US09678907B2

A method for scheduling a crossbar using distributed request-grant-accept arbitration between input group arbiters and output group arbiters in a switch unit is provided. Each input group arbiter and output group arbiter maintains an ordered queue of links in an input group or an output group. The ordered queue prioritizes links in the output group or output group that was least recently selected. To satisfy an arbitration slot won on the group-level, the input group arbiter or output group arbiter starts a search from the oldest link that was selected and maintains fairness among links in the group.
US09678903B1

Methods for managing inter-CPU interrupts between sending and receiving CPUs are disclosed. As a part of a method, a target CPU identifier and an interrupt number is written in an interrupt send register of an interrupt sending CPU, the interrupt number is written into one of a plurality of locations of an interrupt receive register corresponding to the target CPU, an identifier of the location of the highest priority interrupt of a plurality of interrupts received by the interrupt receive register is written in an interrupt pick register, the interrupt pick register is read to determine the highest priority interrupt and a matrix associated with the target CPU is read to determine the sender of the highest priority interrupt. The highest priority interrupt is processed.
US09678897B2

A streaming multiprocessor in a parallel processing subsystem processes atomic operations for multiple threads in a multi-threaded architecture. The streaming multiprocessor receives a request from a thread in a thread group to acquire access to a memory location in a lock-protected shared memory, and determines whether a address lock in a plurality of address locks is asserted, where the address lock is associated the memory location. If the address lock is asserted, then the streaming multiprocessor refuses the request. Otherwise, the streaming multiprocessor asserts the address lock, asserts a thread group lock in a plurality of thread group locks, where the thread group lock is associated with the thread group, and grants the request. One advantage of the disclosed techniques is that acquired locks are released when a thread is preempted. As a result, a preempted thread that has previously acquired a lock does not retain the lock indefinitely.
US09678886B2

Embodiments are directed to a method of accessing a data frame, wherein a first portion of the data frame is in a first memory block, and wherein a second portion of the data frame is in a second memory block. The method includes determining that an access of the data frame crosses a boundary between the first second memory blocks, determining that an attempted translation of an address of the first portion of the data frame in the first memory block did not result in a translation fault, and accessing the first portion of the data frame. The method further includes, based at least in part on a determination that an attempted translation of an address of the second portion of the data frame in the second memory block resulted in a translation fault, accessing at least one default character as a replacement for accessing the second portion of the data frame.
US09678885B2

A method and circuit arrangement selectively perform regular expression matching in connection with accessing data with a processing unit based upon one or more regular expression matching-related attributes stored in a memory address translation data structure such as an Effective To Real Translation (ERAT) or Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB). A regular expression matching-related attribute in such a data structure may be used to control whether data being communicated between the processing unit and a communications bus is routed through an expression engine integrated with the processing unit such that regular expression matching may be performed in association with the data communication.
US09678873B2

In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes detecting a cache miss for a cache line. A resource is reserved on each of one or more remote computing nodes, responsive to the cache miss. A request for a state of the cache line on the one or more remote computing nodes is broadcast to the one or more remote computing nodes, responsive to the cache miss. A resource credit is received from a first remote computing node of the one or more remote computing nodes, responsive to the request. The resource credit indicates that the first remote computing node will not participate in completing the request. The resource on the first remote computing node is released, responsive to receiving the resource credit from the first remote computing node.
US09678862B2

A computer system, having a non-volatile storage unit (152), a main storage unit (151), and a data processor (102) including a memory management unit (102A) for managing a program stored in the non-volatile storage unit and the main storage unit to transfer a program stored in the non-volatile storage unit to the main storage unit, wherein the memory management unit (102A) includes a program storage control function of storing a program subjected to predetermined data conversion and a program yet to be subjected to predetermined data conversion in the non-volatile storage unit, and a function of combining programs subjected to predetermined data conversion so as not to bridge over a boundary between blocks at the execution of the program storage control function, as well as, at a first access to a certain block, expanding all the data included in the block to a corresponding block of the main storage unit.
US09678856B2

In general, in one aspect, the technology relates to a method for composable testing. The method may include executing a story by, for at least one step in the story: identifying, from a plurality of generic compiled code interfaces, a code interface matching the step, identifying a user interface (UI) widget referenced in the step, issuing a call to testing script code, the call having a parameter of the UI widget, and executing the call using the testing script code. The method may further include generating a story report from executing the story, and storing the story report.
US09678855B2

The present disclosure relates to maintaining assertions in an integrated development environment (IDE) tool. According to one embodiment, while the IDE tool is compiling the source code of a development project, the IDE tool generates at least a first compiler warning. The first compiler warning generally corresponds to at least one line of source code in a first source code component of the development project. A first set of assertions to add to the source code of the development project is determined based on the line of source code that resulted in the first compiler warning. The IDE tool adds the first set of assertions to the source code of the development project. The first set of assertions are compiled as part of the source code of the development project.
US09678843B2

In one or more aspects, a determination is made as to whether a connector is securely fastened, whether the connector connected within a socket structure is the expected connector for that socket structure, and/or whether connectors coupled to one another via one or more cables are properly positioned for communication between them. Information on selected physical connection elements of a connector is used to determine one or more structural characteristics of the cable(s) connected to the connector and to determine whether the connector is the expected connector for a particular socket structure.
US09678812B2

In a data processing system, a switch includes a receive data structure including receive entries each uniquely corresponding to a receive window, where each receive entry includes addressing information for one or more mailboxes into which messages can be injected, a send data structure including send entries each uniquely corresponding to a send window, where each send entry includes a receive window field that identifies one or more receive windows, and switch logic. The switch logic, responsive to a request to push a message to one or more receiving threads, accesses a send entry that corresponds to a send window of the sending thread, utilizes contents of the receive window field of the send entry to access one or more of the receive entries, and pushes the message to one or more mailboxes of one or more receiving threads utilizing the addressing information of the receive entry or entries.
US09678809B2

Systems and methods that allow for Dynamic Clock and Voltage Scaling (DCVS) aware interprocessor communications among processors such as those used in or with a portable computing device (“PCD”) are presented. During operation of the PCD at least one data packet is received at a first processing component. Additionally, the first processing component also receives workload information about a second processing component operating under dynamic clock and voltage scaling (DCVS). A determination is made, based at least in part on the received workload information, whether to send the at least one data packet from the first processing component to the second processing component or to a buffer, providing a cost effective ability to reduce power consumption and improved battery life in PCDs with multi-cores or multi-CPUs implementing DCVS algorithms or logic.
US09678808B2

A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for performing write-only inter processor reset synchronization. In one embodiment, the processing unit comprises: a communication unit to transmit information to the second processing unit; memory to store reset synchronization information and message information; and processing logic to perform write-only reset synchronization between itself and the second processing unit based on bit indications set in the memory.
US09678807B2

Hybrid threading in a processor is described. An integrated circuit that implements hybrid threading includes a power control unit (PCU), a first functional hardware unit coupled to the PCU, and a second functional hardware unit coupled to the PCU. The first functional hardware unit and the second functional hardware unit are heterogeneous functional hardware units. The PCU is configured to monitor at least one power attribute of the first and second functional hardware units. The PCU is further configured to calculate an aggregate power value based on the monitored at least one power attribute. Upon determining that the aggregate power value is below a power threshold, the PCU is also configured to calculate a first frequency for the first functional hardware unit and a second frequency for the second functional hardware unit that results in an updated aggregate power value that is closer to the power threshold.
US09678802B2

A distributed node service management system utilizes multiple existing processor nodes of a distributed computing system, in support of the primary data processing functions of the distributed computing system. The distributed node service management system coordinates and manages service functions on behalf of processor nodes of the distributed computing system. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.
US09678799B2

In one aspect of the present description, in a distributed node management system for a distributed computing system having multiple processor nodes, each processor node has a local data structure which contains a “to-do tasks” synchronization table that resides on each such processor node. The “to-do-tasks” synchronization table contains one or more actions that each processor node may perform to facilitate maintaining the operations of the associated processor node with equivalent knowledge of the system configuration, status and backup capabilities as the other processor nodes of the distributed computing system. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.
US09678791B2

A first and second data handling systems provides for shared resources in a docked mobile environment. The first data handling system maintains a set of execution tasks within the first data handling system having a system dock interface to physically couple to the second data handling system. The first data handling system assigns a task to be executed by the second data handling system while the two systems are physically coupled.
US09678782B2

Embodiments associate software applications with computing resource containers based on a placement rule and a selected failure correlation. A placement rule indicates that a first software application is to be co-located with a second software application during execution of the first and second software applications. The placement rule also indicates that the first software application is to be separated from the second software application during execution of the first and second software applications. Failure correlations are determined for a plurality of computing resources associated with the first software application. A computing resource with a lowest failure correlation is selected from the plurality of computing resources, and the second software application is associated with the selected computing resource despite the association violating the placement rule.
US09678769B1

A host computing device can include a host domain that includes an agent for configuring the operation and/or functionality of virtual machine instances and/or operating systems associated with the instances, which may be heterogeneous (i.e., running different operating systems than each other). One or more data volumes associated with the host machine can include an image of an operating system. In an embodiment the agent can access the image of the operating system and configure operating system settings, add data, and/or remove data.
US09678758B2

Systems and methods for implementing certain load instructions, such as vector load instructions by cooperation of a main processor and a coprocessor. The load instructions which are identified by the main processor for offloading to the coprocessor are committed in the main processor without receiving corresponding load data. Post-commit, the load instructions are processed in the coprocessor, such that latencies incurred in fetching the load data are hidden from the main processor. By implementing an out-of-order load data buffer associated with an in-order instruction buffer, the coprocessor is also configured to avoid stalls due to long latencies which may be involved in fetching the load data from levels of memory hierarchy, such as L2, L3, L4 caches, main memory, etc.
US09678750B2

In one embodiment, a processor may include a vector unit to perform operations on multiple data elements responsive to a single instruction, and a control unit coupled to the vector unit to provide the data elements to the vector unit, where the control unit is to enable an atomic vector operation to be performed on at least some of the data elements responsive to a first vector instruction to be executed under a first mask and a second vector instruction to be executed under a second mask. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09678746B2

In general, embodiments of the invention provide an approach to discover and enforce coding conventions among a group of developers. Specifically, source code files for a group of developers are imported from a code repository. The source code files are analyzed to discover the commonly used coding conventions of the group. Convention templates are generated based on these coding conventions. Each convention template is assigned a weighted value, and the convention templates are reviewed and approved based on the weighted value.
US09678742B2

An information processing apparatus stores update firmware for updating the firmware of an option unit. When the option unit is connected to the information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus updates the firmware of the option unit by using the stored update firmware.
US09678741B2

In one embodiment, a computing device may execute software from a first portion of memory of the computing device. The computing device may download from a server a new version of the software. The client computing device may receive instructions from the server to request an over-the-air (OTA) download of the new version of the software. The instructions may be an out-of-band message. The new version of the software may be installed into a second portion of memory of the computing device, and the new version of the software is executed from the second portion of memory. The download of the new version of software may be pursuant to a manifest for the download to determine whether the computing device may download the new version of software.
US09678740B2

Methods, systems, and computer program products for enabling software upgrades and migrations are described. A selection of one or more software entities is generated and a target product vector is defined based on the selection of one or more software entities. A start component vector is computed based on a landscape of a source system and a target component vector is computed based on the start component vector and target product vector. A determination of whether a component of the target component vector is a successor of a selected component of the start component vector is made and one or more migration files are generated comprising the target product vector and the target component vector based on the determination.
US09678736B2

A system and method for communicating software images includes a server device that stores a software image therein and a client device that communicates a client device identifier to the server device through a network. The server communicates the software image to the client device through the network. The client device operates based on the software image.
US09678733B2

Web content, an initial installer, and a common installer set (a set of a common installer execution file, a common installer settings file, and a common installer character string file) are stored in a software providing system. The Web content causes a display of a user terminal to display a Web page which receives operations on a user terminal side in order to download the initial installer to the user terminal. As a result of an operation on the Web page, the initial installer is downloaded from the software providing system to the user terminal, and operates on the user terminal. The initial installer downloads the common installer set from the software providing system to the user terminal. The common installer set downloads and installs a plurality of application programs on the user terminal, from the software providing system.
US09678725B1

A method of processing telephony sessions for telephony clients, the method comprising the steps of providing a platform server operated by a service provider, the platform server programmed to perform the steps of storing at least one telephony application for each of a plurality of telephony clients of the service provider, receiving a call from a customer at the platform server to one of the telephony clients, identifying a telephony client associated with the received call, identifying an interactive telephony application associated with the telephony client and the received call and performing the identified interactive telephony application on the platform server on behalf of the identified telephony client and independent of any instructions from the telephony client.
US09678724B2

A system and method for combining text editing and tree encoding for computer programs and related software. Source code for programs and the like are stored using a maintaining a structured tree representation comprising a plurality of nodes, including nodes associated with respective identifiers, operands, operators, variables, and flow control elements in the source code, and nodes associated with formatting aspects of a text-based representation of the source code. During program editing, a continuous loop of operations is performed to support interactive editing of the source code, including unparsing the structured tree representation to derive tokens, processing the tokens to generate an editable text-based representation of the source code, detecting edits to the source code via the text-based representation, and in response thereto generating one or more new tokens and/or deleting one or more existing tokens, parsing the tokens, and processing the parsed tokens to update the structure tree representation of the source code to reflect the edited source code.
US09678714B2

Method and computer system for implementing an operation on ≧1 floating point input, in accordance with a rounding mode, e.g. using a Newton-Raphson technique. The floating point result comprises a p-bit mantissa. An unrounded proposed mantissa result is determined using the Newton-Raphson technique, wherein a p-bit rounded proposed mantissa result, t, corresponds to a rounding of the unrounded proposed mantissa result in accordance with the rounding mode, with k leading zeroes. If an increment to the (m−k)th bit of the unrounded result would affect the p-bit rounded result then the input(s) and bits of the unrounded result are used to determine a check parameter which is indicative of a relationship between an exact result and the unrounded result if the (m−k)th bit were incremented. The p-bit mantissa of the floating point result, is determined in dependence upon the check parameter, to be either t or t+1.
US09678694B2

Mobile devices enable users to access data and documents in a convenient portable format. The disclosed method and system enables management of permissions associated with documents to be transferred/moved onto a mobile device for review or reference by making the transfer simple and straight forward so that it may be easy for non-technically literate users using a printer driver metaphor on a sending device such as a personal computer.
US09678687B2

In an example, there is disclosed a computing apparatus, including a processor, including a trusted execution instruction set; a memory having an enclave portion, wherein the enclave is accessible only via the trusted execution instruction set; a swap file; and a memory management engine operable to: allocate a buffer within the enclave; receive a scope directive to indicate that the buffer is in scope; and protect the buffer from swapping to the swap file while the buffer is in scope. There is further disclosed an method of providing a memory management engine, and one or more computer-readable storage mediums having stored thereon executable instructions for providing the memory management engine.
US09678685B1

Live updating of a changed block tracking (CBT) driver. In one example embodiment, a method for live updating of a CBT driver may include loading a CBT driver into a running operating system and then performing various acts without rebooting the running operating system. These acts may include tracking, using the CBT driver, writes to blocks of a source storage between a first snapshot time and a second snapshot time, loading an updated CBT driver into the running operating system with the updated CBT driver having a different name than the CBT driver, handing over the tracking of writes to blocks of the source storage from the CBT driver to the updated CBT driver at a handover time, and tracking, using the updated CBT driver, writes to blocks of the source storage between the handover time and the second snapshot time.
US09678683B1

Methods and systems for provisioning persistent storage are disclosed. For example, a new isolated guest and associated persistent storage volume are requested to be created. The isolated guest is based on an image file in an image repository and is associated with metadata. An orchestrator obtains the image file. The orchestrator reserves the persistent storage volume by updating the system resource allocation database based on the metadata. The persistent storage volume is then created in the persistent storage based on the reservation of the persistent storage volume in the system resource allocation database. The orchestrator activates the constructed isolated guest and the isolated guest accesses the persistent storage volume.
US09678682B2

A system includes non-volatile memory storing firmware and an embedded baseboard management controller (BMC). The BMC includes a BMC volatile memory and a BMC processor coupled to the BMC volatile memory and the non-volatile memory. The BMC processor performs a first method wherein the firmware is obtained from the non-volatile memory, instrumented, and stored on a host computer volatile memory. Also in the first method, separate copies of vital debug information about the instrumented firmware are stored on the BMC volatile memory and the host computer volatile memory. The system further includes a host computer housing the embedded BMC, the host computer volatile memory, and a host computer processor coupled to the host computer volatile memory. The host computer processor performs a second method wherein the instrumented firmware is obtained from the host computer volatile memory and executed.
US09678678B2

According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of retrieving data in a storage network may include determining a list of storage blocks of a storage network for potential retrieval of a data file for storage on a first storage block of the storage network. The determining may be based on two or more of: assignment information of the data file as assigned by a storage network manager, location information, device types, peer-to-peer reachability, network information, and presence information. The method may also include attempting to retrieve the data file from a second storage block included in the list of storage blocks for storage on the first storage block. Further, the method may include attempting to retrieve the data file from a third storage block included in the list of storage blocks for storage on the first storage block when retrieval from the second storage block fails.
US09678656B2

Inadvertent touch selection events from a touch screen are avoided. A threshold physical distance between a touch start and a touch end for a touch screen is set. A touch input from the touch screen is received. A determination is made as to whether or not the touch input traverses a distance that is less than or greater than the threshold physical distance. In response to determining that the touch input traverses a distance that is less or equal to the threshold physical distance, a processor activates a selection event for an item. In response to determining that the touch input traverses a distance that is greater than the threshold physical distance, the processor scrolls the plurality of scrollable items.
US09678643B2

A client device requests a web page via a network, where the web page is identified by an identifier and references a widget. Following receipt of the requested web page, the client device requests the widget referenced by the requested web page and presents, within the requested web page, a presentation of the widget. Thereafter, in response to receiving user information within the presentation of the widget, the client device communicates the user information to a server via a secure connection between the widget on the client device and the server while maintaining user context at the client device in the requested web page, where the secure connection is initiated by the client device and employs a secure communication protocol implemented by the widget.
US09678642B2

A system and methods for selecting a region of pixels in an image displayed on a touch-sensitive interface is disclosed. The method for selecting the region of pixels is based on determined connectivity of pixels in the image indicating content of the image and includes determining connected pixels on the image representing the content without performing character recognition, detecting a text selection gesture indicative of selecting the region in the image, determining coordinates of the text selection gesture performed on the touch-sensitive interface and selecting the region in the image by bounding a first set of pixels located at a proximity from the coordinates of the text selection gesture.
US09678635B2

Computer systems and methods may display multi-dimensional data sets in a dynamically-generated ocular view, which may show the relationship between data points in the different dimensions. For example, such a data set may include in one dimension results of one or more laboratory tests and, in another dimension, body systems or functions that the respective tests may relate to. The ocular view may depict the relationships between the tests and the systems. By being generated dynamically, moreover, the ocular view may be able to present this information for arbitrary sets of test results, without a template having been generated in advance to specify the layout of some particular combination of results.
US09678630B2

A method for managing an electronic book (e-book) is provided. The method includes mapping e-books corresponding to class textbooks by time zone based on a timetable, displaying the timetable comprising objects corresponding to the e-books mapped by time zone and class related information, and, if any one of the objects corresponding to the e-books is touched, opening and displaying a page of an e-book corresponding to the touched object.
US09678626B2

A computing device is configured with a multifunctional backlit display. The backlighting can be operated in at least a first mode and a second mode. In a first mode, the backlighting provides luminance to the display so that images on the display can be easily seen. In a second mode, the backlighting provides visual stimulus for relaying information to a user or a user's surroundings.
US09678623B2

A graphical user interface made up of icons representing individual files and collectively forming the shape of a “v” is described along with methods of using and creating the graphical user interface. The v-shaped interface is useful to display detailed information about many of the items in a list and facilitates manipulation of list order and selection of the active file in the list. The interface further permits the use of a representative icon associated with the list as a whole. Manipulation of the representative icon can cause modification or replacement of the entire playlist represented by the icon.
US09678621B2

Navigating on a display includes tracking motion of an input tool on a display, comparing a motion of the input tool to a threshold, and changing a position of the visible portion of a page of information on the display if the input tool motion exceeds the threshold. The position of the visible portion of the page of information on the display is constrained if the motion does not exceed the threshold.
US09678613B2

An input device (2a) includes: a position/angle determining section (505) for determining an adjacent region (F1) and defining, in the adjacent region (F1), an input coordinate system that is in common with a counterpart device; a detection position control section (701) for determining first detection coordinates indicating a user operation performed in the adjacent region (F1) in the input coordinate system; and a data transmitting and receiving section (506) for transmitting the first detection coordinates to the counterpart device.
US09678609B2

Systems and processes for stimulating a touch sensor panel using orthogonal frequencies are provided. In one example process, the drive lines of the touch sensor panel can be stimulated with stimulation signals having orthogonal frequencies. The orthogonal frequencies can be separated by a frequency that is inversely proportional to an integration time of the touch sensor panel. The touch signals generated in response to the stimulation signals can be amplified, converted into digital form, demodulated using the orthogonal frequencies, and integrated over the integration time. Integrating the demodulated signals over a length of time that is inversely proportional to the frequency spacing between the orthogonal frequencies reduces or eliminates interference in the touch signals caused by the stimulation signals having different frequencies.
US09678603B2

In a method of operating at least first and second electronic devices, the devices are each arranged to transmit and receive ultrasonic signals, e.g. to operate a touchless user interface. Both devices, or at least two of the devices, are synchronised to transmit said signals at substantially the same time. The devices may, for example, listen to each other's ultrasonic signals or use a WiFi network access point for synchronization.
US09678596B2

A non-transitory storage medium stores instructions executable by a communication terminal. The communication terminal includes: a display; an input device for detecting an instructed point where an instruction is provided with an input object; and a communication device for communicating with a processing apparatus. When executed by the computer, the instructions cause the communication terminal to: receive, from the processing apparatus, instruction image data for displaying an instruction image for instructing a processing to be executed by the processing apparatus; display the instruction image on the display based on the received instruction image data; and transmit, to the processing apparatus, an input event on the input device and coordinate information about the instructed point on the display which is detected by the input device in a state in which the instruction image is displayed.
US09678592B2

