of an exogenous sequence into a predetermined target site in a plant genome.
US09428755B2
This invention provides isolated polynucleotides encoding DNA Type I methyltransferase and uses thereof for improving transformation efficiencies of exogenous and endogenous plasmid DNA into Clostridial hosts.
US09428753B2
The present application is directed to uses of an agent that antagonizes the LXRβ receptor for the treatment of side effects associated with elevated glucocorticoid levels as well as uses of a glucocorticoid in combination with the agent that antagonizes the LXRβ receptor for treatment of a disease wherein glucocorticoid treatment is indicated.
US09428751B2
The present invention provides compositions comprising therapeutic nucleic acids such as interfering RNA that target apolipoprotein C-III (APOC3) gene expression, lipid particles comprising one or more (e.g., a cocktail) of the therapeutic nucleic acids, methods of making the lipid particles, and methods of delivering and/or administering the lipid particles (e.g., for the treatment of lipid diseases or disorders such as atherosclerosis or a dyslipidemia such as hypertriglyceridemia or hypercholesterolemia).
US09428750B2
The present disclosure provides tricyclic nucleosides, oligomeric compounds comprising at least one of the tricyclic nucleosides and methods of using the oligomeric compounds. The methods provided herein include contacting a cell or administering to an animal at least one of the oligomeric compounds. In certain embodiments, the oligomeric compounds hybridize to a portion of a target RNA resulting in loss of normal function of the target RNA.
US09428739B2
Immunogenic compositions that elicit immune responses against Norovirus and Sapovirus antigens are described. In particular, the invention relates to polynucleotides encoding one or more capsid proteins or other immunogenic viral polypeptides from one or more strains of Norovirus and/or Sapovirus, coexpression of such immunogenic viral polypeptides with adjuvants, and methods of using the polynucleotides in applications including immunization and production of immunogenic viral polypeptides and viral-like particles (VLPs). Methods for producing Norovirus- or Sapovirus-derived multiple epitope fusion antigens or polyproteins and immunogenic compositions comprising one or more immunogenic polypeptides, polynucleotides, VLPs, and/or adjuvants are also described. The immunogenic compositions of the invention may also contain antigens other than Norovirus or Sapovirus antigens, including antigens that can be used in immunization against pathogens that cause diarrheal diseases, such as antigens derived from rotavirus.
US09428737B1
This patent applications concerns compositions of matter that are DNA polymerases, where those polymerases have had one or more of their amino acids replaced at sites chosen by an analysis of patterns of conservation and replacement within homologous protein sequences. Disclosed here are sites within Family A DNA polymerases where amino acid replacement creates polymerases having utility, in an example where DNA nucleotides are incorporated having modified or unnatural nucleobases, and/or nucleotides whose sugar is unnatural or derivatized, including 3′-O-amino-2′-deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates. The claimed compositions include polymerases that hold amino acid replacements at claimed sites in Taq polymerase, and are prepared by site-directed mutagenesis that modifies a gene encoding a parent Taq gene (natural or already mutated) to change the codon encoding the amino acid at the claimed site, giving a variant gene that encodes a Taq polymerase protein that has a different amino acid at the claimed site.
US09428721B2
Provided is a cell culture method whereby an in vivo function can be sustained over a long period of time and culture can be conducted using the minimum number of cells required. The cell culture method includes culturing undifferentiated cells in a layered state in a partitioned micro-space and obtains differentiated cells. When screening a pharmaceutical agent, undifferentiated cells capable of differentiating into liver cells, intestinal epithelial cells, nerve cells, myocardial cells and vascular endothelial cells are preferred. Particularly, in the prediction of pharmacokinetics or the like for humans, human cells are preferred.
US09428719B2
A personal care article is disclosed having a first compliant personal care composition in a first zone and a second compliant personal care composition in a second zone such that the first and second zones are defined by one or more barriers. Methods for increasing lather are also disclosed herein.
US09428702B2
A slag agglomerator includes an inlet, an outlet and a plurality of obstacles. The inlet receives a flow of gas and slag droplets and the outlet allows the flow of gas and slag droplets to exit the agglomerator. The obstacles are oblique or perpendicular to the flow of gas and slag droplets and have an exterior surface containing a ceramic matrix composite.
US09428699B2
There is provided a process, and a device, for the treatment of crude oil, component(s) of crude, or mixtures thereof, to convert components of said hydrocarbon liquid to products having boiling points that are lower than the boiling points of said components prior to treatment. The process comprises subjecting crude to be treated to ultrasound vibrations and to an electromagnetic field emitted by a an electromagnetic field generator; wherein the electromagnetic field emitted by said electromagnetic field generator comprises a component of electromagnetic field modulated by an electromagnetic field emitted from the crude to be treated on the exposure thereof to ultrasound vibrations.
US09428693B2
A liquid crystal composition having a negative dielectric anisotropy is disclosed. The liquid crystal composition includes compounds of Formulas I to IV. The composition has a low threshold voltage, a low rotary viscosity, a high resistivity, a high voltage holding ratio, and a good high temperature and UV stability. The LC medium has the advantage of obviously reduced response time after polymerization under UV irradiation, thus having important application value.
US09428692B2
The present invention provides a novel oxygen absorbent composition being capable of realizing an oxygen absorbent not responding to a metal detector, being suppressed in the increase of the odor intensity after the absorption of oxygen and having an excellent oxygen absorption performance over a wide range of humidity conditions from low humidity to high humidity, and provides an oxygen absorbent package using the oxygen absorbent composition. The oxygen absorbent composition of the present invention includes at least one compound having a tetralin ring represented by the following general formula (1) and a transition metal catalyst:
US09428691B2
Semiconductor structures having a nanocrystalline core and nanocrystalline shell pairing with compositional transition layers are described. In an example, a semiconductor structure includes a nanocrystalline core composed of a first semiconductor material. A nanocrystalline shell composed of a second semiconductor material surrounds the nanocrystalline core. A compositional transition layer is disposed between, and in contact with, the nanocrystalline core and nanocrystalline shell and has a composition intermediate to the first and second semiconductor materials. In another example, a semiconductor structure includes a nanocrystalline core composed of a first semiconductor material. A nanocrystalline shell composed of a second semiconductor material surrounds the nanocrystalline core. A nanocrystalline outer shell surrounds the nanocrystalline shell and is composed of a third semiconductor material. A compositional transition layer is disposed between, and in contact with, the nanocrystalline shell and the nanocrystalline outer shell and has a composition intermediate to the second and third semiconductor materials. In the examples, an insulator coating surrounds and encapsulates the structure.
US09428677B2
The present disclosure relates to silane reactive hot melt adhesive compositions including acid functional wax and basic functional wax; the production of such adhesives; and the use of such adhesives. The silane reactive hot melt adhesive compositions have improved green strength as compared to silane reactive hot melt adhesive compositions without the acid functional wax and basic functional wax.
US09428676B2
An adhesive composition for polarizing plates includes an epoxy compound, a (meth)acrylic compound, an alkoxysilane compound including at least one epoxy group, and an alkoxysilane compound including at least one (meth)acrylate group. A polarizing plate using the adhesive composition can exhibit good adhesion, reliability, durability, water resistance, and high temperature/high humidity resistance. An optical apparatus includes the polarizing plate.
US09428665B2
A photopolymerizable inkjet ink including: at least one selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylic acid esters negative for skin sensitization and (meth)acrylamides negative for skin sensitization; and at least one selected from the group consisting of vinyl ethers negative for skin sensitization, t-butyl methacrylate negative for skin sensitization, n-pentyl methacrylate negative for skin sensitization, and n-hexyl methacrylate negative for skin sensitization.
US09428660B2
An oil-based ink composition comprising a colorant, an organic solvent and a polymeric compound, and optionally an alkylamine ethylene oxide derivative as a pH adjusting agent, in which the pH of an aqueous phase is from 5.5 to 10, when ions in the ink composition are transferred to water. This oil-based ink composition prevents corrosion of a nozzle plate and is improved in storage stability, and thus can ensure printer reliability such as ink-jet stability obtainable even after long storage thereof, and can withstand outdoor service environments.
US09428659B2
Provided are a transfer printing ink and a transfer printing method which are advantageous in that an increased number of types of transfer media can be employed. The transfer printing ink of the present invention contains a solvent, a sublimation dye, and a binder resin, wherein the binder resin is dispersed, emulsified, or suspended in the solvent, and the binder resin has a melting point which is higher than the lowest temperature at which the sublimation dye sublimates.
US09428658B2
The present invention relates to an aqueous sublimation transfer ink composition. The sublimation transfer ink composition comprises a polysaccharide. The present invention further relates to a method of preparing said ink composition. The present invention also relates to a method for providing an image onto a receiving medium.
US09428656B2
Methods for making pigmented, curable, liquid ink compositions, and the ink compositions prepared from the methods are disclosed. The method includes adding at least one monomer and a dispersant to mixing vessel, and metering into the mixing vessel at least one pigment over a period of time. The method further includes adding at least one initiator and at least one curing agent, and then milling the composition. The pigmented, curable, high viscosity liquid ink compositions are suitable for digital offset printing.
US09428641B2
Provided are a rubber composition achieving balanced improvement in processability, fuel economy, rubber strength, abrasion resistance, wet-grip performance, and handling stability, and a pneumatic tire including the composition. The rubber composition includes, per 100% by mass of a rubber component, at least 35% by mass of SR, the composition including a conjugated diene polymer and a silica having N2SA of 40-400 m2/g, the polymer being obtained by polymerizing a monomer component including a conjugated diene compound and a silicon-containing vinyl compound using a polymerization initiator of formula (I): to produce a copolymer, and reacting a compound containing nitrogen and/or silicon atoms with an active terminal of the copolymer, wherein the amount of the diene polymer is 1-90% by mass and the amount of polyisoprene-based rubber is 0-40% by mass, each per 100% by mass of the rubber component, and the amount of the silica is 10-150 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.
US09428638B2
Stronger thermoplastic elastomeric films having improved tensile strength and elastic properties are disclosed herein. The thermoplastic elastomeric films include a combination of polyolefin-based thermoplastic elastomers, styrenic block copolymers, and strength-enhancing agents. The films are suitably free of filler particles such as calcium carbonate.
US09428637B2
The present disclosure relates to a composition comprising: (A) 30-60% by weight of a soft polyolefin composition comprising 10-50% by weight of a copolymer (a) of propylene, which contains from 1-8% by weight of comonomer; 50-90% by weight of a copolymer (b) of ethylene and other alpha-olefin(s) and from 57-80% of ethylene; where the weight ratio of the content of copolymer component (b) to the fraction XS (soluble in xylene) at room temperature (about 25° C.), both (b and XS) referred to the total weight of (a)+(b), is 1.5 or less, and the intrinsic viscosity [η] of the XS fraction is 3 dl/g or more; and the total quantity of copolymerized ethylene is 30-65% by weight; (B) 5-30% of glass fiber filler; (C) 0.5%-3% by weight of a compatibilizer; and (D) 10-40% by weight of a polypropylene component selected from propylene homopolymers, propylene copolymers containing up to 5% by moles of ethylene and/or C4-C10 α-olefin(s) and combinations of such homopolymers and copolymers, with a MFR from 0.3 to 2500 g/10 min.
US09428635B2
A method of coating hydroxylated surfaces by gas phase grafting is described. Especially acyl groups, silyl groups and/or alkyl groups are located on the surface of materials by gas phase grafting. The grafting method is a dry process. The material to coat can be organic or inorganic materials. The produced surface coated material are strong and durable and material normally not water-proof can be water-proof due to the surface treating. Examples of items produced from surface treated material may be water-proof cardboard boxes, other containers, furniture, interior for cars and boats. Items produced from organic materials such as from plant parts are biodegradable.
US09428615B2
Silicone elastomers exhibiting high breakdown voltage and improved static decay characteristics are prepared from a crosslinkable silicone composition containing an ethylenically unsaturated polyoxyalkylene polyether which becomes chemically bonded into the elastomer during cure.
US09428605B2
A method for the preparation of an organic-inorganic hybrid composition is performed through three major steps. In addition, a product is generated from this organic-inorganic hybrid composition. In step one, a series of hydrolysis reactions and condensation reactions with a functional organosilane or a combination of functional organosilanes, in presence of water as a reactant for hydrolysis and a suitable acid or a base as a catalyst is performed in order to obtain the first intermediate. In step two, a hydroxyl group-capping intermediate is prepared via reacting a hydroxyl reactable chemical with a hydroxyl functional polymerizable compound. In the third step, a hydroxyl group-capping reaction is conducted with the first intermediate and the hydroxyl group-capping intermediate, so as to obtain the organic-inorganic hybrid composition. It may further include a polymerization step to form an organic-inorganic hybrid polymer composition by UV irradiation or other approaches.
US09428601B2
The present invention relates to a method of preparing a vinyl chloride polymer, and more precisely, a method of preparing a vinyl chloride polymer having excellent processability by raising a final polymerization temperature up to 5˜20° C. from an first polymerization temperature.
US09428596B2
A method of production of modified conjugated diene-based rubber comprising a steps of using, as a polymerization initiator, an alkali metalated aromatic compound which has three or more carbon atoms which are directly bonded to alkali metal atoms and aromatic rings in one molecule so as to polymerize a monomer which contains at least a conjugated diene compound and reacting a compound of the following general formula (I) with an active ends of the obtained polymer is provided. (In the general formula (I), any one of R1 and R10 to R18 is an atom or reactive group which can react with the active ends of said polymer or a hydrocarbon group which includes either of the same, the remaining among R1 and R10 to R18 and R2 to R9 are respectively independently a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, or aryl group, and “j”, “k”, “m”, and “n” are integers of 0 to 100.)
US09428594B2
The present invention pertains to a polyethylene polymer characterized by the following properties: A number average molecular weight Mn of at least 2.0*105 g/mol, a weight average molecular weight of at least 2.0*106 g/mol, a Mw/Mn ratio of above 6, and a strain hardening slope of below 0.10 N/mm at 135° C. It has been found that a polymer with these properties have be converted through solid state processing into films and fibers with good properties. A solid state processing process, films and fibers, and their use are also claimed.
US09428590B2
Reduction of the energy burden in a step of drying hydrous low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose (L-HPC), reduction of water content of a cake obtained by dehydration, and others are targeted. More specifically, provided is a method for dehydrating hydrous L-HPC with a compression type dehydrator by feeding the hydrous L-HPC to a screw conveyer connected to the inlet of the dehydrator, including steps of: starting the operation of the conveyer to fill the conveyer and the dehydrator with the hydrous L-HPC, starting the operation of the filled dehydrator, and feeding the hydrous L-HPC to the conveyer, while discharging dehydrated L-HPC from an outlet of the dehydrator, wherein a feed rate of feeding the hydrous L-HPC to the conveyer is equal to a discharge rate of discharging the dehydrated L-HPC in terms of net weight of cellulose ether, and a method for producing L-HPC by using the above method.
US09428580B2
The invention relates to a platform technology for production of antigen binding polypeptides having specificity for a desired target antigen which is based on the conventional antibody repertoire of species in the family Camelidae, and to antigen binding polypeptides obtained using this technology platform. In particular, the invention provides an antigen binding polypeptide comprising a VH domain and a VL domain, wherein at least one hypervariable loop or complementarity determining region (CDR) in the VH domain or the VL domain is obtained from a VH or VL domain of a species in the family Camelidae.
US09428577B2
The present invention provides antibodies, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, which specifically bind to PDGF-B. The invention further provides a method of obtaining such antibodies and nucleic acids encoding the same. The invention further relates to compositions and therapeutic methods for use of these antibodies for the treatment and/or prevention of PDGF-B mediated diseases, disorders or conditions.
US09428572B2
Described are human binding molecules specifically binding to enterococci and having killing activity against enterococci, nucleic acid molecules encoding the human binding molecules, compositions comprising the human binding molecules and methods of identifying or producing the molecules. The molecules can be used, for example, in the diagnosis, prophylaxis, and/or treatment of a condition resulting from Enterococcus.
US09428567B2
Novel human interleukin-2 (IL-2) muteins or variants thereof, and nucleic acid molecules and variants thereof are provided. Methods for producing these muteins as well as methods for stimulating the immune system of an animal are also disclosed. In addition, the invention provides recombinant expression vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecules of this invention and host cells into which expression vectors have been introduced. Pharmaceutical compositions are included comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a human IL-2 mutein of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The IL-2 muteins can be used in pharmaceutical compositions for use in treatment of cancer and in stimulating the immune response.
US09428556B2
Disclosed are yeast-based immunotherapeutic compositions, hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens, and fusion proteins for the treatment and/or prevention of HBV infection and symptoms thereof, as well as methods of using the yeast-based immunotherapeutic compositions, HBV antigens, and fusion proteins for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of HBV and/or symptoms thereof.
US09428554B2
The present invention relates to monoclonal antibody specifically binding to polypeptide(s) comprising the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No. 1 of hepatitis E virus ORF2 or its conserved variants or its active fragments, or other monoclonal antibodies against ORF2 which can cross react with said monoclonal antibody of present invention, and its nucleotide sequence or its degenerate sequence; to the antigenic determinant in hepatitis E virus ORF2; to a method for screening isolated or recombined polypeptide or polypeptide analog, which has the same property of specifically binding said monoclonal antibody 8C11 and/or 8H3 as said antigenic determinant 1) or 3) of hepatitis E virus ORF2; to polypeptide or polypeptide analog screened by the method above and its nucleotide sequence or degenerate sequence; to a use of said polypeptide or polypeptide analog in preparation of a medicament for the diagnosis and/or precaution of hepatitis E virus infection; to a diagnostic kit for hepatitis E virus infection and a vaccine composition for prophylaxis of hepatitis E virus infection; to use of said monoclonal antibodies or their active fragments or conserved variants in preparation of a medicament for diagnosis, prophylaxis and/or treatment of hepatitis E virus infection; to pharmaceutical composition for prophylaxis and/or treatment of hepatitis E virus infection and a method for prophylaxis and/or treatment of hepatitis E virus infection; to a recombinant expression vector comprising said nucleotide molecule in present invention and a host cell transformed with said recombinant expression vector that is able to express monoclonal antibody and its conserved variants or active fragments or polypeptide or polypeptide analogs.
US09428553B2
Antibodies and meditopes that bind to the antibodies are provided, as well as complexes, compositions and combinations containing the meditopes and antibodies, and methods of producing, using, testing, and screening the same, including therapeutic and diagnostic methods and uses.
US09428551B2
The present invention provides novel therapeutic antimicrobial peptides that are bactericides and have an inhibitory effect on biofilms produced by biofilm-forming bacteria and especially biofilm-forming Staphyloccocal bacteria. The invention includes the nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides, methods of treating bacterial infections, medical devices or implants or prosthetics impregnated with, covered or coated in the polypeptides, and means of delivery of the peptide to the oral cavity.
US09428535B2
The present disclosure provides methods of increasing the level of a polypeptide of interest in a mammalian subject by administering a polynucleotide having one or more chemical modifications and a Protein:Cytokine ratio of greater than 100.
US09428533B2
The present invention provides compounds of the formula, wherein A, B, G, R2, R6, and X are defined herein, pharmaceutical compositions of the same, and methods for treating or inhibiting development of AGE- and/or ALE-associated complications in subjects in need thereof.
US09428522B2
Disclosed are novel piperazine derivatives that act as agonists of the α7 nAChR. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions, methods of treating inflammatory conditions, methods of treating CNS disorders, methods for inhibiting cytokine release from mammalian cells and methods for the preparation of the novel compounds.
US09428521B2
A process for the production of a carbodiimide, comprising the steps of: (1) reacting an amine represented by the following formula (A) with carbon disulfide in the presence of a catalyst at a reaction temperature of 50 to 150° C. to obtain a thiourea represented by the following formula (B): (In the above formula (A), R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.) (In the above formula (B), R is as defined in the above formula (A); (2) desulfurizing the obtained thiourea with a hypochlorite in the presence of a basic compound to obtain a carbodiimide represented by the following formula (C): (In the above formula (C), R is as defined in the above formula (A)); and (3) purifying the obtained carbodiimide.
US09428518B2
A sensitizer in a dye-sensitized solar cell, including a compound of formula (I′) where: R1 and R2 are hydrogen, a halogen, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, a hetaryl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an arylthio group, a hetaryloxy group, a hetarylthio group, a diarylamino group, or a dialkylamino group; m, n are each independently an integer from 0-4; X is sulfur, oxygen, or NR3, where R3 is hydrogen, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, or a hetaryl group; Y1 is oxygen or N—Z-A, where A is —COOM, —SO3M, or —PO3M, where M is hydrogen, an alkali metal cation, or [NR′]4+, where each R′ is independently hydrogen or an alkyl group, and where Z is C1-C6-alkylene or 1,4-phenylene, where the phenylene radical is optionally substituted by one or more alkyl, nitro, cyano, and halogen substituents.
US09428513B2
The present invention encompasses compounds of general formula (I) wherein the groups R1 to R3, X3 to X6 have the meanings given in the claims and in the specification. The compounds of the invention are suitable for the treatment of diseases characterized by excessive or abnormal cell proliferation pharmaceutical preparations containing such compounds and their uses as a medicament.
US09428511B2
The present invention provides compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The formula I compounds inhibit tyrosine kinase activity of JAK3, thereby making them useful for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
US09428506B2
The invention relates to particular substituted heterocycle fused gamma-carbolines, of Formula I, in free, solid, pharmaceutically acceptable salt and/or substantially pure form as described herein, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of use in the treatment of diseases involving 5-HT2A receptor, serotonin transporter (SERT) and/or pathways involving dopamine D2 receptor signaling systems, such as disease of the central nervous system.
US09428505B2
The present invention provides compounds represented by formula (1) below and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof: wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as defined in the claims.
US09428498B2
The present invention relates to compounds which are inhibitors of SSAO activity. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and to the use of these compounds in the treatment or prevention of medical conditions wherein inhibition of SSAO activity is beneficial, such as inflammatory diseases, immune disorders and the inhibition of tumor growth.
US09428483B2
Provided are a fluorine-containing amino acid prodrug represented by general formula (I) that makes a fluorine-containing amino acid which is a group 2 metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist into a prodrug, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. More specifically, provided is a prodrug that increases the in vivo exposure and enhances the oral absorbability and other mucosal absorbability of a parent compound that acts on group 2 metabotropic glutamate receptors as an agent for the treatment or prevention of diseases in which group 2 metabotropic glutamate receptors are said to be involved, such as: schizophrenia, anxiety disorder and its related diseases, depression, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, developmental disorders, sleep disorders, and other neuropsychiatric diseases; and drug dependence, cognitive disorders, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's chorea, Parkinson's disease, movement disorders associated with muscular rigidity, cerebral ischemia, cerebral insufficiency, spinal cord disorders, cephalopathy, and other neurological diseases.
US09428479B2
Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, especially, xylose, which can then be chemically converted to furfural and furfural-derived products.
US09428476B2
In its many embodiments, the present invention provides provides certain S-imino-S-oxo iminothiadiazine compounds, including compounds Formula (I): or a tautomers and/or stereoisomers thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of said compounds, said tautomeros and said stereoisomers, wherein RN, R1, R2, R3, R4, ring A, RA, m, L1, and RL are as defined herein. The novel compounds of the invention are useful as BACE inhibitors and may be useful for the treatment and prevention of various pathologies related thereto. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more such compounds (alone and in combination with one or more other active agents), and methods for their preparation and use, including for the possible treatment of Alzheimer's disease, are also disclosed.
US09428474B2
The present invention relates to the following compounds for use in the treatment of a bacterial infection wherein the integers are as defined in the description. The invention also relates to compounds for use as medicaments, pharmaceutical compositions and some novel compounds.
US09428473B2
The invention provides methods and intermediates that are useful for preparing a compound of formula I: and salts thereof.
US09428471B2
Cyclic carbamate functional compounds, which are the reaction product of a cyclic carbamate having an acrylate functional group, such as N-(2-acryloyloxyethyl)oxazolidinone, with aliphatic amine compounds, said cyclic carbamate functional compounds being useful as oxygen scavengers in energy-curable compositions, such as inks, coatings and adhesives, that comprise (a) the cyclic carbamate functional compound, (b) reactive monomers and/or oligomers and, optionally, (c) a photoinitiator.
US09428468B2
A process for the preparation of Erlotinib is disclosed in which the compound of formula (II) Is reacted with the compound of formula (III) in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid and formamidine acetate, in an aprotic solvent, and the reaction product is subsequently treated with a source of hydrochloric acid in a suitable solvent to give Erlotinib hydrochloride.
US09428464B2
Certain chemical entities are provided herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one chemical entity and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. Methods of treating patients suffering from certain diseases and disorders responsive to the inhibition of KMO activity are described, which comprise administering to such patients an amount of at least one chemical entity effective to reduce signs or symptoms of the disease or disorder are disclosed. These diseases include neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington's disease. Also described are methods of treatment include administering at least one chemical entity as a single active agent or administering at least one chemical entity in combination with one or more other therapeutic agents. Also provided are methods for screening compounds capable of inhibiting KMO activity.
US09428461B2
Provided is an industrially scalable process for the preparation of a benzazepine derivative, namely, 7-chloro-5-hydroxy-1-[2-methyl-4-(2-methyl benzoyl amino) benzoyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1-benzazepine (generically referred as Tolvaptan).
US09428459B2
The present invention relates to novel difluoromethyl-nicotinic indanyl carboxamide compounds, to processes for preparing the carboxamide compounds, to compositions comprising the carboxamide compounds, and to the use thereof as biologically actives, especially for control of harmful microorganisms in crop protection and in the protection of materials.
US09428443B2
Process for the preparation of alkali metal salts of glycine or of racemic α-amino acids of the general formula (I) R1—CH(NH2)—COOH (I) in which R1 is selected from hydrogen, CH3, C2H5, CH(CH3)2, (CH2)2COOH and CH2OH, wherein an alkali metal salt of the corresponding α-ketocarboxylic acid or glyoxalic acid is reacted in the presence of at least one heterogeneous catalyst, which comprises at least one transition metal, in the presence of hydrogen with at least one nitrogen compound at temperatures in the range from 50 to 200° C., where the nitrogen compound is selected from primary and secondary amines and ammonia.
US09428441B2
A process for the preparation of dintrotoluene which comprises (a) nitrating toluene with a nitrating acid, wherein said nitrating acid is a mixture of nitric acid and sulfuric acid, in one or more nitration steps, and separating the nitrating acid from the process stream thus formed, wherein a crude mixture comprising dinitrotoluene and a fraction of said nitrating acid dissolved therein is obtained, said crude mixture further comprising at least 50 ppm of HCN, and (b) washing the crude dinitrotoluene containing mixture in one or more washing steps, wherein, before the first washing step is carried out, the crude mixture is distilled and/or stripped to remove HCN therefrom, wherein a crude dinitrotoluene containing mixture which is essentially free of HCN is obtained.