An input device includes a display to display an operation object on a display screen, a touch sensor to output an operation signal based on a touch location on an operation surface, a force sensor to detect a pressing force to the operation surface and output a detection signal, a vibrator to vibrate the operation surface based on a vibration control signal, and a controller to output the vibration control signal such that the vibrator vibrates at a frequency in a predetermined range when the touch location is within a region corresponding to the operation object and when the pressing force detected is not less than a predetermined value, and the vibrator vibrates with a waveform obtained by amplitude-modulating a waveform at a frequency in an ultrasonic range by a modulation wave at a frequency in a predetermined range when the pressing force detected is smaller than the predetermined value.
US09678589B2

Disclosed is a touch sensing display device capable of sensing both touch position and touch force, shortening a driving time for the touch sensing, and improving touch sensing efficiency, and an apparatus for driving thereof. The display device can include a color filter, a plurality of first touch electrodes for touch force sensing, and a plurality of second touch electrodes for touch position sensing and separated from the first touch electrodes by the color filter. The display can also include a force sensing touch driver for the first touch electrodes and a touch position touch driver for the second touch electrodes.
US09678588B2

An LCD module may include a color filter (CF) layer with pixels for modifying light energy to form a display image. A transistor layer below the CF layer may include a glass panel, conductive pathways, and transistors coupled to the conductive pathways and for controlling the pixels. A control layer is located below the transistor layer and may include a display controller for generating signals to control the transistor. First wire bondings carry the signals between the display controller and the conductive pathways included in the transistor layer. The LCD module may be used in a substantially round device, such as a watch, to provide a substantially borderless display.
US09678585B2

An embodiment provides a method, including: identifying, using a processor, a pen characteristic; identifying, using a processor, an inability to communicate between the pen and an input component using the pen characteristic; and responsive to detecting the inability, disabling a pen feature. Other embodiments, including systems, devices and products, are described and claimed.
US09678577B1

User interface devices with electromagnetic dipole array and associated magnetic sensors, control circuits, and processing elements for determining user actuation of the device are disclosed. In one embodiment a user interface device include an electromagnetic dipole array coupled to an actuator, along with a three-axis magnetic sensor and control and processing elements for controlling driving currents to the dipole array and sensing and processing received magnetic field signals to determine movement or displacement of the actuator.
US09678575B2

The present invention relates to a mounting for connecting at least one peripherally-connected evacuation channel to the spout of a flexible bag and more particularly to a flexible mounting for connecting such at least one evacuation channel.
US09678568B2

An electronic apparatus is provided. The apparatus has a displaying unit for displaying plural items, the items prepared for giving instructions of performing different operations respectively, a detecting unit for detecting movement, and a controlling unit for, when an item is designated from among the plural items, performing an operation corresponding to the designated item. Further, on the assumption that any of the plural items is designated on the displaying unit and the detecting unit detects movement, the controlling unit changes an indication of the designated item or an indication relating to designated item, displayed on the displaying unit, and on the assumption that other item is designated on the displaying unit and the detecting unit detects movement, changes an indication of the designated other item or an indication relating to designated other item, displayed on the displaying unit.
US09678564B2

An intelligent interrupt distributor balances interrupts (workload) in a highly parallelized system. The intelligent interrupt distributor distributes the interrupts between the processor cores. This allows lowering of voltage and frequency of individual processors and ensures that the overall system power consumption is reduced.
US09678562B2

A bus system comprises a plurality of bus modules each for performing data transfer between a master module and a slave module. A power control module controls transition to a power-saving mode of each bus module based on communication with the plurality of bus modules. The power control module comprises a plurality of control modules corresponding to the plurality of bus modules respectively. Each control module performs communication with the corresponding bus module using power control signals.
US09678555B2

Methods and systems are disclosed that may be employed to enable multi-phase voltage regulator (VR) system calibration during the development phase of a multi-phase VR system so as to meet defined accuracy targets and, in one example, to avoid the need for system level calibration in a production environment. The disclosed systems and methods may be further implemented to enable use of multiple sources for and types of integrated power stages (IPstages) in a common multi-phase VR system configuration while still achieving the required current sense accuracy, thus reducing or substantially eliminating continuity of supply (COS) concerns.
US09678547B1

An electronic device is configured to perform a power cycle reset in response to a change in charging power applied to the device. The device includes an electrical load with a microprocessor, a battery, a charging circuit that receives power from an external power source and uses the received power to charge the battery, and a control circuit that regulates the power cycle reset operation. The power supply circuit selectively uses the battery to power the device by coupling the load to a power supply path and discharges the load by coupling the load to a discharge path. The control circuit receives, from the charging circuit, an indication of a change in power applied to the charging circuit and responsively generates a control signal and applies the control signal to the power supply circuit, which causes the power supply circuit to temporarily couple the load to the discharge path.
US09678536B2

A wearable computer may include a housing that rotates in relation to a rear cover to selectively allow access to a battery. The wearable computer may be secured to a user's extremity by a mounting strap extending from the rear cover. The housing is rotatable between a first orientation and a second orientation. In the first orientation, the rear cover extends along the rear surface of the housing, and a latching assembly allows a user to selectively secure the housing to the cover. In the second orientation, the rear surface of the housing extends at an angle from the rear cover, allowing a user access to the battery without removing the housing from the user's extremity. A data cable connected to an input/output port on the rear surface can be routed out of a side of the housing.
US09678530B2

An clock skew adjusting structure is provided. The clock skew adjusting structure includes a substrate, a wiring structure, a first active component and a second active component. The wiring structure includes at least a wiring layer and at least a via, the via is configured for different wiring layers to be electrically connected with each other. The first active component is formed on the substrate and configured for delivering a clock signal to the wiring structure. The second active component is formed on the substrate and electrically connected to the first active component through the wiring structure thus forming a timing path. The second active component receives the clock signal through the timing path.
US09678524B2

Apparatuses and methods for power regulation based on input power using circuitry are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may include a reference circuit configured to receive a first voltage and a second voltage and to provide an output reference voltage at an output node having a value equal to the second voltage subtracted from the first voltage. The reference circuit may be configured to mirror a current of a first circuit coupled between the second voltage and a reference voltage through a second circuit coupled between the first voltage and the output node. The example apparatus may further include a power circuit configured to provide a third voltage based on the output reference voltage. The third voltage may have a value that is equal to the output reference voltage.
US09678521B2

Peak current, valley current or average current mode controlled power converters in either digital or analog implementations obtain a stabilized feedback loop and allow high system bandwidth design by use of an external ramp generator using a slope computation equation or design parameters based on fixing the quality factor of a double pole at one-half of the switching frequency at a desired value The slope of the external ramp waveform is tuned automatically with knowledge of the slope change in the waveform of inductor current of a power converter derived by differentiating a waveform in the current feedback loop. This autotuning of the external ramp generator provides immunity of quality factor change under variations of duty cycle, component values of topological change of the power converter.
US09678518B2

The invention relates to a thermostat for communicating with a remote maintenance server. The thermostat being configured for receiving and sending network data from and to the remote maintenance server. The thermostat is configured to receive network data provided by a maintenance interface service for receiving and displaying network data from and to a maintenance person. The thermostat is configured for receiving and sending remote controller data from and to a remote controller. The thermostat is configured to receive remote controller data from a user through a controller user interface. The thermostat is configured for receiving and sending appliance data from and to at least one appliance. The thermostat is configured for generating a request for appliance data from the at least one appliance and the thermostat is configured for receiving appliance data in response to the request for appliance data.
US09678517B2

A system comprising a temperature controlled device, a primary energy source, and either or both of an electronic device and an electro-mechanical device. One or both of the electronic device and an electro-mechanical device include a secondary energy source, a switching device, a measuring device, and optionally a controller. The temperature controlled device is connected to the secondary energy source when the temperature controlled device is turned on. The measuring device measures a predetermined condition, and the switching device switches from the secondary energy source to the primary energy source when the temperature controlled device achieves the predetermined condition. The predetermined condition is achieved in about 60 seconds or less.
US09678513B2

A fluid regulating unit includes a body, a pressure regulator, and a control valve. The body has an inlet, an outlet configured to output a regulated flow of fluid, and a flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet. The body integrates a pressure regulator and a control valve, each of which is disposed in the flow path. The pressure regulator has a regulator body, a control assembly configured to control a fluid flow through the regulator body, a sensor operatively coupled to the control assembly to control a position of the control element, and a bonnet movably coupled to the regulator body. The regulator body and the bonnet define a reference chamber disposed in the flow path. The reference chamber is configured to apply a reference force to the sensor to control the fluid flow through the regulator body.
US09678512B2

A method for operating a fluid additive control system to inject a fluid additive into a fluid dispensation system is provided. The method includes receiving a first control signal indicating that a fluid dispensation device within the fluid dispensation system is active, and determining a fluid additive quantity based upon the identity of the fluid dispensation device. The method also includes activating a fluid additive injection system, where the fluid additive dispensation system injects the fluid additive into the fluid dispensation system in response to the activation. The method further includes receiving a second control signal from the fluid additive injection system when the fluid additive quantity for the zone has been injected into the fluid dispensation system, and deactivating the fluid additive dispensation system in response to the second control signal.
US09678507B1

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) survey system and methods for surveying an area of interest are disclosed. The system can include a plurality of docking stations positioned at predetermined locations within the area of interest, each docking station comprising a platform to support a UAV while docked at the docking station; a battery charger; and a communications interface; a plurality of UAVs distributed among the plurality of docking stations, each UAV comprising a communications interface; and a system controller comprising a processor and transmitter communicatively coupled to the plurality of UAVs.
US09678506B2

Methods and systems are described for new paradigms for user interaction with an unmanned aerial vehicle (referred to as a flying digital assistant or FDA) using a portable multifunction device (PMD) such as smart phone. In some embodiments, a magic wand user interaction paradigm is described for intuitive control of an FDA using a PMD. In other embodiments, methods for scripting a shot are described.
US09678494B2

The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with controlling lighting based on a presentation display, such as a television, mobile device, white board, etc. The disclosed embodiments can involve a lighting system, a presentation display, a monitoring system, and a controller. The lighting system provides light to an area and may include a light source and an adjustment mechanism to adjust the light source. The lighting system can include natural light sources and/or artificial light sources. The adjustment mechanism may adjust, for example, one or more of an intensity, orientation, polarization, color, flicker rate, polarization, and other characteristics of the light source. The presentation display can be monitored by a monitoring system to monitor a status of the presentation display. The controller processes the status of the presentation display and signal the adjustment mechanism to adjust the light source, based on the status of the presentation display.
US09678493B2

The invention provides a position detection apparatus comprising: a base part, a moving part movable relatively with respect to the base part, a position detection part that detects a position of the moving part relative to the base part on the basis of a magnetic flux change to produce position data, a temperature detection part that detects an ambient temperature, a position correction part that calculates a correction value on the basis of a difference between the position data and a given reference value and the ambient temperature, and corrects the position data on the basis of the calculated correction value to produce a first corrected position data, and a linearity correction part that corrects the first corrected position data on the basis of the correction value for nonlinearity of the position detection part to produce a second corrected position data, wherein: the position detection part is capable of detecting position value as far as a position area where, within a position range of relative movement of the moving part to the base part, the magnetic flux change in association with a change in an amount of the relative movement is nonlinear.
US09678491B2

An energy management system 1 is provided with an SOFC unit 100 and a gas meter 200. The gas meter 200 includes: a control unit 230 that stops gas supply when continuous use of gas lasts a specific period; and a transmission unit 220 that transmits a stop instruction signal to the SOFC unit 100 before a timing at which continuous use of gas lasts the specific period, the stop instruction signal designating a time limit that is before the timing and instructing to stop the SOFC unit 100.
US09678488B1

A system and method for performing build verification of equipment systems after being installed in a partially constructed vehicle portion. After installing one or more of prerequisite equipment systems during a current build stage of a vehicle build plan, the installed equipment systems are tested during the current build stage to determine whether the installed equipment systems are electrically connected correctly.
US09678487B1

A method of allocating a fixed resource includes displaying an interface control in a user interface display. The interface control includes at least three continuous value control elements associated with a group including at least three categories. Each continuous value control element is associated with a value associated with a category of the group. The operator of the values associated with the at least three continuous value control elements is equal to a fixed quantity. In response to a first user input, a first continuous value control element is locked to fix the value associated with the first continuous value control element. In response to a second user input, a second continuous value control element is adjusted to change the value associated with the second continuous value control element. The method further includes automatically adjusting unlocked continuous value control elements of the at least three continuous value control elements other than the second continuous value control element to maintain the operator of the values associated with the at least three continuous value control elements equal to the fixed quantity.
US09678483B2

A controller that controls both safety and application functions of connected equipment is disclosed. The controller allows a user to freely program application specific functions while preventing the application functions from affecting the safety functions of the controller. This may give the user more flexibility and leeway when programming the application specific programming functions, without having to worry about affecting the safe operation of the connected equipment.
US09678482B2

A biological information processing system includes a pulse wave information acquisition unit that acquires pulse wave information of a user, and a processing unit that determines a sleep state of the user on the basis of the pulse wave information and instructs an alarm control unit to perform an alarm notification based on a notification mode according to the sleep state.
US09678480B2

A clock comprises an alarm clock housing having a front face, a clock display occupying at least a portion of the front face, a control on the housing for activating a shade positioning function, and a processor within the housing. The processor is responsive to the control for generating at least one shade positioning command to be transmitted to at least one motorized window shade, so as to cause the motorized window shade to move to one or more position at one or more corresponding predetermined interval relative to an alarm time.
US09678462B2

An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment includes a fixing device, a transport unit and a controller. The fixing device includes a heat roller and a pressure roller that is moveable with respect to the heat roller. A movement mechanism moves the pressure roller among a contact position in which the pressure roller contacts the heat roller with a first pressing force, a separation position in which the pressure roller does not contact the heat roller, and a semi-contact position in which the pressure roller contacts the heat roller with a second pressing force smaller than the first pressing force. The transport unit transports a medium between the heat roller and the pressure roller. The controller controls the movement mechanism so that the pressure roller moves from the semi-contact position to the separation position after the pressure unit is in the semi-contact position for more than a predetermined time.
US09678454B2

Techniques for liquid electrography printing are described herein. In at least some examples herein, a liquid electrographic printer includes a charging element for charging a photo imaging plate (PIP). A light source irradiates light onto the charge element. The irradiated light is to heat the charge element to a selected temperature.
US09678450B2

Provided is [i] a toner including at least a colorant, a resin, and a releasing agent, wherein a spin-spin relaxation time (t2) of the toner at 90° C. obtained by Hahn Echo method of pulse NMR analysis is from 1.80 msec to 7.00 msec. Also provided is [ii] a toner according to [i], wherein the spin-spin relaxation time (t2) of the toner at 90° C. obtained by Hahn Echo method of pulse NMR analysis is from 3.80 msec to 5.90 msec.
US09678448B2

A method for producing a toner for electrostatic image development containing at least an amorphous polyester and a crystalline polylactic acid, including step 1: mixing an amorphous polyester and a crystalline polylactic acid at a temperature of from 140° to 250° C.; step 2: melt-kneading a mixture obtained in the step 1; and step 3: pulverizing and classifying a melt-kneaded product obtained in the step 2; and a toner for electrostatic image development obtainable by the method. The toner for electrostatic image development obtainable by the method of the present invention is suitably used in development or the like of latent images formed in an electrostatic development method, an electrostatic recording method, an electrostatic printing method, or the like.
US09678442B2

An analysis system that includes a processor and an memory module; wherein the memory module is arranged to store aerial images of an area of a mask, each aerial image corresponds to focus value out of a set of different focus values; wherein the processor is arranged to find weak points by processing the aerial images using different printability thresholds; and wherein the processor is arranged to determine focus and exposure values for generating a Process Window Qualification (PWQ) wafer to be manufactured using the mask in response to focus and exposure values associated with the weak points.
US09678436B2

An irradiation module for a measuring apparatus is provided. The irradiation module is light-conductive, is configured as a cohesive body and comprises a beam-splitting surface arranged within the irradiation module for splitting an incoming measuring beam into two partial beams. Furthermore, the irradiation module comprises an optical diffraction grating for interaction with a first of the two partial beams and a reflection surface for reflecting the second partial beam.
US09678429B2

A method of producing a relief image printing element from a photocurable printing blank. The method includes the steps of a) providing a photocurable printing blank, the photocurable printing blank comprising (i) a backing or support layer; and (ii) one or more photocurable layers disposed on the backing or support layer. The one or more photocurable layers are selectively imaged by exposing the layers to actinic radiation to selectively crosslink and cure portions of the one or more photocurable layers, and then developed to remove uncured portions of the one or more photocurable layers and reveal the relief image therein. The relief image comprises a plurality of relief printing dots, including relief printing dots that have a rounded top and relief printing dots that have a flat top.
US09678423B2

A resist composition which generates acid upon exposure and exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under action of acid, and which includes a base component (A) which exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the acid-generator component (B) including a compound (B0-1) represented by general formula (b0) shown below (in the formula, Yx01 represents a divalent linking group; n represents an integer of 1 to 3; and M′m+ represents an organic cation having a valency of m.
US09678420B2

A medical imaging system comprises at least an image plate, X-ray device for producing an image of an object on said image plate, and a reading device for reading image information held by the image plate. In connection with the image plate there is a tag containing information for controlling the arrangement in such a manner that when the arrangement has read the information in the tag the arrangement is adapted to perform at least one operation controlled by the information read.
US09678417B2

A projector includes a light source unit comprising a microlens array having a first area and a second area having a wider interval than that of the first area, a first light source configured to emit light to be incident on the first area, and a second light source configured to emit light to be incident on the first area and the second area, wherein the microlens array diffuses the lights emitted from the first light source and the second light source by microlenses thereof, a collective lens collecting diffuse lights diffused by the microlens array, a display device on which the diffuse lights collected by the collective lens are shone to produce projected light, a projection optical system guiding the projected light produced by the display device, and a control unit controlling the display device and the light source unit.
US09678407B2

A focal plane shutter is provided with a switching mechanism having an electromagnet and a stopping member. The stopping member is provided with an engaging portion able to lock an engagement portion provided in a first driving member for a leading edge, and an operating portion wherein a direction of a force, in relation to the electromagnet, switches, in accordance with switching between an application and removal of an electric current in a single direction to the electromagnet, so as to move the engaging portion to a position wherein it is able to release locking of the engagement portion when the electric current is applied, and to move the engaging portion to a position wherein it is able to lock the engagement portion when the electric current is removed.
US09678399B2

An array substrate, a method of repairing the same, a display panel and a display device are disclosed. A data-line repair line, which is connected with a data line and insulated from a common electrode, is provided in each pixel area in an array substrate and an orthogonal projection of the data-line repair line on a base substrate has an overlapped area with an orthogonal projection of a sub-electrode or a connection line of a common electrode on the substrate. Therefore, if a breakage occurs to a data line at its overlapped area with a gate line on the array substrate, it is able to repair the breakage via the date line repair line and a portion cut out of the common electrode.
US09678398B2

A structure and a method for obtaining capacitance in an array substrate are disclosed. The structure comprises a first conductive region, arranged in a same layer as a first conductive layer of said array substrate; a second conductive region, arranged in a same layer as a second conductive layer of said array substrate, wherein said second conductive region overlaps with said first conductive region partly or totally; a first measurement region, connected with said first conductive region; and a second measurement region, connected with said second conductive region. The capacitance of the corresponding capacitor of the sub pixel can be detected by the structure, thereby providing data basis for judging the performance and quality of the sub pixel and the liquid crystal display panel.
US09678397B2

A liquid crystal display device includes a TFT substrate and a counter substrate with liquid crystal sandwiched therebetween. The TFT substrate has scanning lines 10 extending in a first direction and arrayed in a second direction and video signal lines 20 extending in the second direction and arrayed in the first direction. The TFT substrate has a display area 500 in which TFT pixels are arrayed in a matrix pattern, and a frame area 600 surrounding the display area. In the frame area 600, common bus wires 521 are formed in the same layer and with the same material as the video signal lines 20 and are impressed with a common voltage. Dummy TFTs are formed in a layer under the common bus wires 521. The scanning lines 10, extending over the frame area 600, are divided outside the display area and are interconnected by bridging wires 170.
US09678395B1

An array substrate includes a plurality of pixel regions and a plurality of pixel electrodes. Each pixel region includes a first sub-pixel region and a second sub-pixel region. Each pixel electrode includes a first electrode disposed in the first sub-pixel region and a second electrode disposed in the second sub-pixel region. The first electrode includes a first main electrode dividing the first sub-pixel region into a first alignment region and a second alignment region. The second electrode includes a second main electrode dividing the second sub-pixel region into a third alignment region and a fourth alignment region. The first, the second, the third, and the fourth alignment regions are sequentially arranged in a first direction. The first electrode and the second electrode are separated by a gap, and a width of the gap in the first direction is less than a width of one of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth alignment regions in the first direction.
US09678387B2

A liquid crystal display including a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; an alignment layer disposed on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and including a reactive mesogen; and bumps disposed adjacent to a surface of the alignment layer, wherein the alignment layer comprises a main chain and a plurality of side chains connected to the main chain, and the side chains comprise a polymerization inhibiting agent group.
US09678373B2

A device for the temporal shaping of the amplitude and phase of ultrashort pulses, includes: —a birefringent waveguide 1 of main axis Δ consisting of a nematic liquid crystal 2 located between a photoconductive material 3 and a substrate 4, —two transparent electrodes, one of which 5 is located between the nematic liquid crystal 2 and the substrate 4, and the other 6 such that the photoconductive material 3 is located between the other electrode 6 and the nematic liquid crystal 2, and —projection optics 7 for projecting a programmable optical mask 8 onto the photoconductive material 3.
US09678369B2

A terminating impedance circuit, which is thermally decoupled from a substrate, for an electroabsorption modulator, having a modulator capacitance includes a series resistance-emphasized RF delay line exhibiting an impedance distributed over its length, wherein the spatially distributed impedance has at least a predominant resistance per unit length, an inductance per unit length tuned to the modulator capacitance, and a parasitic capacitance per unit length, wherein the resistance per unit length takes the function of a terminating resistor, wherein furthermore the inductance per unit length, together with the modulator capacitance, forms a strongly damped resonant circuit which provides, together with the terminating impedance circuit, for a controlled increase in the frequency response of the electroabsorption modulator within an operating frequency range, and wherein, at least for radio-frequency signals, the parasitic capacitance per unit length is negligible relative to the modulator capacitance.
US09678362B2

An optical device comprises: a transmittance changing unit that is provided in front of an eye of a user, and changes transmittance for light from the outside according to a voltage being applied; and a voltage control unit that controls a voltage to be applied to the transmittance changing unit by switching cyclically between a high voltage and a low voltage, wherein the voltage control unit switches the voltage at a cycle that is shorter than the sum of time required for transmittance of the transmittance changing unit to stabilize when changing from a minimum value to a maximum value by switching a voltage and time required for transmittance of the transmittance changing unit to stabilize when changing from a maximum value to a minimum value by switching a voltage.
US09678357B2

An image stabilization apparatus comprises first optical correction unit configured to optically correct an image blur, second optical correction unit configured to optically correct the image blur, first restriction unit configured to set a first restriction which restricts a driving range of the first optical correction unit, subtraction unit configured to obtain a result of subtraction by subtracting the shake signal to which the first restriction has been set from the shake signal detected by the shake detection unit, second restriction unit configured to set a second restriction which restricts a driving range of the second optical correction unit to the result of subtraction, change unit configured to change a restriction values, and control unit configured to control the first and second optical correction units.
US09678346B2

A head-mounted display device includes: an image display unit including an image-light generating unit that generates image light representing an image and emits the image light and a light guide unit that guides the emitted image light to the eye of a user, the image display unit being for causing the user to visually recognize a virtual image; and a control unit that includes an operation surface, is connected to the image display unit, and controls image display by the image display unit. When it is assumed that the user shifts the user's attention from the virtual image, the control unit adjusts the luminance of the image-light generating unit or adjusts the image light generated by the image-light generating unit to reduce the visibility of the virtual image.
US09678322B2

A system and method for dating gelatin silver photographic paper is provided. The system and method includes providing a database management system having physical texture characteristic profiles. The system implements a program of instructions to determine a probable date range or source for each textural characteristic profile. The system includes LED sources disposed around an inner surface of a dome; an LED controller, and a CCD imager microscope.
US09678319B2

In a zoom lens of a fixed total length, at the time of changing the magnification from the wide-angle end toward the telephoto end, the first lens group is anchored while the second lens group is moved, and the third and fourth lens groups are moved so as to be located at the object side of the telephoto end relative to the wide-angle end, such that: the interval between the second and third lens groups is decreased at the telephoto end relative to the wide-angle end; the interval between the third and fourth lens groups is increased at the telephoto end relative to the wide-angle end; and the interval between the fourth and fifth lens groups is increased at the telephoto end relative to the wide-angle end, and at the time of focusing a near object point from a remote object point, the second lens group is moved.
US09678315B2

A photographing optical lens system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element, a sixth lens element, a seventh lens element and an eighth lens element. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The eighth lens element has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof, wherein the image-side surface of the eighth lens element has at least one convex shape in an off-axis region thereof, and both an object-side surface and the image-side surface thereof are aspheric. The photographing optical lens system has a total of eight lens elements. An air gap in a paraxial region is located between every two lens elements of the photographing optical lens system that are adjacent to each other.
US09678311B2

A lens module includes a first lens having refractive power; a second lens having refractive power, both surfaces thereof being convex; a third lens having refractive power, both surfaces thereof being concave; a fourth lens having refractive power; a fifth lens having refractive power, an object-side surface thereof being convex; and a sixth lens having refractive power and having one or more inflection points on an image-side surface thereof, an object-side surface thereof being convex. The first to sixth lenses are sequentially disposed in numerical order from the first lens to the sixth lens from an object side of the lens module toward an image side of the lens module.
US09678299B2

An example fiber storage device includes a bend radius limiter extending along a height from a first end to a second end. The first end is seated at a mounting surface. One or more arms extend outwardly from the second end of the body. Each of the arms defines a retaining member that contacts the mounting surface. Each retaining member has a first contact surface that faces away from the storage surface and a second contact surface that faces towards the storage surface. A storage region is defined between the mounting surface, the storage surface, one of the arms arm, and the second contact surface of the respective retaining member.
US09678292B2

The present disclosure relates to a telecommunications distribution hub having a cabinet that defines a primary compartment. The cabinet also includes one or more main doors for accessing the primary compartment. Telecommunications equipment is mounted within the primary compartment. The distribution hub further includes a secondary compartment that can be accessed from an exterior of the cabinet without accessing the primary compartment. A grounding interface is accessible from within the secondary compartment.
US09678289B1

An optical coupling system includes a substrate, an electronic die comprising a plurality of coupling holes for passing light, an optical element die attached to a bottom surface of the electronic die, the electronic die attached to the substrate such that the electronic die covers a cavity in the substrate and the optical element die resides within the cavity of the substrate. The system may also include a thermally conductive lid that covers and contacts the electronic die and the substrate and has a coupling aperture that enables light that passes through the coupling holes to pass through the thermally conductive lid. The system may also include an optical cable coupler comprising a coupling section that laterally fits within the coupling aperture and a body section disposed above the coupling section that is laterally larger than the coupling section. A method for providing the above system is also disclosed herein.
US09678288B2

A low-cost optical circuit, in which influence of reflected light is reduced, is provided. According to an embodiment of the present invention, an optical circuit (200) comprises a first optical coupler (204A) having at least two outputs, and a second optical coupler (204B) coupled to at least one of the outputs of the first optical coupler (204A), and wherein the ratio of an intensity of light reflected from the first optical coupler (204A) to an intensity of light inputted to the first optical coupler is smaller than the ratio of an intensity of light reflected from the second optical coupler (204B) to an intensity of light inputted to the second optical coupler.
US09678280B2

The invention relates to an optical rotary transmitter for transmitting optical signals, comprising a first light coupler (1) that has one or a plurality of first light guides (11) the end faces of which are designed to transmit optical signals and are arranged on a first ring about a central rotational axis Z, a second light coupler (3) that has one or a plurality of second light guides (31) the end faces of which are designed to transmit optical signals and are arranged on a second ring about the central rotational axis Z, a fiber mirror (5) comprising a plurality of third light guides that are arranged between said two light couplers (1,3) and are designed to compensate for the effect, on the transmission of the optical signals, of the two light couplers (1,3) rotating relative to one another, the end faces of the third light guides being designed to transmit optical signals and arranged on a third and fourth ring about the central rotational axis Z. Light inlet/outlet surfaces that are formed by the third and fourth rings are substantially gap-free such that the optical signals can be continuously transmitted without interruption.
US09678279B2

An apparatus (10) for mounting blown fiber tubes (20) includes a main housing (40) mountable to an end (32) of a flex tube (30), an outer ring (50) positioned at an end (42) of the main housing (40), and an inner ring (60) positioned adjacent to and within the outer ring (50) wherein the blown fiber tubes (20) are positioned about an outer periphery (62) of the inner ring (60). A trigger (70) pushes the inner ring (60) to compress the blown fiber tubes (20) between the inner ring (60) and the outer ring (50). The outer ring (500 and the inner ring (60) each include a plurality of spaced pockets (52, 68) each sized for receipt of a blown fiber tube (20). The trigger (70) includes a threaded member (80) which pushes the inner ring (60) outwardly. In one embodiment, portions (64) of the inner ring (60) separate during activation and press against the blown fiber tubes (20) to compress the blown fiber tubes (20) against the outer ring (50). A spring (496) may be added to push on the inner ring (60). Anti-rotation and lock features are provided for the compression, sealing and fixation mechanisms.
US09678269B2

Some embodiments of the disclosure relate to an optical transmission system that operates at a wavelength in the range from 950 nm to 1600 nm and that employs a single-mode optical transmitter and an optical receiver optically coupled to respective ends of a multimode fiber designed for 850 nm multimode operation. The optical transmission system also employs at least one single mode fiber situated within the optical pathway between the optical transmitter and the receiver and coupled to the multimode fiber.
US09678264B2

A light guide plate has a light guide plate member having a light incident surface on an end face of the light guide member, and a light emitting surface on a front surface of the light guide plate member, wherein the light incident surface is structured to have light incident thereon, and wherein the light emitting surface is structured to widen and emit light incident thereon out of the light guide plate member, and a directivity changing unit arranged on a light incident end portion of the light guide plate member on the front surface or a back surface of the light guide plate member. The directivity changing unit has a first inner inclined surface and a second inner inclined surface that change a directivity of the incident light within the directivity changing unit to widen the light laterally with respect to a direction perpendicular to the light incident surface.
US09678262B2

A laser-operated light source encompasses a chamber for accommodating an ionizable gas and an ignition source for ionizing the gas in the chamber for generating a plasma. The light source encompasses a laser for inputting laser energy into the plasma such that, under the impact of the laser radiation, the plasma emits useful light, which forms the output signal of the light source, wherein provision is made for means for coupling the useful light into a transferring optical fiber. An optical system for imaging the plasma onto the end of the optical fiber, which faces the optical system, is arranged between the chamber and the transferring optical fiber, wherein the optical system is corrected for reducing the chromatic aberration.
US09678256B2

A transparent heat-shielding member according to the present invention includes a transparent base substrate, an infrared reflective layer and a transparent screen function layer. The infrared reflective layer includes at least one selected from a metal oxide layer and a metal nitride layer, and a metal layer. The transparent screen function layer is formed of a light diffusing layer. The light diffusing layer contains light diffusing particles and a transparent resin. The light diffusing particles are dispersed in the transparent resin. The transparent heat-shielding member has a visible light reflectance measured in accordance with JIS R3106-1998 of 12% or more and 30% or less, a haze value measured in accordance with JIS K7136-2000 of 5% or more and 35% or less, and a shading coefficient measured in accordance with JIS A5759-2008 of 0.69 or less.
US09678243B2

A detection device for detecting something existed in the high temperature cavity, for detecting the glass substrate sending into or outing of the high temperature cavity, wherein, the detection device comprises a deflection probe and a detection element, the deflection probe comprises a fixed probe and the deflection probe in the same line, which is assembled at the side wall of the high temperature cavity, when the glass substrate is sending into the high temperature cavity and touching the deflection probe, the deflection probe will be connected with the detection element, the detection element will send out a electrical sensor signal for showing the glass substrate is push into the cavity. Therefore, it can be determined in time that the glass substrate and the other elements are still existed in the high temperature cavity or not with some simple machines or detection elements, the detecting process is timely and accurately.
US09678242B2

A system, in certain embodiments, includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna configured to communicate with an RFID tag. The system also includes an antenna tuner electrically coupled to the RFID antenna, and configured to manually tune the RFID antenna to match an inductance of the RFID tag.
US09678233B2

The Monte-Carlo method of generating Popcorn shooting patterns starts with the number and sizes of the guns available and the length in time of the desired Popcorn pattern. The firing times and order of the guns will be randomly perturbed and a large number of Popcorn patterns built. Candidate Popcorn patterns will then be tested against a set of criteria to identify acceptable or the best patterns. These criteria may include limits on maximum peak strength, distinctiveness compared to the other patterns, and the size of the notches and peaks in the spectra.
US09678231B2

Methods or systems for identifying seismic or acoustic signals of interest originating with moving motorized vehicles or footstep movement or stationary or moving machinery. A related system for monitoring an area includes a plurality of sensing devices each comprising a frame and a piezo-electric sensor element. A monitoring device is coupled to receive information from each of the sensing devices. One method includes providing a processing chain coupled to receive signal data from a sensor device which receives the signals, including a detection stage, a Joint Time Frequency (JTF) domain stage, and a classification stage. The detection stage identifies presence of signals that emerge from the background. The JTF domain stage estimates the state of the signals of interest over time. The classification stage assesses the previously derived information to form a decision about source identity. In one embodiment, the detector stage performs detections on a single cycle basis.
US09678225B1

An ionizing radiation detector or scintillator system includes a scintillating material comprising an organic crystalline compound selected to generate photons in response to the passage of ionizing radiation. The organic compound has a crystalline symmetry of higher order than monoclinic, for example an orthorhombic, trigonal, tetragonal, hexagonal, or cubic symmetry. A photodetector is optically coupled to the scintillating material, and configured to generate electronic signals having pulse shapes based on the photons generated in the scintillating material. A discriminator is coupled to the photon detector, and configured to discriminate between neutrons and gamma rays in the ionizing radiation based on the pulse shapes of the output signals.
US09678223B2

An afterglow property of cesium iodide:thallium (CsI:Tl), in which CsI is a host material and doped with thallium, is improved. It is possible to improve the afterglow property of a scintillator by doping a crystal material including CsI (cesium iodide), as a host material, and thallium (Tl), as a luminescent center, with bismuth (Bi).
US09678221B2

When a scintillator and a reinforcing member are bonded by using an adhesive, scattering and reflection occur at interfaces between the scintillator and the adhesive and between the adhesive and the reinforcing member. Due to this, a blurred image is formed on a sensor, and the resolution deteriorates. A radiation detecting element comprises: a substrate transparent to visible light; and a fluorescent screen that emits fluorescence in response to radiation by a dopant added to a material that is the same as a material of the substrate, wherein the fluorescent screen is thinner than the substrate, and the substrate and the fluorescent screen are bonded while maintaining continuity of a refractive index.
US09678208B2

The present disclosure describes methods and systems for measuring crosswind speed by optical measurement of laser scintillation. One method includes projecting radiation into a medium, receiving, over time, with a photodetector receiver, a plurality of scintillation patterns of scattered radiation, comparing cumulative a radiation intensity for each received scintillation pattern of the received plurality of scintillation patterns, and measuring a cumulative weighted average cross-movement within the medium using the compared cumulative radiation intensities.
US09678206B2

The present invention is directed to system and method of processing meteorological data. The process comprises receiving a meteorological data corresponding to a geographic region from at least one meteorological data source for a selected time slice, with the meteorological data including radar reflectivity data. The system processes the meteorological data to derive probability of severe hail for points within the geographic region, processes the meteorological data to derive vertically integrated liquid for the points within the geographic region, and processes the meteorological data to derive enhanced echo tops for the points within the geographic region. The system processes the vertically integrated liquid and the enhanced echo tops to derive vertically integrated liquid density for the points within the geographic region and processes the probability of severe hail and the vertically integrated liquid density to derive derived hail index numbers for the points within the geographic region. The system generate data packets of the derived hail index numbers, with each of the derived hail index numbers corresponding to a local geographic point.
US09678205B2

A method to automatically and continuously provide surveillance based on central and/or distributed surveillance of presence, positions, movements and movement pattern of one or more vessels in narrow waters, a sailing lane or where danger of collision with other vessels or other fixed or floating objects may occur. A vessel emits a sweeping signal that repeatedly hits one or more detectors, which detect the character of the sweeping signal and the time intervals between the signal hits on the respective detector. The exact position of the vessel and/or movements is calculated at least on the basis of trigonometric principles, and the vessel identity is produced by using signal analysis to extract the characteristic signal sequences from the received detection signals, which are related to the transmitted radar signal(s) from the vessel(s).
US09678185B2

Methods for measuring physico-chemical properties using a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer are disclosed, including methods to determine an initial amount of a substance, usually a liquid, contained inside a porous material and an initial amount of the substance, usually a liquid, present outside the porous material, methods to measure the release kinetics of a substance, such as a liquid, from a porous material, and methods for performing chemical reactions and other physico-chemical operations in situ inside a nuclear magnetic resonance probe after a sample is loaded into a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. The apparatuses for performing these methods are also disclosed.
US09678182B2

A magnetic resonance (MR) receiver is described herein. The MR receiver can be used to process nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals. The MR receiver includes a transformer that amplifies the MR signals and a preamplifier that receives the MR signals from the transformer. The preamplifier can include a transimpedance amplifier circuit with an input stage that includes a field effect transistor.
US09678179B2

According to one embodiment, a tester includes a magnetic shield portion having a space which is shielded from an external magnetic field, a controller generating a test signal for testing a magnetic memory having a magnetoresistive element provided in the space, an interface portion in the space, the interface portion which functions as an interface between the controller and the magnetic memory, and a magnetic field generating portion in the space, the magnetic field generating portion generating a test magnetic field while the magnetic memory is tested by the test signal.
US09678174B2

A method for redundantly measuring a magnetic field for a sensor arrangement including a carrier having a first side and a second side, a first sensor disposed on a first semiconductor substrate on the first side of the carrier, and a second sensor disposed on a second semiconductor substrate on the second side of the carrier, the method including: sensing a component of a magnetic field perpendicular to the carrier with the first sensor and sensing the same component of the magnetic field perpendicular to the carrier with the second sensor.
US09678171B2

A method for acquiring at least one signal transmitted via an electric conductor, wherein an electric and/or magnetic field of the conductor is acquired at at least two identical or different positions relative to a longitudinal coordinate of the conductor, thus obtaining two measurement signals corresponding to the respective positions, and the signal transmitted via the conductor is inferred from the measurement signals.
US09678146B2

The present invention discloses a temperature insensitive testing device comprising: a transmission-end test sequence generating circuit to generate a test sequence; a transmission circuit to process the test sequence according to a transmission clock and thereby generate a test signal; a reception circuit to process an echo of the test signal and generate a digital echo signal; a correlation-value generating circuit to generate correlation values including a maximum correlation value according to the test sequence and the digital echo signal; and a decision circuit to determine whether a relation between the maximum correlation value and at least one threshold satisfies a predetermined condition and thereby generate a decision result, wherein the frequency of the transmission clock is lower than a predetermined frequency which confines the variation of the maximum correlation value to a predetermined range provided that the temperature variation of the transmission cable is within a temperature variation range.
US09678144B2

A piezoelectric and/or electret sensing device includes a piezoelectric and/or electret transducer for producing a measurement current in response to mechanical stimulus, and a control and evaluation circuit connected to the transducer. The control and evaluation circuit includes a transimpedance amplifier having a first and a second input, the transducer being operatively connected between the first input and a reference node, and an electrical waveform generator for generating an electrical waveform, the electrical waveform generator being operatively connected between the second input and the reference node.
US09678138B2

A monitoring unit (100; 800) for monitoring an integrity of a signal path (200; 620) configured to receive an input signal (210, 802) and further configured to provide an output (220) in response to the input signal (210, 802), comprises a signal monitor (110; 801) configured to extract a first signal (112; 630) from the signal path (200; 620) corresponding to the input signal (210, 802) in at least a first characteristic. The monitoring unit (100; 800) further comprises a signal interface (120; 803) configured to extract a second signal (122; 631) corresponding to the output (220) in at least a second characteristic from the signal path (200; 620); and an evaluator (130) configured to determine, whether the at least first characteristic of the first signal (112; 630) corresponds to the at least second characteristic of the second signal (122; 631) according to a predefined relation.
US09678134B2

A method for maintaining a contact of a connection jig for connecting between a target object to be subjected to an electrical test and a testing apparatus configured to conduct the electrical test on the target object includes: detecting a change in voltage upon supply of power for the electrical test to a test point on the target object through the contact; and issuing maintenance information indicating the contact is abnormal, upon detection of a portion where the voltage does not successively rise.
US09678123B2

A radio frequency (RF) measurement system acting as a spectrum analyzer and a method of operating the same eliminates image signals from a detected input RF spectrum. The method includes determining at least three local oscillator (LO) frequencies; determining LO offsets between the LO frequencies; and mixing the LO frequencies with the input RF spectrum to provide corresponding intermediate frequency (IF) signals having an IF bandwidth, where at least one of the IF signals has the input RF spectrum mixed to a different portion of the IF bandwidth than at least one other of the IF signals, providing overlapping coverage. The method further includes acquiring ADC time records for the IF signals; performing Fourier transforms (FTs) on the ADC time records to provide IF spectrums; and detecting RF responses from the IF spectrums to determine an RF response trace corresponding to the input RF spectrum.
US09678115B2

A contactless voltage sensing device configured to measure a voltage value of a conductor is provided. The contactless voltage sensing device includes a first impedance element having a first impedance, where the first impedance element is configured to be operatively coupled to the conductor. Further, the contactless voltage sensing device includes an antenna operatively coupled to the first impedance element, a second impedance element having a second impedance, where the second impedance element is formed in part by the antenna and a parasitic impedance element, and where the parasitic impedance element includes a parasitic impedance, and measurement and communication circuitry coupled to the first impedance element to measure the voltage value of the conductor.
US09678114B2

Apparatus and methods are provided for electrical parameter measurements at points of interest, such as circuit breakers, machines, and the like. The devices which comprise of components that may require corrections, such as the errors induced by, but not limited to, the use of a split core mounted around a current carrier, and hence calibration coefficients are provided based on test, measurements and/or calculations respective of the devices. These coefficients may be stored in a database for retrieval when calibration of measurements received from a measuring device. In one embodiment at least one of the calibration coefficients is stored on the measuring device.
US09678113B2

Apparatus and methods are provided for the measurement of power consumption at points of interest, such as circuit breakers, machines, and the like. Accordingly, means are provided for measurement of power consumption for each electrical sub-network that is controlled by a circuit breaker. Each apparatus is enabled to communicate its respective data, in an environment of a plurality of such apparatuses, to a management unit which is enabled to provide finer granularity power consumption profiles. Challenges of measuring relatively low supply currents, wireless operation in an environment of a large number of apparatuses, and self-powering are addressed.
US09678110B2

A probe card includes a circuit board, a plurality of probes, and at least one deviation-compensating member. An end of each of the probes is connected to the circuit board. The deviation-compensating member is fixed to the circuit board and connected to the probes. The probes have a first thermal expansion characteristic, the deviation-compensating member has a second thermal expansion characteristic, and the first thermal expansion characteristic and the second thermal expansion characteristic are different.
US09678108B1

The method for forming a semiconductor probe tip comprises depositing a first copper layer onto exposed electrically conductive areas of a wafer. The first copper layer surrounds a non-conductive polymer structure on the wafer. The non-conductive polymer structure is removed to form a primary cavity in the first copper layer. The wafer and the primary cavity are coated with a polymer layer. Regions of the polymer layer are removed to form a secondary cavity within and alongside the primary cavity. A metal layer is deposited on exposed electrically conductive areas of the wafer and within bounds of the secondary cavity.
US09678107B2