US09428440B2
The present invention relates to a process for refining glyceride oil by size exclusion chromatography to obtain a triglyceride enriched fraction. The process comprises passing a glyceride oil through a size exclusion column packed with porous particles having a mass weighted mean particle size of 20 to 1,000 μm and an average pore size of 10 to 150 A without using any solvent and collecting an eluate fraction enriched in triglyceride. The process may further comprise passing a solvent through the size exclusion column after the eluate fraction enriched in triglyceride is collected to obtain a partial glyceride enriched fraction. The process can suitably be used to produce triglyceride enriched fraction having a triglyceride content that is close to 100%.
US09428436B2
An improved process for preparing aromatic carboxylic acids by the exothermic liquid-phase oxidation reaction of an aromatic feedstock compound wherein water is efficiently recovered from the exothermic liquid-phase oxidation reaction and treated to reduce corrosive agents residing therein.
US09428435B2
The oxidation of isobutyraldehyde produces isobutyric acid and byproducts, such as isopropyl formate. A process of reducing the isopropyl formate byproduct and other byproducts in the oxidation of isobutyraldehyde is described. The process uses a carbonyl compound, such as acetone, to reduce byproduct levels in the resulting product. Process for use of static mixers in oxidation reactions of aldehydes are also provided.
US09428424B2
Embodiments described herein generally relate to apparatus and methods for thermally treating chamber components for use in ultraviolet semiconductor processing chambers. Thermal treatment of chamber components comprising unitary ceramic or glass articles may reduce the probability of particle generation when the chamber components are exposed to corrosive environments, such as exposure to ultraviolet light and ozone/oxygen radicals. A method of thermally treating chamber components includes heating the unitary article at an acceptable ramp rate to a desired temperature for a desired time period and subsequently cooling the unitary article at the ramping rate.
US09428416B2
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a frit slurry paste for use in assemblies (e.g., a vacuum insulated glass unit or a plasma display panel), and methods of making the same. Frit powder, binder material, and a water-based solvent are mixed together to form an intermediate mixture. The frit powder is substantially lead free, and the water-based solvent is provided at a first temperature. Additional water-based solvent is added to the intermediate mixture to form a frit slurry paste. The additional water-based solvent is provided at a second temperature, with the second temperature being lower than the first temperature. The binder material is provided at a concentration of 0.001%-20% by weight with respect to the frit slurry paste or the frit slurry paste absent the frit powder. The frit slurry paste has a bulk viscosity of 2,000-200,000 cps.
US09428413B2
An object is irradiated with a laser light modulated by a reflection type spatial light modulator such that aberration of the laser light converged inside the object becomes a predetermined aberration or less. Therefore, aberration of the laser light generated at a position on which a converging point of the laser light is located is made as small as possible, to enhance the energy density of the laser light at that position, which makes it possible to form a modified region with a high function as a starting point for cutting. In addition, because the reflection type spatial light modulator is used, it is possible to improve the utilization efficiency of the laser light as compared with a transmissive type spatial light modulator.
US09428411B2
A reactor for sewage treatment includes: an inner layer including a water distribution zone; a middle layer including a biological aerated filter, the biological aerated filter including a wall and a bottom including a water outlet; and an outer layer including an artificial wetland, the artificial wetland including a bottom including a water inlet. The water distribution zone, the biological aerated filter, and the artificial wetland are in the shape of a circle. The sewage is introduced into the water distribution zone via a water inlet pipe. The water distribution zone communicates with the biological aerated filter via a first overflow. The water outlet arranged on the bottom of the biological aerated filter is connected to the water inlet arranged on the bottom of the artificial wetland to allow the biological aerated filter to communicate with the artificial wetland.
US09428406B2
An energy efficient membrane based desalination process, which utilizes an osmotically driven energy recovery sub-process. Energy recovery sub-process involves the extraction of water from low salinity first aqueous solution by using a high salinity content, pressurized second aqueous solution to draw the water from first aqueous solution across a semi-permeable membrane. High salinity content, pressurized second solution can be used to generate osmotic pressure on the low salinity content first solution to drive water from first solution to the second solution with respect to chemical potential differences. The process also harvests the Gibbs free energy of mixing in terms of pressure conservation in the second solution, while the volume of second solution is increasing by the drawn water from the first solution.
US09428404B2
Purified water can be obtained via a continuous or semi-continuous process by mixing a liquid composition (e.g., sea water or produced frac water) including water with a directional solvent to selectively dissolve water from the liquid composition into the directional solvent. The concentrated remainder of the liquid composition (e.g., brine) is removed, and the water is precipitated from the directional solvent and removed in a purified form. The solvent is then reused as the process is repeated in a continuous or semi-continuous operation.
US09428395B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparing graphene substantially free of contamination by metallic, magnetic, organic and inorganic impurities, and also to the use of the resulting graphene for the production of transparent electrodes, batteries, electron-acceptor or electron-donor materials, in particular in photovoltaic systems, photovoltaic panels, transistor channels, in particular in electronics, nonlinear emitters or absorbers of infrared photons, current-conducting electrodes, anti-static coatings, chemical detectors, vias and interconnections in electronics, current-conducting cables, and solar cells.
US09428388B2
A process for preparing a carbon-carbon composite including the steps of: (a) providing a curable low viscosity aromatic epoxy resin liquid formulation, wherein the formulation has a neat viscosity of less than 10,000 mPa-s at 25° C. prior to adding optional components, prior to curing, and prior to carbonizing; and wherein the formulation being cured has a carbon yield of at least 35 wt % disregarding the weight of the carbon matrix and any optional components present in the composition; (b) contacting a carbon matrix with the formulation of step (a); (c) curing the contacted carbon matrix of step (b); and (d) carbonizing the cured carbon matrix of step (c) to form a carbon-carbon composite; and a carbon-carbon composite made by the process.
US09428384B2
The present disclosure relates an inspection instrument adapted to increase testing throughput in a manufacturing process. In one embodiment, the inspection instrument includes a base plate and a vertical frame, where the base plate and the vertical frame are configured to provide structural support of the inspection instrument, a first mounting mechanism coupled to the base plate, where the first mounting mechanism is configured to hold a sample for inspection, and a second mounting mechanism coupled to the vertical frame, where the second mounting mechanism is configured to hold a set of sensors and an optical system for inspecting the sample. The first mounting mechanism and the second mounting mechanism are decoupled from each other to reduce impact of movements of the sample to the set of sensors and the optical system.
US09428374B2
An illuminating bottle pourer is provided having a pour spout structure and internal electrical components for measuring the amount of dispensed fluid therethrough using a visual counter. The device includes a gravity contact switch and an LED light source that is energized based on a periodic timer circuit and a pulse generator circuit. The gravity switch is closed when the bottle is inverted for pouring, which initiates the timer circuit. The timer circuit triggers the pulse generator on a periodic basis, which energizes the light source to alert the pourer of a given quantity of fluid dispensed. The device allows individual drink makers, bartenders, and establishment owners to precisely control the amount of fluid being dispensed from a bottle, wherein a specified number of light pulses is used to indicate when to stop pouring. A battery switch is further provided to preserve battery life during shipment and between uses.
US09428372B2
The present invention provides a support assembly (11) for lifting a belt of a conveyor system. The support assembly (11) comprises an attachment assembly (15, 17) to releasably secure a support member (13) to a frame of a conveyor system. The attachment assembly (15, 17) comprising a lifting means (31). The lifting means moves the support member, in a synchronized manner, between a first position, wherein the support member is not in engagement with the belt, and a second position, wherein the support member supports the conveyor belt at a spaced distance from at least one conveyor roller located below the belt, allowing an operator to access the at least one roller.
US09428369B2
A jib crane includes a first arm configured for cooperation with a hoist, and a second arm hingedly connected to the first arm. A mounting bracket is hingedly connected to the second arm, and the mounting bracket is configured for attachment to a wind turbine. The first arm is configured to swing along a first horizontal arc and the second arm is configured to swing along a second horizontal arc. The jib crane is configured to pick up a load outside the wind turbine and move the load to a location inside the wind turbine.
US09428366B2
A link has first and second ends coupled, so as to be axially shiftable, respectively to two shafts that include a reference point located in a base and cross each other. A gas actuator has an inner space that has gas pressure pressing the first end of the link toward the reference point so as to shift the first end of the link such that a distance between a first end position of the link and the reference point is equal to or more than a distance between the first and second ends in a state where the inner space has a volume equal to zero obtained by extrapolating variation of the inner space volume relative to the first end position. The second end and a lift section that is vertically shiftable with respect to the base are coupled by means of a coupling section.
US09428358B2
A flaky medium processing system and a method for detecting a real-time position of a flaky medium. Multiple detection positions are arranged in a medium transfer channel of the flaky medium processing system, and one position sensor is arranged at each detection position for detecting arrival and departure events of the flaky medium in the detection position; and the flaky medium processing system and the method are characterized in that the position sensor arranged at the first detection position along the movement direction of the flaky medium is provided with at least three scattered detection points, each detection point outputs an independent output signal, and each detection point is configured with two timers for obtaining a time attribute of an output signal of each detection point; and the position sensor arranged at each of other detection positions is configured with one timer for obtaining the time attribute of the output signal of the common position sensor.
US09428348B2
A method and system for handling granular material, such as proppant used in hydraulic fracturing in well drilling, is provided. In an operational configuration, a delivery module having conveyors receives and conveys granular material to a delivery location, and one or more mobile storage modules receive, hold and dispense granular material downward to the delivery module. The mobile storage modules comprise a raised, angular container portion for holding granular material. Each mobile storage module may comprise a rock-over chassis for support against ground. A remote control module provides centralized, remote control of the system. Mobile support unit modules may also be provided as a remotely controlled vehicle capable of providing power, control, heating, and the like to other modules. Mobile in-feed elevator modules may also be provided as a remotely controlled vehicle for feeding granular material to mobile storage modules. In a transportation configuration, each module is separately transportable.
US09428346B2
The present invention discloses a pick-and-place device of a glass substrate, comprises a bracket and a substrate holder, the substrate holder comprises a first support part, a second support part and a sliding part, the first support part is provided on the second support part by the sliding part, the first support part is capable of moving with respect to the second support part between a first position and a second position under the action of the sliding part, and when the first support part is located at the first position, the first support part integrally protrudes outward of the second support part, when the first support part is located at the second position, the first support part is integrally located right above the second support part.
US09428343B2
An apparatus for transferring an article from a first carrier moving at a first speed to a second carrier moving at a second speed is provided. The apparatus comprises a programmable motor and a carrier member operably engaged with the programmable motor. The carrier member comprises a housing comprising a wall defining an interior space and an outer surface configured to receive the article from the first carrier in a receiving zone and configured to deposit the article onto the second carrier in an application zone. The carrier member comprises a support member comprising carbon fiber at least partially positioned within the interior space of the housing and connected with a portion of the wall. The programmable motor is configured to move the outer surface of the carrier member at a third speed through the receiving zone and at a fourth speed through the application zone.
US09428340B2
The present invention is based upon the discovery that the steel cords in conveyor belt splices can be brazed together in a specific and cost effective manner to attain splices which having improved strength and durability. The present invention more specifically discloses a conveyor belt which is reinforced with steel cables and which includes a first section and a second section which are bonded together with a splice, wherein said splice bonds a first set of steel cables from the first section of the conveyor belt to a second set of steel cables from the second section of the conveyor belt with a braze alloy, and wherein the first set of steel cables and the second set of steel cables are contained within a ferrule at the point of where the first set of steel cables are bonded to the second set of steel cables.
US09428338B2
Conveyor rollers rotated by electromagnetic induction to propel articles conveyed atop the rollers. A magnetic-field source induces a current in the electrically conductive rollers that causes them to rotate. The rollers can be mounted in conveyor belts or immobile mats. The magnetic-field source can be static if the rollers are advance through the field or dynamic. Alternatively, the rollers can be magnetic and induce a current in a stationary electrically conductive plate that creates interacting magnetic fields to rotate the rollers.
US09428323B2
A flower handling system includes loading, cutting, finishing, and boxing stations. Flowers are unloaded from dry-packed boxes at the cutting stations. Each cutting station includes a positioning arm that secures flower bundles and transports them from a first location adjacent a loading table to a second location above a conveyor. A bucket separating device deposits buckets one at a time onto the conveyor, and the buckets are filled with conditioning fluid. A cutting blade is positioned to cut flower stems as the positioning arm moves from the first to the second location. A clamping arm closes around the flowers and lifts them out of the positioning arm before lowering them into a fluid-filled bucket on the conveyor. The flower filled bucket is then transported through the finishing station to a boxing station where the bucket is deposited into a box for shipping to a wholesaler or retailer.
US09428317B2
In a package (1) for a product (3) with at least one hygroscopic pourable solid, to a shipping container (4) [sic] there is a desiccant wrapper (10) of moisture-tight material that surrounds a product bag (2) filled with the product (3) and in which the desiccant (14) is located on an inner side (11) of the desiccant wrapper (10) facing the product bag (2). The desiccant (14) is located in at least one, preferably in several, desiccant bag(s) (13). The at least one desiccant bag (13) is fixed and covered by a moisture-permeable perforated cover (16) on the inner side (11) of the desiccant wrapper (10). The desiccant wrapper (10) is matched either to the shape of the product bag (2) or to the shape of the shipping container (4). The product bag (2) for holding the product (3) is a nonwoven textile of thermally bonded fibers of high density polyethylene. The desiccant wrapper (10) is a thin wrapper of polyethylene or has such a wrapper or coating.
US09428315B2
A foldable air cushioned structure formed by two outer films, comprises a plurality of heat-sealing lines, air cylinders, nodes and clasp points. The heat-sealing lines are arranged in order for attaching parts of two outer films. The air cylinders are positioned between heat-sealing lines. The nodes are formed inside the air cylinders for attaching parts of the inner surfaces of two outer films, and arranged in lines perpendicular to the heat-sealed lines to form foldable lines. The clasp points are formed on the outer surface of two outer films for attaching parts of the outer surfaces of two outer films. After folding the air cylinder along the folding lines, the air cylinders forms two side portions, at least one supporting portion, and at least two bottom portions. The supporting portion forms at least one convex for supporting an object by the pressure along the long-axis of the air cylinder.
US09428311B2
A container for loosely stored products comprises a) a container body comprising a peripheral body wall having an inner peripheral body groove; b) a cover comprising a cover skirt having an outwardly facing sealing portion with an apex that seals against the inner peripheral body groove when the cover is in a closed condition thereby forming a seal of a sealing line type; and c) a hinge connecting the container body and the cover. The apex of the cover skirt and the inner peripheral body groove provide the only seal between the cover and the container body and the only locking element that holds the cover in the closed condition on the container body.
US09428310B2
A cover for open top food containers includes a peripheral side wall which can telescope over one or more of the containers. An inner frame is mounted inwardly of the inner surface of the side wall for being disposed on the upper edge of the container. A fan/accordion type lid is mounted on side supports above the inner frame to selectively be moved to extended and retracted conditions. When the lid is in its extended condition access to the food container is closed. When the lid is in its retracted condition there is access to the food container.
US09428308B2
A stoppering device to be secured to a container neck includes a tubular spout defining a passage opening, and a plug. The plug has an outer tubular shell sliding on the tubular spout, and a bottom provided with a sealing skirt and multiple distribution holes. The bottom of the plug engages with the connecting wall of the tubular spout in the plugging position, while preserving an annular retention space between the bottom of the plug and the tubular spout. The bottom includes radial ribs which are in an alternating arrangement between the distribution holes, and constitute retention facets retaining the liquid held in the retention space by adhesion. The small volume of liquid which, during the plugging phase, would be prevented from flowing back into the container closed by the stoppering device, can remain in the annular retention space without any particular risk of abrupt ejection, the retention being promoted by the presence of multiple walls in the chamber, in particular the retention facets.
US09428306B2
A gastight valve strip for a reclosable container includes first and second film layers adapted to be disposed over an aperture through a sidewall of a reclosable container. The second film layer opposes the first and includes an attachment surface adapted to be sealed to the sidewall of the container. The attachment surface has a patterned portion that defines a region of flow channels. Opposing surfaces of the first and second film layers form a substantially gastight seal therebetween upon contact of the first and second film layers to each other. A first film layer aperture extends through the first film layer, and is in fluid communication with an exterior side of the valve strip. A second film layer aperture extends through the second film layer, is offset and spaced apart from the first film layer aperture, and is in fluid communication with the container aperture through the patterned portion.
US09428305B2
A sealing strip on a release layer is disclosed. The release layer can include an envelope with walls cooperatively enclosing a pocket with an opening. The envelope can include a closure flap pivotable to close the envelope. A first location of the envelope can include a sealing strip releasably adhered to the envelope (or a release layer on the envelope). This sealing strip can be removable from the first location and placeable in a second location overlapping the closure flap in the closed position and an adjacent portion of an envelope wall. The sealing strip can include an adhesive capable of adhering to the closure flap and adjacent portion of the second wall for securing the closure flap in the closed position. The sealing strip can include a removable grasping tab connected by a weakened area. The sealing strip can be provided on a release layer independent of an envelope.
US09428303B2
A bottle that include adaptive measuring equipment. The bottle having a container, a securing device, and a measuring receptacle. The securing device is received and secured by the container, while the measuring receptacle includes a securing mechanism that removably secures to the measuring receptacle.
US09428302B2
Delamination resistant glass containers with heat-tolerant coatings are disclosed. In one embodiment, a glass container may include a glass body having an interior surface, an exterior surface and a wall thickness extending from the exterior surface to the interior surface. At least the interior surface of the glass body is delamination resistant. The glass container may further include a heat-tolerant coating positioned on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the glass body. The heat-tolerant coating may be thermally stable at temperatures greater than or equal to 260° C. for 30 minutes.
US09428299B2
A container configured to be selectively moved between a substantially flat position and a deployed position is provided. The container includes a first blank of sheet material for forming side walls of the container, and a second blank of sheet material for forming a bottom wall of the container. The first blank having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface, a top edge and a bottom edge. The first blank includes a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel, a fourth side panel, a fifth side panel, and a sixth side panel wherein each of the side panels are coupled across a fold line. The first blank also includes end flaps extending from the bottom edge of each of the side panels wherein at least two of the end flaps includes a tab joint. The second blank having a plurality of side edges equal to a number of side panels of the first blank, each side edge having a width substantially equal to a width of the side panels of the first blank. The second blank is foldable and is coupled to at least one end flap of the first blank for forming a bottom wall of the container.
US09428277B1
A system is described to control the flight path of a parafoil. The physical control mechanism is a series of actuators embedded within the parafoil canopy that open a series of holes via slits in the upper surface of the parafoil canopy. Opening and closing the holes changes the forces and moments acting on the parafoil canopy in a consistent manner such that it can be used for flight control. The embedded actuator is attached to a structural cell wall of the parafoil canopy. A control line from the actuator extends through a ring attached to the leading edge of the slit in the upper surface of the parafoil canopy and back down to the lower surface of the parafoil canopy along the opposite side non-structural cell wall.
US09428274B2
An aircraft monument for installation in an aircraft cabin including a first functional module, the first functional module including a side wall for delimiting the first functional module from a region of the aircraft cabin adjacent to the first functional module and/or from a region of the aircraft monument adjacent to the first functional module. The side wall is movable between a first and a second operational position and comprises a side-wall region which merely in the second operational position of the side wall serves for delimiting the first functional module from a region of the aircraft cabin adjacent to the first functional module, so that a movement of the side wall out of its first operational position into its second operational position results in an enlargement of a base area of the first functional module.
US09428269B1
A method of configuring a wing velocity profile includes segmenting a complete wingbeat cycle into a set of quarter-strokes including a first quarter-stroke, a second quarter-stroke, a third quarter-stroke, and a fourth quarter-stroke. The method further includes generating time-varying quarter-stroke wing position commands for each of a first and second wing planforms to produce wing flapping trajectories that generate non-zero, cycle averaged wing lift and drag and alter a cycle average center of pressure of each of the first and the second wing planforms relative to the aircraft. The wing position commands include velocities and positions with temporally symmetric and asymmetric quarter-stroke components for the first wing planform and the second wing planform. The first wing planform and the second wing planform produce controlled six-degrees-of freedom vehicle motion without using actuators in excess of the first actuator and the second actuator.
US09428267B2
An engine starting system for a rotary wing aircraft includes a controller that receives a signal indicative of a start command for an engine, a transmission input module that is mechanically coupled to a transmission system and an accessory gearbox and a starter motor that is mechanically coupled to a compressor drive shaft of the engine. Also, a method for restarting an engine in flight includes receiving by a controller a signal indicative of a start command for the engine, determining by the controller that an overrunning clutch is coupled to the engine, transmitting by a transmission system motive power to the engine in response to the determining that the overrunning clutch is coupled to the engine and driving via a compressor drive shaft a compressor section of the engine according to a design speed.
US09428260B2
Device and method for maintaining parallelism between the two glazings of an aircraft double glazing
Device intended for a double glazing including at least one outer glazing and one inner glazing separated by an intermediary space filled with a gas, used to isolate an inside environment from an outside environment, a pressure variation being liable to occur between these environments, for example in the case of an aircraft in flight,includes means for conserving the outer glazing and the inner glazing of this double glazing mainly parallel, independently of this pressure variation.The invention also concerns a double glazing including this device, the process for maintaining parallelism and software using the process.
US09428248B2
A boat comprising a hull (10) and a propulsion means (3) suitably coupled to an inboard drive means (8), characterized in that said hull (10) is provided with at least one hollow (2) suitably shaped to at least partially accommodate said propulsion means (3), said hollow (2) being provided with at least one tube (21) and at least one atmospheric-pressure air intake (220) in such a way that the propulsion means, that is a surface propeller (3), can continuously operate under optimal conditions with respect to the thus-generated artificial water surface.
US09428247B2
A control device is provided for controlling an electric device on a bicycle. The control device basically includes a bicycle attachment member, an operating member, an operation detection unit and a signal output unit. The operating member includes at least a first operating part and a second operating part. The operating member is rotatably mounted to the attachment member to rotate in a prescribed operation direction. The operation detection unit is arranged to detect selective operation of the first and second operating parts in the operation direction. The signal output unit outputs an actuation signal to actuate the electric device based on a detection result from the operation detection unit.
US09428243B2
A mini standing hand powered tricycle for sidewalks, indoor large surfaces, etc. conceived for users, with weak legs and strong arms that get tired walking. The tricycle is propulse by a conventional bicycle hand pedal sprocket wheel and chain to allow driving, steering, and braking by the user in a standing position.
US09428234B2
A pannier mounting system enables a pannier container to be quickly and easily attached to and detached from a rack of a bicycle, motorcycle, or the like. In an embodiment, the system includes a rack attachment bracket that attaches to the rack, a first pair of connectors attached to the bracket, and a second pair of connectors attached to a side of the pannier container. Each of the first pair of connectors includes a magnet, and each of the second pair of connectors includes a magnet. Attraction between magnets of the first pair of connectors and magnets of the second pair of connectors cause the first and second pairs of connectors to align with and connect to one another when brought within close proximity to one another, thereby attaching the pannier container to the bracket. A pannier release handle is used to detach the pannier container from the bracket.
US09428222B2
An auxiliary frame for a motor vehicle, includes two front joint elements, spaced apart in transverse direction of the vehicle and configured for attachment to a vehicle body; a front cross member connecting the two front joint elements; a reinforcement element, having rear joint elements spaced apart in the transverse direction of the vehicle for attachment to the vehicle body, wherein the reinforcement element is mounted at first connection sites on the two front joint elements so as to be spaced apart from the front cross member by an offset in longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and at least one support leg extending the reinforcement element forwards in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and being connected to the front cross member at a second connection site and bridging the longitudinal offset.
US09428219B2
A method for assisting a vehicle driver in a bottleneck, including the tasks of reading in, evaluating, and providing. In the reading in, a piece of information about a negotiable corridor in the bottleneck, a piece of information about an instantaneous trajectory of the vehicle in the bottleneck, and a piece of information about a steering torque which is presently applied by the driver to a steering of the vehicle are read in. In the evaluating, the pieces of information about the corridor, the trajectory, and the steering torque are evaluated by using known dimensions of the vehicle to recognize an anticipated violation of the corridor by at least one part of the vehicle. In the providing, a control signal is provided for a counter torque which acts against the steering torque when the violation is recognized to assist the driver with avoiding the violation.
US09428218B2
A rack-parallel electric power steering device includes a housing that covers the periphery of a speed reducer, and a drain valve provided in the housing. The drain valve includes a first case, a second case mounted to the outer peripheral portion of a bottom portion of the first case, and a valve element that closely contacts a bottom surface of the first case. A through hole is formed in the bottom portion of the first case. The second case includes a bottom portion which is disposed with a gap from the bottom portion of the first case and in which discharge holes are formed. The valve element is an elastic member that blocks an opening portion of the through hole of the first case and that is held between the first case and the second case.
US09428210B2
A position lock for a steering column comprises a rake lock bracket, a tooth lock and a driver. The rake lock bracket is fixed to the vehicle has a rake lock tooth wall that bounds a control slot and that defines a plurality of rake lock teeth. The tooth lock is coupled to the steering column for movement in a raking direction and supported for rotation about a tooth lock rotation axis. The driver, supported for translation with the tooth lock and for rotation about a driver rotation axis, is configured for contacting an actuation feature of the tooth lock so as to cause the tooth lock to rotate with the driver as the driver rotates within the active range of rotation of the driver.
US09428204B2
A method and cart for handling spacers used for spacing the wire mesh reinforcing cages used in the production of concrete pipe, The spacers are placed and shipped on hollow tubes laid in layers in a shipping container. The spacers are shipped to the user stored on these hollow tubes together with a mobile cart that has a vertical support containing a plurality of outwardly extending arms. When ready to be installed at the concrete pipe production site, a tube containing the spacers is removed from the shipping container and slipped over each arm. The cart can then easily be moved around the production location where the spacers for readily available for use in making the concrete product.
US09428197B2
A system includes a processor configured to receive a user request to edit vehicle feature settings from a computer remote from a vehicle. The processor is also configured to retrieve saved vehicle feature setting configurations associated with a vehicle associated with an identified user account. The processor is further configured to build a current feature setting configuration display. Also, the processor is configured to present a user-configurable version of the display on a user interface. The processor is additionally configured to receive changes to current features setting configurations. The processor is also configured to save the changes and upload the changes to the vehicle.
US09428196B2
A vehicle driving behavior predicting device that predicts a driving behavior of a vehicle at a prediction target point based on speed information or acceleration information of the vehicle includes: a storage unit storing a reference template indicating a transition of the speed information or the acceleration information corresponding to the driving behavior being a prediction target in a predetermined prediction section to the prediction target point; a converting unit converting the reference template to a converted template indicating a transition of a speed or acceleration from an entry speed to a case in which the driving behavior being the prediction target is exhibited based on the entry speed of the vehicle into the prediction section; and a predicting unit predicting the driving behavior at the prediction target point by comparing the converted template with a current transition of the speed information or the acceleration information.
US09428194B2
Arrangements relate to the operation of a vehicle, which can be an autonomous vehicle. A splash condition in a surrounding environment of the vehicle can be detected. An object near the vehicle can be detected. Further, it can be determined whether the detected object is passing the vehicle. Responsive to detecting a splash condition and determining that the object is passing the vehicle, a warning can be presented to an occupant of the vehicle.
US09428193B2
A method comprising: applying a brake force to all four wheels of a motor vehicle to stop the vehicle while torque continues to be applied to its driven wheels; and preventing wheel slippage of the driven wheels by reducing the applied torque when the vehicle is stopped or nearly stopped from moving in a forward direction. In this way, unintentional lateral movement of the vehicle due to creep torque applied to the driven wheels on slippery surfaces can be prevented or corrected.
US09428192B2
A vision system for a vehicle includes a forward facing camera configured to be disposed at a windshield of a vehicle so as to have a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle. The forward facing camera is operable to capture image data for an adaptive speed control system of the vehicle. An image processor is operable to process captured image data. Responsive at least in part to processing by the image processor of captured image data, lane markers of the road along which the vehicle is traveling are detected. Responsive at least in part to processing by the image processor of captured image data, road curvature of the road along which the vehicle is traveling is determined. The speed of the vehicle may be automatically reduced the responsive to determination of a driving condition or situation.
US09428185B2
A method is provided for automatically activating a car's cross traffic camera system when turning a corner and displaying the camera feed on a dashboard mounted display, thereby enhancing cross traffic visibility and making the maneuver safer. The system can be configured to anticipate an upcoming turn based on use of the turn signal alone, or the turn signal in combination with vehicle speed. The display of the camera's data feed is terminated after completion of the turn, where turn completion is typically based on (i) deactivation of the turn signal, (ii) the position of the steering wheel, or (iii) vehicle speed.
US09428182B2
An object is to allow for the move of a vehicle even in the event of an abnormality in a lid sensor. A control method of a vehicle with a fuel cell mounted thereon comprises: (a) if a signal of a lid sensor that is configured to detect opening and closing of a lid door for a gas filler port of the vehicle indicates that the lid door is open, then prohibiting move of the vehicle; and (b) if it is judged that the lid sensor has a defect or if a predetermined special operation is performed, then eliminating prohibition of the move of the vehicle despite that the signal of the lid sensor indicates that the lid door is open.
US09428180B2
A failure diagnosis apparatus comprises a controller that is configured to execute a failure diagnosis process of the internal combustion engine based on a predetermined diagnosis requirement. The diagnosis requirement in a case where engine-operation-electric-power supply is executed is made different from the diagnosis requirement in a case where engine-normal-operation is executed such that a failure of the internal combustion engine in the case where the engine-operation-electric-power supply is executed is less likely to be detected or the failure of the internal combustion engine is less likely to be recognized by a driver than in the case where the engine-normal operation is executed.
US09428178B2
A vehicle includes a powertrain including an electric machine and a traction battery. The vehicle also includes at least one controller programmed to, during a transmission shift event, cause the electric machine to absorb torque. The torque absorption causes current generated by the electric machine to charge the battery according to a predetermined power transfer schedule defining a charge limit. The controller is further programmed to permit the current to exceed the charge limit for a predetermined duration of time in certain instances.
US09428176B2
A control device that controls a vehicle drive device in which a first rotating electrical machine and a speed change mechanism are provided on a power transmission path connecting an internal combustion engine and wheels. The control device includes a first pump that is driven by the first rotating electrical machine and a second pump that is driven by a second rotating electrical machine provided independently of the power transmission path. The control device is configured with an auxiliary drive control section that, when a main power supply of a vehicle is turned on, executes auxiliary drive control of driving the first pump for a set drive time by the first rotating electrical machine before driving the second pump by the second rotating electrical machine, and starting the second pump after elapse of the set drive time.
US09428175B2
Embodiments of the invention provide control means for a hybrid electric vehicle, the control means comprising an energy management portion (EMP) configured to determine a required torque split between each of a first and at least a second actuator in dependence on a first set of one or more vehicle parameters, the required torque split being an amount of torque required to be provided to drive the vehicle by each actuator, the control means being configured to provide an actuator request control output whereby each actuator is controlled to provide an amount of torque according to the required torque split, the control means further comprising a powertrain mode manager (PMM) portion, the PMM portion being arranged to override the control output of the EMP in dependence on a value of a second set of one or more vehicle parameters.
US09428173B2
A system and a method for a hybrid vehicle for pre-charging the battery. A hybrid vehicle includes a battery having a state of charge (SOC), an engine configured to charge the battery, an actuation device having an on state and an off state, and a processor configured to activate the engine to charge the battery when the actuation device is switched to the on state until the SOC reaches a required SOC. The required SOC may be input by a driver and may exceed a normal maximum SOC utilized by the hybrid vehicle. The pre-charge feature can override the normal hybrid vehicle battery management logic. The required SOC allows the driver to perform reverse maneuvers without running out of battery power.
US09428167B2
A vehicle brake device includes a failure detection means for driving the master piston only by the operation force of the brake operation member along with the operation of the brake operation member, thereby to detect a failure of a master system, when a master cylinder pressure correlation value correlated to the master cylinder pressure is less than a predetermined value, in a case where an operation amount of the brake operation member is a predetermined amount or in a case where the operation force of the brake operation member is a predetermined force; and a driving control means for driving the master piston by force corresponding to the servo pressure in the servo chamber generated by the servo pressure generation portion, when the operation amount of the brake operation member is greater than a predetermined amount, or when the operation force of the brake operation member is greater than a predetermined force, in the operation of the brake operation member in which the failure detection means detects the failure of the master system.
US09428160B2
An appropriate deceleration is achieved. A brake control apparatus is a brake control apparatus which performs a brake assist control for assisting a brake operation by a driver of a vehicle, the brake control apparatus is provided with: a calculating device which calculates a contact possibility of the vehicle contacting the obstacle; and a changing device which changes, on the basis of the contact possibility, a decreasing rate of a deceleration of the vehicle caused by the brake assist control.
US09428151B2
Provided is a system capable of reducing production costs. The system (on-board device) comprises an acquisition unit provided in a vehicle and comprising a camera unit that captures images and/or a microphone unit that captures sound; and an error detection unit that detects vehicle errors. The system sends the acquisition results from the acquisition unit, such as images and sound, to outside the vehicle in conjunction with a mobile information terminal provided in the vehicle, when the error detection unit has detected an error. Ideally, the mobile information terminal has a rechargeable battery unit and the acquisition unit and/or the error detection unit have power supplied thereto from the battery unit in the mobile information terminal, and can operate thereby. Also, the error detection unit ideally changes the error detection mode in accordance with the state of the battery unit in the mobile information terminal.
US09428148B2
In a webbing take-up device, a cylinder includes a housing portion that houses a piston and a guide portion that extends from one end portion in length direction of the housing portion. A pinion is rotatably supported at the guide portion. The piston is guided by the guide portion. A member that houses the piston and a member that rotatably supports the pinion do not accordingly need to be separately provided. An increase in number of components can therefore be suppressed. Positioning of the piston and the pinion can be respectively determined by the cylinder due to the piston and the pinion being provided to the cylinder. Good positioning precision between the piston and the pinion is thereby enabled compared to a case where separate members are used to house the piston and to rotatably support the pinion.
US09428131B2
Provided is an interior side wall structure for a vehicle in which a cylindrical shape of a shock-absorbing member can be crushed and deformed in an axial direction in an orderly manner upon vehicle side collision. When a collision load (F) is input to a shock-absorbing member (10) in the axial direction, a flange portion (13) at a peripheral edge of an open part is uniformly pressed against a door trim (4). At a connecting portion (15) of a peripheral wall (11), stress is distributed by an arc shaped face, whereby the development of crack is avoided, thus enabling even distribution of the load. At the connecting portion (15), buckling rigidity is adjusted by a slit for compression buckling adjustment (16) so as to substantially equalize the buckling rigidity at each portion of the peripheral wall (11), whereby the cylindrical shape of the shock-absorbing member (10) is crushed and deformed in the axial direction in an orderly manner.
US09428129B2
A front structure of a vehicle comprises a pair of side members arranged in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a pair of crash boxes arranged at front ends of the side members, and a body back-up structure located at a rear end of the front portion. The front structure is adapted to give an impact response curve with deceleration versus time, when subjected to a full frontal barrier impact at 35 mph according to USNCAP. The impact response curve comprises in sequence: a first phase during which deceleration increases, a second phase forming a first peak level of the deceleration, a third phase during which the deceleration is less than during the second phase, and a fourth phase forming a second peak level of the deceleration, during which fourth phase the deceleration is greater than during the third phase.
US09428128B2
A control mechanism for a refuse vehicle includes a first control valve that operates a first hydraulically controlled mechanism and a second control valve that operates a second hydraulically controlled mechanism. The control mechanism also includes a plurality of switches and a pneumatic control mechanism. The plurality of switches generates a valve select signal and a mode signal. The pneumatic control mechanism selectively controls the first control valve and the second control valve based on the valve select signal and the mode signal. An operator of the refuse vehicle actuates the plurality of switches while the operator is operating the pneumatic control mechanism.
US09428127B2
A mobile computing device is operated to control a vehicle. A digital key for accessing a vehicle is stored for accessing the vehicle. Profile information is associated with the digital key for configuring operation and/or use of a vehicle. The profile information may include one or more outside parameters for implementing one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations. When one or more proximity conditions are detected as being satisfied as between the mobile computing device and the vehicle, a communication is sent to the vehicle in order to cause the vehicle to implement one or more pre-entry vehicle configurations. The communication can be based on the digital key and may specify the one or more outside parameters.
US09428124B2
A process of providing driver fuel economy feedback is disclosed in which vehicle sensors provide for haptic feedback on fuel usage. Such sensors may include one or more of a speed sensors, global position satellite units, vehicle pitch/roll angle sensors, suspension displacement sensors, longitudinal accelerometer sensors, throttle position in sensors, steering angle sensors, break pressure sensors, and lateral accelerometer sensors. Sensors used singlely or collectively can provide enhanced feedback as to various environmental conditions and operating conditions such that a more accurate assessment of fuel economy information can be provided to the driver.
US09428120B2
The present disclosure is directed to a hydraulic vehicle power system. The auxiliary mobile power system may be configured to supply power to at least one auxiliary function and a primary hydraulic system for a vehicle. The auxiliary mobile power system may include a hydraulic pump configured to provide hydraulic pressure to the at least one auxiliary function and the vehicle's primary hydraulic system. The auxiliary mobile power system may also include a control valve connected to the hydraulic pump. The control valve may be configured to control the hydraulic pressure to the at least one auxiliary function and the primary hydraulic system for the vehicle.
US09428112B2
In a vehicle door mirror, a mirror housing accommodating electric components is rotatably supported at a base member that is mounted to a side door, and a coupler that is electrically connected to the electric components is attached to the base member. A sheet member that is positioned to and held by the base member and is sandwiched between the side door and the base member is fastened to the side door by being fastened together with the base member, and the coupler is clamped between the base member and the sheet member. Accordingly, the coupler can be attached using a fewer number of components and a fewer number of working steps.
US09428107B2
An electroplating light-transmissive decoration panel for a rear license plate, configured with a plurality of accepting grooves on a framework for the accommodation of corresponding LED light boards of a light emitting module; a letter plate with hollowed-out graph-typed and/or letter-typed slots are covered in front of the LED light boards; a cover is made of a light transmissible material, the surface thereof being treated by means of sputter coating to form a sputter coating film, and coupled to the framework with fixing elements and then mounted above the rear license plate; a power line extended from the light emitting module is connected to a power source of a tail light. Whereby, when the decoration panel is not energized, the surface can display a highly textured electroplating matte effect, and when energized, light from the LED light boards passes through the letter plate to show preset graphs and/or letters.
US09428105B2
A trailer signal converter includes a plurality of inputs, including a first towing vehicle turn light signal, a second towing vehicle turn light signal, and a trailer brake signal. The trailer brake signal may be a pulse-width modulated signal. The trailer signal converter selectively drives the turn and stop light signals on the trailer based on the input signals. In a three-wire system, the signal converter may be configured to receive a brake signal input and a brake light input and selectively drive the trailer stop light signal.
US09428097B2
One variation may include a cargo truck which may include one or more cargo latching/locking systems integrated into a body portion of the cargo truck which comprise at least one hoist plate which latches and locks at least one cargo pod to the hoist plate and which may be operatively connected to a hoist system which may raise and lower a hoist platform which may be attached to the hoist plate and a method for doing the same.
US09428096B1
A hay strap hook for positioning and holding a strap straight in place over rows of hay stacks or bales on a trailer for tightening the strap in place is disclosed. The hay strap hook is comprised of two upper vertical arms that are connected at their lower end individually to one end of two horizontal arms, two lower vertical arms connected at their upper end individually to other end of the two horizontal arms, a central bar joining the two horizontal arms together, and a pole joined at the center of the bottom of the central bar. To use the hay strap hook, use the pole to reach the straps on the top of the hay bales, use the upper vertical arms to lift the strap, turn the hook half over and poke the pointed ends into a hay bale that is held by the strap while tightening the strap across hay bales to trailer on other side.
US09428093B2
The cup holder assembly adapted to retain an object includes a retainer formed of a flexible material. The retainer includes a first upper edge, a first bottom wall, and a first side wall. The first upper edge defines a first open end having a diameter larger than the diameter of the first bottom wall. The first side wall extends between the first bottom wall and the first upper edge to define a frustoconical shape. The first side wall deforms outwardly upon insertion of the object to provide frictional resistance to retain an upright orientation of the object.
US09428090B2
There is provided a headrest with speakers capable of exhibiting an excellent sound effect. The headrest with speakers includes: a headrest frame; a pair of left and right enclosures supported by the headrest frame; speaker units supported in the enclosures respectively; and a headrest cushion member supported by the headrest frame to support a head, the headrest cushion member including: a net member having a pair of left and right acoustically transparent parts at places substantially facing the respective speaker units; and soundproof parts disposed between the pair of left and right acoustically transparent parts in the net member and between the pair of left and right enclosures respectively.
US09428089B2
A vehicle headrest has a support rod extending along an axis formed with a plurality of radially open notches, a head support carried above the notches on the support rod, and a guide sleeve mountable in a seat back and slidably receiving the support rod. An actuation element can shift axially on the sleeve between an actuated position and an unactuated position. An elongated and longitudinally incompressible latch element has an outer end shiftable radially and engageable in the notch and an inner end engaging the actuation element and shiftable axially on the sleeve on movement of the actuation element from the actuated position to the unactuated position between a latching position with the outer end engaged radially in one of the notches and securing the rod against movement in the sleeve and a release position with the outer end clear of the notches and permitting such movement.
US09428088B1
Vehicle occupant support for enhanced comfort and utility in a vehicle with arrangements for crash load protection of occupants. Virtual navigation device.
US09428082B2
Equipment and processes generate a seating solution by obtaining occupant data, calculating body dimensions from the occupant data, and calculating a best-fit body arrangement for an occupant. Occupant data may be obtained in various ways using available computational devices and software or by manually measuring the relevant dimensions on the occupant. A user interface for inputting occupant metrics and/or occupant measurements may be provided in a mobile terminal included in the vehicle or separate from the vehicle, thus giving users increased flexibility while maximizing simplicity and usability for the user or other personnel obtaining the data. Once an occupant's best-fit body arrangement is determined, it may be altered by changing the predetermined criteria to achieve optimum comfort, safety, and therapeutic benefit as well as used for providing improved comfort on a continuous basis and/or in response to detected or predicted vehicle, road, or atmospheric conditions.
US09428081B2
A filter element for a pneumatic adjusting arrangement, e.g., a vehicle seat, includes a filter chamber that is fillable with pressure media and includes first and second flexible films connected together along a connecting seam to define the filter chamber. A filter medium for removing particles entrained in the pressure medium is arranged in the filter chamber and separates the filter chamber into first and second chamber regions. The pressure medium may flow into the first chamber region via a pressure medium inlet line, flow into the second chamber region via the filter medium, and flow out of the second chamber region via at least one pressure medium outlet line. By realizing the filter element or the filter chamber thereof from flexible films, the filter element can be installed in a space-saving manner and with a form that can be adapted to the situation.
US09428073B2
A method of monitoring a performance level of a battery of a vehicle having an electronic control unit (ECU) includes enabling a charging diagnostic module (CDM) and determining, with the CDM, a charging status of the battery. The method also includes enabling a discharging diagnostic module (DDM) and determining, with the DDM, a discharging status of the battery. The charging status and the discharging status are recorded in a memory location of the ECU.
US09428072B2
A method for extending the life cycle of a battery includes receiving a storage mode status signal at a battery controller and incrementally adjusting a state of charge window over a period of time in response to receiving the storage mode status signal.
US09428067B2
A vehicle running management system under renewable energy includes an electrically driven vehicle having a battery ECU. The battery ECU manages a remaining amount of renewable energy in a vehicle-mounted electric storage device as it increases and decreases when renewable energy is charged into the vehicle-mounted electric storage device and renewable energy is discharged from the vehicle-mounted electric storage device.
US09428063B2
A mild hybrid system according embodiments of the invention may include: a motor-alternator; an inverter for controlling electrical energy flow to and from the motor-alternator; an electrical energy storage for storing electrical energy generated by the motor-alternator; and a unidirectional DC/DC buck converter including a bypass means for providing a physical connection between the motor-alternator and a vehicle electrical load. With the system, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, packaging process can be simplified, and an additional cooling device is not required.
US09428062B2
A method and system are provided for updating a duty cycle for a power converter. The system and method operate the power converter to compute a first duty cycle during a first pulse-width modulation period and updating a second duty cycle for a second pulse-width modulation period at the completion of the first pulse-width modulation period. Next a third duty cycle for a third previous pulse-width modulation period is updated at the completion of the first pulse-width modulation period.
US09428061B1
A system for harnessing wind energy to charge the electric storage battery of a vehicle, whether the vehicle is parked or in motion. While the vehicle is being driven, a roof-mounted, internal wind turbine harnesses wind energy and causes rotation of the shaft of an electric generator mounted to an interior surface of the roof. For charging the battery while the vehicle is parked, an external wind turbine is storable in the vehicle when not in use and attaches to the internal wind turbine. Cups of the kind used in cup anemometers are attached to radial arms that extend from an external shaft of the external wind turbine and catch ambient wind currents while the vehicle is parked, causing the external shaft and the generator shaft to rotate.
US09428055B2
A vehicle includes a display unit, and a controller configured to control the display unit to display user identification information such as an emblem and a signature, as an intro image. A user thereby can feel a sense of pride and ownership in his/her own vehicle, and develop a sense of attachment and brand loyalty for his/her own vehicle.
US09428054B2
An approach is provided for causing, at least in part, a collection of sensor data from at least one virtual or augmented reality device associated with at least one user. The approach involves processing and/or facilitating a processing of the sensor data to cause, at least in part, a classification of the at least one user as a driver of at least one vehicle. The approach also involves causing, at least in part, an optimization of content information presented via the at least one virtual or augmented reality device based, at least in part, on the classification.
US09428048B2
The present invention includes a vehicle body frame. A cabin is mounted to the vehicle body frame so as to be isolated from vibration. A fuel tank is located below the cabin. The vehicle body frame includes a bracket extending laterally outward in a cantilever from at least one of a left side and a right side. The bracket includes: a cabin support portion carrying and supporting one front-back direction side of the cabin from below via a vibration isolation member; and a tank support portion supporting one front-back direction side of the fuel tank. The tank support portion is arranged at a position further toward an extended end than the cabin support portion of the bracket.
US09428043B2
A liquid vapor separator drain valve includes an outer housing defining upper and lower chambers separated by a divider. An upper housing coupled to the outer housing partitions the upper chamber into inner and outer chambers and defines an upper port for communication with a carbon canister. The outer housing defines an external port in communication with the outer chamber and for communicating with a fill limit valve. Upper and lower valves are positioned in the respective upper and lower chambers such that the valves and upper and lower chambers are arranged in a vertically stacked, concentric manner. The lower valve vents fuel vapor to the upper chamber in a rest position and seals a divider vent passage when liquid fuel reaches a lower threshold. The upper valve vents fuel vapor to the upper port and seals the upper port when liquid fuel reaches an upper threshold.
US09428031B2
A vehicle-use pivotally-supporting portion structure includes a cylindrical upper pivotally-supporting portion; a tubular bushing mounted on a radially inner side of an end portion of the upper pivotally-supporting portion; and a sealing member mounted on a radially outer side of the end portion of the upper pivotally-supporting portion. A flange portion, which extends outward in a radial direction and is brought into contact with a distal end of the upper pivotally-supporting portion, is formed on an end portion of the tubular bushing, and an outer diameter of the flange portion is larger than an outer diameter of the end portion of the upper pivotally-supporting portion.
US09428025B2
An axle suspension supports an axle housing on a vehicle frame. The suspension includes left and right pivot rods attached to left and right frame members. A suspension arm has a first end fixed to a rear end of the axle housing and has a second end pivotally coupled to the left and right pivot rods. A variable length left hydraulic cylinder has an upper end pivotally coupled to the left frame member and has a lower end pivotally coupled to a front end of the axle housing. A variable length right hydraulic cylinder has an upper end pivotally coupled to the right frame member and has a lower end pivotally coupled to the front end of the axle housing. The left and right hydraulic cylinders are hydraulically connected in parallel.
US09428023B2
A pneumatic spring for utility vehicles comprising a rolling bellows and a rolling piston. The rolling bellows has at least one bead-like plug-on edge. The rolling piston is of unipartite form and includes an interior space constantly exchanging air with an air chamber enclosed by the rolling bellows. At the plug-on edge, the rolling bellows has a sealing bead with an inelastic bead core for connection to the rolling piston. The fastening of the plug-on edge to the rolling piston, with position securing action and sealing action, is disposed on an inner side of a rolling piston edge.
US09428011B2
A metal cord is rubberized in situ by a rubber composition that includes a styrene-butadiene copolymer. The styrene-butadiene copolymer includes styrene units at a proportion of between 25% and 35% by weight, limits included, of a total weight of the styrene-butadiene copolymer. The styrene-butadiene copolymer also includes trans-1,4-bonds at a proportion of between 73% and 83% by weight, limits included, of a total weight of a butadiene part of the styrene-butadiene copolymer.
US09428000B1
A scrapbook and/or photo album system is disclosed. The system includes a top cover panel, a bottom cover panel, a stack of plural pages, a replaceable spine and plural fasteners. The spine is a unitary member made up of a plurality of disks fixedly secured together by a common rod. Each of the pages has an inner edge including a plurality of generally mushroom shaped slots. Each of the disks is circular and has a generally planar central section and an enlarged peripheral rim shaped to mate with and be received in a respective one of the slots of the page to secure each page to the spine. The common rod of the spin includes plural hollow portions, each configured to receive a respective fastener to secure the cover panels to the spine.
US09427997B2
There is provided a data processing apparatus, a printing apparatus and a data processing method, that can reduce a processing load and a processing time in reading data even in a case where null data is added to print data for correcting displacement of a printing position caused by inclination of a print head. To achieve this, there is provided a data processing apparatus including a first writing unit, a second writing unit and a reading unit. The reading unit reads out data arrays corresponding to the print target image and does not read out data arrays corresponding to outside of the print target image in the first storage unit, from a plurality data arrays stored in the second storage unit that have been written in by the second written in unit.
US09427994B2
A method of tensioning a print medium on a drum comprising: supporting the medium on the drum; rotating the drum; and applying a gaseous flow to the medium on the drum, the gaseous flow having a major component that is tangential to the drum and in a direction that is opposite to the linear direction of the surface of the drum.
US09427992B2
An inkjet printer is configured to apply a coating material to the lead edge of an imaging surface after an ink image is formed on the surface. A controller determines the amount and location of coating material applied to the lead edge based on the stiffness or thickness of the media printed on, and based on image content.
US09427990B2
Systems and methods for printing are described. One example is a tension module for a printer including a throughput roller including a length to diameter ratio of at least 10:1 and a material on the surface thereof having a friction coefficient value less than 1. In addition, the module includes a plurality of pinch rollers arranged parallel to the throughput roller and, the pinch rollers supporting the throughput roller and providing a pressure on a print medium when passed along the throughput roller. Further, the module includes a motor to rotate the throughput roller. Still further, the module includes a tension lever including a plurality of stops, each of the stops being associated with one of a plurality of tension settings. Manipulation of the tension lever between two of the stops adjusts the pressure between the throughput roller and the pinch rollers on the print medium.
US09427989B2
A tape cassette that includes a housing, at least one tape, and a color indicator portion disposed between the tape housing area and the periphery, and in a specified area adjacent to the tape housing area on a rear edge side of the bottom wall, the color indicator portion indicating color information relating to the at least one tape and including a plurality of lateral information sections that are a plurality of strip-shaped sections extending along the left-and-right direction of the housing and aligned in a front-rear direction of the housing, wherein, of the plurality of lateral information sections, whether a protrusion is formed in a first lateral information section indicates a base material color of the at least one tape, and whether a protrusion is formed in a second lateral information section indicates a print color of the at least one tape.
US09427984B2
A printer includes a main body case in which a sheet roll is installed, a sheet discharge port from which a printed sheet of paper is discharged, an opening/closing cover that opens and closes with respect to the main body case, a cutter that is attached to the opening/closing cover and configured to cut the printed sheet of paper from the sheet roll, and a cutter protection mechanism configured to move in correspondence with an opening movement or a closing movement of the opening/closing cover. The cutter protection mechanism is configured to expose the cutter at the sheet discharge port when the opening/closing cover is in a closed state and conceal the cutter when the opening/closing cover is in an open state.
US09427983B2
There is provided a compact simplex and duplex printer which can be produced easily at a low cost. The simplex and duplex printer includes: a thermal head for performing printing on a substrate; a rolled substrate supply section for supplying a continuous substrate, which is to be printed on one side, to the thermal head; and a sheet-like substrate supply section, provided below the rolled substrate supply section, for sequentially supplying sheet-like substrates, which are to be printed on both sides, to the thermal head. A reversing mechanism for reversing a sheet-like substrate which has been returned from the thermal head is disposed between the thermal head and the sheet-like substrate supply section. The reversing mechanism is disposed just below the rolled substrate supply section.
US09427981B2
A tape cassette that includes a box-like housing having a front wall, a top surface and a bottom surface, a wound tape mounted within the housing, a tape guide, and an indicator of the tape type formed in the front wall. The housing directs the tape along a path to an exit, and at least a portion of the path extends parallel to the front wall. The tape guide is spaced downstream of the exit, whereby a section of tape is exposed between the exit and the tape guide. The indicator is formed in the front wall proximal to the exposed section of tape, and includes at least one aperture that extends generally parallel to the top and bottom surfaces and perpendicular to the portion of the path extending parallel to the front wall.