There is provided a substrate inspection apparatus in which a contact between a probe and a semiconductor device is checked without using an IC tester. Further, when an abnormal state is detected in the contact check, a cause of the abnormal state can be determined. A prober includes a probe card having a plurality of probes to be contacted with respective electrode pads of the semiconductor device formed on a wafer W. The probe card includes a card-side inspection circuit configured to reproduce a circuit configuration of DRAM in which the semiconductor device cut from the wafer W is to be mounted, and a comparator configured to measure a potential of a line between the probe and the card-side inspection circuit.
US09678105B2

Described herein is the analysis of nanomechanical characteristics of cells. In particular, changes in certain local nanomechanical characteristics of ex vivo human cells can correlate with presence of a human disease, such as cancer, as well as a particular stage of progression of the disease. Also, for human patients that are administered with a therapeutic agent, changes in local nanomechanical characteristics of ex vivo cells collected from the patients can correlate with effectiveness of the therapeutic agent in terms of impeding or reversing progression of the disease. By exploiting this correlation, systems and related methods can be advantageously implemented for disease state detection and therapeutic agent selection and monitoring.
US09678100B2

A functional device according to an embodiment of the invention includes: an insulating substrate; a movable section; movable electrode fingers provided in the movable section; and fixed electrode fingers provided on the insulating substrate and arranged to be opposed to the movable electrode fingers. The fixed electrode fingers include: first fixed electrode fingers arranged on one side of the movable electrode fingers; and second fixed electrode fingers arranged on the other side of the movable electrode fingers. The first fixed electrode fingers and the second fixed electrode fingers are arranged to be spaced apart from each other.
US09678097B2

An angle detection device includes: first and second rotation measuring instruments; an anomaly detection unit detecting occurrences of anomalies in the first and second rotation measuring instruments; and a switching interpolation unit configured to select a first angle signal and a first angular speed signal and output as a third angle signal and a third angular speed signal when the first rotation measuring instrument is normal, and to perform switching so that a second angle signal and a second angular speed signal are output as the third angle signal and the third angular speed signal while performing interpolation so that the difference between the first angle signal and the second angle signal is reduced stepwise if the second rotation measuring instrument is normal when an anomaly has occurred in the first rotation measuring instrument.
US09678092B2

The invention relates to a method of isolating and analyzing an analyte using an analytical apparatus which comprises modules of different types, wherein any one module of one type has a specific, pre-defined timing for carrying out its workflow.
US09678089B2

Methods and kits for measuring levels of von Willebrand factor function in a sample without using a platelet aggregation agonist, such as ristocetin, comprising recombinant glycoprotein Ibα having a combination of G233V, D235Y and M239V mutations and an agent to detect a complex between the recombinant glycoprotein Ibα and von Willebrand factor.
US09678088B2

An aqueous multi-phase system for diagnosis of sickle cell disease is described, including two or more phase-separated phases including: a first aqueous phase including a first phase component and having a first density between about 1.025 g/cm3 and about 1.095 g/cm3; and a second aqueous phase including a second phase component and having a second density between about 1.100 g/cm3 and about 1.140 g/cm3; wherein the first density is lower than the second density; and each of the first and second phase components include at least one polymer.
US09678083B2

The invention is directed towards novel amino acid based compounds, which may be isotopically enriched, and methods of use of such compounds for characterizing one or more molecules of a sample by mass spectrometry, the method comprising: (a) reacting the one or more molecules with the compound; and (b) characterizing the one or more molecules by mass spectrometry.
US09678070B2

The invention provides an apparatus and methods for the electrochemical detection and/or quantitation of an analyte in a sample, wherein the device comprises a substrate and a detector, wherein the substrate comprises a labeled binding agent, wherein the label is an enteric material particle that encapsulates a ferrocene methanol redox species.
US09678067B2

Methods for extending light-emitting time of a solution of a calcium-binding photoprotein that instantaneously emits light by binding to calcium ions are provided. In the light-emitting reaction system of a solution of a calcium-binding photoprotein, a light-emitting reaction is performed in the presence of an anion capable of binding to the calcium ion or the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion and/or a cation that can bind to the calcium-binding site of the calcium-binding photoprotein with a lower affinity than the calcium ion or the cation that can be substituted for the calcium ion without activating the calcium-binding photoprotein.
US09678064B2

An assay apparatus having an assay strip. The assay strip has a first area with a plurality of magnetic particles bonded thereto. The assay strip also has a microfluidic (or nanofluidic) channel or chamber, having a sensing area including one or more magnetic particle traps and a magnetic field source provided adjacent to the sensing area. Introduction of a fluid causes the magnetic particles to become attached to or displaced by a substance of interest, travel along the microfluidic channel to the sensing area and become concentrated in the one or more traps thus providing an indication of the presence or absence of a substance of interest in the fluid. There may be a plurality of traps.
US09678061B2

The present invention relates to a method of identifying a target antigen of T cells comprising (a) contacting (aa) cells expressing (i) a functional T cell receptor complex comprising predefined matching T cell receptor α and β chains; and (ii) a read-out system for T cell activation; with (ab) antigen-presenting cells carrying (iii) peptide libraries encoded by randomised nucleic acid sequences; and (iv) MHC molecules recognised by the T cell receptor of (i); (b) assessing T cell activation using said read-out system; (c) isolating antigen-presenting cells that are in contact with the cells in which the read-out system indicates T cell activation; (d) identifying the target antigen or the nucleic acid molecule encoding said target antigen.
US09678054B2

Method of marking a hydrocarbon liquid includes adding to the liquid, a tracer compound of Formula I or II: wherein at least one of R1-R6 in Formula I and at least one of R7-R14 in Formula II is selected from: i. a bromine or fluorine atom; ii. a partially or fully halogenated alkyl group; iii. a branched or cyclic C4-C20 alkyl group; iv. an aliphatic substituent linking two positions selected from R1-R6 in Formula I to one another or two positions selected from R7-R14 in Formula II to one another; or v. a phenyl group substituted with a halogen atom, an aliphatic group or halogenated aliphatic group  and none of R1-R6 and none of R7-R14 being a sulphonate group or COOR15, where R15 represents H, C1-C20 alkyl, C2-C20 alkenyl, C2-C20 alkynyl, C3-C15 cycloalkyl or aryl.
US09678052B2

Methods and systems are described for tracking material through a production chain or operational process chain in which the material is transferred via a plurality of spatially distinct lumped masses of material (12, 14, 16, 18). A dynamic state space (430) is maintained descriptive of the plurality of spatially distinct lumped masses of material, wherein a quantity of entries in the dynamic state space is augmented or diminished dependent on a quantity of spatially distinct lumped masses being tracked. Measurements relating to an observed lumped mass of material are fused into the dynamic state space and a dynamic covariance matrix to provide an updated estimate of material in the plurality of spatially distinct lumped masses of material.
US09678046B2

A system and method for thermal gradient gas chromatography wherein a front or injection end of a column is heated to a higher temperature than a back or detector end to thereby create a thermal gradient having a profile that is substantially monotonically non-increasing and has a positive second derivative, and then providing a heat source to raise the thermal gradient and cause it to remain stationary or to travel through the column while maintaining a desired profile.
US09678038B2

Nanochannel arrays that enable high-throughput macromolecular analysis are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of preparing nanochannel arrays and nanofluidic chips. Methods of analyzing macromolecules, such as entire strands of genomic DNA, are also disclosed, as well as systems for carrying out these methods.
US09678030B2

A sensor for detecting gaseous agents has a transducer, which includes an electrical resonant circuit that forms an antenna. The sensor further includes a sensing material that is disposed on at least a portion of the transducer. The sensing material is configured to simultaneously exhibit a capacitance response and a resistance response in the presence of a gaseous agent. The sensor may be reversible, battery free, and may require no electrical contact with a sensor reader.
US09678028B2

A method and device for determining an insulation variable of a network. The method may comprise measuring a first voltage at the network, connecting the auxiliary system to the network, measuring a second voltage at the network, disconnecting the auxiliary system from the network, measuring a third voltage at the network, and determining the insulation variable based on the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage.
US09678027B2

A monitoring device is for a block of building material. The monitoring device may include an electric supply line configured to be buried in the block of building material and having a flexible main cable, and flexible jumper cables coupled to the flexible main cable and extending outwardly. The monitoring device may include sensor devices configured to be buried in the block of building material and coupled to respective ones of the flexible jumper cables. Each sensor device may include a primary inductor coupled to the electric supply line at a position based upon peaks of a stationary waveform when the electric supply line is alternating current (AC) powered, and a monitoring circuit. The monitoring circuit may include an integrated sensor, and a secondary inductor magnetically coupled to the primary inductor and configured to supply the integrated sensor, and communicate through the electric supply line.
US09678020B2

Example embodiments relate to an apparatus and method for inspecting a substrate defect. The substrate defect inspecting apparatus includes a substrate, a light source emitting an infrared beam to the substrate, a detector detecting the infrared beam reflected from the substrate, and a defect analyzer receiving first information and second information from the detector and analyzing defects existing in the substrate. According to at least one example embodiment, the second information is acquired during a later process than the first information.
US09678018B2

Provided herein is an apparatus for assessing a color characteristic of a gemstone. The apparatus comprises an optically opaque platform for supporting a sample gemstone to be assessed, a daylight-approximating light source to provide uniform illumination to the gemstone, an image capturing component, and a telecentric lens positioned to provide an image of the illuminated gemstone to the image capturing component. Also provided are methods of color analysis based on images collected using such an apparatus.
US09678017B2

A computer-implemented method teaches a user to evaluate a gemstone, such as a cut diamond. The method includes providing a computer system connected to an apparatus capable of capturing an image of a gemstone. The computer system is arranged to process a received image of a gemstone to determine one or more optical properties of the gemstone. In one aspect, the method presents on a display of the computer system a series of pre-stored screens comprising a graphical representation how the cut of a gemstone affects its light handling ability, and a user interface screen. The user interface screen allows the user to control the operation of the apparatus to measure the one or more optical properties of a particular gemstone provided to the apparatus, to view an image of the gemstone measured, and to view representations of the measured one or more optical properties.
US09677996B2

An optical sensor arrangement for measuring an observable including at least one light source for generating a first light component of a first frequency including a first mode and a second light component of a second frequency including a second mode orthogonal to the first mode, an optical resonator having differing optical lengths for the first and second modes, at least one of the optical lengths being variable depending on the observable and a dependence of the respective optical length being different for the first and second modes, and a detector unit coupled to the optical resonator for coupling out the two light components and being configured for detecting a frequency difference between a resonance frequency of the optical resonator for the first mode and a resonance frequency of the optical resonator for the second mode.
US09677990B2

An airborne or liquid particle sensor with a number of advanced features is disclosed. The sensor includes an output channel generating an electrical signal for a particle passing through the sensor, where the electrical signal includes information related to the pulse. The information is processed by the sensor to determine a value that indicates a more accurate particle mass for a sample period than the average mass.
US09677984B2

A method for extracting shape information for particles with similar shape and corresponding system of a tandem differential mobility analyzer (DMA) and pulse field differential mobility analyzer (PFDMA) system, that executes at least generating a steady state aerosol concentration; passing aerosol flow from the aerosol concentration thru a bipolar charger to produce a known charge distribution; passing aerosol thru a DMA with set sheath and aerosol flows and a set voltage to generate a mono-mobility aerosol; passing mono-mobility aerosol thru a PFDMA system; and measuring mobility as a function of electric field by varying the duty cycle of the pulse in the PFDMA system. Alternatively, the method and system relate to separating particles with different shapes by adjusting the duty cycle of the pulse to reach a higher or lower electric field than in the DMA in which the mono-mobility aerosol was generated; and separating particles based on shape.
US09677983B2

A particle characterization apparatus having first and second body parts, a light source, a sample cell and a detector. The light source illuminates dispersed particles within the sample cell with a light beam along an axis to produce scattered light. The sample cell has first and second walls. The walls have internal surfaces arranged to be in contact with the sample and an opposite external surface. The light beam passes through the external surface of the first wall, through the internal surface of the first wall, through the sample, through the internal surface of the second wall, and through the external surface of the second wall. The light source is fixed to the first body part, which engages with the first wall. The detector is fixed to the second body part, which engages with the second wall. The first and second body parts are separable to enable access to the internal surfaces of the walls for cleaning.
US09677976B2

A gas monitoring and control system including a gas sampling chamber, sampling inlet and outlet valves, a pump and a controller. Sensors are disposed within the interior chamber that sense characteristics of a gas from a gas source and generate representative signals. The sampling inlet and outlet valves i) allow the gas into the gas sampling chamber while operating in a gas sampling state, and ii) allow ambient air into the gas sampling chamber while operating in a purge state. The pump i) causes the gas to flow through the gas sampling chamber while operating in the gas sampling state or ii) causes ambient air to flow through the gas sampling chamber while operating in the purge state. The controller causes the sampling inlet and outlet valves, and the pump to alternate operating in the gas sampling or purge state to selectively expose the sensors to the gas.
US09677973B1

A drive-over tire tread depth measurement system is configured with environmental protection components for preventing or impeding environmental contaminates from falling through openings in a vehicle support surface or cover plate onto underlying components such as sensor optical windows and adjacent surfaces. The environmental protection components may include air discharge assemblies, movable shields, guards, wipers or deflectors such as drip edges, water-accumulating textured surfaces, flow diverters, and selectively placed flanges or fixed guards which operate cooperatively to displace accumulated contaminates, debris, or liquids from the optical windows and adjacent sensor surfaces. A portion of the vehicle support surface or cover plate is removable to permit access to underlying components.
US09677972B2

A method for characterizing spindle forces of a tire uniformity machine includes receiving a tire in an apparatus having an upper spindle and rim and a lower spindle and rim, wherein the rims capture the tire therebetween. A measurement data waveform is collected and an angular offset between the rims to define an engagement position is determined. The measurement data waveform is designated as a tire result waveform, and the measurement data waveform is appended to a collection of measurement data waveforms for each engagement position. Once the predetermined number of waveforms for the engagement position has been obtained, an average waveform for each engagement position is computed. A characterization waveform for each average waveform is then generated.
US09677971B2

A tire testing machine includes a test station in which spindles to attach a tire on which a barcode is installed are provided, and first and second belt conveyors that feed the tire into a center position of the spindles. In order to stably grasp a position of identifying information of the tire and stop rotation of the tire at an arbitrary desired angle, before applying a lubricant to a bead portion on an inner periphery of the tire conveyed to the first belt conveyors by means of the lubricator and feeding the tire into the test station, a controller grasps a position of the barcode on the tire based on a rotation angle relative to the direction connecting a position where the barcode is detected by a barcode scanner and the center of the tire.
US09677962B2

The invention relates to a pressure sensor including an electromagnetic resonator with waveguide having a dielectric material with a dielectric permittivity that varies with temperature. There is an excitation circuit configured to propagate an electromagnetic field through the resonator and a device for heating the resonator. There is also a device for detecting the electromagnetic resonant frequency of the resonator and a device for determining the pressure of the gas surrounding the sensor as a function of the detected resonant frequency of the resonator.
US09677951B2

A conduit pressure sensor system and a process for non-intrusively determining the pressure within a conduit. In one example, the sensor system has a base section having an external surface and an internal region in fluid connection with the conduit. A strain sensor and a temperature sensor are positioned adjacent to the external surface of the base section.
US09677949B1

An in-line fiber-optic temperature sensor is disclosed. In an implementation, the in-line fiber-optic temperature sensor includes an optically transmissive fiber, a reflector, a microstructured fiber defining a channel therein for receiving a fluid, and a Fabry-Perot cavity in fluid communication with the microstructured fiber. The microstructured fiber can be retained between the optically transmissive fiber and the reflector. The Fabry-Perot cavity defined by a material and configured to receive a gas having an index of refraction that changes in a known way with temperature and pressure changes in fluid communication with the channel of the microstructured fiber. The in-line fiber-optic temperature sensor also includes a chamber defined between the optically transmissive fiber and the microstructured fiber for connecting in fluid communication with a vacuum/pressure source for changing pressure. The in-line fiber-optic temperature sensor also includes a sensor for determining an optical interferometric reflection spectrum associated with the Fabry-Perot cavity.
US09677948B1

A micromachined apparatus includes micromachined thermistor having first and second ends physically and thermally coupled to a substrate via first and second anchor structures to enable a temperature-dependent resistance of the micromachined thermistor to vary according to a time-varying temperature of the substrate. The micromachined thermistor has a length, from the first end to the second end, greater than a linear distance between the first and second anchor structures.
US09677946B1

The present disclosure relates to microbolometer structures having top layers of amorphous silicon or vanadium oxide. In some examples, combinations of carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles, and/or thin films can be deposited atop the existing top layer of amorphous silicon or top layer of vanadium oxide of a microbolometer structure. Such configurations can increase the sensitivity of the microbolometers to less than 4 mK, less than 2 mK, and in some examples less than 1 mK.
US09677945B2

A projection system is disclosed including a safety detection system for a protected space, said projection system including a projection light source, a projection imaging system, a projection lens system, a detection source comprising at least of a detection light source and a detection camera comprising at least of a detection sensor, characterized by the fact that the optical axis of the projection source is identical to the optical axis of the detection source and the detection camera at least in the protected space.
US09677905B2

Method including detecting low user dynamics by a first MEMS sensor is provided. A first sensor determines sampling rate value corresponding to the low user dynamics. The first sensor sampling rate value is less than a second sensor sampling rate value corresponding to high user dynamics. A sampling rate of a second MEMS sensor is adjusted to the first sensor sampling rate value.
US09677892B2

A system and method is disclosed for generating and providing assessments of transit network characteristics for specified locations. The system receives a specified location, generates an assessment of the received location, and provides a generated visual representation of the received location to a client system. Determining a location assessment may be based on transit network information related to the distance between a specified location and the nearest point of access/egress on transit network routes that are accessible from the specified location, the frequency at which the transit network routes stop at the point of access/egress on the transit network routes that are accessible from the indicated location, or the transportation mode used for at least one of the transit network routes that are accessible from the specified location. The initial location assessment may be updated periodically, in response to changes in system status, or on demand by user request.
US09677891B2

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a positioning method and a system thereof, an encoded label generating method and a system thereof. The present invention sets forth a solution of using encoded label to determine coordinate, so as to perform positioning. The positioning method, includes: acquiring a normalized map and a first identification code for identifying the map; acquiring, by scanning a first encoded label, a second identification code and a first coordinate indicated by the first encoded label; and determining a first location in the map corresponding to the first coordinate in response to the second identification code matching with the first identification code.
US09677890B2

This disclosure is directed to positioning and mapping based on virtual landmarks. A space may include a plurality of signal sources (e.g., wireless access points (APs), cellular base stations, etc.). The space may be virtually divided into a plurality of regions, wherein each region in the space may be associated with a virtual landmark. Virtual landmarks may be identified by a signature comprised of measurements of wireless signals received from the plurality of access points when at the associated region. A device position may be approximated based on signal power magnitude and variance measurements for wireless signals received at the virtual landmark. Devices may employ an algorithm such as, for example, Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) for positioning and map creation in the space without the need for GPS signals, specialized signaling equipment, pre-navigation device training, etc. Navigation/mapping may also account for space changes, signal source position changes, etc.
US09677889B2

A method and system for compensating for soft iron magnetic disturbances in multiple heading reference systems, such as aircraft heading reference systems, integrated standby units; or vehicle inertial systems, detects and provides a heading correction signal to the error prone heading reference system when a detected difference in value between a gyro heading relative to magnetic north and a magnetometer reading during a defined measurement period exceeds a predetermined acceptable threshold value of change, such as one based on the expected gyro drift over that period. Upon receipt of the heading correction signal, the gyro heading is adjusted to maintain an accurate heading relative to true magnetic north. If this threshold value is not exceeded, then the magnetometer reading is used for the heading value. This method is periodically repeated in order to continually maintain an accurate heading and may be employed for each heading measurement axis.
US09677887B2

The disclosure relates to estimating an initial position and navigation state associated with a vehicle using odometry and/or other data obtained from the vehicle to support dead reckoning at start-up. In particular, a last known position and last known heading at a first odometer value associated with the vehicle may be stored and compared to a current odometer value after linking a mobile device with the vehicle. The last known position and last known heading may be used to estimate the initial position and navigation state associated with the vehicle based on a difference between the compared odometer values. For example, the estimated initial position and/or navigation state may substantially correspond to the last known position and last known heading if the difference between the odometer values indicates no change, or a non-zero difference may define a radius to limit an estimated error associated with the initial position estimate.
US09677886B2

The disclosure is directed to routing to a destination. An aspect determines a route from an origin to the destination, and recommends a location of interest. The location of interest is a location with a media density score is greater than a threshold and within a range of deviation from the route. The media density score is based on a number of recommendations of a media file related to the media density score.
US09677885B2

A method of tuning a vibratory ring structure includes determining an angular spacing for a pair of fine tuning holes of substantially the same size, located on or near the neutral axis of the vibratory ring structure, the angular offset being selected to reduce to an acceptable level the frequency split between the target normal mode and a further normal mode which is angularly offset relative to the target normal mode, and forming the pair of fine tuning holes in the vibratory ring structure at the determined angular spacing. A ring structure, for example, a gyroscope, tuned or balanced in this manner, is also disclosed.
US09677882B2

An apparatus and method for determining the diameter of a pipe from a remote location is disclosed. A measuring assembly, including a reference device and an imaging device, is inserted into a pipe from a remote location. The reference device is inflatable to a predetermined and known diameter within the pipe. The imaging device acquires imaging data of the reference device within the pipe and the imaging data is used to determine the diameter of the pipe by comparing the predetermined diameter of the reference device with the diameter of the wall of the pipe. The diameter of the pipe is then used to properly choose a liner assembly of the same diameter to repair the wall of the pipe. The liner tube may include a bladder and liner tube, which is saturated with a curable resin, to repair the wall of the pipe.
US09677881B2

A method and apparatus for identifying an edge of a target object using laser distance measurement. The method comprises rotating a laser distance measuring head in intervals of a predetermined angle in a first direction. Further, at each step of rotation, directing a scan beam onto the target object at a point of incidence and measuring a distance between the laser distance measuring head and the point of incidence. When a difference between a measured distance at a first step of rotation and a measured distance at a second step of rotation exceeds beyond a predetermined threshold value, identifying, that an edge of the target object has occurred at the point of incidence of the scan beam corresponding to the second step of rotation, wherein the second step of rotation precedes the first step of rotation.
US09677879B2

A tire appearance inspection apparatus and method employing image processing is capable of performing tire appearance inspection with great accuracy. The tire appearance inspection apparatus includes a sectional shape acquiring device for acquiring cross-sectional shapes of a tire in the radial direction along the circumference of the tire, an arc fitting device for fitting an arc to each of the cross-sectional shapes, an arc center position calculating device for calculating the center positions of the arcs, and a sectional shape aligning device for aligning the cross-sectional shapes using the center positions of the arcs for the cross-sectional shapes.
US09677878B2

Apparatus for mapping includes a radiation source, which is configured to emit a beam of radiation. A first scanning mirror is configured to receive and scan the emitted beam in a first direction over a selected angular range within a region of interest. A detector and optics define a sensing area of the detector. A second scanning mirror is configured to scan the sensing area over the selected angular range in the first direction in synchronization with the scanned beam from the radiation source. A scanner is configured to scan both the emitted beam and the sensing area over the region of interest in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. A processor is configured to process signals output by the detector in order to construct a three-dimensional (3D) map of an object in the region of interest.
US09677876B2

A non-destructive and optical measurement automation system for web thickness of microdrills and method thereof can obtain the measuring data corresponding to a certain section to be measured of a microdrill by means of automated optical measurement. Specifically speaking, the said system and method measure the section to be measured via an optical measuring plane formed by a measuring light beam, and the included angle between the optical measuring plane and the central axis of the microdrill is practically consistent with the helix angle of the microdrill. The said system and method then analyze the measuring data via a computer device to obtain the outer diameter and the depths of helical flutes corresponding to the section to be measured. Finally, the said system and method calculate the web thickness of the said section to be measured according to the outer diameter and the depths of helical flutes.
US09677873B2

An apparatus, method and computer program for measuring a distance using a self-mixing interference (SMI) unit that generates an SMI signal. The SMI unit comprises a laser emitting a first laser beam directed to an object and wherein the SMI signal depends on an interference of the first laser beam and a second laser beam reflected by the object. A peak width determination unit determines a peak width of the SMI signal, and a distance determination unit determines a distance between the object and the SMI unit depending on the determined peak width of the SMI signal. Since the distance is determined depending on the peak width of the SMI signal, without requiring a laser driving current modulation, advanced electronics for modulating the driving current of the laser are not needed. This reduces the technical efforts needed for determining the distance.
US09677870B2

A distance measuring method for measuring surfaces uses a laser source having a frequency that can be modulated to tune a wavelength of a laser beam in a wavelength range. The laser beam is generated with a coherence length to provide a measuring beam and is emitted at the surface, located within a specified distance range, as a measuring beam. The measuring beam is back-scattered by the surface and is received again and used to interferometrically measure the distance from a reference point to the surface. The specified distance range lies at least partly outside of the coherence length. One portion of the laser beam is temporally delayed with respect to another portion, such that the one optical path difference caused by the delay matches the optical path difference that corresponds to a distance in the specified distance range plus or minus the coherence length of the laser.
US09677859B1

A lighted arrow nock includes: a light emitting part having a light and a battery to allow the light to be moved forward and backward to and from battery to turn on and off the light; a driving circuit part disposed in the light to intermittently supply the power supplied from the battery to a light emitting diode chip of the light to allow the light to blink; an arrow coupling member having a cylindrical structure so that an outer peripheral surface thereof is inserted into the rear end of an arrow, while having the battery inserted into the inner space thereof; and a light operating member adapted to allow the light to be inserted into the lower portion thereof in the state of being inserted into the arrow coupling member and to move up and down.
US09677858B1

A method of making an armor component that includes wrapping a ceramic tile with a plurality of wrappers that are impregnated with a curable polymer, and isostatically pressing the wrapped ceramic tile while curing the curable polymer to obtain an armor component that includes the ceramic tile integrated with the wrappers.
US09677853B2

The present invention relates to a device for mounting and adjustment of a telescopic sight on a firearm, where the device comprises a front telescopic sight ring and a rear telescopic sight ring and where the front and rear telescopic sight ring further comprises an upper half-ring and a lower half-ring, where the lower half-ring of each telescope sight ring is connected to an intermediate piece, where each intermediate piece is further connected to a telescopic sight ring base, and where it between one of the telescopic sight ring bases and the intermediate pieces is arranged an adjustment device, allowing for adjustment of the telescopic sight.
US09677849B2

A multiple laser sight system for an archery bow or the like configured so that the multiple laser systems can be calibrated together and having features such that the user can use one laser system during the day and one laser system during the light. The laser sight is further configured to not interfere with the optional use of conventional sighting pins and the use of evening infrared systems, like the prior art use of night vision goggles.
US09677844B2

An expandable or telescoping police baton embodies a cylindrical sleeve within which is slidably disposed cylindrical shaft. The sleeve and shaft are aligned with a slot and a pin to prevent rotation of the shaft within the sleeve. The baton also includes a shock absorbing assembly positioned on the shaft.
US09677842B2

There is provided a protective glove to cover at least a portion of a hand of an archer during the shooting of arrows from a bow, which glove is designed to resist a broken arrow from puncturing through the glove and entering the flesh of the user. In particular, there may be a palm section, made of a first arrow puncturable material that covers the palm of the users hand. There may also be a protective section, located on the glove covering the back of the hand of the user, made of a second material that has a weight-to-strength value of at least that of steel, coupled to the palm section and positioned so that a broken arrow being shot from a bow will have a higher likely hood of hitting the protective section than hitting areas not having the protective section.
US09677838B2

The present invention provides a fluted firearm barrel and method of making a fluted firearm barrel. An elongated barrel has an exterior surface. A plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced apart grooves are formed in the exterior surface. Each groove varies in width multiple times along the length thereof, such that each groove has at least two widened portions with a narrowed portion therebetween.
US09677833B2

A charging handle for a firearm which has a handle portion connected to a pull rod member. A bore hole collects exhaust gases passing over the top of the rod member and directs the gases to vent tunnel(s) which extend perpendicular to the rod member. In the preferred embodiment, a deflecting surface is used to further direct the exhaust gases to the bore hole. Further embodiments provide seals to protect the user from any exhaust gas which has not been vented.
US09677828B2

An apparatus includes an inlet, an outlet, and a sheet disposed proximate a heat transfer surface, wherein the sheet is oriented in a sheet plane that is displaced from a plane of the heat transfer surface by an angle of at least 10 degrees. The apparatus also includes a plurality of tabs attached to the sheet, the tabs lying in respective tab planes, wherein the tab planes and the sheet plane intersect forming respective intersections. The intersections of the tab planes and the sheet plane are substantially parallel. The intersections of the tab planes and the sheet plane are at an angle of less than 88° to the heat transfer surface, and the plurality of tabs collectively form channels directing a fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet to impinge the heat transfer surface.
US09677827B2

The present invention proposes a new design in the configuration of the attachment between the battery of tubes and the shell of a heat exchanger, improving the manufacturing costs and efficiency with respect to the exchangers of the state of the art. The present invention describes a heat exchanger and a process for manufacturing it, which combines the thermal fatigue strength of floating core exchangers with the compact, simple and more economical design of monoblock exchangers, resulting from, among others, a smaller number of necessary manufacturing steps.
US09677816B2

A grid plate for the transporting and cooling of very hot materials leaving a furnace is provided. The plate includes cavities of rectangular shape, the largest dimension being perpendicular to the direction of advance of the materials. The cross section of these cavities being triangular with a fin-shaped bottom terminating in a turned-up end of reverse slope, the slope (α) of the cavities being between 10° and 45°, preferably between 20° and 30°, to the horizontal and the reverse slope (β) of the turned-up end making an angle equal to or up to 6° less than the angle of the slope of the cavities. The flow of material under gravity through the air injection slits is interrupted. Any contact of the material with the framework and with the mechanism of the equipment is avoided.
US09677811B2

An apparatus for cleaning and drying a substrate is disclosed. The apparatus includes a substrate holder configured to hold a substrate, a rotating device configured to rotate the substrate holder, a cylindrical cup surrounding a peripheral portion of the substrate, and a gas ejector disposed below the substrate. The gas ejector has at least one gas discharge opening arranged along an entire circumference of the substrate. The gas ejector is configured to discharge a gas downwardly from the gas discharge opening to induce downward flow of air in a gap between a peripheral portion of the substrate and the cylindrical cup.
US09677807B2

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage chamber, a first drawer slidably mounted within the storage chamber, the first drawer having a locking portion at an upper side of the first drawer and a recessed guide rail portion that is adjacent the locking portion and extended along a withdrawal direction of the first drawer, a second drawer slidably mounted within the storage chamber, a stopper provided at the second drawer, the stopper being configured to, based on the first drawer being withdrawn from the storage chamber, become locked to the locking portion, and the stopper being configured to, based on the first drawing being inserted into the storage chamber, be slidably accommodated in the guide rail portion such that the first and second drawers are independently movable relative to each other.
US09677803B2

An ice dispensing arrangement is particularly suited for a household refrigeration appliance. A flap can rotate between a first and a second distribution position. A motor actuates the flap via a transfer device. The transfer device has a rotating transfer element and a flap actuating device. The rotating transfer element is rotated between a first and a second position, in order to rotate the flap, by way of the flap actuation device, between the first and second distribution positions. The rotating transfer element is coupled to the flap actuation device so that the flap, in the first position of the rotating transfer element, is arranged in the first distribution position and, in the second position of the rotating transfer element, the flap is arranged in the second distribution position. A blocking device maintains the flap in the first distribution position.
US09677793B2

A cooling structure includes a first plate, a second plate separated from the first plate, and an inlet adapted to receive a cooling fluid. The cooling structure also includes a first cooling portion coupled to the first plate and adapted to maintain a first temperature. The cooling structure further includes a second cooling portion coupled to the second plate and adapted to maintain a second temperature different from the first temperature.
US09677792B2

An active magnetic regenerative (AMR) refrigerator apparatus can include at least one AMR bed with a first end and a second end and a first heat exchanger (HEX) with a first end and a second end. The AMR refrigerator can also include a first pipe that fluidly connects the first end of the first HEX to the first end of the AMR bed and a second pipe that fluidly connects the second end of the first HEX to the first end of the AMR bed. The first pipe can divide into two or more sub-passages at the AMR bed. The second pipe can divide into two or more sub-passages at the AMR bed. The sub-passages of the first pipe and the second pipe can interleave at the AMR bed.
US09677784B2

A heat pump operation method includes: obtaining, on a per time unit basis, generated power, load power, surplus power, and an impact magnitude; and controlling operation of the heat pump to cause the heat pump to consume an amount of power for generating heat adjusted to follow the surplus power obtained on a per unit time basis. In the controlling, when the impact magnitude is greater than a predetermined first threshold value, the operation of the heat pump is controlled to permit consumption of the power supplied from an energy supplier and approximate a reverse flow of the surplus power to zero, and when the impact magnitude is less than or equal to a predetermined second threshold value, the operation of the heat pump is controlled to permit the reverse flow of the surplus power and approximate the consumption of power supplied from the energy supplier to zero.
US09677781B2

A cooling unit for an agricultural vehicle has a grid for allowing air to enter the unit while limiting debris and a heat exchanger for transferring heat from a coolant to air passing across the heat exchanger. The cooling unit further has a duct with motor driven fan, and a controller to monitor fan current and operate the fan in alternating directions. The controller generates a heat exchanger blockage warning when desirable fan current thresholds are not achieved.
US09677777B2

This invention relates to HVAC systems, zone control units, and control systems. More specifically, an HVAC system employs distributed zone control units that provides localized air recirculation. A zone control unit includes a return air section that receives return air from serviced building zones and mixes the return air with a supply of outside air. The mixed air is heated and/or cooled by the zone control unit and discharged to serviced building zones in a controlled manner. An exhaust air system is used to extract air from serviced building zones. The HVAC zone control unit also includes a local control unit with an Internet protocol address. The local control unit includes a memory and a processor for storing and executing a control program for the zone control unit. The control program controls of the zone control unit in response to commands received via the Internet.
US09677773B2

A broil baffle for an oven may be provided. The oven may include a broil burner configured to distribute heat. The baffle may be positioned such that the broil burner distributes heat toward the baffle. The baffle may include a plurality of dimples configured to disperse infrared radiation from the distributed heat in multiple directions away from the baffle toward a broiling surface of the oven.
US09677767B2

A combustion turbine engine combustor section includes a plurality of annularly arrayed combustors housed within paired combustor portals of a combustor casing. Each combustor portal has a corresponding top hat cover having a peripheral flange. The paired combustor portals are formed in combustor housings having a figure eight-shaped sleeve wall planform. The paired adjoining combustor portals share a common Siamesed portion of the sleeve wall. A combustor portal mating surface is formed on an axial distal end of the sleeve wall, having a figure eight planform and defining a first array of fastener receiving apertures. A top hat cover retention bracket assembly having a composite planform conforming to the combustor portal mating surface planform and a second array of apertures that conform to the first array pattern apertures, is placed over the peripheral flanges of the paired combustor top hat covers and secured by top hat cover fasteners.
US09677752B2

A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system including a first heat dissipation structure having a front side acting as a contact area to at least one LED and a back side. At least one second heat dissipation structure is positioned adjacent to the backside of the first heat dissipation structure. At least one thermoelectric module is positioned between the first heat dissipation structure. At least one second heat dissipation structure for conducting heat is produced from the at least one LED during operation from the first heat dissipation structure towards the at least one second heat dissipation structure. The front side of the first heat dissipation structure comprises at least one upwardly protruding structure extending distally away from the at least one second heat dissipation structure and the at least one upwardly protruding structure acts as the contact point to the at least one LED.
US09677750B2

Disclosed is an electrical lamp for holding and displaying a collector's round (or oval) item. The lamp comprises a base assembly comprising a base and a bottom plate secured to a top surface of the base, a top assembly comprising a top plate, a lamp assembly comprising an electrical light bulb connected to the top plate, and a lamp shade encircling the light bulb, and a connecting means for connecting the top and base assemblies such that, the top and bottom plates are vertically aligned. The round item is adapted to be snugly and removably received between the top and bottom plates.
US09677744B1

A component housing band includes a center portion that comprises an aperture extending through the center portion and a mounting structure disposed adjacent to the aperture. The mounting structure extends from a surface of the center portion in a direction that is substantially normal to the corresponding surface of the center portion. The mounting structure engages the ends of a notch in a lens and forms a cavity to house an electronic component. Further, the component housing band includes a first elongated arm portion and a second elongated arm portion integral with the center portion and extending away from opposite ends of the center portion in opposite directions, respectively. The ends of the first elongated arm portion and the second elongated arm portion that are away from the center portion and opposite to each other are adapted to engage with corresponding latch structures of the lens.
US09677737B1

A dual lens structure includes an outer elongated lens segment that has a substantially dome-shaped cross-section. The outer elongated lens segment includes a first optical pattern. The dual lens structure also includes inner elongated lens segment that has a substantially bell-shaped cross-section. The inner elongated lens segment includes a second optical pattern and is at least partially positioned within the outer elongated lens segment. The dual lens structure further includes a first segment coupled to a first longitudinal side of the outer elongated lens segment and to a first longitudinal side of the inner elongated lens segment. The dual lens structure also includes a second segment coupled to a second longitudinal side of the outer elongated lens segment and to a second longitudinal side of the inner elongated lens segment.
US09677733B2

The invention relates to a light guiding element (1) for a laser vehicle headlight (2), wherein the laser vehicle headlight (2) comprises at least one laser light source (3) and at least one luminous element (4) which can be irradiated by the laser light source (3) and can thus be excited to emit visible light. The light guiding element (1) has a first side (10), which is designed at least partly as a light entrance surface (5), and a second side (20) arranged opposite the first side (10), said second side being designed at least partly as a light exit surface (6) and being assigned at least one receptacle (7) for at least one luminous element (4), wherein the light entrance surface (5) is assigned at least one first reflection region (50) which is oriented in the direction of the interior of the light guiding element (1) and reflects light from the light entrance surface (5) in the direction of the receptacle (7) for the luminous element (4), and wherein the light exit surface (6) is assigned at least one second reflection region (60) which is oriented in the direction of the interior of the light guiding element (1) and reflects light from the luminous element (4) in the direction of the light exit surface (6). The invention furthermore relates to a vehicle headlight (2) comprising at least one light guiding element of this type.
US09677729B2

A fluttering-flame simulation device having a shell, a flame body, an external force generating device mounted in the shell, and at least one light-emitting device; the flame body is provided with a flame sheet imitating the shape of flame; the flame sheet extends out of the shell through a through hole in the shell; light of the light-emitting device is projected upon the flame sheet; a lower portion of the flame body is provided with a hollow cone; the shell is provided inside with a support member, which extends into the cone at the lower portion of the flame body to support the flame body, making the flame body still able to return to the initial vertical state after shaking around a support point under the force from the external force generating device, thus forming a tumbler-type flame body.
US09677728B2

An illumination device having a pole mount, a light support that extends from the pole mount, a lighting unit is connected to the pole mount, and a solar panel assembly is mounted to the lighting unit. In another embodiment an illumination apparatus is provided having a pole mount and a lighting assembly, and the pole mount has hinged first clamp half and second clamp halves. When in the closed clamp position the pole mount clamp defines a pole opening. A first light support extends from the first clamp half and a light emitting assembly is supported by the first light support. In another preferred embodiment there is a band illumination device that is secured to a pole with a band, and in another preferred embodiment there is and adjustable band illumination assembly secured to a pole with bands.
US09677726B1

An integral light and shade is provided that includes a switched power supply and a plurality of light bulbs configured to provide light directed downward from the shade once the integral light and shade is position upon, and receives into a switch assembly aperture, a rigid member top surface. A switch assembly housed in the shade includes an activating flange orthogonally disposed to the shade central longitudinal axis, and provides electrical power to the light bulbs evenly spaced about a shade longitudinal axis to direct light downward from the shade interior surface. Alternative embodiments include a manual on/off power switch and/or supplemental shade overlays and/or light bulbs that are light emitting diode lamps, and the light and shade switch assembly aperture is sized to receive the top surface of a bottle neck.
US09677725B2

The present application provides a light string unit, including: a plurality of light-emitting bodies; and a conducting wire, configured to electrically connect the light-emitting bodies in series, opposite ends of the conducting wire being connected to positive polarity and negative polarity of an external power supply circuit or an external power source, respectively. Wherein, the conducting wire is a high-tensile conducting wire which includes: a conductive core wire; an insulated coating, configured to encapsulate the conductive core wire; and a tensile resistant cord, set inside the insulated coating and set parallelly or twisted with the conductive core wire to enhance the tensile strength of the conducting wire. In the present application, the tensile resistant cord enhances the tensile strength of the conducting wire, and completely reaches or even exceeds the requirement on tensile strength of a conducting wire in the UL 588 criterion and has a simplified structure.
US09677716B2

A method and apparatus for insulating a fluid line in a container configured to contain a fluid. The apparatus comprises a container, a fluid line in the container, and a tube. The container is configured to contain a fluid. The tube is placed around the fluid line in the container to form a channel around a first portion of the fluid line. The tube is configured to contain the fluid from the container in the channel and to prevent a first flow of the fluid between the container and the channel except through a number of ends of the tube. The tube is further configured to reduce a second flow of the fluid within the channel such that the fluid in the channel insulates the fluid line.
US09677702B2

A case having a standing leg for an electronic device includes a soft protective cover, a hard protective frame, and a standing leg. An opening is formed on a back portion of the hard protective frame to receive the standing leg therein. The standing leg is pivoted with the soft protective cover and the hard protective frame. The standing leg is configured to rotate up to about a predetermined angle until the rotation of the standing leg is prevented by a pivoting end wall of the hard protective frame. The opening is sized to receive the standing leg. The standing leg is rotatable from a closed position in which it is received in the opening to an open position in which the standing leg is rotated about the predetermined angle. In an open position, the electronic device rests on a surface at a preferred viewing angle.
US09677701B2

An adaptable equipment mounting platform in a vehicle application wherein a fixed equipment configuration is to be secured therein to provide a mobile use configuration. A universal mounting frame having multiple fixed vehicle mounting points that conform to the vehicle's required safe drill access areas provides correspondingly adjustable equipment attachment fasteners. The mounting frame therefore allows for a variety of different equipment configurations to be installed in a commercial vehicle that heretofore were unavailable due to their structural design that limited the areas in which safe mounting could occur.
US09677698B2

A connector is provided, in one embodiment, the connector includes a collar (16) configured to receive first and second components (12,14). In this embodiment, the connector may also include a load ring (50) configured to be received in a groove (46) of the second component (12) and to move into and out of engagement with the collar (16) when the second component (12) is received by the collar (16). The connector of this illustrative embodiment may also include a locking ring (62) configured to inhibit disengagement of the load ring (50) from the collar (16). In some embodiments, engagement of the load ring (50) and the collar (16) effects securing of the first and second components (12, 14) to one another.
US09677690B2

A multi-purpose universal support is disclosed that can be configured to support multiple pipes, pipe junctions, vertical strut channels, horizontal strut channels, and thread rods. The disclosed support system allows for quicker installation, easy height adjustments, and a fewer supports than previously known supports.
US09677683B2

The present invention provides for a solenoid valve assembly including a housing (32) defining a cavity (34). A support (48) is disposed in the cavity and defines a bore (50). A coil (60) is disposed about the support and defines an energized state for generating a magnetic field and a de-energized state. A plunger (74) is movably disposed in the bore of the support between a first position engaging the housing and a second position spaced from the housing. The plunger is radially spaced from the support to define a gap (76) between the plunger and the support. A dampener (86) is coupled to one of the support and the plunger adjacent the gap to prevent direct engagement between the support and the plunger as the plunger moves between the first and second positions during the energized and de-energized states for reducing noise during operation.
US09677678B2

A venting valve for a container for liquid has a valve housing having a pressure compensation passage connecting the container interior with the container exterior. A valve member is arranged in the valve housing and controls the pressure compensation passage. An air-permeable filter body is secured within the valve housing and covers the pressure compensation passage, wherein a face of the filter body faces the container interior. A filter element covers the face of the filter body that is facing the container interior. The filter element is a securing element for the filter body. The filter element closes off an opening of the valve housing that opens into the container interior.
US09677675B2