US09427980B1
An inkjet printer capable of suppressing a reduction in adsorption power relative to media as compared to the related art is provided. The inkjet printer includes a medium adsorbing device that has a medium adsorbing unit for adsorbing a medium, and an inkjet head that faces a portion of the medium adsorbing unit with a medium interposed therebetween. The medium adsorbing unit has a plurality of suction holes for sucking gas in order to adsorb a medium on an adsorption surface positioned on a side of the inkjet head. The medium adsorbing unit has a printing section and a downstream side adjacent section on a side of the adsorption surface. In the printing section, printing is performed on each medium by the inkjet head.
US09427971B2
A printer includes a head, a wiper, a cap, a supply flow path, a supply opening/closing valve, a gas channel, a gas opening/closing valve, a waste fluid flow path, a suction portion, and a processor. The processor is configured to set a covered state in which the cap covers the at least one nozzle, supply the cleaning fluid to the cap, in the covered state, by opening the supply opening/closing valve, closing the gas opening/closing valve, and driving the suction portion, discharge the cleaning fluid, in the covered state, by closing the supply opening/closing valve, opening the gas opening/closing valve, and driving the suction portion, set an uncovered state in which covering the at least one nozzle by the cap is released, and cause the wiper to slide in contact with the nozzle surface, in the uncovered state, by moving the wiper relatively with respect to the nozzle surface.
US09427970B2
According to one example, there is provided a printing system having a print bar on which are installable multiple printheads. The system comprises a nozzle servicing module moveable across the length of the print bar to selectively perform a nozzle servicing operation on a group of printhead nozzles.
US09427967B2
An inkjet head includes a substrate that defines a cavity in which ink is stored, a vibrating membrane that is supported by the substrate and that defines the cavity, and a piezoelectric device that is disposed on the vibrating membrane and that changes a volume of the cavity by displacing the vibrating membrane. The piezoelectric device includes a lower electrode, a piezoelectric membrane that is disposed on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode that is disposed on the piezoelectric membrane and that faces the lower electrode with the piezoelectric membrane interposed between the upper electrode and the lower electrode. The piezoelectric membrane includes a columnar structure layer and an amorphous structure layer of a piezoelectric material. The amorphous structure layer is stacked contiguously with the columnar structure layer.
US09427966B2
An inkjet head (10) includes a displacement film (17), a substrate (11), and an ink discharge portion (21). The displacement film (17) includes a piezoelectric thin film (14) as a driving film operable to expand and contract in a direction perpendicular to its thickness direction to cause curving deformation of the displacement film (17) in its thickness direction. The substrate (11) has a dug portion (11a) as a hole portion formed in its thickness direction, and supports the displacement film (17) such that the displacement film (17) covers the dug portion (11a). The ink discharge portion (21) has an ink chamber (21a) holding ink, and discharges the ink outside with pressure applied to the ink by the curving deformation of the displacement film (17). The ink discharge portion (21) is provided opposite to the dug portion (11a) of the substrate (11) with respect to the displacement film (17).
US09427964B2
Provided is a liquid ejecting head which includes head bodies aligned in a direction of liquid ejection surface thereof, a flow-path member in which distribution flow path is provided to supply liquid to the head bodies, and flexible wiring substrates connected to the head bodies. The distribution flow path extends in the first direction. In addition, the flexible wiring substrates adjacent in the first direction overlap when viewed from the first direction. The distribution flow path is disposed in an area on one side with respect to the flexible wiring substrates, in a direction perpendicular to the first direction in the liquid ejection surface.
US09427961B2
Disclosed herein is a microfluidic jetting device having a piezoelectric member positioned above a displaceable membrane. A voltage is applied across the piezoelectric member causing deformation of the piezoelectric member. The deformation of the piezoelectric member results in a displacement of the membrane, which is formed above a cavity. Displacement of the membrane creates pressure to jet or eject liquid from the cavity and suction liquid into the cavity through ports or apertures formed in the in membrane.
US09427959B2
The degree of thickening of ink for each of nozzles based on dot pattern data is calculated based on a thickening value Z(n+1)=Z(n)×a×bss×bmm×bll, and information the dot pattern data corresponding to the nozzle, which indicates that small dots are formed in when the thickening value is equal to or greater than a threshold is replaced with information indicating that middle dots which are larger than the small dots are formed.
US09427958B2
Provided is a liquid discharging apparatus which includes a modulation circuit which generates a modulation signal which is obtained by pulse-modulating a source signal, a transistor which generates an amplified modulation signal by amplifying the modulation signal, a low pass filter which generates a drive signal by smoothening the amplified modulation signal, a piezoelectric element which is displaced by receiving the drive signal, and a multilayer circuit substrate on which the modulation circuit, the transistor, and the low pass filter are mounted. Furthermore, the multilayer circuit substrate has a multilayer configuration constituted of three or more layers which include at least one layer other than two surface layers. In addition, a feedback wiring pattern through which the modulation signal, the amplified modulation signal, or the drive signal is fed back to the modulation circuit is provided in the one layer.
US09427956B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a drive method for an ink jet head comprising: a drive pulse, applying a first pulse for increasing and then restoring the volume of a pressure chamber and giving pressure vibration to the chamber in which ink are accommodated, and then a second pulse for reducing and then restoring the volume of the pressure chamber to an actuator arranged corresponding to the pressure chamber; wherein the second pulse is turned on at first point of time causing the pressure vibration amplitude at second point of time to be the same with that of generated by the first pulse when the first pulse is turned on, wherein the second point of time is the time when flow velocity of the ink nearby the nozzle inside the pressure chamber becomes 0 after the first point of time, and the second pulse is turned off at the second point of time.
US09427953B2
A method of manufacturing a liquid ejection head includes forming, on the substrate, a metal layer formed of a first metal, forming a liquid flow path pattern formed of a second metal that is a metal of a different kind from that of the first metal and that is dissolvable in a solution that does not dissolve the first metal, the liquid flow path pattern being formed on at least a part of a surface of the metal layer, covering the metal layer and the pattern with an inorganic material layer to be formed as the nozzle layer, forming the ejection orifices in the inorganic material layer, and removing the pattern by the solution. A standard electrode potential E1 of the first metal and a standard electrode potential E2 of the second metal have a relationship of E1>E2.
US09427946B2
A method is disclosed which includes: forming at least one layer of material on at least part of a surface of a first substrate, wherein a first surface of the at least one layer of material is in contact with the first substrate thereby defining an interface; attaching a second substrate to a second surface of the at least one layer of material; forming bubbles at the interface; and applying mechanical force; whereby the second substrate and the at least one layer of material are jointly separated from the first substrate. Related arrangements are also described.
US09427943B2
A prepreg curing process for preparing composites having superior surface finish and high fiber consolidation is provided.
US09427941B2
A material includes a composite having a shape memory material and a non-shape memory material, a trigger source in communication with the shape memory material, the trigger source being configured to provide a stimulus to the shape memory material, the composite being configured to transition between a memorized shape and multiple temporary shapes upon receipt of a stimulus, wherein the composite is configured to self-assemble into a first temporary shape around an underlying object in response to a first trigger from the trigger source and to stop self-assembly in response to a second trigger from the trigger source. Examples contemplated include but are not limited to an immobilization and fixation device for treating a body part of a patient, wearable technology, and a wrapping material for covering one or more objects for transport, each of which includes the aforementioned material.
US09427937B2
The invention relates to an anti-wear coating, specifically for components which are subject to erosion under mechanical loading, in particular for gas turbine components, said coating comprising at least two different individual layers which preferably alternate with one another multiply and are applied to a surface of a component which is to be coated. The individual layers comprise a ceramic main layer (45, 46, 47, 48) and a quasi-ductile, non-metallic intermediate layer (41, 42, 43, 44).
US09427936B2
The invention relates to a multilayered cut-to-size format comprising a thin, polyurethane-based coating (2) bonded via a polyurethane adhesive layer (3) to a textile backing (4).The invention provides that the backing (4) is a textile backing layer formed using a loop-formingly knitted fabric, a woven fabric or a fibrous non-woven web and having a thickness between 0.25 and 1.2 mm; there are capillaries in the coating (2); the solidified polyurethane dispersion (3) has a basis weight between 65 and 155 g/m2 and reaches by between 0.02 and 0.55 mm into the backing (4) non-filmingly; the coating (2) has a thickness of 0.09 to 0.21 mm and a hardness between 25 and 55 Shore A; and the backing (4) is bonded on its side opposite the coating (2) to a layer (5) of polychloroprene foam which has a closed-cell structure of the foam rubber type and a density between 0.05 and 0.42 g/cm3, preferably between 0.06 to 0.28 g/cm3.
US09427933B2
A quantum rod sheet includes: a first support layer including a plurality of grooves which extends substantially in a predetermined direction; a plurality of quantum rods arranged substantially in the predetermined direction along the grooves of the first support layer; and a second support layer which covers the first support layer and the quantum rods.
US09427932B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide an interlayer film for a laminated glass excellent in a sound-insulating property, which is preferably usable for a head up display and the like wherein a driver can look at the front view and an instrument display simultaneously without requiring to look down, and to provide a laminated glass.The present invention is directed to interlayer film for a laminated glass, which comprises at least a pair of protection layers and a sound-insulating layer sandwiched between the pair of the protection layers, and which has a wedge shape as a cross-sectional shape, a wedge angle θ of 0.1 to 0.7 mrad, the maximum thickness of 2000 μm or thinner, and the minimum thickness of 400 μm or thicker, the minimum thickness of the sound-insulating layer being 20 μm or thicker.
US09427923B2
Provided is an food packing material, manufacturing method and mold thereof having hydrophobicity including a number of columns formed in one side of food packing material. The disclosure may provide food packing material, manufacturing method and mold thereof in which an amount of contents off a wall of the food packing material may be minimized by hydrophobicity.
US09427920B2
This invention discloses methods and apparatus for providing a media insert with an energy source to an ophthalmic lens. The energy source is capable of powering a component included within the ophthalmic lens. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic lens is cast molded from a silicone hydrogel and the component includes an electro-optical lens portion.
US09427914B2
An ultrasonic processing method and an ultrasonic processing device may include a controlling/regulating module, preferably a digital controlling/regulating module, which is integrated into a signal processing of the ultrasonic generator so that a plurality of generator data with respect to the ultrasonic generator are processible in the ultrasonic generator. At this, a power actual value Pist is compared with a power reference value Psoll of the ultrasonic generator via a gap regulator in the controlling/regulating module to specify a position reference value POSsoll of the sonotrode relative to the roll for adjustment of the power reference value Psoll of the ultrasonic generator, and/or a power actual value Pist is compared with a power reference value Psoll of the ultrasonic generator via an amplitude regulator in the controlling/regulating module to specify an amplitude reference value Asoll to the ultrasonic generator for adjustment of the power reference value Psoll.
US09427903B2
Disclosed herein are roll fed air heated flotation ovens and related thermoforming systems, assemblies, and machines that enable the corrugation-free expansion of a gas impregnated thermoplastic web passing through an oven chamber (without use of a pin-chain assembly), as well as to related methods. In an embodiment, a gas impregnated thermoplastic web is conveyed and expanded through an elongated air heated oven chamber, wherein the elongated oven chamber includes a plurality of downwardly directed heated air nozzles positioned at regular intervals along and within the upper portion of the oven chamber, and a plurality of upwardly directed heated air nozzles positioned at regular intervals along and within the lower portion of the oven chamber, but staggered apart from the downwardly directed heated air nozzles such that the gas impregnated thermoplastic material web undulates in an up and down wavelike fashion, thereby minimizing sagging, bagging, puckering, and/or buckling of the web.
US09427895B2
This invention comprises a self-supporting, temperature-stable, indicia-bearing laminate of at least one layer of a non-oriented polyolefin film having an indicia array and a layer of a non-oriented polyolefin support film. The indicia layer laminate is formed by printing a carrier sheet with at least one layer of a printing ink comprising a mixture of particulate polyolefin, indicia material and a polyolefin-compatible resin. The polyolefin support film is printed as a layer over the indicia layer with a mixture of a polyolefin and a polyolefin-compatible resin. The printed layers are cured into non-oriented films, forming an indicia transfer. The transfer is used by removing the indicia-bearing laminate from the carrier sheet and applying the laminate to the inside surface of a rotational mold where it melts and fuses into the outer wall of a polyolefin product during the formation of the product in the rotational molding cycle.
US09427894B2
Provided is an inexpensive anti-reflection article with a sufficient anti-reflection property by using an anti-reflection article manufacturing mold plate manufactured at low cost. In a method of manufacturing an anti-reflection article manufacturing mold plate used to manufacture an anti-reflection article provided with an anti-reflection surface in which minute convex portions or minute concave portions are densely arranged and a gap between the adjacent minute convex portions or minute concave portions is the shortest wavelength or less of a wavelength band for anti-reflection, the method of manufacturing an anti-reflection article manufacturing mold plate includes: molding an uneven shape on a surface of a receptive layer by causing an anti-reflection surface of another anti-reflection article to come into pressure-contact with the surface of the receptive layer including a curable base; and curing the receptive layer in which the uneven shape is molded.
US09427890B2
A kneader/stirrer includes two rotary shafts extending parallel to each other in the processing chamber, and first and second regular triangular impellers mounted to the respective rotary shafts. The first impellers are located at the same axial positions as the respective first impellers. The impellers are fixed to the respective rotary shafts at points offset from the centers of the respective impellers in a predetermined direction by a predetermined distance such that when the two rotary shafts rotate in the same direction at the same speed, each pair of first and second impellers are eccentrically pivoted, with one apex of one of the pair of impellers kept in contact with or in close proximity to the contour of the other impeller, thereby scraping off polycondensation resin (material to be processed) adhered to the other impeller.
US09427884B2
Vacuum release systems that allow rapid, uninterrupted flow of a liquid through a first opening in a container when the container is inverted are disclosed. The vacuum release systems include a hole punch and can be secured to the outer surface of the container. When the liquid-filled container is inverted, pressure is applied to the hole punch to form a second opening in the side of the container. The second opening releases the vacuum by allowing air to flow into the container, which, in turn, allows rapid, uninterrupted flow of the liquid through the first opening in the container.
US09427881B2
To minimize the risk for injuries due to hooked hair catching teeth, but still have a reasonable hair-cutting efficiency, a cutting unit (107) for a hair-cutting device (100) having two blades (202, 206) moving relatively to each other with at least one of the blades (202, 206) being toothed is proposed, wherein at least some teeth (208) have a larger cross-sectional area (CA) at their free end (210) than at their end (212) making the junction with the blade (206), wherein the larger cross-sectional area (CA) is 0.32 mm2 or more and wherein the shape of the larger cross-sectional area (CA) is such that the tooth (208) surface oriented to face the surface (305) with hair (301) to be cut when cutting has a larger distance to the middle axis (M) than the equivalent surface of the blade-side-end (212).
US09427874B1
Methods and systems for providing landmarks to facilitate robot localization and visual odometry are provided herein. At least one area of a physical environment in which a robotic device resides may be determined to include surfaces that lack sufficient discernable features to determine a location of the at least one area. Instructions may responsively be provided to the robotic device for the robotic device to provide a material in respective patterns onto one or more surfaces of the at least one area. Instructions can responsively be provided for the robotic device to provide the material in respective textures as well. The respective patterns or textures may include sufficient discernable features to determine a location of the at least one area, and the material may remain on the one or more surfaces for a predetermined period of time.
US09427866B2
A gear mechanism, including: a first gear; and a second gear. The first gear and the second gear are arranged at an inclination angle to form a first meshing region and a second meshing region. Multiple tooth tip portions of the first gear and multiple tooth tip portions of the second gear are each formed to be held in contact with each other at one point in the first meshing region. Multiple recessed portions of the first gear and multiple recessed portions of the second gear are each formed to conform to a passing region extending along movement of one of the multiple mating tooth tip portions at the time of moving in the second meshing region.
US09427864B2
A flexible exosuit includes rigid and flexible elements configured to couple forces to a body of a wearer. Further, the flexible exosuit includes flexible linear actuators and clutched compliance elements to apply and/or modulate forces and/or compliances between segments of the body of the wearer. The flexible exosuit further includes electronic controllers, power sources and sensors. The flexible exosuit can be configured to apply forces to the body of the wearer to enable a variety of applications. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to augment the physical strength or endurance of the wearer. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to train the wearer to perform certain physical tasks. In some examples, the flexible exosuit can be configured to record physical activities of the wearer.
US09427862B1
A hand tool is provided with a mechanism which permits the handle of a hand tool to be adjusted through a wide array of angles relative to the implement to which it is attached to accommodate different sized users and uses of the tool. Further, a quick connect apparatus permits any of a plurality of hand tools to be connected to a single handle.
US09427856B2
The threading device includes a thread-pushing rod, a thread-transmitting rod, a first transmission subassembly, a second transmission subassembly, and a first pushing member. The thread-pushing rod defines a first through hole. The thread-transmitting rod is mounted on the thread-pushing rod and defines a second through hole. The first transmission subassembly includes a first rotating member and a spur gear mounted on the first rotating member. The second transmission subassembly includes a second rotating member and a second spur gear mounted on the second rotating member. The second spur gear meshes the first spur gear. A passage is defined by the first rotating member and the second rotating member. A tangent of the passage is aligned with the first through hole and the second through hole. The first pushing member is coupled to the first rotating member and configured to rotate the first rotating member.
US09427852B2
A rotary impact tool comprises: a motor that is a rotation driving source; an impact generation device for generating a pulse impact by rotation of the motor and applying a rotational torque to an output shaft by the impact; a torque sensor for measuring the torque applied to the output shaft; and a control means for halting the motor when the torque measured by the torque sensor has reached a target torque having been set. The control means is configured to change an increased torque value for one impact according to the target torque having been set.
US09427848B1
The present invention is directed generally to tools that are high quality, strong, and lightweight. For example, various tools such as clamps may be made using parts containing a compound or alloy including magnesium. Magnesium may be for cast or extruded parts. In one embodiment, an “F” style clamp may be made with one or both of the two cooperating jaw members or sections being cast from a magnesium compound or alloy. In one variation, the “F” style clamp may include a shaft made from extruded magnesium. In another embodiment, a “C” style clamp may be made with the “C” shaped frame being cast from a magnesium compound or alloy. In a further embodiment, a bar clamp having trigger indexing may be made with one or both of two jaw members or sections being cast from a magnesium compound or alloy. In a variation, the bar may be an extruded magnesium.
US09427846B2
An abrasive article that may include a circular substrate with a plurality of segments arranged on the circumferential surface of the circular substrate. The abrasive article may also include an outlet slot defining an open space on a peripheral portion of the abrasive article between a first segment and a second segment, a center slot defining an open space in the circular substrate connected to the outlet slot, a noise absorbing hole connected to the center slot and protruding from the center slot in the rotating direction of the abrasive article, and a ratio (H+X)/CSD of at least about 0.01, where H represents a prescribed height of the noise absorbing hole, X represents a prescribed depth of the noise absorbing hole and CSD represents the diameter of the circular substrate.
US09427843B2
An apparatus for obtaining information about a workpiece may include a measuring device having a nozzle defining an orifice in fluid communication with a source of incompressible fluid. A fluid monitoring apparatus may monitor a parameter of the substantially incompressible fluid, and a pump may be fluidly coupled to the source and configured to supply incompressible fluid to the orifice. The pump may have a pump chamber with a first displacement setting having a first fixed volume, so that operation of the pump at a first pump speed with the pump chamber in the first displacement setting generates a first fluid flow having a substantially constant first volumetric rate. The pump may have more than one displacement setting, or the pump may be operated at different speeds to change the volumetric flow rate. The nozzle may include multiple, independent orifice sets that may be selectively provided fluid, thereby to obtain information on different parts of the workpiece with a single placement of the nozzle. Additionally, the apparatus may be incorporated into a CNC machine to perform simultaneous measurement and machining operations.
US09427839B2
A lapping tool for lapping sealing surfaces of a fitting used in a gas turbine. The tool includes a shaft having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis. A removable handle is attached to the first end and is oriented in a direction transverse to the axis. The tool also includes a removable lapping insert having an outwardly extending attachment portion that is attached to the second end of the shaft. The lapping insert includes a lapping surface which corresponds to the shape of a sealing surface of the fitting. In one embodiment, the lapping insert includes a cavity for receiving a cone portion of a fitting. Alternatively, the lapping insert includes a projection for insertion into a receptacle portion of a fitting.
US09427838B2
A head tool changer for use with a deposition-based digital manufacturing system, the head tool changer comprising a tooling unit configured to retain a deposition head, a grip unit configured to engage with tooling unit and to relay electrical power to the tooling unit, and a master unit operably mounted to a gantry and configured to engage with the tooling unit and to relay electrical power to the tooling unit.
US09427831B2
A method for manufacturing a nested profile combination, including: planishing process, forming process, punching process, cross section shaping process, nesting process, and fastening process. A system for manufacturing the nested profile combination, includes: a profile planisher; a first rolling die set; a punching device; a second rolling die set; a cutting device; a nesting device; and a third rolling die set. The first rolling die set including a plurality of first rolling sets. The punching device includes a punching bed and a punching machine. The second rolling die set including a plurality of second rolling sets. The cutting device includes a cutter. The third rolling die set includes a third rolling set.
US09427826B2
A hand-guided marking system (1) is disclosed, which is furnished with a radiation source (2) for applying a marking (100) to a surface (101) of a workpiece (102). A camera (4) and at least one illumination device (6) are used for recording a part of the surface (101) of the workpiece (102). A protective housing (10) is mounted on a carrier frame (12) and has an opening (14) in the protective housing (10) that is located opposite the surface (101) of the workpiece (102). The beam source (2) is positioned in the carrier frame (12) in such manner that an optical axis (16) of the beam source (2) passes through the opening of the protective housing (10).
US09427825B2
A method for welding a developing blade to a supporting member may include increasing a relative movement speed of a welding laser and a developing blade, along a moving direction. The method may include maintaining, upon the welding laser reaching the developing blade, the relative movement speed and initiating irradiation of the welding laser toward the developing blade and the supporting member.
US09427821B2
A plasma source for generating microwave-induced plasma includes a plasma torch integrated with a microwave energy source. The torch establishes a gas flow path from one side of the plasma source to the other side. The torch may be integrated with the microwave energy source such that a plasma-forming gas flowing through the torch is subjected to microwave radiation, which serves to initiate and/or sustain plasma in the torch. The plasma may be ejected from the torch and utilized in various applications involving the use of plasma, including analytical techniques such as optical emission spectrometry and mass spectrometry.
US09427819B2
A wave solder machine includes a pre-heating station, a wave soldering station, and a conveyor to transport substrates through a tunnel passing through the pre-heating station and the wave soldering station. The tunnel has a substantially oxygen-free environment. The pre-heating station includes a pre-heater including a support frame assembly, and a heater assembly supported by the support frame assembly. The heater assembly is slidably coupled to the support frame assembly between an operational position and a non-operational position. The pre-heater further includes a seal disposed between the heater assembly and the support frame assembly. The seal provides a gas-tight seal when the heater assembly is in the operational position to prevent atmosphere from entering the tunnel thereby preserving the substantially oxygen-free environment within the tunnel.
US09427818B2
Presented herein is a device comprising a device processing boat comprising a base at least one unit retainer disposed in the base. The device further comprises a cover having at least one recess configured to accept and retain at least one unit, the at least one recess aligned over, and configured to hold the at least one unit over, at least a portion of the at least one unit retainer. The cover is retained to the device processing boat by the at least one unit retainer. At least one pressure sensor having at least one sensel is disposed in the base and having the sensel configured to sense a clamping force applied by the cover to the at least one unit.
US09427817B2
According to this brazing method, a first base member having a non-plated surface, a metal layer for functioning as a diffusion barrier layer, a brazing foil, and a second base member having a surface are arranged in this order so that the non-plated surface of the first base member and the surface of the second base member are faced with each other. The first base member and the second base member are brazed by using the brazing foil. The cost of providing a diffusion barrier layer between the first base member and the brazing foil is thereby reduced.
US09427811B2
A rotary slitter includes a disc-shaped rotary slitter body having a rotation axis, opposing first and second surfaces, a circumferential surface connecting the first and second side surfaces, and a cutting portion. The cutting portion includes an insert seating construction, a groove formed in the first surface and surrounding the insert seating construction, in a view of the first surface along the rotation axis, and a positioning hole. The rotary slitter further includes a positioning screw mounted to the positioning hole and configured to adjust a position of a cutting edge of a cutting insert mounted to the insert seating construction.
US09427808B2
In one aspect, cutting tools are described having coatings adhered thereto which, in some embodiments, demonstrate desirable wear resistance and increased cutting lifetimes. A coated cutting tool described herein comprises a substrate and a coating adhered to the substrate, the coating including a refractory layer comprising plurality of sublayer groups, a sublayer group comprising an aluminum oxynitride (AlON) sublayer or a composite AlON sublayer and an alumina (Al2O3) sublayer or composite alumina sublayer.
US09427804B2
In the method for producing a high-performance neodymium-iron-boron rare earth permanent magnetic material of the present invention, the degree of alignment of the magnet can be improved by preparing the pre-sintered alloy material, the particle size of the powder ground by the jet mill can be refined and the fine powder in the filter of the jet mill can be mixed with the powder collected by the cyclone collector by controlling the oxygen content of the jet mill and adding the nanoscale oxide fine powder. The present invention can significantly improve the utilization ratio of the material and the performance of the magnet, save the use of the rare earth, and especially the heavy rare earth, thereby protecting the scare resources.
US09427798B2
A template (1) for centering rollers at the foot of an ingot mold, the ingot mold being provided with a round section crystallizer into which the template can be inserted passing therethrough from a first end to a second end, the template comprising a round section tubular frame (5), defining a longitudinal axis (X) and having a plurality of longitudinal slots (6) arranged at an equal angular distance from one another; a plurality of longitudinal plates (7) configured so that each longitudinal plate is inserted into a respective longitudinal slot (6) and can move in radial direction through said respective longitudinal slot; at least one inflatable chamber (8, 8′), housed into the tubular frame (5) and at least partially covering the longitudinal extension of a frame stretch adapted to remain inside the crystallizer when the template is inserted into said crystallizer, said at least one inflatable chamber being adapted to expand so as to move said longitudinal plates outwards in radial direction to adhere them to the inner wall of the crystallizer.
US09427794B2
An apparatus for forming an article by forging. The apparatus has at least one die having a die cavity to receive material, said material being at least partially molten, and at least one punch to slidably engage the die cavity and to exert a forming pressure on material disposed in the cavity. There is also at least one pin for forming an article feature. The pin is to slidably engage the die and to contact the material, the pin being further to recede upon exertion of the forming pressure and to exert a feature forming pressure when receded and thereby form the article having the article feature when the material solidifies under the forming pressure.
US09427788B2
A cooling device comprises a manifold housing having a generally concave inner edge configured and dimensioned to surround a surface area of a work roll in a rolling mill. The manifold housing is of a modular design having multiple constituent sections that are internally configured to simultaneously apply both a liquid coolant and a pressurized gas to the surface area of the work roll.
US09427787B2
An apparatus for making a cold-pilger-rolled tube has two grooved pilger rolls rotatable about respective axes to compress a workpiece moving in a travel direction against a mandrel extending in the direction between a nip formed between the rolls and anchored upstream of the nip in a thrust block. Workpiece thickness is adjusted on the fly by measuring a wall thickness of the workpiece downstream in the direction from the roll as the workpiece passes through the nip and for displacing the thrust block and mandrel in to the travel direction as the workpiece passes through the nip in accordance with the measured wall thickness.
US09427762B2
A gas injector and cover plate assembly includes a cover plate, a gas injector and a ceiling. The cover plate includes cooling fluid channels. The gas injector is configured to be located on the cover plate, and includes a gas distributor, a fluid-cooling gas transmitter, gas spraying plates and a conducting cone. The gas distributor distributes gases and a gas transmitter cooling fluid. The gas distributor includes a gas conduit for introducing a first gas. The fluid-cooling gas transmitter connects the gas distributor to introduce the gas transmitter cooling fluid to form cooling fluid walls and the first gas and the gases. The gas spraying plates and the conducting cone are located beneath the fluid-cooling gas transmitter.
US09427752B2
Methods and apparatus are provided related to fluid dispensing heads. A dispense head is formed to define a plurality of fluid jetting nozzles and a surface pattern. The surface pattern is characterized by one or more voids extending inward from an outer surface of the dispense head. Fluid puddle formation during operation of the dispense head is limited in volume by way of the surface pattern. Fluid puddle limiting reduces or eliminates dispensing errors to an entity, undesirable artifacts from resulting on a printed media, or similar problems.
US09427749B2
A switching method of a button switching shower includes: step 1, pressing a button slidingly connected to the shower, and then the button slides; step 2, the button acts on the linking seat of the pawl for rotating the pawl; step 3, the pawl rotates the ratchet wheel through the control end of the pawl, and the shape of the elastic claw of the pawl is changed for restoring energy; step 4, the rotation of the ratchet wheel rotates the water diversion disc, and then the water diversion disc is in place, and then the water diversion disc switches the outlet functions, the stopping claw of the pawl is against the ratch of the ratchet wheel for stopping the ratchet wheel inversion; step 5, the pressing is loosened for resetting the button, and the elastic energy of the elastic claw is released for resetting the pawl.
US09427746B2
An Environmental Control System may use an electronic particle separation system to control humidity in an aircraft. The electronic particle separation system may include a particle separator, a sensor module, and a controller configured to receive signals from the sensor module, and operate the particle separator based on the received sensor signals. In some embodiments, the controller may include a processor which may determine whether the particle separator is being operated under an ozone related condition exceeding a threshold operating condition. If one of the threshold operating conditions is exceeded, the particle separator may be turned off which may control the amount of ozone present in the aircraft.
US09427738B2
A thermal cycler includes an attachment unit having an insertion opening for insertion of a reaction container including a channel filled with a reaction solution containing reverse transcriptase enzyme and a liquid having a lower specific gravity than that of the reaction solution and being immiscible with the reaction solution, a first heating unit that heats a first region of the channel, a second heating unit that heats a second region of the channel nearer the insertion opening than the first region, a drive mechanism that switches arrangement of the attachment unit, the first heating unit, and the second heating unit between a first arrangement and a second arrangement, and a control unit that controls the first heating unit to be at a temperature at which reverse transcription reaction progresses and the second heating unit to be at a temperature at which the reverse transcriptase enzyme is not deactivated.
US09427736B2
A system and method for controlling fluid flow within a microchannel includes a fluid circuit comprising a fluid outlet well and one or more fluid inlet wells, all in communication with a microchannel. A negative pressure differential is applied to the outlet well and fluid flow from an inlet well into the microchannel is controlled by opening or closing the inlet well to atmospheric pressure. To stop fluid flow from the inlet well, a negative pressure differential may be applied to the inlet well to equalize pressure between the inlet and outlet wells. By sequentially opening and closing different inlet wells to atmosphere, controlled amounts of different reagents can be serially introduced into the microchannel.
US09427728B2
The present invention provides for a device for reducing a volatile organic compound (VOC) content of a gas comprising a manganese oxide (MnOx) catalyst. The manganese oxide (MnOx) catalyst is capable of catalyzing formaldehyde at room temperature, with complete conversion, to CO2 and water vapor. The manganese oxide (MnOx) catalyst itself is not consumed by the reaction of formaldehyde into CO2 and water vapor. The present invention also provides for a device for reducing or removing a particle, a VOC and/or ozone from a gas comprising an activated carbon filter (ACF) on a media that is capable of being periodically regenerated.
US09427726B2
Methods of making supported polyamines, supported polyamines, and the like, are disclosed.
US09427717B2
A powder granulation method affords greater operation efficiency and working efficiency and enhanced product recovery rate by preventing powder from being adhered to a container inner wall while suppressing variability in particle size of product to the utmost. A plurality of scrapers are disposed so as to abut or come close to the inner face of a bottomed cylindrical container that accommodates powder so that the powder in the container is granulated by causing an inner bottom surface of the container to rotate on a horizontal plane.
US09427713B2
Mixing, stirring or dispersing method using a corresponding apparatus (1) with a housing (2) and a container (3). The container (3) has a mixing chamber (4), into which mixing chamber (4) a rod-like element (6) projects. At the entrance into the mixing chamber (4), this rod-like element (6) is connected to a membrane (8), which membrane (8) is part of a wall (9) of the container (3). In order to process the contents of the mixing chamber (4), the rod-like element (6) is made to move, together with the membrane (8), by a drive (7). In order to avoid unintentional failure of the membrane (8), within the context of the method, the number of revolutions of the drive (7) is counted and the drive is switched off upon reaching a maximum number of revolutions permitted for the loading capability of the membrane (8) and the resulting number of load variations.
US09427702B2
A selective catalytic reduction system (SCR) or selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) system include a reagent charging apparatus configured to apply one or more electrical charges to a NOx reducing reagent. The electrical charges enhance mixing of the reagent with fluids carrying NOx and/or enhance reactivity of the reagent with NOx.
US09427697B2
A method for separating carbon dioxide (CO2) from a gas stream is provided. The method includes reacting at least a portion of CO2 in the gas stream with a plurality of liquid sorbent particles to form a plurality of solid adduct particles and a first CO2-lean gas stream; the solid adduct particles entrained in the first CO2-lean gas stream to form an entrained gas stream. The method includes separating at least a portion of the plurality of solid adduct particles from the entrained gas stream in a separation unit to form an adduct stream and a second CO2-lean gas stream. The method further includes heating at least a portion of the adduct stream in a desorption unit to form a CO2 stream and a regenerated liquid sorbent stream. A system for separating CO2 from a gas stream is also provided.
US09427692B2
A paint booth is provided with a booth body and a purifier. The purifier is provided with a water tank, water rope formation mechanism, sludge removal mechanism, exhaust mechanism, barrier member, inclined plate, and windshield plate. Water falling from nozzles of a water case forms water ropes. The inclined plate has a water receiving surface sloping forwardly down from the barrier member toward a water surface of the water tank. A lower end of the windshield plate is in contact with water in the water tank. An airflow reversal section is formed between a lower end of the inclined plate and the water surface. Air directed downward from an airflow inlet is turned upward at the airflow reversal section and directed to an exhaust chamber through air circulation sections.
US09427682B2
The invention relates to a liquid filter, having a filter housing, which contains a receiving space for a ring filter element. The liquid filter further has a no-load duct, which is opened when the ring filter element is taken out. A pin is formed on a lower end disc of the ring filter element, the pin projects parallel to the longitudinal axis. A ramp is formed on the bottom of the receiving space. The ramp is matched to the pin in such a manner that, when the ring filter element is inserted into the filter housing, the pin slides downwards on the ramp and penetrates the opening of the no-load duct. A structure is in the receiving space, the structure allows functional insertion of the ring filter element if the ring filter element slides with its pin along the ramp until the pin penetrates the opening of the no-load duct.
US09427680B2
A removal device for removing gas bubbles and/or dirt particles from a liquid in a liquid conduit system or for removing an undesired liquid from the liquid in the liquid conduit system includes: a housing having: an entry, at least one exit, an inner space defined by the housing, at least one tube placed within the housing, where the at least one tube extends substantially between the entry and the exit and defines a main flow channel, at least one branch flow passage located near the entry for allowing fluid communication between the main flow channel and an area outside the tube and within the inner space defined by the housing, at least one return flow passage located near the exit for allowing fluid communication between the area outside the tube and the main flow channel, at least one quiet zone formed within the inner space.
US09427678B2
The invention relates to a tray for a mass transfer column, having gas passage openings distributed over the tray (1), and having at least one baffle (11) for flow diversion of liquid flowing on the tray, it being possible for the tray (1) to be fed with a liquid via at least one entry (3). The tray has at least one entry (3), at least one separating weir (5), which separates the inflowing liquid into two streams, and at least two exits (12), or has at least two entries (3) and at least one exit (12) for the liquid, each stream flowing along a flow path (7; 9) to an exit (12). The invention further relates to a mass transfer column comprising the tray, and to a use of tray and mass transfer column.
US09427676B2
A curvilinear tetrahedral enhanced building block may be formed. The block may include sigmoid or reverse sigmoid curve edges, and may include curved vertices. The shape various planes or vertices of the block may be selected or adjusted to exert a force against a surrounding viscous medium. The block may include a conductive element configured to generate an electrostatic field, and may include a magnetic element configured to generate a magnetic field. The block may be configured to conduct electricity to a surrounding dielectric fluid, and the block's generation of a magnetic field may induce magnetohydrodynamic motion within the dielectric fluid.
US09427667B2
A game system is provided in which, when data is transmitted to a game apparatus of a receiver side, the influence which the transmitted data has on a game progressing in the game apparatus of the receiver side is diversified and the interest of the game is increased. The game apparatus includes a display in which a field map represents all or part of a game field in a plan view as seen from the above. A placement request icon is displayed on the display. When touching the placement request icon, a sub-character can be placed at a position where a main character is located. When a sub-character icon is selected and content of an event is determined, the sub-character is placed. When a communication connection with a different game apparatus is established, information related to the placed sub-character is transmitted.
US09427658B2
An action figure is provided with a serial number that provides an access code which allows owners to engage in enjoyable games or other activities via the Internet or other gaming systems. The interactive action figure system comprises a toy, statue, or other three-dimensional figurine with a serial number, and preferably a computer network accessible over the interne and a particular gaming framework managed by a network device. Owners of action figure toys may “log onto” the network using the action figure serial number as an access code to activate a particular computer character identity and participate in games such as hand-to-hand combat games, action-adventure series, or learning games. The action figure may be, for example, a warrior, sports figure, doll or teddy bear to appeal to a wide range of users. Once a particular character is activated, game play proceeds according to preset rules. The game character's traits, powers, and other features may be enhanced or otherwise modified by purchasing preferably-three-dimensional accessories and inputting serial numbers into the gaming system that are also supplied with the accessories.
US09427655B1
A polygon-shaped field has two opposed ends, two opposed sides, and a plurality of intermediate components. Each side end and side and intermediate component is formed of panels having vertical and horizontal rails. Vertical extender rails extend upwardly from the panels. A plurality of variously shaped connectors couple together the rails of the panels and the extenders. Stabilizers extend outwardly from at least some of the panels. Flexible fabric netting is located between the rails of the panels and the extenders.
US09427643B2
A game for at least 2 players wherein one of the players attempts to score points by hurling a plastic ball with the aid of a scoop racket into one of three scoring areas of their opponents “goal”. Opposing players stand at opposite ends of a playing field with said goal(s) positioned in front of each player. Goals are situated a certain distance apart from each other, the three scoring areas are mounted at adjustable heights above the playing surface and can be positioned in a common plane (or not). Said scoring areas are of various diameters and point values. Said scoring areas are distinctly apart from each other (not abutted) and are attached to a fixed post (standard). Points are awarded to players for hurling the ball into one of their opponent's scoring areas with point values inversely proportional to the diameter of the scoring area scored upon.
US09427640B2
A ball bat includes a barrel in which one or more stiffening elements are located. The stiffening element may be positioned at a variety of locations, and may have a variety of configurations, for selectively limiting the barrel's performance without appreciably increasing the bat's moment of inertia. In one configuration, the stiffening element includes two radially outer flanges, a radially inner flange, and two web members connecting the outer flanges to the inner flange. The radially outer surfaces of the radially outer flanges contact, and may be affixed to, the inner surface of the barrel wall.
US09427632B2
Golf club heads with enlarged grooves, wherein a portion of the finish adjacent or within the groove is removed to create the visual appearance of enlarged grooves. The surface finish of the groove enhancement area surrounding the groove is matched to be the same as the surface finish of the groove, preferably a bright, smooth or shiny metallic finish. This surface finish of the remainder of the striking face of the golf club is a second surface finish, preferably a dark or black matte, or rough finish. The contrast between the two finishes gives the perception that the grooves are larger than they are physically.
US09427631B1
A golf club head includes a crown, and a sole, and further includes a forward section that includes a strike face and a body section that is coupled with the forward section. The body section has an upper portion that defines a portion of the crown and a lower portion that that defines a portion of the sole. The upper portion is formed from a molded polymeric material and includes an internal wall extending into contact with the lower portion. The lower portion defines an opening extending through the sole, and the internal wall and the crown at least partially define a cavity that is in communication with the opening.
US09427630B2
The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover. The multi-layer core includes at least one layer formed from a relatively soft or low modulus HNP composition and at least one layer formed from a relatively hard or high modulus HNP composition.
US09427626B2
The Swimming Device with Retracted Fins (SDRF) which enables swimming and walking. The SDRF employs Fins that have slanted axes of rotation which are connected to the heels of user's shoes. Fins are also tilted diagonally in opposite directions away from each other to prevent mutual Fin collisions while swimming or walking. Slanted fin shafts poses the Fins diagonally, leaning backwards while in walking position and leaning forwards while in swimming position. Backwards leaning prevents fin collisions with the calves while walking. Forwards leaning poses the fins in streamlined position with less drag during swimming. The SDRF has a positioning mechanism which enables easy changing of locked Fin positions. The SDRF is also equipped with a latching mechanism which enables detaching the Fins from the shoes simply by pulling at the latch. The latching mechanism also offers easy reattachment by pushing the Fin towards the swimming shoe.
US09427598B2
Embodiments of the invention include methods of treating neurological injury and conditions, in particular, traumatic brain injury and physiological responses arising from injury or conditions. These treatment methods can include the steps of generating a pulsed electromagnetic field from a pulsed electromagnetic field source and applying the pulsed electromagnetic field 1 in proximity to a target region affected by the neurological injury or condition to reduce a physiological response to the neurological injury or condition.
US09427596B2
A hermetically sealed filtered feedthrough assembly for an AIMD includes an electrically conductive ferrule with an electrically conductive extension at least partially extending into the ferrule opening. An electrically non-conductive insulator hermetically seals the ferrule opening. An electrically conductive pathway is hermetically sealed and disposed through the insulator between a body fluid and device side. A filter capacitor is located on the device side. A first low impedance electrical coupling is between a first metallization of the filter capacitor and the pathway. A ground conductor is disposed through the filter capacitor in non-conductive relation with the at least one active and ground electrode plates, where the ground conductor is electrically coupled to the extension of the ferrule. An oxide-resistant metal addition is disposed on the device side and electrically couples the ground conductor to the second metallization of the filter capacitor.
US09427587B2
A system can include a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensors configured to measure electrical activity across a body surface of a patient and generate electrical data characterizing the measured electrical activity. The plurality of sensors are arranged at predetermined locations for placement over the patient's body to define at least one predetermined zone of the patient's body that maps deterministically to at least one predetermined region of interest of at least one internal anatomical structure of the patient. A control system is configured to analyze the electrical data for the at least one predetermined zone to provide a surrogate estimate of electrical activity at the at least one predetermined region of interest. The control system also is configured to control delivery of a therapy to the patient based on the surrogate estimate of electrical activity at the at least one predetermined region of interest.
US09427583B2
Devices, systems and methods are described by which the blood pressure, nervous system activity, and neurohormonal activity may be selectively and controllably reduced by activating baroreceptors. A baroreceptor activation device is positioned near a baroreceptor, preferably a baroreceptor located in the carotid sinus. A control system may be used to modulate the baroreceptor activation device. The control system may utilize an algorithm defining a stimulus regimen which promotes long term efficacy and reduces power requirements/consumption. The baroreceptor activation device may utilize electrodes to activate the baroreceptors. The electrodes may be adapted for connection to the carotid arteries at or near the carotid sinus, and may be designed to minimize extraneous tissue stimulation.
US09427582B2
Polymer materials are useful as electrode array bodies for neural stimulation. They are particularly useful for retinal stimulation to create artificial vision, cochlear stimulation to create artificial hearing, and cortical stimulation, and many related purposes. The pressure applied against the retina, or other neural tissue, by an electrode array is critical. Too little pressure causes increased electrical resistance, along with electric field dispersion. Too much pressure may block blood flow. Common flexible circuit fabrication techniques generally require that a flexible circuit electrode array be made flat. Since neural tissue is almost never flat, a flat array will necessarily apply uneven pressure. Further, the edges of a flexible circuit polymer array may be sharp and cut the delicate neural tissue. It is advantageous that the array edges not contact tissue.
US09427581B2
Devices, systems and methods for treating medical disorders, such as migraine or other primary headaches, or fibromyalgia, by noninvasive electrical stimulation of a vagus nerve, used in conjunction with the measurement of evoked potentials (EPs). The system comprises a stimulator that is applied to the surface of the patient's neck to apply electrical impulses sufficient to stimulate a cervical vagus nerve, scalp electrodes that are used to measure EPs that are evoked by that stimulation, feedback or biofeedback circuits to vary the stimulation based upon EP characteristics, and other sensory stimulation modalities that produce EPs. The system is preferably used to optimize the placement of the stimulator, to test whether a patient is a suitable candidate for treatment using vagus nerve stimulation, and to select the stimulation parameters that optimized acute or chronic treatment, e.g., by correcting an EP habituation deficit.
US09427572B2
An implantable medical device comprises one or more electrical stimulation generators, and a housing that contains the one or more electrical stimulation generators. The implantable medical device includes a first connector block that electrically connects the first medical lead to at least one of the one or more electrical stimulation generators, and a second connector block that electrically connects the second medical lead to at least one of the one or more electrical stimulation generators.
US09427564B2
An accessory kit for use with a wearable medical device, such as a wearable defibrillator, that includes a control unit and a first plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the control unit. The first plurality of electrodes includes a first plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and a first plurality of therapy electrodes configured to provide a defibrillating shock to a body of a patient. The accessory kit includes a waterproof enclosure configured to receive the control unit and protect the control unit during operation in a wet environment and a second plurality of electrodes that are electrically coupled to a connector configured to removably and electrically couple to the control unit. The second plurality of electrodes includes a second plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and a second plurality of therapy electrodes configured to provide a defibrillating shock to the body of the patient.
US09427560B2
A device for delivering an active agent to a tissue (100), comprising; a housing (10) including a reservoir (20) for containing said active agent; a delivery tip (35) being in fluid communication with said reservoir; and, a delivery mechanism (40) capable of delivering a predetermined amount of said active agent and releasing the same upon contact between said delivery tip and said tissue.
US09427559B2
A centering tool and a combined centering-indicator tool for finding the magnetic center and indicating the setting of an implantable adjustable valve. The centering and combined centering-indicator tools include a magnetic capsule movable within a cavity to a target located on the tool when the magnetic capsule is centered over magnet of an adjustable valve.
US09427557B2
A stent delivery catheter for positioning a stent across a lesion of a blood vessel is disclosed. The catheter includes an inflation balloon coupled to a distal region of the elongate shaft of the catheter and a stent loaded on the inflation balloon. The catheter may also include an occlusion balloon having a proximal waist secured to the elongate shaft and a distal waist secured to the elongate shaft. The occlusion balloon includes a first folded-over portion extending distal of the distal waist to a distalmost extent of the occlusion balloon and a second folded-over portion extending proximal of the proximal waist to a proximalmost extent of the occlusion balloon. The catheter further includes a fluid discharge port located distal of the occlusion balloon for discharging a lubricious fluid exterior of the elongate shaft toward the stent to facilitate advancing the stent across an occlusion.
US09427555B2
The invention relates to a needle safety device for a medical device, the needle safety device comprising: a base portion having a bore extending along a longitudinal center axis therethrough for receiving a needle; and two opposing jaws extending from the base portion generally in the axial direction and each having a head portion in the region of its free end, wherein the needle safety device includes a locking projection for securing the needle safety device to the medical device. The needle safety device according to the invention further provides at least one elastic element mounted to the jaws in a non-surrounding manner lateral to the center axis in a region between the base portion and the head portions, wherein at least one elastic element and the jaws are configured such that the jaws can be spread apart against a restoring force of at least one elastic element in order to allow the needle received in the bore to extend all the way through the needle safety device.
US09427554B2
The present invention is an implantable medical device that is used deliver materials or energy into a patient's physiology, or from one region of a patient's physiology to another. The device includes a port element with a passageway therethrough for directing and anchoring a conduit element in a desired location. The implantable port stabilizes an elongated conduit within human physiology for long-term use, and includes a support passageway formed through the port and extending between an upper surface and a lower surface of the port, wherein the support passageway is sized and shaped for receiving the elongated conduit slideably inserted therethrough. The device includes a tissue ingrowth scaffold fixedly disposed on at least a portion of at least one surface of the implantable port for positioning in contact with adjacent tissue.
US09427549B2
Catheter assemblies are described having a catheter hub with a catheter tube and a needle hub with a needle projecting through the catheter tube. The catheter hub has a valve or a septum for stopping or slowing down the flow of fluid in or out of the catheter hub when the valve or septum is closed. The valve has features formed thereon to facilitate venting, opening, closing, or combinations thereof.
US09427547B2
A high flow therapy system for delivering pressurized, heated and humidified respiratory gas to an airway of a patient includes a respiratory gas flow pathway for delivering the pressurized respiratory gas to the airway of the patient by way of a non-sealing respiratory interface; wherein flow rate of the pressurized respiratory gas is controlled by a microprocessor, a mixing area for mixing oxygen and air in the respiratory gas flow pathway, a humidification area for humidifying respiratory gas in the respiratory gas flow pathway, a heated delivery conduit for minimizing condensation of humidified respiratory gas, a pressure pathway for monitoring pressure of the airway of the patient and communicating the monitored pressure to the microprocessor and a sensor disposed in communication with the pressure pathway, the sensor further disposed in communication with the microprocessor and configured to measure pressure in the airway of the patient.
US09427522B2
A system for the effective, reliable and foolproof delivery of controlled amounts of a medical fluid to a patient is provided. The system includes an integrated compressed gas unit having an inlet port to which at least one compressed gas cylinder is selectively connected and an outlet port in communication with the inlet port. The integrated compressed gas unit also includes a regulator valve assembly positioned between the outlet port and the inlet port, wherein the regulator valve assembly includes a press button actuator and regulator adjustment dial. The system also includes a flow control system delivering the fluid in precisely controlled amounts.
US09427513B2
A device monitors a blood path from a blood vessel access of a human subject through an extracorporeal blood processing apparatus and back to the blood vessel access. A pumping device in the blood path is operable to pump blood through the blood path from the blood withdrawal device to the blood return device. The monitoring device obtains pressure data from a pressure sensor arranged upstream of the pumping device in the blood path, and processes the pressure data for detection of a disruption of the blood path downstream of the pumping device, e.g. caused by VND (Venous Needle Dislodgement). The disruption is detected by evaluating presence/absence of cross-talk pulses at the pressure sensor, where the cross-talk pulses originate from one or more pulse generators in the extracorporeal blood processing apparatus and have propagated on a propagation path in a direction downstream of the pumping device through the blood return device, the blood vessel access and the blood withdrawal device to the pressure sensor.
US09427504B2
A finger-controlled combination irrigation and suction device is provided. The device includes a handpiece. The handpiece includes: a shaft having a first end and a second end, and having a channel disposed from the first end of the shaft to the second end of the shaft for allowing suction through the shaft; a nozzle coupled to the first end of the shaft; an inlet disposed through an exterior surface of the shaft and in operable communication with the channel, the inlet being disposed to be manually covered and uncovered by one or more fingers of a single hand of a primary caregiver for control of suction through the shaft; and a conduit having a first end disposed to receive a volume of irrigation solution after one or more fingers of the single hand of the primary caregiver act upon an irrigation source proximate to the conduit.
US09427499B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for the production of silk fibroin matrices surface-PEGylated on one or more surfaces. Such surface-PEGylated silk fibroin matrices can be used in biomedical applications, such as anti-adhesive and anti-thrombosis materials. Silk matrices may be surface-PEGylated, for example, by a reaction with a functional group-activated PEG. Controlling the degree of PEGylation on surface of silk fibroin matrix can regulate both the degradation rate of the silk matrix, and the differentiated adhesion of cells or differentiated adsorption of proteins on the surface of the silk matrix. The present invention also provides for silk fibroin matrices having one or more surfaces possessing differentiated adhesion properties, which allows for tissue integration on the adherent side and inhibition of tissue adhesion to the opposing tissues or organs. Embedding active agents in silk fibroin matrices provides more benefits, such as promoting tissue ingrowth on the adherent side of the matrix.
US09427497B2
Bone regeneration using biodegradable polymeric nanocomposite materials and applications of the same
A structure of, and a method of producing, a biocompatible structure for bone and tissue regeneration are disclosed. The method includes dissolving a polyurethane polymer in methanol, adding hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticles to form a uniformly distributed mixture, applying the mixture to a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) surface to form a polymer film, cutting the polymer film into strips, stacking the strips with layers of bone particles disposed therebetween, coating the stacked strips and layers by the mixture and allowing it to dry, adding bone particles to the coating, and plasma treating the structure to form the biocompatible structure. A weight percentage of the HAP nanoparticles to the polymer is about 5-50% such that a resorption rate of the biocompatible structure substantially matches a rate of tissue generation in the biocompatible structure.
US09427481B2
Provided is a family of intramolecularly quenched imaging agents for use in both in vivo and in vitro imaging that contain at least one enzymatically cleavable oligopeptide and two fluorophores or a fluorophore and a quencher. When subjected to proteolytic cleavage, at least one fluorophore is unquenched and becomes capable of producing a fluorescent signal upon excitation with light of an appropriate wavelength. Also provided are in vivo and in vitro imaging methods using such imaging agents.