The invention concerns a circuit comprising a bag (11) comprising two flexible films (45, 46) and a press (10) comprising a first (14) and a second (13) shell clamping the bag to form pipes having a passage and edges (41); the first shell comprising a valve (20) which comprises a movable member (24) and a pad (31), which pad has a resting configuration in which a second face (33) of the pad is concave and locally delimits a channel (18) and a pinching configuration in which the second face (33) is convex; said movable member and said pad being configured so that, when said valve is in closed position and said pad in pinching configuration, said passage is pinched by said movable member against said second shell channel and said edges (41) are pinched flat by said movable member against said second shell (13).
US09677665B2

The invention relates to a gearshifting device (1), which is intended for a transmission and comprises a selector lever (2) that can be moved in such a manner that different shift positions (P, R, N, D, S, M+, M−) can be selected in at least two gearshift gates (3, 4) and that it is possible to shift between one of the gearshift gates (3, 4) and the at least one other gearshift gate (4, 3), and comprises at least one lock (5), which is used to block the traversing path of the selector lever (2) with respect to one of the gearshift gates (3, 4), in order to shift from one of the shift positions (P, R, N, D, S) into another of the shift positions (P, R, N, D, S). According to the invention, at least one locking element (10) is provided, which is mechanically coupled to the selector lever (2) and by means of which the shift lock (5) can be activated and/or deactivated in that with respect to the gearshift gate (3) that is to be blocked, the locking element (10) can be moved into and out of the traversing path of the selector lever (2).
US09677663B2

A helicopter is provided and includes an engine, a rotor, a gear train configured to transmit torque from the engine to the rotor such that the rotor is rotatable about an axis of rotation, a primary lubrication system, which is configured to supply the gear train with a fluid and a secondary lubrication system disposed in a gear of the gear train, including a fluid reservoir, which is configured to receive and store the fluid and to continue to supply the gear train with the fluid following a failure of the primary lubrication system.
US09677656B2

An axle assembly having an input pinion with a pinion gear, which is received in an axle housing and rotatable about a first axis, and a pinion shaft. The pinion gear is meshed with a ring gear that is coupled to a differential assembly. A head bearing, which is disposed on a first axial end of the input pinion, supports the input pinion for rotation relative to the housing about the first axis. A tail bearing supports the input pinion for rotation relative to the housing about the first axis. The pinion gear is disposed axially between the tail bearing and the head bearing. A bearing groove is formed into the pinion shaft and the bearing elements are received into the bearing groove such that an inner bearing race of the tail bearing is unitarily and integrally formed with the pinion shaft.
US09677646B2

A drive device includes: an oil pump; a first rotation transfer member drivably coupled to the oil pump and driven by at least one of an internal combustion engine and a rotary electric machine; and a second rotation transfer member drivably coupled to wheels and driven by the rotary electric machine. One of the first rotation transfer member and the second rotation transfer member is a pinion. The other rotation transfer member is a carrier that rotatably supports the pinion. The pinion and the carrier are rotated together with each other in the case where the oil pump is driven by the rotary electric machine.
US09677642B2

In some embodiments, a torque damper apparatus can achieve reduced stiffness as well as sufficient vibration absorbing property while increasing the dampening ratio of the torque variation. In some embodiments, a torque damper apparatus comprises an input member to which an engine torque is inputted; damper springs able to absorb variation of torque inputted from the input member; and/or a driving power of the engine configured to be transmitted to an output shaft of a vehicle via the input member and the damper springs. The damper springs can comprise a plurality of coil springs arranged along the circumference of the input member. The torque damper apparatus can further comprise a plurality of separate members interposed between the damper springs and configured to be independently rotated with respect to each other when the engine torque is transmitted thereto.
US09677640B2

A damper assembly includes a piston and cylinder type damper with a piston (14) mounted for reciprocal movement in a cylinder (10) containing damping fluid. The piston (14) is acted on by a piston rod (11) which includes a reaction surface for engaging the piston. The cross-sectional area of the reaction surface is designed to be significantly greater than the cross-sectional area of the piston rod (11) in order to spread the load exerted on the piston (14). Also, the piston (14) is designed to engage the piston rod (11) at its inner end in a manner that provides lateral guidance for the inner end of the piston rod in its movement in the cylinder (10).
US09677629B2

A pad clip comprising two or more discrete pieces comprising: one or more clip body sections including a bridge attachment segment located at a bridge end, a spring attachment segment located at a spring end, or both; and one or more bridge sections, one or more retraction springs, or both; wherein the two or more discrete pieces are adapted to be attached together at the bridge attachment segment, spring attachment segment, or both. The teachings also include a method of forming the pad clip, comprising: forming two or more clip body sections, each clip body section including a spring attachment segment; forming one or more retraction springs; attaching the one or more retraction springs to the spring attachment segment of the two or more clip body sections; and installing the pad clip about a support bracket of a brake assembly.
US09677628B2

A brake assembly and a method of manufacture. The brake assembly may have a bracket assembly that may include a brake wing and a mounting flange disposed at opposite ends of a tube portion. The bracket assembly may rotatably support a camshaft.
US09677625B2

A concentric slave cylinder is provided. The concentric slave cylinder includes a housing including a wall; a piston slidable along the wall in a forward direction and a return direction, the piston including a first angled surface, the piston and the housing forming a hydraulic chamber therebetween; and a ring slidable along the wall in the hydraulic chamber in the forward direction and limiting sliding of the piston in the return direction, the ring including a frustoconical portion having a second angled surface for engaging the first angled surface to limit the sliding of the piston in the return direction.
US09677622B2

A clutch assembly that is less prone to overheating is disclosed. The clutch assembly includes a clutch housing, a shaft, and a clutch pack. The clutch pack includes a first apply plate, a second apply plate, a plurality of friction plates, and a plurality of reaction plates. The clutch assembly further includes a first actuator and a second actuator. The first actuator applies pressure to the first apply plate in a first direction to move the first apply plate toward the second apply plate. The second actuator applies pressure to the second apply plate in a second direction to move the second apply plate toward the first apply plate. The first direction is opposite the second direction such that the first and second actuators apply pressure to the clutch pack in opposing directions. This reduces localized temperature spikes in the clutch pack.
US09677614B2

A cage for a rolling bearing, wherein the cage is intended to ensure the circumferential spacing of a row of rolling elements. The cage comprises pockets for the rolling elements and connecting tabs. Each connecting tab connects two successive pockets. At least one recess is formed in a thickness of at least one of the tabs.
US09677610B2

An end module of a linear guideway includes an end cap, a cover, and a lubricating sheet. The end cap has an accommodating trough, and the cover is installed on the end cap to cover the accommodating trough, so a surface of the end cap faces a surface of the cover. At least one supporting pillar is formed on one of the two facing surfaces of the end cap and the cover, and the supporting pillar abuts against the other one of the two facing surfaces of the end cap and the cover. The lubricating sheet is received in the accommodating trough. The lubricating sheet has at least one penetrating hole, and the supporting pillar is inserted into the penetrating hole. Thus, the lubricating sheet of the instant disclosure is provided without any deformation, which is caused by the end cap and the cover.
US09677609B2

A thrust bearing disposed facing a thrust collar provided on a rotary shaft includes: a top foil disposed facing the thrust collar; a back foil supporting the top foil; and an annular shaped base plate supporting the back foil. The back foil includes back foil pieces, and the top foil includes top foil pieces. An area on the leading side of a top foil piece in the rotation direction of the rotary shaft is provided with a fixed part fixed to the base plate. A fixed edge positioned on the trailing side of the fixed part in the rotation direction linearly extends such that the separation between a straight line extending in the radial direction of the base plate and the fixed edge positioned on the trailing side of the straight line in the rotation direction gradually increases outward from inside in the radial direction.
US09677599B2

An insertion body includes: a base arranged in the central axis; a rotating body provided on an outer periphery of the base and rotatable around the central axis; and a channel which includes a guide provided at the base such that the rotative force transmitting section is able to be guided between a first position in which the rotative force transmitting section in the longitudinal axis can be inclined from the central axis when the rotative force transmission unit is inserted from the outside to the inside and a second position in which the rotative force transmitting section in the longitudinal axis is parallel to the central axis and a rotative force can be transmitted to the rotating body from the rotative force transmitting section, and through which the rotative force transmission unit is inserted through the opening end and the guide.
US09677584B2

A fixing screw structure for adjusting a fixing procedure used for fixing a panel to a casing, including a screw, an elastomer and a fixing frame. The screw includes a threaded portion and a tapered portion, and passes through the panel, and the threaded portion is screwed on the casing. The elastomer is annular and disposed around the screw, and has a taper hole corresponding to the tapered portion. The fixing frame is a hollow tube, and is fixed on the panel and positioned around the elastomer. When the screw is screwed, the tapered portion abuts the inner wall of the taper hole and the elastomer is expanded outwardly to fitly abut the inner wall of the fixing frame. The instant disclosure transforms the longitudinal screwing force into a transverse expanding force to fix the panel, thereby eliminating the cumulative tolerance of the casing and the panel.
US09677572B2

A method for storing and reusing hydraulic energy in a machine is disclosed. The method includes transferring the hydraulic energy from an actuator to an upstream side of a motor pump via a first valve, during a normal mode. The method includes directing excess hydraulic energy from a downstream side of the motor pump to an accumulator by opening an accumulator valve and closing a bypass valve, during an energy saving mode. The method includes retrieving stored hydraulic energy from the accumulator to the upstream side of the motor pump by opening the accumulator valve, during an energy discharging mode.
US09677568B2

A turbocharger housing has a valve device. The valve device is formed with at least one first duct section and a second duct section. The two duct sections are arranged with their longitudinal axes parallel to one another and they are formed without any undercuts.
US09677562B2

An electrical submersible pump assembly includes a centrifugal pump having stages. Each of the stages has an impeller in cooperative engagement with a downstream diffuser. The impeller is axially movable relative to the downstream diffuser between a downthrust and an upthrust position. The downstream diffuser has an annular downstream wall surface, relative to the impeller, defining a downstream cavity. The impeller has a downstream balance ring that locates alongside the downstream wall surface. An annular clearance between the downstream balance ring and the downstream wall surface increases in response to the impeller moving from the downthrust to the upthrust position.
US09677549B2

An air operated pump 10 uses a magnet 14 mounted in the valve cup 16 of the air motor 18 and two reed sensors 20 mounted in the valve cover 22 to monitor the speed and position of the valve 16. A solenoid 24 is mounted on the valve cover 22 and can be commanded to extend a plunger 26 into the valve cup 16 to stop valve movement and therefore the pump from running away A magnetoresistive sensor 34 is located in the center of the air motor 18 to precisely monitor the piston 36 position and with air valve sensors 20 provides the input necessary for precise control and diagnostics of the pump 10 and makes it suitable for metering and plural component application.
US09677548B2

A pump comprises at least one piston slidable within an opening along a movement direction in order to vary the volume of a chamber. The pump further comprises a casing within which a driving device is housed for moving the piston, and a head within which the chamber is at least partially obtained, the chamber being partially delimited by the piston. A high pressure sealing element is located in a proximal position with respect to the chamber and a low pressure sealing element is located in a distal position with respect to the chamber to stop any quantities of liquid that the high pressure sealing element has let through. The high pressure sealing element is housed inside the head and the low pressure sealing element is housed inside the casing.
US09677546B2

A solar energy driven power generation system includes a solar energy receiver configured to collect solar energy. A vapor generator is operably connected to the solar energy receiver. A vapor turbine is operably connected to the vapor generator and is configured to be driven by a flow of vapor from the vapor generator. An electrical power generator is operably connected to the vapor turbine and driven thereby. A thermal conditioning system is operably connected to the vapor turbine and is driven by a flow of output vapor or hot liquid from the vapor turbine. A method of power generation includes collecting solar thermal energy and generating vapor utilizing the solar thermal energy. A vapor turbine is driven by the vapor and electrical power is produced via the rotation of the vapor turbine. Output vapor from the vapor turbine is utilized to drive a thermal conditioning system.
US09677540B2

A yaw backup system is provided. The yaw backup system includes an energy storage medium for storing auxiliary power. The yaw backup system also includes a yaw controller for coordinating delivery of power from the energy storage medium to a yaw motor for controlling a yaw angle of a wind turbine during grid loss conditions. The yaw controller executes the steps of receiving wind direction signals over time from a sensor, altering a tolerance level of a wind turbine based on changes in the wind direction signals over time and controlling delivery of power to the yaw motor from the auxiliary power of the energy storage medium based on the tolerance level to control the yaw angle for reducing a load on the wind turbine induced by wind.
US09677536B2

The WGLPP is a non-fluvial/dam, complete micro Hydroelectric Power Plant that can be an attached/integrated installation, a non-attached installation, or a portable installation (vehicle) that will continuously (24/7) power any residential, commercial, or military building. The WGLPP is driven by a water gravity energy loop (potential energy to kinetic energy to potential energy . . . ), which is clean (zero emissions and zero environmental impact) and renewable energy.
US09677522B2

The invention relates to a fuel injector (1) for an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector (1) is comprised of an injector body (5) with an injector tip (6). The injector tip (6) is used for the injection of fuel into the combustion chamber (4) of the internal combustion engine. For this reason, the injector tip (6) is designed so as to be at least partially extended into the combustion chamber (4). If the injector tip (6) is designed to be flush with the surface of the combustion chamber (4), the injector tip (6) is arranged so that it directly faces toward the combustion chamber (4). Furthermore, the injector tip (6) is at least partially coated with a first oxide layer (9). According to the invention, a catalytic second oxide coating (10) composed of cerium oxide (CeO2), praseodymium oxide (PrO2), zirconium oxide (ZrO2), or any bi-component combination thereof is applied on top of the first oxide coating (9). The present invention also discloses a method of producing a fuel injector (1) which is at least partially coated with a first oxide coating (9) and a second oxide coating (10) applied over the first oxide coating (9), where the second oxide coating (10) is composed of at least one or more compounds from the group comprising cerium oxide (CeO2), praseodymium oxide (PrO2), or zirconium oxide (ZrO2) and is applied as a washcoat.
US09677514B2

An air induction system for delivering equal quantities of combustion air to an internal combustion engine has an air box assembly comprising a housing that defines a filter chamber that is configured to receive an air filter assembly, an air inlet that admits the fresh air into the housing and the filter chamber and outlets extending from the housing. The air filter assembly further comprises a filter media disposed between the air inlet and the outlets to define a filtered air chamber on a flow side of the filter media and a partition extending across the filtered air chamber to divide filtered, fresh air passing through the filter media into two flow paths, the divided flows paths exiting the housing and the filtered air chamber through the outlets.
US09677513B2

A mechanically induced vacuum driven delivery system for providing pre-vaporized fuel to an internal combustion engine, the major benefit being that fuel can be precisely controlled.
US09677505B2

An air/fuel mixer system of a combustion chamber of a gas turbine includes at least one compressed air intake swirler, the swirler having a central axis of symmetry, and a fuel injector including an injection head having an axis of symmetry. Each injector is mounted in the corresponding swirler with aid of a guide mechanism, so that the axis of symmetry of the injection head is off-center with respect to the central axis of symmetry of the swirler. The system can reduce, or even eliminate, combustion instabilities, by injecting the fuel along a particular axis which is off-center relative to the axis of the air/fuel mixer system, inducing a flow of fuel which is no longer perfectly axially symmetrical.
US09677502B2

The present disclosure relates to a turbojet engine nacelle equipped with at least one thrust reverser. The thrust reverser includes: two half-cowls forming an outer cowl which is articulated on hinges and translates between closed and open positions, a first actuator to translationally actuate a downstream frame, a second actuator to rotationally actuate each half-cowl, and a lock capable of locking or unlocking the half-cowls relative to one another. In particular, the thrust reverser includes cascades vanes supported at their upstream end by an upstream frame and at their downstream end by the downstream frame, and a connector between the downstream frame and the external cowl. The cascade vanes are enclosed in a shroud formed by a fan casing and a fan cowl.
US09677501B2

An exemplary nozzle having a variable internal exhaust area for a gas turbine engine can have a plurality of flap trains extending around a periphery of the gas turbine engine. Each flap train can include a convergent flap pivotally attached to an engine body and a divergent flap pivotally attached to the engine body downstream of the convergent flap. The nozzle can further have a fluid circuit in communication with the convergent and divergent flaps and configured to pivot the convergent and divergent flaps between a radially inward position and a radially outward position.
US09677496B2

A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed for controlling a fuel injector using multipulse fuel injection. According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, the system includes a fuel sequence controller configured for use with a fuel injector having an injector configuration modeled by a body pressure characteristic that includes a rail pressure and an injection rate shape, where the fuel sequence controller is structured to determine an estimate of the injected fuel quantity delivered from the fuel injector at the determined body pressure characteristic.
US09677495B2

A fuel control system includes a target rail pressure module. The target rail pressure module determines a target fuel rail pressure of a fuel rail of a direct injection engine. An offset module determines an offset value based on an engine speed of the direct injection engine and at least one of an engine load and an air per cylinder. A modifier module determines a modifier value based on a temperature of the direct injection engine. A rail pressure control module adjusts a current fuel rail pressure of the fuel rail based on the target fuel rail pressure, the offset value and the modifier value.
US09677494B2

Methods and systems are provided for mitigating loss of engine torque due to cavitation in a fuel pump. One example approach is adjusting engine operation or fuel pump operation based on ambient conditions and a measured engine torque being lower than a desired engine torque after a pre-determined duration. The ambient conditions may include one or more of ambient temperature being higher than a temperature threshold, barometric pressure lower than a threshold pressure, and fuel volatility higher than a threshold volatility.
US09677486B2

A method of controlling a motor vehicle having a turbocharged engine is disclosed in which deactivation of cylinders of the engine is controlled to prevent the rotational speed of a turbocharger of the engine falling below a predefined limit TA, TB. Following commencement of a coast down of the motor vehicle all cylinders of the engine are first deactivated so as to maximise energy recuperation from the motor vehicle by a belt integrated starter generator driveably connected to the engine. However, if the speed of the turbocharger reaches one of the speed limits TA, TB at least one cylinder of the engine is reactivated to keep the turbocharger spinning.
US09677466B2

A method of managing a power demand to assure the operation of a pilotless aircraft. The aircraft includes an internal combustion engine supplying a maximum principal power which can vary. The management method is particularly suitable for a rotary wing pilotless aircraft. It guarantees the storage of an amount of electrical energy at least equal to a recovery energy of the aircraft in the event of failure of the internal combustion engine. This recovery energy enables the control of autorotation and landing of the aircraft.
US09677465B2

A natural gas engine in which natural gas fuel is injected into an intake system passage, diesel fuel serving as an ignition source is injected into a cylinder, and when igniting the natural gas fuel, the natural gas fuel is combusted by compression ignition of the diesel fuel that has been injected into the cylinder without the use of a spark ignition system. The engine has a mechanism that introduces exhaust gas into a cylinder during an intake stroke.
US09677453B2

An exhaust manifold for an exhaust system of a combustion engine includes an outer shell, an inner shell arranged in the outlet shell, and an inlet flange which is configured for attachment to a cylinder head of the combustion engine and has a receptacle. The inner shell is floatingly supported in the outer shell and has an inlet-flange-side edge which is formed with an outwardly bent flange positioned in the receptacle of the inlet flange. The outer shell has an inlet-flange-side edge which has at least one area which rests in the receptacle upon the outwardly bent flange and is joined with the receptacle.
US09677443B2

A method of determining suitability of correction for a control logic of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, may include determining a suitability function of the correction based on a previous error and a current error when the correction has been performed, determining a suitability coefficient based on the suitability function of the correction, determining whether the correction may be suitable based on the number of corrections and the suitability coefficient, and resetting the control logic when the correction may be not suitable.
US09677438B2

A system in a vehicle including at least one sound quality valve arranged in an exhaust system of the vehicle includes a sound quality valve control module that determines whether one or more criteria for opening the sound quality valve are met, selectively actuates the sound quality valve to an open position if the one or more criteria for opening the sound quality valve are met, and maintains the sound quality valve in a closed position if a required one of the one or more criteria for opening the sound quality valve is not met. A downshift detection module determines whether aggressive driving behavior is detected. If the aggressive driving behavior is detected, the sound quality valve control module actuates the sound quality valve to the open position regardless of whether the required one of the one or more criteria for opening the sound quality valve is met.
US09677424B2

A gas turbine engine is provided defining a radial direction. The gas turbine engine generally includes a compressor section and a turbine section, the compressor section and turbine section together defining a core air flowpath. The gas turbine engine also includes a sump positioned inward of the core air flowpath along the radial direction. An air pump is positioned inward of the core air flowpath along the radial direction for providing a flow of air from the sump to lower an internal pressure of the sump and reduce a likelihood of lubrication leaking from the sump.
US09677423B2

An aft hub sealing assembly for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The aft hub sealing assembly includes an aft hub, a bearing cap, an aft baffle, a first seal, and a second seal. The aft hub includes a body portion and a disk portion aft surface. The bearing cap includes a bearing cap inner portion spaced apart from the body portion. The aft baffle is located adjacent the disk portion. The aft baffle includes a baffle forward surface following a contour of the disk portion aft surface. The first seal is between the bearing cap inner portion and the body portion. The second seal is between the bearing cap inner portion and the body portion.
US09677420B2

A gas turbine engine includes a fan, a speed reduction device driving the fan and a lubrication system for lubricating components across a rotation gap. The lubrication system includes a lubricant input. A stationary first bearing receives lubricant from the lubricant input and has a first race in which lubricant flows and a second race. A second bearing for rotation is within the first bearing including a first opening in registration with the first race such that lubricant may flow from the first race through the first opening into a first conduit. There is a rotating carrier for supporting at least one planetary gear. The second bearing extends from the rotating carrier about an axis. A first spray bar is disposed on the carrier. The second bearing has a second opening in registration with the second race and a second conduit for passing lubricant to the spray bar.
US09677397B2

A system for use in downhole detection comprises a downhole arrangement defining a throughbore and a tool deployable through the throughbore of the downhole arrangement. The system further comprises a primary electromagnetic element provided on one of the downhole arrangement and the deployable tool and a secondary electromagnetic element provided on the other of the downhole arrangement and the deployable tool, wherein the primary and secondary electromagnetic elements are configurable for electromagnetic coupling therebetween. Such a system may be used for determining a status and/or an identity of a downhole tool in an oil or gas well from a determined degree of electromagnetic coupling between the primary and secondary electromagnetic elements.
US09677396B2