US09427479B2
Novel tubulysin derivatives which may be useful as cytotoxic agents to provide therapeutic benefits in the treatment of various types of cancers, alone, as drug conjugates or in combination with other chemotherapies are provided.
US09427474B2
Conjugates of polymers or copolymers having attached thereto an anti-angiogenesis agent and a bisphosphonate bone targeting agent, and processes of preparing same, are disclosed.Pharmaceutical compositions containing these conjugates and uses thereof in the treatment of bone related disorders are also disclosed.
US09427467B2
Treatment of skin tissue with photoactive materials and light, such as nanoparticles and formulations which are useful for cosmetic, diagnostic and therapeutic applications to mammals such as humans. In particular, embodiments of hair removal with metal nanoparticles in surfactant containing solutions are disclosed.
US09427457B2
Provided is a novel soluble factor that modulates morphogenesis and cell proliferation, such as cardiac development and/or cardiomyocyte differentiation. Specifically provided are: an inhibitor of Wnt signalling, comprising an insulin-like growth-factor-binding protein (IGFBP), the protein being binding to a Wnt receptor, and/or a polynucleotide encoding the protein; a medicament for prevention and/or treatment of a disease due to enhanced Wnt signalling, comprising the inhibitor of Wnt signalling, and a medicament for induction of cardiomyocyte differentiation; and a method for prevention and/or treatment of a disease due to enhanced Wnt signalling and a method of inducing cardiomyocyte differentiation, the methods each comprising using the inhibitor of Wnt signalling, and a cardiomyocyte, which is obtained by the method of inducing cardiomyocyte differentiation, and a use thereof.
US09427455B2
The invention refers to the use of the PAT nonapeptide which is a thymuline analog in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, in particular of rheumatoid arthritis and intestinal bowel diseases (IBD) such as the Crohn's disease.
US09427450B2
Disclosed are methods, compositions of matter, and protocols useful for the induction of a therapeutic immune modulatory response through administration of exosomes derived from a stem cell source. In one embodiment, said stem cell source is endometrial regenerative cells. Specifically, in one embodiment stem cell derived exosomes are used as a method of treating an autoimmune condition such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or systemic lupus erythromatosis.
US09427435B2
Methods and compositions of treating a subject for cancer pain are provided. In the subject methods, a subject is treated for cancer pain by administering to the subject an effective amount of a narcotic emulsion, e.g., fentanyl elmulsion, formulation. In certain embodiments, the emulsion formulations include a narcotic active agent, oil, water and a surfactant. Also provided are methods of making the subject emulsion formulations as well as kits that include the emulsion formulations.
US09427428B2
Inhibitors of HCV replication of formula I including stereochemically isomeric forms, and salts, solvates thereof, wherein R and R′ are, each independently, —CR1R2R3, aryl, heteroaryl or heteroC4-6cycloalkyl, whereby aryl and heteroaryl may optionally be substituted with 1 or 2 substituents selected from halo and methyl. The present invention also relates to processes for preparing said compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in HCV therapy.
US09427425B2
The current disclosure discloses acetogenin(s), extract(s)/fraction(s) standardized to acetogenin(s) comprising terminal α,β-unsaturated-γ-methyl-γ-lactone moiety derived from Annona squamosa or their compositions for prevention, treatment, inhibition or controlling inflammation and immune related diseases or disorders mediated through cytokines/chemokines or other biomarkers. The disclosure further discloses said Annona squamosa derived acetogenin(s), extract(s)/fraction(s) or their compositions for prevention, treatment, inhibition or controlling metabolic diseases/disorders.
US09427422B2
The present specification discloses pharmaceutical compositions, methods of preparing such pharmaceutical compositions, and methods and uses of treating a cardiovascular disease in an individual using such pharmaceutical compositions.
US09427421B2
Effervescent pharmaceutical compositions containing a high amount of N-acetylcysteine and a method of treating acetaminophen poisoning with effervescent pharmaceutical compositions containing a high amount of N-acetylcysteine are described.
US09427418B2
The present invention relates to methods for reducing testosterone levels by reduction of luteinizing hormone (LH) or independent of LH levels in a male subject and methods of treating, suppressing, reducing the incidence, reducing the severity, or inhibiting prostate cancer, advanced prostate cancer, and castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and palliative treatment of prostate cancer, advanced prostate cancer and castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The compounds of this invention suppress free or total testosterone levels to castrate levels which may be used to treat prostate cancer, advanced prostate cancer, and CRPC without causing bone loss, decreased bone mineral density, increased risk of bone fractures, increased body fat, hot flashes and/or gynecomastia.
US09427409B2
Described is a controlled-release formulation for treating disturbed sleep or insomnia in a subject. The formulation is formulated to release a compound or combination of compounds in sequence at multiple stages.
US09427394B2
The embodied invention generally pertains to compositions, and the methods of making and using said compositions for promoting hair growth, slowing hair loss, and for preventing or minimizing hair loss that are effective and able to treat multiple aspects of the problem in one product and additionally is comprised of natural oils and minerals which greatly reduce the toxicities and side effect issues associated with present products. The compositions or formulations of the present invention relate to a hair loss solution that solves the problems associated with the loss, and damage of hair by working from the root to the surface of the scalp and to the hair shaft by treating a plurality of the causes and/or triggers associated with hair loss, or the prevention of hair re-growth.
US09427393B2
Dispersions of an encapsulated material by a polymeric membrane in a medium are disclosed. Such dispersions are useful in topical compositions including cosmetics and sunscreens.
US09427390B2
A method for forming a large particle complex comprising the steps of combining a hydrolyzed corn starch polymer, a starch/cellulose polymer, a hydrogenated phospholipid, and gum arabic in a cosmetically acceptable carrier to form a premix composition; heating said premix to about 85° C. for about 15 minutes; and cooling the composition to room temperature. The particle complex is useful as a component of a sprayable composition which provides volumizing, hair fixing, and conditioning as a leave-on treatment for human hair.
US09427364B2
An arm support for a personal mobility vehicle can include a first member having a first end that defines a first cavity, and a first attachment member that extends through the first cavity so as to define an axis. The arm support can further include a second member having a first end that is disposed within the first cavity such that the second member is pivotally attached to the first member by the first attachment member. The arm support can further include an actuator that extends through the first end of the second member and through the first cavity. The actuator can be operatively coupled to the second member such that actuation of the actuator causes the second member to pivot about the axis.
US09427363B2
Disclosed herein is a pad coated with coffee which includes: an outer cover which comes into direct contact with the vagina of a woman; a coating layer which is formed below the outer cover and smells of coffee; an absorber which is laid below the coating layer to absorb secretions; and a waterproof outer cover which is laid below the absorber to prevent the secretions absorbed into the absorber from leaking out, wherein coffee powder is coated on the coating layer.
US09427361B2
Disclosed is a tampon applicator package assembly having a tampon applicator and a cap having a closed end and an open end. The tampon applicator has a barrel for housing a pledget and a plunger. The plunger has an end portion that is a cap cover that connects to a remainder of the plunger and mates with the cap at the open end to provide a seal with the cap that completely encloses the tampon applicator in the cap. Also disclosed is an assembly having a tampon applicator, a cap having both a closed end and open end, and a cap cover for covering the open end of the cap. When the cap cover is placed on the open end, the open end is sealed and the tampon applicator is completely enclosed in the cap.
US09427338B2
A prosthetic foot can include a plate-like foot member extending along a longitudinal axis between an anterior end generally corresponding to a toe portion of a foot to a posterior end, and a metatarsal hinge comprising an elongate groove extending between medial and lateral edges of the foot member. The elongate groove can intersect the longitudinal axis of the foot member, and can be positioned along the length of the foot member at a location generally corresponding to a metatarsal region of the foot. The metatarsal hinge can also comprise a plurality of elongate apertures that extend completely through the foot member, or a plurality of recessed channels that extend only partially through the foot member, or a combination thereof.
US09427337B2
The present disclosure provides a provisional tibial prosthesis system for a set of prosthetic knee joints for implantation in a natural knee, the provisional tibial prosthesis system including a bearing component and a bearing support, the spacing of the bearing component from the bearing support is adjustable to allow for representation of a variety of different sized final tibial prostheses. In this system, only one provisional bearing component corresponding to each level of constraint is needed and shims are used to adjust the spacing of the bearing component from the bearing support. The shims are slidably insertable between the bearing component and the bearing support in an anterior/posterior direction to allow for adjustment of the spacing of the bearing component from the bearing support. The number of provisional components needed during knee surgery is reduced and adjustment of the system only requires the knee joint to be distracted by a distance equal to the height of a particular shim.
US09427331B2
A spinal cage includes first and second spinal attachment members attachable to vertebrae, the first and second spinal attachment members articulating with one another by means of an articulation joint, and a wedge element arranged for wedging between the first and second spinal attachment members. An actuator is linked to the wedge element for moving the wedge element axially with respect to the first and second spinal attachment members. The actuator includes a threaded member adjacent the wedge element and a biasing device positioned between at least one of the first and second spinal attachment members and the wedge element. Upon turning of the threaded member, the wedge element is advanced with respect to the articulation joint so that the first and second spinal attachment members are tilted or parallel to each other. The biasing device applies a biasing force on the wedge element to move the wedge element axially.
US09427328B2
An interbody endcap comprises at least one member configured for connection with an interbody implant. The at least one member has a thickness that permits bone growth therethrough and a uniform surface configuration that resists and/or prevents egress of bone graft from a cavity of the interbody implant. Systems and methods are disclosed.
US09427325B2
An interbody endcap includes a wall having a first surface connected to an interbody implant and a second surface including an arcuate portion configured for engagement with a vertebral endplate surface. The second surface extends outwardly from the interbody implant to at least adjacent a perimeter of the vertebral endplate surface. Systems and methods are disclosed.
US09427318B2
A heart size measuring tool includes a tubular body, a flexible measuring cord having length indicia, a measuring cord support mechanism movable between retracted and extended states with respect to the body, and an actuating mechanism to move the measuring cord support mechanism. When in the retracted state the measuring cord support mechanism is positioned within the tubular body with the measuring cord in a collapsed position. When the measuring cord support mechanism is in the extended state the measuring cord extends around a portion of a heart to be measured. A scale on the body can be used in connection with the indicia on the measurement cord to provide a reading of the heart size.
US09427314B2
An intraocular lens insertion tool including: a cylindrical tool body provided with a placement part at which is placed an intraocular lens having an optical part, and a pair of support parts extending from either side of the optical part; and a plunger for pushing out the intraocular lens; the intraocular lens insertion tool being provided in a state in which the intraocular lens is preset in the placement part, wherein at least one of the front support part extending toward a tip end of the tool body and the rear support part extending toward a rear end of the tool body is pre-deformed by abutting against an abutting projection disposed inside the placement part.
US09427313B2
An intraocular lens including a lens optic having a ring-shaped lens optic portion and/or a light window.
US09427310B2
The invention relates to a body part shaped mold, for example for creating a test breast, a customized bra or a test body part and a method for using such a mold. The mold is characterized in that it is made of a formstable material having a predetermined shape forming at least one cup. The cup is having a breast like appearance or a body part appearance with a specific size and shape and is adapted to be fitted to a patient's chest or corresponding body part, It is also adapted to be filled with a hardening mixture in a cavity formed between the mold and the chest or corresponding body part. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to try out a suitable size and shape of a breast or other body part, before an implantation is made.
US09427301B2
An implant for use inside a human body including a biocompatible self-supporting base material, such as silicone, having surfaces exposed to aggressive body cells, when the implant is implanted in the human body. A cell barrier coating, such as Parylene® or a biocompatible metal, is coated on the surfaces of the base material to prevent body cells from breaking down the base material.
US09427300B2
A combined multi-lumen central access catheter and an embolic filter including ports proximal and distal the filter for fluid infusion and/or pressure sensing and infusion ports in the catheter to permit infusion of bioactive agents, flushing agents and/or contrast agents and managing the capture of the clot thereafter.
US09427299B2
A filter device for implantation in a body lumen, comprising: a blocking section for filtering structures greater than a specified minimum size; and, an anchoring section for preventing unwanted movement of the filter device, wherein the filter device does not apply expansive radial force on a wall of the body lumen.
US09427291B2
An orthodontic appliance may include an archwire and multiple orthodontic brackets. The archwire may fit within a human mouth and contain multiple male connectors. Each orthodontic bracket may have a configuration that facilitates attaching the orthodontic bracket to a single tooth. Each orthodontic bracket may allow one of the male connectors to be locked into the orthodontic bracket with a snapping action. The male connector may be unable to slide with respect to the orthodontic bracket after being locked in the orthodontic bracket. A manual unlocking action may allow the male connector to disengage from the orthodontic bracket.
US09427289B2
Disposable light sources are disclosed herein. A device for connecting a fiber to a light source includes a light source, light director to focus light from the light source, the light director surrounding at least a portion of the light source, a power source providing energy to the light source, and a connector communicating light from the light source to a catheter.
US09427287B2
Multi-compartment interventional wire and catheter storage systems are disclosed. According to an aspect, a storage system includes a bottom wall and a side wall. The side wall includes an upper end and an opposing lower end attached to the bottom wall. The side wall defines multiple interior passageways between the upper and lower ends. Further, the side wall defines multiple openings at the upper end. Each opening extends to a respective one of the interior passageways for storage of elongated flexible members, such as catheters and guide wires.
US09427284B2
An energy delivery probe and method of using the energy delivery probe to treat a patient is provided herein. The energy delivery probe has at least one probe body having a longitudinal axis and at least a first trocar and a second trocar. Each trocar comprises at least two electrodes that are electrically insulated from each other, and each electrode is independently selectively activatable. An insulative sleeve is positioned in a coaxially surrounding relationship to each of the first trocar and the second trocar. The probe also has a switching means for independently activating at least one electrode. The method involves independently and selectively activating the first and second electrodes to form an ablation zone, then repeating the ablation by delivering energy to a second set of electrodes, producing one or more overlapping ablation zone, and eliminating the need to reposition the ablation probes.
US09427272B2
A device including a first member extending along an axis. The first member includes an inner surface defining a cavity extending through a first surface and an opposite second surface and a side surface extending between the first and second surfaces. The inner surface defines an opening extending that is in communication with the cavity. A pivoting member is disposed in the cavity and includes an inner surface defining a passageway having a second member disposed therein. An engaging member is disposed in the opening. The pivoting member is movable between a first orientation such that the engaging member is spaced apart from the pivoting member and the pivoting member is rotatable to a selected trajectory relative to the longitudinal axis and a second orientation such that the engaging member engages the pivoting member and the second member is fixed in the selected trajectory. Methods of use are disclosed.
US09427269B2
A screw is configured to be inserted into an aperture of a plate. The screw comprises a head, a neck that extends distally from the head and having a diameter, a shoulder that extends distally from the neck and has a diameter, and a shaft that extends distally from the shoulder and has a thread, a major diameter and a minor diameter. The diameter of shoulder is larger than the diameter of the neck and larger than the minor diameter of the shaft.
US09427267B2
A method for implanting a longitudinal intramedullary nail into the tibia comprises inserting the tibia nail along a plane of symmetry through the tuberositas tibiae. Thereby, the tuberositas tibiae can be used during nail insertion to correctly align the nail and the target arm to the symmetry plane of the bone. This means, that the whole construct, the nail attached to the target arm, has to be inserted in external rotation.
US09427265B2
A surgical guide comprises a member including an inner surface defining a cavity configured for disposal of at least one surgical instrument. The member further includes at least one locking element configured for mating engagement with a spinal implant such that the member is rotatable relative to the spinal implant to selectively orient the at least one surgical instrument. Systems and methods are disclosed.
US09427260B2
A closed-head polyaxial screw for use in spinal instrumentation for spinal fusion, treatment of deformity, or the like. Polyaxial screws may have a two-part design, with the screw fitting into an aperture in the closed head. One or more clamps may secure the bone screw in the aperture. A closed-head polyaxial screw having a one part design is also disclosed. In addition, a one-part monaxial screw is described.
US09427257B2
A surgical access port for passage through body tissue to provide access to an underlying tissue site is provided. The access port has a working channel dimensioned for receiving a surgical instrument and a seal assembly for providing a substantial seal before, during and after insertion of a surgical instrument. The seal assembly includes an instrument seal and a zero seal. The instrument seal includes a proximal base that is interconnected to a distal instrument engaging portion by an elongate supporting portion. The engaging portion has a lateral dimension larger than the lateral dimension of the supporting portion forming a bulbous, mushroom-like head. The lateral dimension of the engaging portion decreases toward a distal opening of the instrument seal such that the distal end of the engaging portion is substantially perpendicular to the seal axis. The supporting portion closely conforms to an inserted instrument and serves to align the distal end of the seal.
US09427256B2
An instrument guide device comprises an elongated guide shaft having proximal and distal ends and including an instrument lumen for receiving therethrough a manually operated instrument having an instrument shaft. A distal bendable member is disposed at the distal end of the guide shaft and a proximal bendable member is disposed at the proximal end of the guide shaft. Actuation means extends between the distal and proximal bendable members and provides a bending of the distal bendable member controlled from the proximal bendable member. The proximal bendable member is controlled from the manually operated instrument to cause a corresponding bending of said distal bendable member.
US09427254B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a kit of parts for use in a surgical procedure performed under image guidance, and particularly under real time image guidance. The kit includes a sterilized drape for use with the chosen imaging machine and which can be used to provide a sterile operating environment when the procedure is performed under the imaging beam. The kit also includes a needle holder that can keep the surgeon's hand away from the imaging beam. The needle holder is operable to hold a needle that is made from a material suitable for piercing tissue, but also substantially preserves the appearance of the needle when it is viewed under the imaging beam.
US09427237B2
An apparatus for the repair of a cardiovascular valve has leaflets comprising a grasper capable of grabbing and co-apting the leaflets of the valve. In a preferred embodiment, the grasper has jaws that grasp and immobilize the leaflets, and then a fastener is inserted to co-apt the leaflets. The apparatus is particularly useful for repairing mitral valves to cure mitral regurgitation.
US09427230B2
Surgical instruments and their methods of use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle. The surgical instrument may also include a fastener deployment system for deploying fasteners from the elongated shaft assembly including a reciprocating driveshaft disposed within the elongated shaft assembly. The driveshaft may include an internal channel and at least one guide surface shaped and arranged to maintain an orientation of at least one fastener in the channel of the driveshaft. In other embodiments, the fastener deployment system may include a follower disposed within the elongated shaft assembly for displacing one or more fasteners within the elongated shaft assembly towards a distal fastener deployment position.
US09427227B2
A surgical suturing system comprises a reusable shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end has a receiver and a rotary drive. A reusable actuator is connected to the proximal end of the shaft. A disposable cartridge is adapted to be attached to and detached from the receiver. The cartridge comprises an arced track, an arced needle positioned in the track having a leading end and a trailing end, a length of suture connected to the trailing end, a reciprocating needle driver operative to engage and move the needle in the arced circular track, and a transmission operatively connected to the needle driver having a rotary input adapted to couple to the rotary drive. The reusable shaft and actuator may be autoclavable.
US09427207B2
An apparatus is utilized for accessing the lumen of a vessel. The apparatus includes a main body and a disposable cartridge. The main body includes a imaging device attachment, wherein the imaging device attachment is utilized to secure an image capturing instrument to the main body; a cartridge carrier coupled to the imaging device attachment, wherein the cartridge carrier is adjustable to achieve a target insertion depth; and a first motor coupled to the cartridge carrier, wherein the first motor adjust the cartridge carrier to achieve the target insertion depth. The disposable cartridge is attached to the cartridge carrier and houses a sheath, needle, or guidewire to be inserted into the vessel to the target insertion depth.
US09427206B2
A method for producing an attenuation-corrected time-gated PET image comprising includes obtaining a baseline MR image and a cine MR image of a structure; registering the baseline MR image to the cine MR image to create an image transform; and generating a corresponding cine ACF matrix using the image transform, and time-correlating the ACF matrix to a time-gated PET data set to produce an attenuation-corrected time-gated PET image.
US09427193B2
The present invention relates to systems and methods for reducing motion artifacts in x-ray sampling circuits. The detector system output is sampled at a rate than the x-ray exposure rate to reduce blurring associated with motion of the detector and/or object being scanned.
US09427192B2
Techniques are generally described for touch-sensitive devices with biometric information determination capabilities. The touch-sensitive device may include one or more of a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The transmitter may be configured to emit light towards a surface of the touch-sensitive device and the receiver may be configured to receive reflected light from a touch to the touch-sensitive device. The processor may be arranged to receive signals from the receiver and determines biometric information, and in some examples location of touch, based on the signals.
US09427189B2
A system is provided for using data based on user habit information or user monitoring. A monitoring device has one or more sensors that detect or measure user information selected from of at least one of, a user's activities, behaviors and habit information, and a user's health. The monitoring device includes circuitry that provides at least identification of the monitoring device, a communication system which reads and transmits an identification of the monitoring device, and a pathway system. A telemetry system is provided with a database of user ID's and is in communication with the monitoring device. A device determines a user's melanin level at a place where the monitoring device is positioned on the user. The user's melanin level is used with monitoring or measuring information relative to the user.
US09427176B2
An implantable medical device includes an integrated or connectable implantable three-dimensional acceleration sensor, and a ballistocardiogram (BCG) capturing unit that is connected or connectable to the acceleration sensor. The BCG evaluation unit processes an acceleration signal provided by the acceleration sensor and derives a BCG from the 3D accelerometer output signal. A BCG evaluation unit is connected to the BCG capturing unit, and is designed to evaluate a BCG provided by the BCG capturing unit and supply an output signal representing stroke volume.
US09427169B2
Systems and methods are provided to detect and analyze arrhythmia drivers. In one example, a system can include a wave front analyzer programmed to compute wave front lines extending over a surface for each of the plurality of time samples based on phase information computed from electrical data at nodes distributed across the surface. A trajectory detector can be programmed to compute wave break points for each of the wave front lines and to determine a trajectory of at least one rotor core across the surface. A stability detector can be programmed to identify at least one stable rotor portion corresponding to subtrajectories of the determined trajectory.
US09427165B2
Systems and methods for management of physiological data, for example data obtained from monitoring an electrocardiogram signal of a patient. In one example use, digital data is obtained and episodes of arrhythmias are detected. Snapshots of the digitized ECG signal may be stored for later physician review. One or more techniques may be used to avoid recording of redundant data, while ensuring that at least a minimum number of episodes of each detected arrhythmia can be stored. The system may automatically tailor its data collection to the cardiac characteristics of a particular patient. In one technique, memory is allocated to include for each detectable arrhythmia a memory segment designated to receive ECG snapshots representing only the respective arrhythmia. A shared memory pool may receive additional snapshots of as the designated memory segments fill.
US09427163B2
Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, side-loading electrical connectors for use with intravascular devices are provided. The side-loading electrical connector has at least one electrical contact configured to interface with an electrical connector of the intravascular device. A first connection piece of the side-loading electrical connector is movable relative to a second connection piece between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position an elongated opening is formed between the first and second connection pieces to facilitate insertion of the electrical connector between the first and second connection pieces in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the intravascular device and wherein in the closed position the at least one electrical contact is electrically coupled to the at least one electrical connector received between the first and second connection pieces.
US09427154B2
An information system and a method for providing information in correlation with light that is incident on an eye includes a holographic element disposed in front of the eye and a device capable of recording optical signals which detects light that is incident on the eye via the holographic element. The device capable of recording optical signals detects light which is diffracted by the holographic element before the light impinges on the eye such that the diffracted light does not enter the eye.
US09427141B2
An endoscope pipe with a central, elongated observation window on the distal end, whereby several light outlet openings for fiberoptic end surfaces are positioned close to the observation window for illuminating the angle area observed through the observation window and the light outlet openings are positioned asymmetrically in relation to the longitudinal extension of the observation window and/or the fiberoptic end surfaces are held in the light outlet openings in such a way that light is beamed from the fiberoptic end surfaces into the angle area in various directions.
US09427139B2
Embodiments of the invention include a medical device for accessing a patient's body portion and used for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. Embodiments of the invention may include a particular endoscopic positioning mechanism for placing an endoscope and an additional treatment device within desired body portions in order to assist in diagnosis and treatment of anatomical diseases and disorders. In particular, a medical device according to an embodiment of the invention includes a positioning mechanism configured for movement through at least two degrees of freedom.
US09427135B2
A sink dish drainer set having a mat and a rack which may be coupled such that the rack sits on the mat in a particular location, the rack including at least one plate support area that sits above channels within at least one raised rib on the mat.
US09427132B2
The present subject matter provides a spray assembly for a dishwasher appliance. The spray assembly includes a spray arm, a bearing, and a bracket for mounting the spray assembly to a dishwasher appliance. The spray arm is mounted for rotation relative to the bearing, and the bearing is mounted to the bracket. The spray assembly includes features for rotating the bearing relative to the bracket with the spray arm. Such rotation can assist with mounting of the bearing to the bracket.
US09427129B2
A sprayer assembly that includes a reservoir for storing liquid, a pump in fluid communication with the reservoir, first and second supply tubes in fluid communication with the pump wherein the pump is configured to draw liquid from the reservoir and discharge the liquid into the first and second supply tubes, a first nozzle in fluid communication with the first supply tube, a second nozzle in fluid communication with the second supply tube, and a collar having at least one protrusion and rotatable between a first position in which the at least one protrusion pinches closed the first supply tube but not the second supply tube, and a second position in which the at least one protrusion pinches closed the second supply tube but not the first supply tube.
US09427119B2
A novel sheet material dispenser package includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a collapsible top wall, a collapsible bottom wall, a first hinge feature, and a second hinge feature. A first side region of the first sidewall is coupled to a first region of the second sidewall via the first hinge feature and a second side region of the first sidewall is coupled to a second side region of the second sidewall via the second hinge feature. The top wall includes a first region coupled to the first sidewall and a second region coupled to the second sidewall. The bottom wall includes a first region coupled to the first sidewall and a second region coupled to the second sidewall. In a particular embodiment, the sheet material dispenser is a collapsible tissue dispenser adapted to sit in a cup holder when in a non-collapsed state and in a pocket when in a collapsed state.
US09427113B2
The present invention provides an undermount cabinet storage system adapted for receipt of at least one common kitchen items, said undermount cabinet storage system including a mounting bracket in pivotable receipt of a vertical support structure movable between a horizontal position and a vertical position with a pair of rotatable arms associated with a distal end of the vertical support member and adapted for receipt of the kitchen item.