A pressure gauge system and a method for in-situ determination of a wellbore formation pressure through a layer of cement, where the pressure gauge system comprises: a housing arranged to be permanently installed in the cement on the outside of a wellbore casing, wherein said housing comprises a pressure sensor with an output pressure signal, wherein: the pressure gauge system further comprises: a first temperature sensor with a first temperature signal, a second temperature sensor with a second temperature signal; and a computer implemented compensation means arranged to receive the pressure signal, the first and second temperature signals, and calculate a temperature compensated output pressure signal.
US09677390B2

A reciprocating pump drive assembly for driving a reciprocation of a polish rod relative to a well casing includes a support frame which supports a pair of hydraulic actuators such that the cylinder portions thereof are fixed relative to the well casing. A mounting frame is supported at a top end thereof on the top ends of the piston portions of the hydraulic actuators so as to extend downwardly to a polish rod mounting bracket at the bottom end of the mounting frame. The top end of the polish rod is thus supported by the mounting frame so as to be suspended below the top end of the hydraulic actuators for improved access during servicing and for greater overall lateral stability of the drive assembly.
US09677387B2

An assembly that is usable with a well includes a base pipe, a shroud that is disposed radially outside of the base pipe and tubes. The tubes are disposed radially outside of the base pipe and are radially inside the shroud. The tubes longitudinally extend along the base pipe and radially expand to radially expand the shroud in response to pressurization of the tubes.
US09677375B2

Devices for controlling the flow of fluids past a location in a wellbore and methods for using such devices are disclosed. Embodiment devices are configured such that the throughbore is maximized because of the devices' thin cross sectional length. The devices disclosed may use balls, darts or other plugs to seal against a plug seat and prevent flow therethrough, external seals prevent flow therearound and gripping elements, such as slips, prevent movement of the device within the well. Relatively high pressure rating may be accomplished with such thin cross sections by keeping the length of mandrel wall exposed to such pressures short. Some embodiment devices may have a plug seat that is integral, at least in part, with a setting ring and/or have a setting ring that is of one piece with the mandrel.
US09677366B2

A system and method for milling a casing in a wellbore wherein an upper milling portion of a milling system engages a track of a lower guide system of the milling system in order to orient the upper milling portion. The upper milling portion moves along a track from a first position to a second position, where the the upper milling portion is securedly affixed to the lower guide portion. A traveling guide arm is used to move the milling portion along a travel path. A piston on the traveling guide arm is disposed between first and second fluid chambers, with a throughbore in the piston forming a fluid path between the two chambers. An adjustable valve in the throughbore is controlled by a proximity sensor to alter the flow of fluid between the chambers. The sensor monitors the distance between a fixed and moving point of the milling system.
US09677365B2

What is presented is a combustible pellet for creating heated gas. The combustible pellet can be inserted into a cutting apparatus or a high power igniter or both. The combustible pellet is compacted to be resistant to mechanical damage, resistant to unintentional ignition, and free from a loose powdered form of combustible material when ignited in the cutting apparatus or the high power igniter.In certain instances, the combustible pellet is compacted to between 90 percent and 99 percent of its theoretical density. The combustible pellet may be capable of being transported separate from the cutting apparatus or the high power igniter or both. The combustible pellet may also be capable of being stored separate from the cutting apparatus or the high power igniter or both. The combustible pellet may comprise a circular cross-section and tubular length. The combustible pellet may comprise an axial hole.
US09677358B2

The present invention is directed towards an apparatus for providing a process for sealing an opening formed in the ground with a chemically-inflatable bag. The chemically-inflatable bag contains two or more chemical reactants, one of which is a liquid reactant that is initially stored in a liquid-containing device. The liquid-containing device has a removable cap, which upon removal or breakage of the cap permits the liquid reacting agent to contact and react with another reacting agent. The chemical reaction produces carbon dioxide, which expands the chemically-inflatable bag from a collapsed condition to an inflated condition. In the inflated condition, the chemically-inflatable bag fills and protects the integrity of the formed cavity.
US09677354B2

Methods and processes for recycling base oils from spent invert emulsion drilling fluids may include frictionally heating a spent drilling fluid that comprises an invert emulsion and solids, wherein the solids are at about 50% or less by volume of the spent drilling fluid; and simultaneously evaporating oil and water from the invert emulsion at a temperature lower than an atmospheric boiling point for the oil.
US09677346B2

A tubular connection includes a pin member and a box member. The pin member has a first thread structure and a helical torque shoulder spaced axially along the pin member from the first thread structure. The box member has a second thread structure and a second helical torque shoulder spaced axially along the box member from the second thread structure. The first thread structure and the second thread structure are sized and located to control a stab position of the tubular connection, and in the stab position the first helical torque shoulder does not engage or axially overlap with the second helical torque shoulder. A method of joining tubular members utilizing a helical torque shoulder is also provided.
US09677345B2

A well intervention apparatus including a base frame assembly, a deck attached to an upper end of the base frame assembly. The deck includes a passage and a hatch adjacent to the passage. A track is disposed within the passage, and a movable plate is slidingly attached to the track for movement within the passage. A reception plate is attached over a first aperture of the moveable plate and a tower is mounted over a second aperture of the moveable plate. A primary hoist assembly is connected to an upper end of the tower. The reception plate is configured to secure a first well intervention tool, and the primary hoist assembly is configured to suspend a second well intervention tool from the tower. In a first position of the moveable plate, the reception plate is disposed over the well. In a second position, the tower is disposed over the well.
US09677340B1

A guide device and associated methods for forming a hole in the ground using compression or other means. In one example, the guide device includes a compression hammer having a hammer tip; a guide frame member for guiding the compression hammer into one or more positions along the guide frame member; and a movement control assembly securing the compression hammer to the guide frame, the movement control assembly selectively moving said compression hammer along said guide frame, so that said compression hammer forms the hole in the ground. By compressing soil materials, which has the effect of increasing soil density around the hole, a more rigid and accurate hole (i.e., within higher dimensional tolerances) is created when compared with holes created by drilling/boring/excavation.
US09677333B1

An unfurlable rescue ladder. The ladder includes a progress capture element allowing someone who deploys the ladder for rescuing a person who has fallen to also assist the person to climb the ladder.
US09677331B2

In one aspect, a roller shade assembly for an architectural opening may generally include a first roller, a second roller and a looped shade extending around the first and second rollers. The looped shade may include at least one outer shade web forming a continuous loop around the rollers. In addition, the roller shade assembly may include an inner shade web configured to be wrapped around the first roller or the second roller such that the inner shade web is positioned within the continuous loop. The inner shade web may be coupled to the outer shade web(s) at a location along an inner perimeter of the continuous loop. Additionally, rotation of the first roller and/or the second roller in an unwinding direction may result in the inner shade web being unwound from the first roller or the second roller along the inner perimeter of the continuous loop.
US09677330B2

The base and cover of a component housing are releasably assembled to each other with yokes on one of said base and cover, with at least one of said yokes flexing to slide over and snap around a respective boss on the other of said yoke and cover.
US09677329B2

A manually operated override release mechanism for use with a motorized window shade assembly having a shade fabric with a leading edge, the shade fabric being disposed behind a pane and movable between an opened position and a closed position upon operation of a motor. The override release mechanism has an actuator movable between a first position and a second position and biased in the first position. The actuator has a first side secured to one end of a cable, and a second side. The other end of the cable is connected to the motor.
US09677325B2

The presently-disclosed subject matter includes a bracket that can be mounted to a surface, and that can protect openings and other water sensitive areas on the surface from water damage. Embodied brackets can comprise a mount that can be mounted to a surface, an extension that protrudes outwardly from the mount, and an attachment portion to which a water resistant material can be attached. In some embodiments the bracket is mounted to a wall above and/or near an opening or other water sensitive area, and the bracket and/or water sensitive material protect the opening or water sensitive area from water damage. In some implementations two or more brackets are attached to form a continuous bracket structure.
US09677320B2

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to evacuation and sealing techniques for VIG units, and/or multi-chamber vacuum ovens for accomplishing the same. In certain example embodiments, a VIG assembly is inserted into a multi-chamber apparatus to successively reduce the chamber pressure and thus the pressure between substrates comprising the VIG assembly until a final evacuation pressure is reached. Once the final evacuation pressure is reached, a pump-out port or tube of the VIG assembly is sealed forming a VIG unit while the VIG assembly is still in the vacuum chamber. After sealing, chamber pressures are gradually increased to atmospheric while the gap between the substrates of the VIG unit remains at a pressure less than atmospheric which is close to the final evacuation pressure.
US09677315B2

A door opening/closing control device includes: a driving part driving an actuator opening or closing a door; an operation switch operated for instructing opening/closing or stopping of the door; a first controller controlling driving of the actuator via the driving part in accordance with the operation; a manual opening/closing detector detecting that the door is manually opened or closed; and a second controller controlling the driving of the actuator via the driving part to assist a manual operation of opening or closing the door when the manual opening/closing detector detects the manual opening/closing operation. Then, when the second controller controls the driving of the actuator to assist the manual operation of opening or closing the door, even when the operation switch is operated, the first controller does not control the driving of the actuator in accordance with the operation, and the second controller continues to control the driving.
US09677313B2

A vehicle-door opening/closing control device includes a controller, which controls the operation of a drive device. The controller is configured to supply drive power based on a voltage of an in-vehicle power supply to an electromagnetic clutch. The controller is also configured such that, when stopping an opening/closing body at an intermediate position, the controller supplies the drive power based on the voltage of the in-vehicle power supply to the electromagnetic clutch to put the clutch in the engaged state, and then stops the supply of drive power to the electromagnetic clutch so that the clutch is in the disengaged state after a predetermined holding time has elapsed since the controller has stopped the opening/closing body at the intermediate position. The predetermined holding time differs between a case where the trapping of the foreign object is detected and a case where the opening/closing manipulation is detected.
US09677309B2

A supporting mechanism and a sorting machine having the same are provided. The supporting mechanism includes a supporting body. An annular sliding slot is formed on a section of surface of the supporting body. A U-shaped clamping slot is provided in a ring of the annular sliding slot. A one-way deflecting locating valve plate is provided at the position of an opening of the U-shaped clamping slot and configured to close the annular sliding slot, and the locating valve plate is provided with a reset force configured to ensure a tendency of the locating valve plate to close the annular sliding slot. A deflecting angle of the locating valve plate ensures that a free end of the locating valve plate deflects from one side to another side of the opening of the U-shaped clamping slot. The supporting mechanism has a simple operation and a high efficiency.
US09677302B2

A latch and a method for preventing a latch from failing to open while a connected handle is lifted are provided. The latch includes a primary pawl pivotally mounted to the latch. An end piece having a protrusion extending from it is fixed to the primary pawl. An inner lever is rotatably coupled to the end piece. The inner lever includes a tail adjacent the protrusion of the end piece. The inner lever is movable between a first position and a second position. A secondary pawl is pivotally mounted to the latch and is movable between a first position and a second position. A blocking lever is also coupled to the latch and movable between a first position and a second position. When the inner lever is in a second position, the tail abuts the protrusion and the blocking lever limits movement of the inner lever and the primary pawl.
US09677300B2

Systems and methods for a tamper-evident cargo container seal bolt lock are disclosed herein. The device can include a bolt member having a conductive medium running the axial length of the bolt, and a receiving member for locking the bolt into place. A battery-driven sensory circuit including a memory means, a processor, and a timing circuit can be disposed within the receiving member such that a continuous circuit is formed from one circuit pin over the conductive medium through the length of the bolt and back to a second pin. The sensory circuit is configured to sense whether the circuit has been interrupted (e.g., if the bolt has been cut). In the event of an interruption, the circuit can record the time and/or date in memory. This information can then be transmitted to an RFID reader/interrogator if a dispute arises as to when the lock had been broken.
US09677294B2

A drive system for a pool cleaner is disclosed, the drive system including a motor operatively connected relative to an axle for driving rotation of the axle. The axel in turn is connected to and drives the rotation of (i) a roller assembly including a roller for cleaning a target surface and (ii) a wheel drive assembly engaged with an idler gear for driving a wheel. Notably the axis of rotation of the roller assembly is different than the axis of rotation of the wheel. Thus, the wheel drive assembly may drive the wheel by interacting with a surface of a cylindrical flange of the wheel.
US09677286B2

The present invention relates to a conductive flooring material containing a conductive deformation-preventing layer containing conductive fibers comprising glass fibers and carbon fibers, and to a production method therefor. The present invention can provide a conductive material which is useful not only in the form of tiles but also in the form of long sheets because the conductive fibers comprise glass fiber and carbon fiber impart not only outstanding electrical conductivity but also stable deformation-preventing properties.
US09677284B1

A thermally adaptive wall covering is operable to cover at least part of a wall and to move in response to a change in covering temperature. The wall covering includes a laminated composite panel with first and second panel layers and an intermediate connecting structure that connects the panel layers relative to one another along an interface defined between the panel layers. The first and second panel layers have, respectively, first and second coefficients of thermal expansion that are different from each other and cause expansion and contraction of the corresponding panel layers along an interface therebetween. The connecting structure permits expansion and/or contraction of each panel layer relative to the other panel layer in response to the covering temperature change so that the panel flexes.
US09677283B2

A veneer product and system includes a body having an aesthetic front surface and a back surface for installation adjacent the building. The body has a top side and a bottom side and a bracket attached to body and projecting away from the back surface of the body, the bracket further comprising a first end adjacent the top side for attachment to the building and a first protrusion for positioning the back surface a predetermined distance from the building and a second end having a second protrusion for positioning the bottom of the back surface a predetermined distance from the building and a bottom projection adjacent the bottom side for engagement with a second body to retain the bottom end of the veneer product.
US09677281B2

A method of manufacturing a granule coated asphaltic article comprising the steps of applying liquid asphalt to a reinforcing sheet to create an asphaltic sheet, the asphaltic sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface; bending the asphaltic sheet to form an arcuate top surface of the sheet; and applying a coating of granules over the arcuate top surface of the asphaltic sheet.
US09677271B2

A concrete unit includes a six sided body having three pairs of opposed rectangular faces. Two opposed faces each has an irregular three dimensional pattern extending across the entire face to provide two aesthetic faces on the unit. The two opposed faces have patterns that are mirror images of each other such that when two of the units are placed with their patterned faces aligned and in contact, the three dimensional patterns on the opposed faces nest to minimize the space between the adjacent edges of the units. The concrete units may be used as steps or in other applications.
US09677261B2

The present invention provides a quick siphon toilet. The quick siphon toilet comprises a toilet body and a water tank, the toilet body is disposed with a spray waterway to wash the bottom portion of the toilet body and a flush waterway to wash the periphery wall of the toilet body, the bottom portion of the toilet body is disposed with a siphon washing-out pipe, the water tank is disposed with a drain valve, wherein the drain valve is disposed with a first drain outlet connected to the flush waterway and a second drain outlet connected to the spray waterway, the spray waterway is disconnected to the flush waterway. In a condition of same water volume, the present invention has longer siphon time and flushing time and better washing-out effect. And the present invention uses less water based on well flushing function, thus making it water-saving.
US09677253B1

A foot-operated water flow control system for regulating water flow to a shower head. The shower head is connected to a first shower arm. A second shower arm is connected to a water supply line. A solenoid valve has an inlet port connected to the first shower arm and an outlet port connected to the second shower arm. A first electrical wire connects the solenoid valve to a power source, a second electrical wire connects an air pressure switch to the power source, and a third electrical wire connects the air pressure to the solenoid valve. An air pump is connected to the air pressure switch via an air hose. Foot compression of the air pump generates air pressure to close the air pressure switch. The power source supplies electrical power to the solenoid valve, which is actuated into an opened position and water flows to the shower head.
US09677251B2

A control system controls a construction machine that includes a work machine including a bucket having a plurality of tilting mechanisms. The control system includes: a tilt angle sensor that is provided in the bucket so as to detect tilt angle data including a rotation angle of the bucket about the tilt shaft, the tilt angle sensor being capable of detecting an inclination angle with respect to a horizontal plane; a data acquisition unit to which the tilt angle data is output from the tilt angle sensor; a data fixing unit that fixes the tilt angle data output to the data acquisition unit based on a fixing command to generate fixed data; and a work machine control unit that controls the work machine based on the fixed data until the fixing command is disabled.
US09677246B2

A control unit of a work vehicle has a transmission requirement determination unit, a command-torque determination unit, and a tractive force limiting unit. The transmission requirement determination unit determines a required tractive force on the basis of an operating amount of an accelerator operating member. The required tractive force is a target tractive force of a travel device. The command-torque determination unit determines an output torque of the electric motor so that the tractive force of the vehicle reaches the required tractive force. The tractive force limiting unit reduces the required tractive force to a value less than a value corresponding to the operating amount of the accelerator operating member when the vehicle is excavating.
US09677241B2

A passive annular grout seal assembly is disclosed for sealing an annular opening between a driven pile and a skirt pile sleeve for an offshore platform. The annular seals are located at the bottom of the pile sleeves near sea floor and automatically activated when piles are inserted and driven through the pile sleeves without any active operational procedure during offshore piling. The seal configuration fully utilizes the seal height, the grout column height and the density difference between grout and sea water to produce enhanced sealing capacity against the column of grout above.
US09677239B2

A multipurpose tool (1) for oil spill control, preferably offshore, comprises a remotely controlled telescopic arm (5) having a first end (6) and a second end (7). The first end (6) is mounted on a vessel (25) and the second end (7) is provided with a quick-release coupling (8) for the fitting of various replaceable nozzles (15) thereto. The various replaceable nozzles (15) are connected to one or more hydraulic tubes (20) and tubes for supplying oil spill control agents and recovering collected oil.
US09677234B2

Vehicle restraints and fence systems that offer better protection to the driver and vehicle in the event of an accident where the car becomes airborne and leaves the road or track, and catch fences for halting the overrun of a car leaving a racetrack. The catch fences may have pivotable poles and a cable extending between the poles. Net or fencing is installed between the poles, supported by the cable. The poles may be angled or curved, with a plurality of cables extending therebetween or with a net extending from the poles and attached to a Steel and Foam Energy Reduction barrier.
US09677225B2

A sensor signal is generated from a plurality of sensors located on a sensing roll, wherein each signal is generated when each sensor enters a first nip between the sensing roll and a rotating component during each rotation of the sensing roll. A rotating applicator rod forms forming a second nip with the sensing roll such that each sensor enters the second nip during each rotation of the sensing roll. A periodically occurring starting reference is generated associated with each rotation of the applicator rod and the signal generated by each sensor is received so that a particular one of the sensors which generated the signal is determined and one of a plurality of tracking segments is identified. The signal is stored to associate the sensor signal with the identified one tracking segment.
US09677224B2

An improved method for producing paper from pulp includes a plurality of subassemblies arranged in the forming or wet section of a Fourdrinier. The Fourdrinier includes a dewatering table having a plurality of blades that are static and on-the run adjustable in height and/or angle to control orientation of paper fibers in the stock to create a superior quality of paper and improved paper strength characteristics. Gravity and vacuum assisted drainage elements are equipped with on-the-run adjustable angle and height dewatering foil blades starting from a paper dryness of 0.1% and extending all the way to 5% dryness. The result of this process and machine is to improve the paper quality, save fibers and chemicals and fulfill the required paper properties.
US09677217B2

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus including a drum for holding laundry, a connection duct for exhausting air from an inside of the drum, an exhaust duct provided parallel to a length direction of the drum connected to the connection duct, a filter assembly with a filter unit provided to the exhaust duct for filtering the air and a brush for removing foreign matter from the filter unit, a brush drive unit for making the brush to reciprocate a section of the filter unit, and a position sensing unit for sensing a position of the brush.
US09677212B2

A suspension unit assembly comprises a strut having a first end and a second end and a coupling disposed at the first end of the strut. The coupling has a strut part connected to the strut and a mounting part configured to tilt relative to the strut part of the coupling. A spring is disposed about the strut, one end of the spring being restrained relative to the mounting part of the coupling so that tilting movement between the strut part and the mounting part of the coupling causes the spring to deform and provide a return force that acts to return the coupling to an equilibrium position.
US09677210B2

A system and method for forming synthetic/artificial grass or turf products in which a series of tufts of artificial/synthetic grass filaments or yarns are formed in a backing material with various graphic pattern effects being formed therewith. The system generally will include at least one needle bar having at least one row of needles mounted along a tufting zone and reciprocated through the backing to a desired penetration depth, and will present a desired set or group of yarns to a series of pattern pixels or stitch areas. A series of level cut loop loopers or hooks will be aligned with and will engage the needles in order to form tufts of yarns in the backing material. Clips of the level cut loop loopers will be selectively controlled to control the retention of selected ones of the yarns presented at each pattern pixel. The remaining, non-selected yarns generally are not retained at the pattern pixels, and can be formed as lower pile tufts or removed from the backing material.
US09677203B2

A device comprising: (a) a body portion including: (i) a first end and ii. a second end; (b) a holder at the first end; (c) a holder at the second end; (d) a rotation device at the first end in communication with the holder at the first end; and wherein the holder is fixedly attached to a split gear having a channel therethrough so that one or more flexible mediums may be placed through the channel and removed from a work area located between the holder at the first end and the holder at the second end.
US09677199B2

A new class of high modulus polypropylene multifilament fiber and/or yarn is provided. Such a multifilament fiber and/or yarn exhibits an exceptional combination of high strength and toughness with low weight and density. The inventive fibers thus permit replacement of expensive polymeric fibers within certain applications with lower cost alternatives, or replacement of high density components with such low density fibers, without sacrificing strength or durability. Such multifilament fibers are produced through melt-spinning processes and exhibit highly unique microstructures therein, including significant void volumes, interspersed and crossed voids, and nanofilament bridges within such voids. Such microstructural characteristics appear to impart the exceptional properties noted above.
US09677191B2

A device suitable for the electrochemical processing of an object is at least provided with a chamber that is to accommodate an electrolyte, a support for the object that is to be processed in the chamber, at least one set of electrodes located in the chamber such that during operation at least one electrode is located opposite each portion of a surface of said object that is to be processed. The device also includes a controller configured to provide an electric current between the object that is to be processed and the electrodes.
US09677188B2

The disclosed embodiments relate to methods and apparatus for immersing a substrate in electrolyte in an electroplating cell under sub-atmospheric conditions to reduce or eliminate the formation/trapping of bubbles as the substrate is immersed. Various electrolyte recirculation loops are disclosed to provide electrolyte to the plating cell. The recirculation loops may include pumps, degassers, sensors, valves, etc. The disclosed embodiments allow a substrate to be immersed quickly, greatly reducing the issues related to bubble formation and uneven plating times during electroplating.
US09677183B2