US09427112B2
An agitator is for use in a shaker. The agitator comprises a tetrahedral body having four planar faces, four vertices, and six edges, each edge traveling between each of the vertices. Each vertex is rounded off and configured to forcibly contact the container wall and an entirety of the bottom upon shaking the vessel. These rounded vertices create a propeller-like spinning and tumbling motion through the liquid-powder mixture when the vessel is vigorously shaken up and down, and scalloped edges of the agitator produce additional turbulence to efficiently blend a liquid/powder mixture.
US09427106B2
The present invention relates to an infusion machine comprising a boiler having first heating means provided for heating a liquid suitable for infusion preparation, in particular for espresso coffee preparation, at least one supplying group (14), and infusion means (43, 43b) provided for infusion preparation and associated with second heating means (46). The supplying group (14) in the machine further comprises an accumulation chamber (41) hydraulically connected to the infusion means (43, 43b) and arranged to contain a certain amount of liquid. Second heating means (46) are provided, which are arranged to directly heat the liquid contained in the accumulation chamber (41) for hydraulically feeding the infusion means (43). The invention also relates to the supplying group and the method of manufacturing the machine.
US09427100B1
Multipurpose plates and method of use thereof. The plates include a rigid bottom layer having regions for holding food, hand receiving portions, first object holding portion for holding a drinking vessel, a second object holding portion having a slit for holding an eating related item, and a recessed receiving portion on the rigid layer for receiving a container. A user's hand holds the plate at one of the hand receiving portions, while a beverage vessel is inserted and held in the first object holding portion and one or more eating related items is inserted and held by the slit of the second object holding portion. The plate with its first and second object holding portions allow the user to securely eat food off the plate while the beverage vessel and the one or more eating related items are held by the plate.
US09427098B2
A mounting system and method for displaying viewable content on a supporting surface includes a frame assembly having a backing, a frame, means for securing viewable content between the backing and frame, and means for removing and replacing viewable content. The system includes a mount removable connected to the supporting surface and having an outer conduit having an inner surface, an aperture extending in a longitudinal direction, and a circumferential groove disposed within the inner surface. An anchor is integrally connected to the backing of the frame assembly and has a central axis. The anchor has an inner conduit and a spring-loaded pin having a longitudinal axis and configured to be inserted into the aperture of the outer conduit of the mount along the longitudinal direction. The system includes means for connecting the anchor and mount in a rotatable relationship about the central axis.
US09427088B2
Extendable mobility assistance devices for use with a bed are disclosed herein. The mobility assistance devices include base legs that are inserted between a mattress and a box spring and a support rail that extends upward from the base legs. The support rail has an adjustable longitudinal dimension. The support rail and base legs are configured to be reversibly arranged in a first orientation or a second orientation, for use on either side of a bed.
US09427081B1
A rotating storage rack including a base and a plurality of vertically stacked shelves allows high storage density for shoes, boots, and other footwear, as well as miscellaneous wardrobe accessories, including purses.
US09427078B2
In one embodiment, an oral-care system is provided. The oral-care system includes an electric toothbrush having a motor, a power source in electrical communication with the motor, and a bristle holder operatively connected to the motor. A display is in data communication with the electric toothbrush.
US09427074B2
An oral care implement having a grip component. In one embodiment, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: an elongated body extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising a head portion and a handle portion; a socket formed in an outer surface of the handle portion, the socket comprising a floor and an open top end; at least one tooth cleaning elements mounted to the head portion of the elongated body; at least one protuberance extending upwardly from the floor of the socket; and a grip component comprising a resilient body formed of a resilient material mounted to the handle portion of the elongated body so as to enclose the open top end of the socket, an inner surface of the resilient body separated from the floor of the socket by a free volume of space.
US09427065B2
A device for the purpose of applying cosmetic product which can be made to shear cosmetic product held within its chamber prior to loading a portion of cosmetic product evenly onto the applicator head by way of separating the detachable container from the handle. After separation, the direction of the rotation motion is chosen and the device is activated. Once activated, the drive mechanism converts rotation motion into a reciprocating rotation motion thereby enabling the applicator head to simultaneously travel back and forth and rotate for purposes of applying cosmetic product. The applicator head via transfer vibration can be vibrated along or in conjunction with the reciprocation rotating motion for purposes of apply cosmetic product.
US09427057B2
Systems and methods are involved with but are not limited to: a first case portion including a first interior portion, the first interior portion including a first layer and a plurality of first protrusions, the plurality of first protrusions coupled to the first layer and extending therefrom, the plurality of first protrusions configured to affixedly engage with one or more smooth surface portions of a rear side portion of a portable device keyboard assembly. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US09427053B2
A wearable device is provided with a wearable device structure. The wearable device has a first end and a second end. A plurality of magnets is positioned at the first and second ends that provide for coupling of the first end to the second end of the wearable device. At least a portion of the magnets are magnetized through their widths or thickness, e.g., depth. ID circuitry is provided at a surface or an interior of the wearable device.
US09427048B2
An article, such as an article of footwear, includes a polymeric component that has a first surface, a second surface, and a thickness between the first surface and the second surface. The article has ink injected into the polymeric component at a predetermined depth from the first surface such that the ink is embedded in the polymeric component at least partially between the first surface and the second surface. The polymeric component includes multiple layers. The ink is embedded in at least one of the layers. An apparatus for establishing a graphical image on a polymeric component includes a support frame, a jig connected to the support frame and configured to hold the polymeric component, and the needle. A method for manufacturing an article includes inserting a needle into a polymeric component, and injecting ink through the needle so that the ink provides a graphical image.
US09427045B1
Apparatus and techniques for securing a shoelace are described. In accordance with embodiments, the shoelace is secured without forming a knot with the ends of the shoelace. In described examples, a shoe tie assembly includes a housing with at least two apertures configured to individually receive one of the ends of the shoelace that is inserted in a first direction along a lengthwise axis of the shoelace. A securing device is included in the assembly to secure the shoelace and housing to substantially permit movement of the shoelace in the first direction generally and to substantially prevent movement of the shoelace in a second direction that is generally opposite the first direction in the first configuration. The securing device is also operable to obtain a second configuration in which the securing device permits the shoelace to move in the second direction.
US09427040B2
A headgear support device (109) supports a face shield (160). The device includes a headband (106) having an elongated slot (103) and a pivot element (120) which is affixed to the face shield (160). The pivot element is slidably located within the slot to enable translational movement of the face shield. The pivot element is also rotatable within the slot to enable rotational movement of the face shield. The device also includes a retaining element for retaining the pivot element in the slot to enable translational movement of the pivot element and face shield. Translational movement of the pivot element enables the face shield to be positioned closer to, or further from, a user's face in order to provide greater comfort for the user.
US09427039B2
Systems and methods for communicating helmet usage information during operation of an activity device are provided. One example aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a system for communicating helmet usage and includes one or more position sensors, one or more activity sensors and one or more computing devices. The one or more position sensors can be configured to be positioned on a helmet, to detect placement of the helmet on a user's head and to transmit signals indicative of such placement. The one or more activity sensors can be configured to be positioned on an activity device, to detect operational indicators relative to the usage of the activity device and to transmit signals indicative of such operational indicators. The one or more computing devices can be configured to: receive signals from the one or more position sensors and the one or more activity sensors, determine whether the activity device is likely engaged in one or more given activities, and generate/communicate at least one helmet usage indication signal to a user of the activity device and/or to a third party via a remote device.
US09427035B2
Disclosed are garments that reveal body art and methods for wearing these garments. The garments have one or more tattoo-revealing windows or openings in them. Each of the windows or openings has a border around its underside. The border is comprised of a silicone ink which may be deposited on the garment by, e.g., screen printing. The method of wearing a tattoo-revealing garment includes wearing the garment such that the opening or window is centered on a piece of body art and is maintained in place by the border of silicone ink. The garment may be sold as a part of a kit that also includes a piece of temporary body art.
US09427032B2
A casual aesthetic garment constructed with hidden panels of padded material. The padding is some kind of open or closed cell foam. The outer fabric is made of a blend or nonblended fabric including cotton and/or polyester. The padding is affixed to the inside of the garment to be hidden from the outside of the garment, to give the appearance of the user not wearing a padded garment. The internal pads are affixed, and cannot be removed, to ensure the user is more protected then when not having any pads present.
US09427031B2
A storable poncho includes a belt having a first end, a second, opposite end configured to be releasably attached to the first end, an upper edge and a lower edge. The storable poncho further includes a first flap secured to the belt adjacent to one of the upper edge and the lower edge of the belt, and a body portion including fabric material configured to cover at least a portion of a user's body when worn. The body portion is secured to one of the upper edge and the lower edge of the belt. The body portion is covered by the first flap when configuring the body portion in a stored condition. Other embodiments of the storable poncho and methods for wearing a storable poncho are further disclosed.
US09427030B2
A brassiere and a decorative element having a relatively flat configuration, a set of suspension straps symmetrically arranged about a vertical plane between the brassiere cups serving to locate the decorative element symmetrically about the vertical plane above, and free of contact with a bridge between the cups, the suspension straps on each side of the decorative element including a first suspension strap attached to a mid-section of an associated cup and to an adjacent side edge of the decorative element and a second suspension strap spaced above the first suspension strap and attached to the adjacent side edge of the decorative element, the first and second suspension straps being arranged to maintain a face of the decorative element facing in a direction to which the cups project.
US09427023B2
This invention relates to an electronic cigarette and an electronic cigarette device, the electronic cigarette includes a sucking cylinder, a sucking nozzle configured at an end of the sucking cylinder; wherein the sucking cylinder and/or the sucking nozzle are processed with wooden material; wherein the wooden material is natural timber. The electronic cigarette device includes the above-mentioned electronic cigarette, and further includes an electronic cigarette casing, for accommodating and charging the electronic cigarette; the electronic cigarette casing includes a bottom box and a box cover, the bottom box and/or the box cover are made of the wooden material. The electronic cigarette and the electronic cigarette casing are of health, hygiene, environmental protection and good taste and good feel.
US09427006B2
A method for making a highly soluble Stevia sweetener is described. The resulting sweetener readily provides solutions with up to or greater than 30% concentration which are stable for more than 24 hours.
US09427003B2
The invention provides synthetic nucleic acid sequences encoding proteins of interest that are particularly adapted to express well in plants. The claimed synthetic sequences utilize plant-optimized codons roughly in the same frequency at which they are utilized, on average, in genes naturally occurring in the plant species. The invention further includes synthetic DNA sequence for herbicide tolerance, water and/or heat stress tolerance, healthy oil modifications and for transformation marker genes and selectable marker genes are used. DNA construct and transgenic plants containing the synthetic sequences are taught as are methods and compositions for using the plants in agriculture.
US09427001B2
This invention relates to supplementation of the diets of domesticated animals (livestock and poultry) with iodine in an enhanced bioavailable manner, that is to say the iodine is more available to the animal than when using conventional sources of iodine, such as calcium iodate. The supplementary compound are alpha amino acid metal iodide complexes.
US09426999B2
First, prepared is a whey degradation medium to which a protease, yeast extract, and the like are added. Further, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate or propylene glycol monooleate is added to the whey degradation medium. The whey degradation medium is inoculated with bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacterium and the lactic acid bacterium is cultured while the whey degradation medium is maintained at pH of 4 to 5. After the completion of the culture, the whey degradation medium (culture solution) is centrifuged to thereby separate therefrom a concentrated cell suspension containing the lactic acid bacterium in a concentrated form. The concentrated cell suspension has very low antibacterial activity (several tens AU or less). Then, by adding the concentrated cell suspension to a yogurt mix and fermenting the same, it is possible to produce yogurt containing the bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacterium without any delay in the fermentation.
US09426995B2
Compositions and processes for controlling nematodes are described herein, e.g., nematodes that infest plants or animals. The compounds include oxazoles, oxadiazoles and thiadiazoles.
US09426994B2
Antimicrobial compositions based on the synergistic combination of 2-methyl-3-isothiazolone and selected commercial microbicides where the compositions are substantially free of halogenated 3-isothiazolone, are disclosed. Particularly preferred are combinations of 2-methyl-3-isothiazolone together with benzoic acid, citric acid, sorbic acid, 1,2-dibromo-2,4-dicyanobutane, 1,3-dimethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, phenoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, zinc pyrithione or climbazole, that provide enhanced microbicidal efficacy at a combined active ingredient level lower than that of the combined individual 3-isothiazolone and commercial microbicide effective use levels.
US09426989B2
Multifunctional organic peroxides are used as microbiological inactivators and/or for degrading nucleic acids. These include at least one carbon atom and at least two organic peroxide groups. The inactivator is ideally a hydroperoxide. The invention is particularly useful during preparation of viral vaccines.
US09426986B2
The present invention provides a composition comprising an amphiphile and an active ingredient whose solubility in water at 20° C. is not more than 10 g/L. Likewise provided is an amphiphile comprising a hyperbranched polycarbonate which is joined to at least one linear or comb-type polymer, a process for preparing the amphiphile, and the use of the amphiphile in compositions comprising an active ingredient whose solubility in water at 20° C. is not more than 10 g/L.
US09426982B2
The present invention relates to stable, agricultural oil-in-water emulsion compositions.
US09426964B2
A composition suitable for airfield management comprises fine fescue grasses that result in environmental benefits, including protection of human life and wildlife; decreased mowing, to deeper and larger root systems and tremendous financial savings. One preferred version includes: (a) about 25-50% by weight Hard Fescue; (b) about 25-50% by weight Creeping Red Fescue; and (c) about 25-50% by weight Chewings Fescue.
US09426956B1
A novel maize variety designated PH2FNR and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH2FNR with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH2FNR through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH2FNR or a locus conversion of PH2FNR with another maize variety.
US09426954B2
A novel garden bean variety, designated PV-766, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of garden bean variety PV-766, to the plants of garden bean line PV-766 and to methods for producing a bean plant by crossing the variety PV-766 with itself or another bean line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a bean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other garden bean lines derived from the variety PV-766.
US09426953B1
The present invention relates to a new and distinctive canola, designated CE216910H. Also included are seeds of canola CE216910H, to the plants, or plant parts, of canola CE216910H and to methods for producing a canola plant produced by crossing the canola CE216910H with itself or another canola genotype, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of canola CE216910H.
US09426950B2
This invention discloses a process for the propagation and survival of Deschampsia antarctica suitable for industrial scale production. In particular, the process defines selected bioreactor conditions whereby morphologically high quality plants are obtained at high rates. This invention further discloses a bioreactor design which includes a design for automated temporary immersion of explants in a culture medium.
US09426949B1
Certain embodiments of the disclosed technology may include systems and apparatus for extracting and delivering nutrients from biomass for plant growth. In an example implementation, an apparatus is provided for supporting a multi-level system for extracting and distributing nutrients from biomass for plant growth, the apparatus includes two or more support structures. Each support structure includes two or more vertical strength members disposed substantially vertically on opposing sides of a corrugated base cylinder and are stabilized by at least one corrugations associated with the base cylinder. The apparatus includes two or more horizontal retaining members in communication with the respective two or more vertical strength members and operable to secure the two or more vertical strength members against the base cylinder. The apparatus also includes one or more upper troughs supported by the two or more support structures and disposed in a substantially horizontal position.
US09426948B2
The instant invention relates to compositions and methods for the control of nematodes and soil borne diseases using compositions comprising high terpene containing oils and one or more surfactants and alcohol. The invention also relates to methods for conditioning soil to improve overall plant health and growth by among others increasing the wetted soil volume available for water utilization by plant roots using the disclosed compositions.
US09433136B2
Both a forward direction and a rearward direction of storage racks 20-1 and 20-2 are set to be opening portions 23 and intake and exhaust ducts 61-1, 61-2, 62-1 and 62-2 are provided on doors 11a and 11b in the forward direction and the rearward direction of a storage container 10. Consequently, a ventilation passage linked to an outside from a wall surface in the forward direction of the storage container 10 via a wall surface in the rearward direction is formed for each of storage shelves 31-i and 32-i of the storage racks 20-1 and 20-2 so that heat generated from an electronic apparatus can be efficiently discharged to an outside of the storage container 10, and furthermore, the storage container 10 itself is configured to be isolated electrically by a radio wave absorber so that a function of an anechoic chamber can also be ensured.
US09433135B2
An RF apparatus may include: an RF resonance device having an electrically conductive outer wall, the outer wall comprising a gap extending over its circumference, and an input coupling device having an RF generator, arranged on the outer side of the outer wall of the RF resonance device in the region of the gap, for coupling RF radiation of a particular frequency through the gap into the interior of the RF resonance device, and shielding which externally shields the generator and electrically bridges the gap on the outer side of the outer wall, wherein the shielding is formed as a resonator having a high impedance at the generator frequency.
US09433126B2
A centrifugal fan includes an impeller and a housing. The housing includes an upper plate, a lower plate and a side wall, wherein the upper plate axially corresponds to the lower plate, a side wall is formed between the upper plate and the lower plate, an axial inlet is formed on the upper plate, a lateral outlet is formed on the side wall, the impeller is disposed in the housing and corresponds to the inlet, and a flow path communicates the inlet to the outlet. The housing further includes a guiding groove, and at least one auxiliary inlet is formed in the guiding groove.
US09433124B2
A system may include a reversible fan module that creates an airflow. The reversible fan module may include a set of attachment members, disposed on a face of the reversible fan module, that secure the reversible fan module a first orientation or a second orientation. The system may further include a chassis that include a divider that divides an interior region of the chassis into a front compartment and a rear compartment, a window, disposed on the divider, that allows airflow between the front compartment and the rear compartment, a first opening in the chassis that opens the front compartment to a first external region, a second opening in the chassis that opens the rear compartment to a second external region, and a bay that receives the reversible fan module.
US09433120B2
A display apparatus includes a plurality of first brackets adhered to the rear panel. A first bracket has a recess on a first surface where an adhesive is applied, and a first protrusion extending from a second surface and a second protrusion extending from the first protrusion. A connection bracket has a side wall and a plurality of first tab portions. The tab portion is provided into an opening of the first protrusion. A second bracket is provided adjacent to the plurality of the first brackets and attached to the connection bracket. A frame is mounted to the at least one second bracket. A light source is provided between the frame and the second bracket.
US09433114B2
A shelf device facilitates access to electronic modules within an enclosure having multiple vertically stacked levels of module storage locations. A pair of support arms each have an attachment structure on a distal portion of the support arm that is designed to attach to a first one of the vertically stacked levels. A guide rail extends from the distal portion of the support arm toward a proximal portion of the support arm. A cross brace structure is configured to pivotally attach to distal portions of the pair of support arms and a proximal portion of a first one of the support arms. A pair of vertical braces are each configured to pivotally attach to a respective one of the pair of support arms and having a detachable connection structure that is designed to attach to a second one of the vertically stacked levels.
US09433110B2
A lid element which can be connected to a further housing part for closing an opening in the housing part is formed in one piece as a molded part. The lid element includes a base plate on which several lugs are formed which extend from the base plate. The lugs are arranged on the base plate relative to the housing part in such a manner that the lugs, when the housing part and the lid element are put together, extend into indentations provided in the housing part after they have been plastically bent toward the housing part.
US09433108B2
A method for fabricating a circuit board structure having at least an embedded electronic element is disclosed, which includes the steps of: providing a substrate and embedding at least an electronic element in the substrate with an active surface and a plurality of electrode pads of the electronic element exposed from a surface of the substrate; forming a plurality of conductive bumps on the electrode pads of the electronic element; and covering the surface of the substrate and the active surface of the electronic element with a dielectric layer and a metal layer stacked on the dielectric layer, wherein the conductive bumps penetrate the dielectric layer so as to be in contact with the metal layer, thereby simplifying the fabrication process, reducing the fabrication cost and saving the fabrication time.
US09433106B2
A method for manufacturing a printed wiring board includes forming on a support sheet an intermediate body including a first insulation layer, a second insulation layer and a first conductive layer interposed between the first insulation layer and the second insulation layer, and separating the support sheet from the intermediate body including the insulation layer, the first conductive layer and the second insulation layer such that the intermediate body is detached from the support sheet.
US09433105B2
An electrically insulating substrate is provided. The electrically insulating substrate includes a set of areas to be formed into a set of printed circuit boards. Each of the set of areas is separated from others of the set of areas by a dicing channel. A set of signal wiring conductors is fabricated onto the set of areas of the electrically insulating substrate so that at least one of the set of signal wiring conductors terminates proximate to the dicing channel. A set of plated through holes is fabricated through at least one of the set of areas such that at least one of the set of plated through holes connects to at least one of the set of signal wiring conductors. The electrically insulating substrate is singulated along a set of singulation lines to form the set of printed circuit boards. The singulation lines intersect with the plated through holes, so that a portion of the plated through holes is exposed along the peripheral edge of the resulting printed circuit boards.
US09433099B2
A package carrier including a removable supporting plate and a circuit board is provided. The removable supporting plate includes a dielectric layer, a copper foil layer and a releasing layer. The dielectric layer is disposed between the copper foil layer and the releasing layer. The circuit board is disposed on the removable supporting plate and directly contacts the releasing layer. A thickness of the circuit board is between 30 μm and 100 μm.
US09433091B1
A method is provided for customizing connections of conductors of a printed circuit board (PCB) including conductors and a cavity formed in a thickness of the PCB, and adjoining two of the conductors. The cavity includes two distinct electrical contacts, each in electrical communication with one of the two conductors. The cavity is at least partly filled with an electrically conductive material to enable electrical communication between the two conductors. The cavity is preferably a buried cavity, joined by one or more ducts, such that the electrically conductive material can be injected into the cavity via the duct. One, or each, of the two conductors is an inner conductor of the PCB. The injected conductive material may be a liquid or a gel; and is preferably a conductive adhesive. The present invention further concerns a PCB as obtained from the above method.
US09433088B2
A method of fabricating a capacitance touch panel module includes forming a plurality of first conductive patterns on a substrate comprising a touching area and a peripheral area along a first orientation, a plurality of second conductive patterns along a second orientation, and a plurality of connecting portions in the touching area; forming a plurality of insulated protrusions, in which each insulated protrusion covering one connecting portion, and forming an insulated frame on the peripheral area; and forming a bridging member on each insulated protrusion.
US09433087B2
A display device includes: a glass substrate including a driver circuit and a plurality of connection terminals that is connected to the driver circuit and is arranged in an array, and an elongated FPC, which has a plurality of panel connection terminals that correspond to the connection terminals and which is mounted on the glass substrate, wherein the FPC has a coverlay. The FPC has a chamfered-area end gap between an end portion of the coverlay facing an end face of the glass substrate and a chamfered-area end portion of the glass substrate in a mounted state, wherein the chamfered-area end gap is covered with an insulating resin, and wherein the chamfered-area end gap at a center portion of the FPC is narrower than the chamfered-area end gap at both end portions of the FPC.
US09433086B2
Disclosed is a tear protection structure for a flexible circuit board. In an extension section of a flexible circuit board, at least a slit line is formed. The slit line has at least a terminal end from which a stress-diverting cut segment extends. The stress-diverting cut segment is formed by cutting in a cutting direction that defines an angle with respect to an extension direction of the extension section to serve as the tear protection structure of the flexible circuit board. The extension section of the flexible circuit board is foldable along the slit line. The stress-diverting cut segment may further include a tear protection hole formed in a termination end thereof.
US09433080B2
Shielding of high-frequency circuits is achieved using a simple and inexpensive configuration not using any lid. A high-frequency circuit mounting substrate (20) is disposed, on an underside surface layer of which are disposed high-frequency circuits (21 and 22) and is formed a first grounding conductor that has same electric potential as grounding conductors of the high-frequency circuits and that surrounds the high-frequency circuits. A mother control substrate (3) is disposed, on which the high-frequency circuit mounting substrate (20) is mounted in such a way that the high-frequency circuits are sandwiched therebetween and on which a second grounding conductor is formed in a region facing the high-frequency circuits. Plural first lands are formed on the first grounding conductor of the high-frequency circuit mounting substrate (20) to surround the high-frequency circuits. Plural second lands are formed that are electrically connected to the second grounding conductor at positions on a surface layer of the mother control substrate (3) which face the first lands. Plural solder balls (30G2) are disposed for connecting the first lands and the second lands. The high-frequency circuits are housed in pseudo shielding cavities surrounded by the solder balls (30G2), the grounding conductors of the high-frequency circuits, and the first and second grounding conductors.
US09433079B2
A heat dissipation device is used in a circuit board, where the circuit board includes a chip and at least one positioning hole disposed around the chip, and each of the positioning holes has a bare metal area on its periphery. The heat dissipation device includes a heat dissipation element, a conductive element and at least one fixing part. The heat dissipation element is disposed on the chip; the conductive element is connected electrically to the bare metal area of the circuit board and the heat dissipation element respectively; the fixing part passes through the fixing holes and is connected to the positioning hole, so as to fix the heat dissipation element to the circuit board. A circuit board is also provided, which includes a substrate, a chip, a positioning hole and the heat dissipation device.
US09433078B2
A printed circuit board (PCB) is provided comprising a plurality of non-conductive layers with conductive or signal layers in between. The PCB includes a first conductive via traversing the plurality of non-conductive and conductive or signal layers as well as a second conductive via traversing the plurality of non-conductive layers and conductive or signal layers, the second conductive via located substantially parallel to the first conductive via. An embedded electro-optical passive element is also provided that extends perpendicular to and between the first conductive via and the second conductive via. The electro-optical passive element embedded is located within a selected layer at a first depth in the printed circuit board, wherein such first depth is selected to reflect an incident electromagnetic wave back into the printed circuit board to enhance or diminish an electrical signal in the first conductive via by creating a positive or negative electromagnetic interference.
US09433075B2
An electric power semiconductor device includes a heat transfer plate. A printed wire board is spaced a predetermined gap apart from the heat transfer plate. An opening portion is provided in the vicinity of an electrode strip formed on the outer side of the printed wire board. An electric power semiconductor element is disposed between the heat transfer plate and the printed wire board, and adhered to the heat transfer plate. A wiring member has one end bonded to a first bonding portion of a main power electrode of the electric power semiconductor element, and the other end is bonded to a second bonding portion. At least part of the second bonding portion is included in a space that extends from the main power electrode to the printed wire board, and the first bonding portion is included in a space that extends from the opening portion.
US09433069B2
An electronic device includes a metallic housing having a front wall with a mounting hole communicating with an interior thereof, and a front cover spaced apart from the front wall and having an access slot corresponding in position to the mounting hole. A circuit module includes a circuit board disposed within the metallic housing and having an extension protruding out of the front wall via the mounting hole, and an electrical connector disposed on the extension. A conductive ground element is disposed pivotally within the metallic housing in proximity to the mounting hole, and abuts against the electrical connector to conduct static electricity of the electrical connector to the metallic housing.
US09433067B2
A multi-lamp fluorescent light fixture includes a plurality of replaceable fluorescent lamp starter units. Each starter unit has a built-in microcontroller, an RF (Radio-Frequency) receiver, and communicates wirelessly with a master unit. The plurality of starter units can be wirelessly controlled to dim the multi-lamp fixture. Each starter unit receives a DIM command. Each starter unit identified as a dimmer starter unit responds to the DIM command by turning off coupled fluorescent lamps. Starter units not identified as dimmer starter units respond by leaving coupled lamps turned on, or alternatively, turning off and quickly restarting coupled lamps. Systems of existing light fixtures are retrofitted with such wireless starter units, and thereby made controllable by a master unit so that the master unit can dim the lights if room occupancy is not detected or if sufficient ambient light is available.
US09433065B2
A lighting system includes a light emitting diode array, and a time of flight ranging system. A logic circuit determines a distance to an object using the time of flight ranging system and controls the light emitting diode array based upon the distance to the object. A receptacle is coupled to the logic circuit, and sized and configured to fit within and be powered from a light bulb socket. In some applications, the logic circuit may activate the light emitting diode array when the object is less than a threshold distance away from the lighting system and deactivate the light emitting diode array when the object is greater than the threshold distance away from the lighting system. In further applications, the logic circuit may activate the light emitting diode array at a duty cycle that varies based upon the distance to the object.
US09433059B2
A boost circuit includes an inductor (L), a MOS transistor (Q), and a number “n” of switch components (Q1-Qn) is disclosed. A first end of the inductor (L) receives an input voltage (Vin), and a second end of the inductor (L) connects to a drain of the MOS transistor (Q). A source of the MOS transistor (Q) is electrically grounded, and a gate of the MOS transistor (Q) is driven by one square-wave signals (S). The number “n” of switch components respectively connects to the inductor and respectively outputs a number “n” of output voltages. The number “n” of switch components are driven by a number “n” of square-wave signals (S1-Sn). A duty ratio of the square-wave signals (S) is d, and the duty ratios of the square-wave signals (S1-Sn) are d1-dn. Before a turn-off time of each period of the MOS transistor (Q), the number “n” of square-wave signals (S1-Sn) are driven by a number “n” of switch components (Q1-Qn) in turn. Wherein d1+d2+d3+ . . . +dn=1−d, and n is an integer greater than one. In addition, a LED backlight driving circuit and a liquid crystal device having the above boost circuit are disclosed.
US09433057B1
A dual color series-wired LED light string formed of a plurality of sockets, each of which receives an LED housing containing a pair of LEDs connected in anti-parallel configuration. Each LED socket includes a protective resistive component which is electrically connected across each pair of anti-parallel LEDs of the respective LED housing to protect each LED of the pair from reverse voltage breakdown damage in the event of a failure of the other LED in the housing. The protective resistive component also further serves as a shunt to electrically bypass a failed LED to keep the remaining LEDs in the light string fully illuminated.
US09433051B2
A lighting system comprising a plurality of controllable light emitting elements is disclosed. The lighting system further comprising a spreading optical element arranged in front of the plurality of light emitting elements to shape the light emitted from the lighting elements, and a controller for varying a light emission angle range of light emitted from the spreading optical element by controlling each of the plurality of controllable light emitting elements. This allows the light emitted from the spreading optical element to be varied without varying any physical parts of the lighting system, because the controller now controls each of the light emitting elements, by e.g. dimming one or more of the light emitting elements or by switching one or more of the light emitting elements off.
US09433028B2
A method and apparatus for triggering radio link control (RLC) re-establishment and/or protocol data unit (PDU) discard are disclosed. An RLC entity maintains a state variable for counting a total number of transmissions and/or retransmissions of an RLC PDU and its PDU segments. If the state variable reaches a threshold, the RLC entity initiates RLC re-establishment and/or discards the RLC PDU and PDU segments. The state variable may be incremented each time a negative acknowledgement is received for at least a portion of the RLC PDU or when a retransmission is considered for the RLC PDU or a portion of the RLC PDU. The RLC entity may increase a state variable proportionate to a retransmitted data size. The RLC entity may maintain separate state variables for the RLC PDU and PDU segments and counts the number of transmissions and/or retransmissions for the RLC PDU and the PDU segments.
US09433027B2
A method for establishing multiple radio connections by a user equipment (UE) is described. The method includes receiving a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) that includes a first cyclic redundancy check (CRC) scrambled by a first cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) in a primary radio connection. The method also includes decoding the first PDCCH. The method also includes receiving a second PDCCH that includes a second CRC scrambled by a second C-RNTI in a secondary radio connection. The method also includes decoding the second PDCCH.
US09433024B2
A communication method of a terminal and a communication method of a base station for a direct communication link between terminals are disclosed. A base station schedules a reference terminal to transmit a ranging code, and schedules target terminals to receive the ranging code. The reference terminal measures the ranging code received from the target terminals, and transmits a ranging code measurement result to the base station. The base station selects a terminal from among the target terminals to form the direct communication link with the reference terminal among the target terminals based on the ranging code measurement result.
US09433020B2
Disclosed is a method, system and computer programs to provide emergent behavior in a network of connected mobile user devices. The method includes advertising with a mobile wireless communication device to other mobile wireless communication devices a vector list that includes at least mobile wireless communication device specific vectors and mobile wireless communication device user specific vectors. The method further includes determining, in cooperation with a cloud-based data processing environment, whether to connect to a network of other mobile wireless communication devices based at least on at least one element that comprises part of vector lists associated with the other mobile wireless communication devices, the vector lists being stored at the cloud-based data processing environment.
US09433010B2
Systems and methods of network based positioning include a server configured to assign priority levels to mobile devices locatable within the network, and allocate network resources for network based positioning of the locatable mobile devices, based on the corresponding priority levels assigned to the mobile devices. The server may further be configured to admit only a selected subset of the locatable mobile devices into the network for purposes of network based positioning and deny admission to the remaining locatable mobile devices, wherein the selected subset can be determined based on an attribute of the mobile device and/or a characteristic of the user of the mobile device.
US09433007B2
Wireless communication under IEEE 802.11 standards utilizing carrier specific interference mitigation where an AP or UE employs an ultra-wideband tuner to evaluate available spectrum between several communication bands. Rather than being constrained to communicate in a single communication band, the AP and UEs may utilize more than one communication band to communicate with one another. In doing so, the AP and UE search across several bands and measure interference on a carrier-by-carrier basis across those bands. Either of the AP and UE may select a cluster of carriers for communication, where the cluster of carriers may comprise 1) contiguous carriers in a single sub-channel, 2) contiguous carriers spanning across more than one sub-channel, 3) discontinuous carriers in a single sub-channel, or 4) discontinuous carriers spanning across more than one sub-channel. The mapping between a cluster and its carriers can be fixed or reconfigurable.
US09433003B2
A method of wireless communication includes identifying a first radio operating in a first mode and a second radio operating in a second mode defined within one device. The first radio and the second radio operate on a same radio access technology (RAT) and also operate on a same band. The method also includes altering a communication time of the first radio and/or the second radio to reduce interference.
US09432998B2
It is described a method for controlling a radio resource control connection between a base station and a user equipment, wherein a radio resource control connection between the base station and the user equipment is established for exchanging control messages between the base station and the user equipment the control messages being required for an application running on the user equipment. The method includes determining a first value being indicative for a mobility characteristic of the user equipment and a second value being indicative for a data traffic characteristic of the user equipment, comparing the first value and the second value, setting a release timer based on the comparison, and controlling the radio resource control connection based on the release timer, wherein the radio resource control connection will end upon expiry of the release timer.
US09432993B2
A method of a user equipment (UE) operating in a wireless communication system and the user equipment are discussed. The method includes receiving a timing advance command for indicating a change of uplink timing relative to a current uplink timing in a subframe; and when uplink transmissions in a subframe n and a subframe n+1 are overlapped due to the timing advance command, transmitting the subframe n completely.
US09432987B2
A method and apparatus for transmitting, by a user equipment, a hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) are provided. The method includes identifying power of the HARQ-ACK based on transmission power control information in first downlink control information; identifying a resource for transmission of the HARQ-ACK based on transmission power control information in second downlink control information with a downlink assignment index (DAI) value greater than 1; and transmitting the HARQ-ACK based on the resource.
US09432986B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for receiving control information in a wireless communication system in which a first carrier type and a second carrier type are aggregated. The method comprises a step of receiving grant information for signal transmission on the second carrier type, wherein the grant information is received through the second carrier type if the grant information includes a first downlink control information (DCI) format, wherein the grant information is received through the first carrier type if the grant information includes a second DCI format.
US09432974B2
A mobile station (MS) decodes at least one PDCCH on at least a first downlink component carrier (DCC). The MS transmits HARQ control information for a PDSCH transmission indicated by a detection of a PDCCH and using a first PUCCH resource and a first PUCCH format, where the first PUCCH and the first PUCCH format are used for the transmission of the HARQ control information for the PDSCH transmission on the second DCC, the PDSCH transmission on the second DCC being indicated by the detection of the PDCCH. The MS also transmits the HARQ control information using a second PUCCH resource and a second PUCCH format, the second PUCCH resource and the second PUCCH format being used for the transmission of the HARQ control information for the PDSCH transmission only on the first DCC, the PDSCH transmission only on the first DCC being indicated by the detection of the PDCCH.
US09432973B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a control channel resource allocation method and apparatus, where the control channel resource allocation method includes: determining a VRB number corresponding to a first physical downlink control channel or a serial number of the first CCE for the first physical downlink control channel to transmit DCI, where the first physical downlink control channel includes an S-PDCCH or an R-PDCCH; and obtaining, according to the VRB number or the serial number of the first CCE, an offset, and a PUCCH parameter, a PUCCH format 1a or 1b resource number corresponding to the first physical downlink control channel.
US09432962B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method comprises transmitting a Layer 2 (L2) frame from a first wireless device. Upon receipt of a frame in response to the L2 frame, the first wireless device uses information conveyed in the frame to modify its functionality.
US09432957B2
In a method and in a system for time synchronization within a mobile ad-hoc network, every node (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) of the mobile ad-hoc network transmits a message signalling a presence (1), in each case within a given time frame. The received message signalling a presence (1) is acknowledged by every node (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) disposed within the transmission range of the transmitting node (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38), in each case with an acknowledgement message (2). On the basis of the information in an acknowledgement message (2) which one of the two nodes (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) receives, that node (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) of two nodes (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) disposed within the transmission range of one another is specified, with the local time of which the respectively other node (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 3831, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38) synchronizes its local time.
US09432956B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for reporting a Power Headroom (PH) of a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system having a plurality of aggregated uplink carriers. A message to activate an uplink carrier is received. A predetermined time is awaited in order to trigger a Power Headroom Report (PHR). The PHR is triggered after the predetermined time has elapsed.
US09432953B2
A detection device that detects existence of a radio wave transmitting/receiving body inside a specific space has a first antenna, a second antenna, a controller that controls a first detection signal and a second detection signal that the first antenna transmits to an inside of the specific space, and a disturbing signal that the second antenna transmits, a third antenna that receives a response signal transmitted to the first detection signal and the second detection signal, which have been received by the radio wave transmitting/receiving body, and a determination unit that determines an existence position of the radio wave transmitting/receiving body, based on the response signal received by the third antenna.
US09432947B2
A wireless communication system is disclosed. Disclosed herein are methods for transmitting a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) signal in a wireless communication system, which includes setting transmit power for the PUCCH signal, and an apparatus thereof. If the PUCCH signal is transmitted on a subframe configured for a scheduling request (SR), the PUCCH signal includes one or more hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) bits and an SR bit. When determining the transmit power for the PUCCH, the SR bit is selectively considered depending on whether or not a transport block for an uplink shared channel (UL-SCH) is present in the subframe.
US09432946B2
A transmission apparatus of the present invention includes polar modulator (601) that generates a power supply modulation signal and RF signals of a plurality of carrier frequency bands to be transmitted, power amplifier (603) that amplifies the RF signals from polar modulator (601), and power supply modulator (602) that modulates the power supply terminal of power amplifier (603) by a signal obtained by amplifying the power supply modulation signal from polar modulator (601). The power supply modulation signal is set based on a function using, as an argument, the power of the RF signal of each carrier frequency band output from power amplifier (603).
US09432931B2
A method for controlling the activity of a base station entity of a first type in a mobile communication network is a mobile device having a communication link in a base station entity of a second type includes: sending, by the mobile device, a connection request to the base station entity of the second type, the connection request being related to a request of the mobile device to have a communication link with the base station entity of the first type while the base station entity of the first type is in its second operational mode; and activating the first operational mode of the base station entity of the first type and establishing the communication link between the mobile device and the base station entity of the first type established.
US09432930B2
A method and apparatus for transmitting a list of bearers in a wireless communication system is provided. A first eNodeB (eNB) of an energy saving cell configures a list of minimum required evolved-UMTS terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) radio access bearers (E-RABs) or required E-RABs, and transmits the configured list of minimum required E-RABs or a required E-RABs to a second eNB of a compensation cell. Upon receiving the configured list of minimum required E-RABs, the second eNB checks whether the compensation cell is able to provide all E-RABs included in the list of minimum required E-RABs or not. Upon receiving the configured list of required E-RABs, the second eNB checks whether the compensation cell is able to provide E-RABs included in the list of required E-RABs or not.
US09432929B1
A communication configuration system for a fleet of autonomous vehicles (AVs) stores a network resource map for a given region that indicates locations of base stations for connecting the fleet of AVs with a backend system. The communication configuration system receives localization information from a respective AV of the fleet which indicates location and orientation of the respective AV. Using the network resource map, the system selects a proximate base station relative to the respective AV transmits array configuration commands to the respective AV to cause the respective AV to direct an on-board communications array to transmit and receive data with the proximate base station.
US09432928B1
A method and corresponding apparatus and system for base station implemented access control based on public land mobile network (PLMN) identity. When a base station receives a request to serve a mobile terminal, the base station will determine the mobile terminal's PLMNid and will decide based on that PLMNid whether to permit or deny the request for service. If the base station thereby decides to permit the request for service, then the base station may process the request in a normal manner. Whereas, if the base station thereby decides to deny the request for service, then the base station may reject the request outright.
US09432919B2
Certain aspects of a method and system for a fast cell search using a primary synchronization channel (PSYNC) process in a multimode wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) terminal are provided. A WCDMA frequency search or a global system for mobile communications (GSM) frequency search is performed based on a current radio access technology (RAT), received signal strength indication (RSSI) scan measurements, and PSYNC detection operations. The RSSI scan measurements may be averaged by making multiple measurements during a measurement period. At least part of the PSYNC detection operations may be performed during a remaining portion of the measurement period. WCDMA carrier frequencies may be marked in accordance with the results of the PSYNC detection operations. For GSM, some of the frequencies may be removed from the search based on the PSYNC marking while the remaining search frequencies may be ranked based on results from the RSSI scan measurements.
US09432917B2
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method for improving the effective coverage of nodes within a peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless network. Collection of nodes of the P2P network can have a larger aggregate coverage footprint than any given single node. This inherent multi-site property of P2P wireless networks can be exploited to provide each node with benefits of multi-user diversity, thus improving discovery of devices in the P2P network.
US09432910B2
A method embodiment for network authentication includes selecting, by a user equipment (UE), an access network for establishing a network connection and receiving one or more network authentication status indications for a network associated with the access network. The method further includes implementing a network authentication and selection policy in accordance with the one or more network authentication status indications.
US09432906B2
A method provided in one embodiment includes receiving, at a first network element, a first message including a first network identifier associated with a first network. The first message further includes an indication of an association of the first network identifier with a first user equipment. The method further includes receiving, by the first network element, a second message indicative of an initiated handover of the first user equipment to a second network. The second message includes a second network identifier associated with the second network. The method further includes determining, by the first network element, whether the second network identifier matches the first network identifier, and terminating the initiated handover by the first network element when the second network identifier does not match the first network identifier.
US09432900B2
The present invention relates to a method for a user equipment performing a handover in a wireless communication system, and more specifically, comprises the following steps: transmitting to a serving cell a measurement report message on a target cell including an indicator related to a specific service; receiving from the serving cell a handover command message including information on the specific service, which is provided by the target cell; receiving resource allocation information on the specific service from the target cell using the information on the specific service; and transmitting a handover completion message to the target cell.
US09432887B2
A user equipment is provided comprising: 1) transceiver circuitry configured to operate in cells associated with at least one radio access technology (RAT) network; and 2) a controller configured to perform neighbor cell searches. The controller is further configured to determine when the user equipment enters a first RRC state from a second RRC state. In response to a determination that the user equipment entered a first RRC state from a second RRC state, the controller delays performing a cell search until the controller determines that the user equipment has received complete system information for a serving cell.
US09432886B2
A multiservice communication device includes a plurality of transceivers that wirelessly transceive data with a corresponding plurality of networks in accordance with a corresponding plurality of network protocols. A control channel transceiver transceives control channel data with a remote management unit including local control data sent to the management unit and remote control data received from the management unit. A processing module processes the remote control data and generates a least one control signal in response thereto, the at least one control signal for adapting at least one of the plurality of transceivers based on the remote control data.
US09432875B2
The disclosure is related to a method of adaptive call admission control in a base station. When a call access request is received from a user equipment determination may be made as to whether an available call admission capacity of the base station reaches a first limit. When the available call admission capacity of the base station reaches the first limit determination may be made as to whether the received call access request is for a preferred call. Then, determination may be made as to whether a reserved call admission capacity reaches a second limit when the received call access request is for the preferred call. When the reserved call admission capacity has not reached a second limit, access of the user equipment associated with the received call access request may be allowed.
US09432873B2
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receive at least one traffic flow; receive at least one quality of service indication associated with the at least one traffic flow; create binding of the received at least one quality of service indication and information associated with the received at least one traffic flow; and assign a quality of service indication to a data packet for transmission based at least in part on the created binding.
US09432862B2
A system, method and device for classifying mobile devices based on frame characteristics and frame content provides a network administrator the ability to better understand actual network use by BYOD (bring your own device) type users, which are becoming more common, giving the ability to better understand actual use beyond the planned for stations factored into a wireless network design.
US09432841B2
A technique for allocating Home Location Register (HLR) addresses in a network in which HLR subscription data is stored in a central data repository for access by multiple HLR entities is presented. A method implementation of the technique comprises allocating, to an HLR entity, two or more virtual HLR addresses, wherein each virtual HLR address is associated with an individual set of subscriber identifiers for which HLR subscription data is stored in the central data repository.
US09432831B2
A method in a telecom node for controlling a grace period associated with a licensed capacity usage in the telecom node is provided. The telecom node is comprised in a cellular telephone network. The licensed capacity usage is associated with a capacity license limit. The telecom node measures over a specific amount of time, the capacity usage in the telecom node overshooting the capacity license limit. When the measured capacity usage exceeds a preset value of an allowed capacity usage overshoot, the telecom node triggers a grace period of the licensed capacity usage at the expiry of the specific amount of time. During the grace period capacity usage overshoot is allowed. Upon expiry of said grace period the licensed capacity usage is enforced according to the capacity license limit unless the licensed capacity usage is increased.
US09432829B1
Various embodiments are generally directed to an apparatus, method and other techniques for receiving an indication of one or more errors in a message, the message for communication to an emergency service provider and storing correction information including at least the one or more errors in the memory. Embodiments may also include receiving an indication to communicate the message to the emergency service provider and causing an original version of the message and a corrected version of the message to be communicated to the emergency service provider, the original version to include the one or more errors and the corrected version to include corrections for the one or more errors.
US09432827B2
Determining if non-voice emergency services (NOVES) are available is accomplished via an indicator provided via a control channel and/or via a query to a network entity. For example, a NOVES indicator can be provided, via a control channel message, to a communications device, indicating whether non-voice emergency services (NOVES) are available or not available. Additionally, capabilities of public safety answering points (PSAPs) providing NOVES can be included. For example, the indicator can include information as to whether an identified PSAP can receive a text based emergency message, an emergency message comprising an image, and emergency message comprising audio, and/or an emergency message comprising video. In another example configuration, a communications device can query a communications network to determine the availability of NOVES and PSAP capabilities. A response to the query can include an indication as to whether non-voice services are available, and, if appropriate, the types of NOVES services available.
US09432818B2
A method and control apparatus for a wireless communication system is disclosed for providing grouping of sets of paired communication devices into groups of paired communication devices at least in part based on information about other paired communication devices. The information is determined based on detection by at least one of the communication devices in a relevant set of paired communication devices.
US09432814B2
There is provided a method for a mobility management node (MME) and a mobility management node for collecting mobility data of user entities, UEs, in a mobile communication network comprising a plurality of cells, wherein at least one cell or a group of cells are forming a tracking area, TA, in which paging of a given UE may be undertaken. At least the mobility management node is adapted for holding a TA list for a given UE defining a larger paging area in which paging may be performed throughout the area and in which TA update need not be undertaken by the UE in question before moving out of said area; the UE being required to perform a TA update procedure if moving out of the larger paging area. The method comprises: continuously registering mobility events pertaining to a plurality of UE's in the network, wherein for each of the plurality of UE's: assigning a link strength indicative of the frequency at which UE's are travelling a link in question; and building a table of links and associated link strengths in the network. The method further comprises for a given UE when performing a TA update procedure and upon moving from a second source TA to a second target TA: investigating based on at least the location of at least one of the source TA and the target TA; one or more probable travel paths potentially comprising a series of interconnected links and originating in either the source TA or the target TA; the probable travel paths being selected by taking into account the strength of the associated links in the table; the probable travel paths moreover being selected by taking into account the limit of a TA list length applying for the UE in question; and generating a TA list comprising the TA's constituted by the probable travel paths.
US09432811B2
Estimating the lateral location of a wireless terminal based on temperature and atmospheric pressure
A technique is disclosed for estimating the lateral location of a wireless terminal in a geographic region. The technique is based on the recognition that some three-dimensional locations of the wireless terminal are improbable, and that measurements of temperature and atmospheric pressure at the wireless terminal and outside can be used to determine which lateral locations of the wireless terminal are improbable.
US09432807B2
Systems and methods with automatic radius cross notification for a GPS tracker are provided. Some methods can include receiving user input requesting a dynamic creation of a geo-fence, and, responsive thereto, creating the geo-fence. Some methods can include determining when a GPS tracker device has been stationary for a predetermined period of time, and responsive thereto, dynamically creating a geo-fence.
US09432796B2
In some implementations, a mobile device can be configured to monitor environmental, system and user events associated with the mobile device and/or a peer device. The occurrence of one or more events can trigger adjustments to system settings. The mobile device can be configured to keep frequently invoked applications up to date based on a forecast of predicted invocations by the user. In some implementations, the mobile device can receive push notifications associated with applications that indicate that new content is available for the applications to download. The mobile device can launch the applications associated with the push notifications in the background and download the new content. In some implementations, before running an application or communicating with a peer device, the mobile device can be configured to check energy and data budgets and environmental conditions of the mobile device and/or a peer device to ensure a high quality user experience.
US09432795B2
There is provided a relay server 20 relaying communications between terminals using an application. Each terminal 10 includes a voice call means 11 which performs a voice call process, and a voice call information transmission means 12 which, when the voice call process is performed by the voice call means 11, transmits to the relay server 20 a voice call status change notice inclusive of information for identifying the terminal 10 and indicative of voice call status having been changed, the transmission being performed by communication using the application. Upon receipt of communication data through communication using the application from a communication source terminal 10, the relay server 20 identifies a communication destination terminal based on the voice call status change notice and transmits the communication data to the identified communication destination terminal.
US09432793B2
A head-related transfer function (HRTF) convolution method arranged, when an audio signal is reproduced acoustically by an electro-acoustic conversion unit disposed in a nearby position of both ears of a listener, to convolute an HRTF into the audio signal, which allows the listener to listen to the audio signal such that a sound image is localized in a perceived virtual sound image localization position, the method including the steps of: measuring, when a sound source is disposed in the virtual sound image localization position, and a sound-collecting unit is disposed in the position of the electro-acoustic conversion unit, a direct-wave direction HRTF regarding the direction of a direct wave, and reflected-wave direction HRTFs regarding the directions of selected one or more reflected waves, from the sound source to the sound-collecting unit, separately beforehand; and convoluting the obtained direct-wave direction HRTF, and the reflected-wave direction HRTFs into the audio signal.
US09432788B2
A conductive circuit of a thin film for using in a planar magnetic transducer, where the conductive circuit is created from laser etching, including laser ablation or laser delamination of portions of a conductive material disposed on a diaphragm substrate. The conductive circuit so formed has varied widths, height, or spacing throughout the diaphragm, allowing for adaptation to certain desired performance characteristics. Performance characteristics include a uniform force distribution on the diaphragm, creating very high impedance circuits, increasing current in the circuit, increasing force, and increasing efficiency.
US09432785B2
Systems and methods for removing or reducing distortion in an ultrasonic audio system can include receiving a first audio signal, wherein the first audio signal represents audio content to be reproduced using the ultrasonic audio system; calculating a first error function for the ultrasonic audio system, the first error function comprising an estimate of distortion introduced by reproduction of the audio content by the ultrasonic audio system; transforming the first audio signal into a first pre-conditioned audio signal by combining the first error function with the first audio signal; and modulating the transformed audio signal onto an ultrasonic carrier.
US09432780B2
The present disclosure relates to the wireless communication of information for a hearing assistance device including a multi-mode radio adapted to provide communications at different frequencies using frequency control. In applications of hearing aids, the processor is adapted to perform correction of sound for a hearing impaired user. In certain examples the present subject matter provides an inductive portion for inductive communications. In various applications the multi-mode radio can be used for long range and short range communications.
US09432775B2
Provided is an energy conversion apparatus including a diaphragm on which a coil of a lead pattern is formed, a magnet substrate configured to generate a magnetic field towards the coil on the diaphragm, and a magnetic film configured to generate magnetic force between the magnetic film and the magnet substrate to support the diaphragm therebetween.
US09432768B1
A wearable computer is configured to use beamforming techniques to isolate a user's speech from extraneous audio signals occurring within a physical environment. A microphone array of the wearable computer may generate audio signal data from an utterance from a user's mouth. A motion sensor(s) of the wearable computer may generate motion data from movement of the wearable computer. This motion data may be used to determine a direction vector pointing from the wearable computer to the user's mouth, and a beampattern may be defined that has a beampattern direction in substantial alignment with the determined direction vector to focus the microphone array on the user's mouth for speech isolation.
US09432762B2
A system and method to perform signal processing using a loudspeaker output are described. The system includes an enclosure configured to define a back cavity of the loudspeaker and components to obtain a representation of the loudspeaker acoustic output at the back cavity. The system also includes a processor to process the representation to perform the signal processing.
US09432761B2
One example discloses a signal processor, including: a signal input having an input bandwidth; a first transducer output; a second transducer output; a filter network coupled to the signal input, the first transducer output and the second transducer output; wherein the filter network is configured to output a first portion of the input bandwidth on the first transducer output and a second portion of the input bandwidth on the second transducer output; and a control module coupled to the filter network and configured to adjust the first and second portions of the input bandwidth in response to signal degradation on the first transducer output.