Electrocatalyst, electrode coating and an electrode for preparing chlorine and process for producing the electrode, the electrocatalyst comprising a noble metal oxide and/or a noble metal of transition groups VIIIa of the Periodic Table of the Elements and at least one finely divided pulverulent oxide of another metal, in which one or more components are doped and the base metal oxide powder is chemically stable in the presence of aqueous electrolytes.
US09677181B2

There are provided methods for preparing lithium hydroxide. For example, such methods can comprise submitting an aqueous composition comprising a lithium compound to an electrolysis under conditions suitable for converting at least a portion of said lithium compound into lithium hydroxide.
US09677179B2

A method is provided of creating a pipe connector including a first connector member and a second connector member, said connector members being adapted to be connected and disconnected multiple times, the method comprising: a) providing at least one of the connector members with a contact surface; b) depositing particles of a galling resistant metal on each said contact surface; c) at least partially melting the particles of the galling resistant metal by subjecting the particles to a quantity of heat; and d) allowing the molten galling resistant metal to solidify thereby forming a galling resistant metal coating which is metallurgically bonded to the contact surface. The heat may be provided in the form of radiant energy, using a laser beam.
US09677176B2

A dual-temperature, multi-plenum showerhead for use in semiconductor processing equipment is described. The showerhead may supply multiple separate gases to a wafer reaction area while keeping the gases largely segregated within the showerhead. Additionally, the showerhead may be configured to allow a faceplate of the showerhead to be maintained at a significantly higher temperature than the rest of the showerhead.
US09677174B2

A film deposition method includes placing a substrate in a substrate receiving portion of a table provided in a vacuum chamber; and performing, at least once, a film deposition-alteration step and an alteration step. The film deposition-alteration step includes an adsorption step of allowing a first reaction gas to be adsorbed on an upper surface, a reaction product production step of allowing a second reaction gas and the first reaction gas adsorbed on the upper surface to react each other, thereby producing a reaction product, and an alteration process of allowing the upper surface to be exposed to plasma into which an alteration gas is activated. The first reaction gas is supplied from the first reaction gas supplying portion, the second reaction gas is supplied from the second reaction gas supplying portion, and the alteration is supplied from the plasma.
US09677170B2

Provided is a target formed of a sintering-resistant material of high-melting point metal alloy, high-melting point metal silicide, high-melting point metal carbide, high-melting point metal nitride or high-melting point metal boride comprising a structure in which a target material formed of a sintering-resistant material of high-melting point metal alloy, high-melting point metal silicide, high-melting point metal carbide, high-melting point metal nitride or high-melting point metal boride and a high-melting point metal plate other than the target material are bonded. Additionally provided is a production method of such a target capable of producing, with relative ease, a target formed of a sintering-resistant material of high-melting point metal alloy, high-melting point metal silicide, high-melting point metal carbide, high-melting point metal nitride or high-melting point metal boride, which has poor machinability, can relatively easily produced. Further the generation of cracks during the target production and high power sputtering, and the reaction of the target raw material with the die during hot pressing can be inhibited effectively, and the warpage of the target can be reduced.
US09677169B2

The present invention relates to a method for coating AI-Cr-0 coatings with the help of a PVD-coating process. The PVD-coating process is performed with the help of Al and Cr comprising targets which are doped with Si. The doping of Si prevents the forming of oxide islands on the target during the reactive coating process.
US09677167B2

An article (50; 100) has a metallic substrate (22), a bondcoat (30) atop the substrate, and a thermal barrier coating (28; 27, 28) atop the bondcoat. The thermal barrier coating or a layer thereof comprises didymium oxide and zirconia.
US09677163B2

A high strength galvanized steel sheet excellent in coating adhesiveness is made from a base material that is a high strength steel sheet containing Si, Mn, and Cr. A method includes performing an oxidation treatment on steel containing Si, Mn, and Cr in an oxidation furnace under the condition that a selected exit temperature T, reduction annealing and a galvanizing treatment, or optionally, further an alloying treatment under conditions that heating is performed at a temperature of 460° C. or higher and 600° C. or lower for an alloying treatment time of 10 seconds or more and 60 seconds or less.
US09677156B2

The invention pertains to a process for separating at least one first chemical element E1 from at least one second chemical element E2 coexisting in a mixture in the form of oxides, comprising the following steps: a) a step to solubilise a powder of one or more oxides of the said at least one first chemical element E1 and a powder of one or more oxides of the said at least one second chemical element E2 in a medium comprising at least one molten salt of formula MF—AlF3 wherein M is an alkaline element, after which there results after this step a mixture comprising the said molten salt, a fluoride of the said at least one first chemical elements E1 and a fluoride of the said at least one second chemical element E2; b) a step to contact the mixture resulting from step a) with a medium comprising a metal in the liquid state, the said metal being a reducing agent capable of predominantly reducing the said at least one first chemical element E1 relative to the said at least one second chemical element E2, after which there results after this step a two-phase medium comprising a first phase called metal phase comprising the said at least one first chemical element E1 in oxidation state 0, and a second phase called saline phase comprising the molten salt of above-mentioned formula MF—AlF3 and a fluoride of the said at least one second chemical element E2.
US09677155B2

The invention provides a method for recovering scandium from scandium-containing intermediate products, formed during hydrometallurgical processing of scandium-containing feed materials, including: (a) leaching of the scandium-containing intermediate products with a suitable acid at a controlled pH selected to maximize scandium extraction and minimize the co-extraction of impurities, (b) solid/liquid separation, to obtain a scandium-containing leach solution; (c) selective precipitation of the scandium at a controlled pH from the scandium-containing leach solution using a suitable base, (d) solid/liquid separation, to obtain an upgraded scandium concentrate and a barren solution for return to the hydrometallurgical process. A further upgraded scandium concentrate can be obtained by (e) alkaline leaching of the upgraded scandium concentrate for additional removal of impurities, and (f) solid/liquid separation to obtain a further upgraded scandium concentrate and impurities-containing base solution.
US09677154B2

A method of mineralizing calcium from industrial waste comprising extracting calcium ions from a suspension of calcium rich granular particles and aqueous ammonium chloride to form a calcium-rich first fraction and a heavy second fraction. The heavy second fraction is separated from the first fraction and the calcium-rich first fraction is carbonated with a gas comprising carbon dioxide to form a suspension of precipitated calcium carbonate and aqueous ammonium chloride. The precipitate is separated from the aqueous ammonium chloride by centrifugal means and the separated heavy second fraction comprises an enriched weight percent of iron.
US09677152B2

To provide a method for recovering lithium, that is capable of efficiently recovering lithium without containing impurities, such as phosphorus and fluorine, from a lithium-containing solution containing lithium hexafluorophosphate and separated from a lithium ion battery. In the present invention, alkali hydroxide is added to the lithium-containing solution and the solution is made to have pH 9 or more, a precipitate of a phosphate and a fluoride salt is formed, the formed precipitate is separated and removed, and then lithium is recovered from filtrate.
US09677151B2

A process for producing high-purity magnesium by distillation at reduced pressure, which includes providing an apparatus having a retort formed from a material inert with respect to magnesium and an upper region defined by two vertically spaced level lines, a condensation vessel having a lower region and an upper region extending into the upper region of the retort, wherein the retort and condensation vessel are coupled to one another by an opening arranged in the upper region of the condensation vessel; providing a magnesium-containing metal melt to the retort at a level below the gap; and heating and maintaining the upper region of the retort at a temperature above the boiling point of magnesium to fill the retort with steam, thereby delivering a high purity melt into the condensation vessel via the opening.
US09677149B2

A method for post-weld heat treatment of a without a filler material welded high strength component made of a gamma prime (γ′) strengthened superalloy can include providing the welded component, heating the welded component by applying a rapid heating-up rate in the range of 20° C./min to 40° C./min during the entire temperature range from room temperature (RT) up to a temperature T1 of at least 1000° C., holding the welded component at T1 and then heating the component by applying a slow heating-up rate of about 5° C./min to a final temperature Tf, then holding the welded component at Tf for a time tf sufficient for at least partially dissolving the gamma prime phase in a weld of the welded component and also in a base material surrounding the weld, and cooling the component with a cooling rate that is greater than or equal to about 20° C./min.
US09677147B2

Illustrative methods are provided for annealing nuclear fission reactor materials, such as without limitation, a nuclear fission reactor core or fuel assembly or components thereof within the nuclear core. Annealing a metallic component of a nuclear fission reactor within the reactor core may include determining an annealing temperature for at least a portion of at least one metallic component of a nuclear fission fuel assembly of the reactor. The temperature of the core may be adjusted to affect the determined annealing temperature, which in some cases may be greater than the predetermined operating temperature range of the nuclear fission fuel assembly. The portion of the at least one metallic component of the nuclear fission fuel assembly is annealed within the core at the annealing temperature range.
US09677145B2

A press-hardened steel component and a method of producing the same. In one form, a workpiece that will be formed into the component includes a coating that is pre-diffused with metal from the workpiece substrate. Examples of such protective coatings may include aluminum-based coatings, as well as from aluminum and silicon combinations. The pre-diffusion of the workpiece permits it to be subjected to the high heating rate of a subsequent press hardening operation without causing localized melting or vaporization of the protective coating.
US09677134B2

According to the present invention, a sugarcane-stalk-sugar-content-related marker linked to a sugarcane quantitative trait is provided. Such marker is a sugarcane-stalk-sugar-content-related marker, which comprises a continuous nucleic acid region existing in a region sandwiched between the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 and the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 8 or a region sandwiched between the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 9 and the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 16.
US09677133B2

A hybridization system is provided, which comprises a biological chip having a substrate (1) with a probe dot matrix (3) and a cover plate (2) with at least two through-holes (4), where a hybrid chamber (5) is formed between the substrate (1) and the cover plate (2), at least two fluid channels (6) are interconnected respectively with the hybrid chamber (5) by the two through-holes (4), and a fluid control device is interconnected with the fluid channels (6). The biological chip hybridization system integrates hybridizing, cleaning and drying functions, uses power provided by the fluid control device as the drive force for promoting the liquid flow for automatically reciprocation flow in the fluid channels (6) and the chamber (5) to achieve a dynamic hybridization, thus improving the hybrid efficiency and uniformity, and achieving automatic control.
US09677129B2

A method for engineering and utilizing large DNA vectors to target, via homologous recombination, and modify, in any desirable fashion, endogenous genes and chromosomal loci in eukaryotic cells. These large DNA targeting vectors for eukaryotic cells, termed LTVECs, are derived from fragments of cloned genomic DNA larger than those typically used by other approaches intended to perform homologous targeting in eukaryotic cells. Also provided is a rapid and convenient method of detecting eukaryotic cells in which the LTVEC has correctly targeted and modified the desired endogenous gene(s) or chromosomal locus (loci) as well as the use of these cells to generate organisms bearing the genetic modification.
US09677125B2

Methods for detecting a plurality of targets in a biological sample are provided. The method comprises contacting the biological sample with a plurality of target-binding probes to form a plurality of target-bound probes, covalently attaching at least one of the target-bound probes to the biological sample, and observing the signals from the target-bound probes sequentially. An associated kit and device for detection of the plurality of targets are also provided.
US09677119B2

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides amplification methods in which nucleotide tag(s) and, optionally, a barcode nucleotide sequence are added to target nucleotide sequences. In other embodiments, the present invention provides a microfluidic device that includes a plurality of first input lines and a plurality of second input lines. The microfluidic device also includes a plurality of sets of first chambers and a plurality of sets of second chambers. Each set of first chambers is in fluid communication with one of the plurality of first input lines. Each set of second chambers is in fluid communication with one of the plurality of second input lines. The microfluidic device further includes a plurality of first pump elements in fluid communication with a first portion of the plurality of second input lines and a plurality of second pump elements in fluid communication with a second portion of the plurality of second input lines.
US09677113B2

A molecular construct comprises a donor label, an acceptor label, a linker peptide disposed between the donor and the acceptor, the linker having a cleavage site sequence, and a spacer between at least one of (a) the donor and the cleavage site sequence and (b) the acceptor and the cleavage site sequence. Preferably, the construct is selected from the group consisting of CFP-(SGLRSRA)(SEQ ID NO. 9)-SNAP-25-(SNS)-YFP, and CFP-(SGLRSRA)(SEQ ID NO. 9)-synaptobrevin-(SNS)-YFP. In preferred embodiments, the linker peptide is a substrate of a botulinum neurotoxin selected from the group consisting of synaptobrevin (VAMP), syntaxin and SNAP-25, or a fragment thereof that can be recognized and cleaved by the botulinum neurotoxin. Advantageously, the spacer increases the electronic coupling between the donor label and the acceptor label relative to a corresponding construct without the spacer.
US09677105B2

Polypeptide preparations having target levels of glycans, and methods of producing such polypeptide preparations using ammonium and/or lysine, are described.
US09677098B2

A yeast cell capable of producing lactate, a method of preparing the yeast cell, and a method of producing lactate by using the yeast cell, wherein theyeast cell has a reduced activity of rim15 protein, igo2 protein, or a combination thereof, and an increased activity of an enzyme that catalyzes conversion from pyruvate to lactate, compared to a parent cell.
US09677095B2

The present invention relates to processes for producing fermentation products from starch-containing material, wherein a bacterial alpha-amylase, a raw starch hydrolyzing alpha-amylase and a carbohydrate-source generating enzyme are present and/or added during liquefaction. The invention also relates to compositions suitable for use in processes of the invention.
US09677083B2

Compositions and methods for genetically modifying the production levels of nicotine and other alkaloids in plants are provided.
US09677081B2

A promoter, which may be used to transform a plant and/or express a gene substantially uniformly in substantially all organs and/or tissues of a plant, and which may include a constitutive expression promoter for transforming a monocot plant. A vector including a promoter, which may include a recombinant plant expression vector. A method of producing a target protein using a vector, and a method of producing a transformed cell and/or plant using a vector. A transformed plant, a transformed seed and a transformed cell are included, which may be formed by the method of producing the same using a vector.
US09677052B2

The present disclosure generally relates to genetic engineering of bacteria. More particularly, the present disclosure describes genetic engineering of E. coli to create mutant O-antigen ligase, as well as novel lipopolysaccharide molecules resulting from that genetic engineering. Methods for using those novel molecules are also described.
US09677039B2

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, which can then be fermented to produce ethanol. Biomass feedstock is saccharified in a vessel by operation of a jet mixer, the vessel also containing a fluid medium and a saccharifying agent.
US09677038B2

A compact, high-yield, bio-reactor for use as small, medium and large-scale production unit for hosting and culturing of stem cells or living cells or micro organism and producing by multiplication or expression one or more biologic compounds for medical and biological applications.
US09677035B2

A device and a method for heating a fermentable starting material for beverage production wherein a heat transporting medium is transported in a heat transporting medium circuit in a first flow direction via a heat storage device for storing/emitting heat, a heating medium for heating the heat transporting medium, and a heat emission chamber in which the heat is transferred from the heat transporting medium to the fermentable starting material flowing in a line.
US09677029B2

Suggested is a fragrance composition, comprising (a) at least one a fragrance selected from the group of aromatic nitriles according to formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 independently of one another represent hydrogen or linear or branched C1-C10-alkyl, which is optionally substituted with hydroxy or C1-C4-alkyl or linear or branched C1-C10-alkoxy, which is optionally substituted with hydroxy or C1-C4-alkyl, and (b) at least one a solvent selected from the group consisting of benzylalcohol, benzylbenzoate, diethylphthalate, dipropylene glycol, ethyl alcohol, iso-propyl myristate, triethylcitrate, downol DPM, IsoPar L, triacetine and their mixtures.
US09677023B2

This disclosure is directed to an additive package for a lubricant composition that provides improved fluoropolymer compatibility. The additive package comprises an amine compound and a seal compatibility additive. The disclosure is also directed to a lubricant composition comprising a base oil, an amine compound, and a seal compatibility additive. The seal compatibility additive improves the fluoropolymer seal compatibility of the resultant lubricant composition.
US09677018B2

A process for the production of synthesis gas from coke is described herein. The process comprises the steps of: (a) subjecting hard coal to dry pyrolysis, resulting in the production of a gas mixture containing hydrogen, methane, nitrogen and carbon monoxide as major constituents and carbon sulphides as minor constituents; (b) subjecting the gas mixture to hydrogenation at a temperature in the range of 200 to 280° C. over a sulphidic cobalt molybdenum catalyst provided on an aluminium oxide carrier material; and (c) separating the hydrogen sulphide obtained from hydrogenation from the gas mixture.
US09677012B2

A method for producing a lubricant base oil that has a predetermined boiling point range, the method including a first step of bringing a feedstock containing a first hydrocarbon oil having a boiling point in the above boiling point range and a second hydrocarbon oil having a lower boiling point than the boiling point range into contact with a hydroisomerization catalyst, wherein the catalyst contains a support that includes a zeolite having a one-dimensional porous structure including a 10-membered ring and a binder, and platinum and/or palladium supported on the support.
US09677008B2

A system for separating a hydrocarbon/water emulsion may include a radio frequency (RF) power source, an RF load, and a coaxial RF emulsion separator. The coaxial RF emulsion separator may include a coaxial input section coupled to the RF power source, a coaxial output section, and a coaxial separator section coupled in series between the coaxial input and output sections. The coaxial separator section may include an inner separator section conductor and an outer separator section conductor surrounding the inner separator section conductor and defining a separating chamber therebetween. The coaxial separator section may have at least one inlet port to introduce the hydrocarbon/water emulsion to the separating chamber and at least one outlet port to remove separated water and hydrocarbon from the separating chamber after exposure to RF power.
US09677000B2

A fluorophor includes: α-type sialon crystal which is expressed by a general formula: (Lix1, Eux2)(Si12−(m+n)Alm+n)(OnN16−n), wherein x1 is an amount of solid solution of Li in a sialon unit cell, and x2 is an amount of solid solution of Eu in the sialon unit cell, wherein the parameters x1, x2, m, and n satisfy: 1.6≦x1≦2.4 (1), 0.001≦x2≦0.4 (2), 1.8≦m≦2.4 (3), 0.8≦n≦1.2 (4), wherein the α-type sialon crystal emits fluorescence with a peak in a wavelength region of from 550 nm to 575 nm upon irradiation of an excitation source.
US09676983B2

The present invention provides a working fluid composition for a refrigerating machine, comprising: a refrigerating machine oil comprising, as a base oil, a mixed ester of (A) a complex ester and (B) a polyol ester, wherein (A) is obtainable by synthesis from a specific polyhydric alcohol, a polybasic acid having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and a monohydric alcohol having 4 to 18 carbon atoms or a monocarboxylic acid having 4 to 18 carbon atoms, wherein (B) is obtainable by synthesis from a specific polyhydric alcohol and a monocarboxylic acid having 4 to 18 carbon atoms, and wherein a mass ratio of (A)/(B) is 5/95 to 95/5; and difluoromethane used as a refrigerant, and the working fluid composition having a refrigerant dissolved viscosity of 5.5 mm2/s or more, at a temperature of 80° C. and an absolute pressure of 2.1 MPa.
US09676977B2

A reactive hot melt adhesive comprising a blend of a (meth)acrylate polymer, a polyurethane polymer containing (meth)acrylate groups and a polyurethane prepolymer containing NCO-groups wherein the content of low molecular weight (meth)acrylate urethanes is less than 1 wt % of the adhesive. The adhesive provides a fast and improved green strength during application.
US09676959B2

A polymerizable composition solution that has good storage stability and allows a polymerizable compound in the polymerizable composition to be aligned well with no defects after application to a base and removal of a solvent by a drying process and also an optically anisotropic body that includes the solution and has good alignment without any defects. A solution containing a polymerizable composition and an organic solvent, wherein the polymerizable composition contains 90 mass % or more of a polymerizable compound intramolecularly having a 2-methyl-1,4-phenylene group as represented by general formula (1) and an optically anisotropic body including the solution.
US09676956B2

There is provided a (meth)acrylic resin composition, containing a (meth)acrylic resin; a compound denoted by General Formula (1) described below; and a specific compound: wherein R1 to R8 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R11 and R12 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, m and n each independently represent an integer of 0 to 4, in a case where m and n represent an integer of greater than or equal to 2, a plurality of R11's and R12's may be identical to each other or different from each other, at least two R11's, at least two R12's, or R11 and R12 may form a ring by being linked to each other.
US09676951B2

An ink-jet ink set includes a black ink containing carbon black; a cyan ink containing a first cyan dye; a magenta ink containing a first magenta dye; a yellow ink containing a first yellow dye; and a gray ink containing a second cyan dye, a second magenta dye, and a second yellow dye. The cyan ink, the magenta ink, the yellow ink, and the gray ink have a ROD of 65% or more, the ROD being defined by Equation (A). The gray ink has an OD value of 1.40 to less than 2.30, the OD value being defined by Equation (B).
US09676949B2

An ink composition including at least one aqueous carrier, at least one color dye, and at least one polymeric dispersant selected such that the ink composition minimizes debris in a printhead.
US09676936B2

The invention provides a prepreg that can give a fiber-reinforced composite material exhibiting stable and excellent interlaminar fracture toughness and impact resistance under wide molding conditions. The prepreg includes at least a reinforcement fiber [A], a thermosetting resin [B], and the following component [C] wherein 90% or more of the material [C] is present inside a region of the prepreg that extends from any surface of the prepreg to a prepreg site having, from the surface, a depth of 20% of the thickness of the prepreg. The component [C] satisfies requirements that (i) the storage elastic modulus G′ of the material constituting the particles is more than 1 MPa, and 70 MPa or less at 180° C., and that (ii) the ratio of the storage elastic modulus G′ of the material constituting the particles at 160° C. to the storage elastic modulus G′ of the material at 200° C. ranges from 1 to 5; and is insoluble in the thermosetting resin [B].
US09676930B2

A polyvinyl acetal film as an intermediate film for a laminated glass, can provide a laminated glass that exhibits a low degree of yellowness and excellent surface appearance, and is useful as a sealing material or intermediate film that can prolong the life of a laminated glass provided with a solar cell or functional unit. The content of corrosion-causing substance in the polyvinyl acetal film is low, so that the polyvinyl acetal film permits high-temperature lamination and ensures excellent productivity. A solar cell module and a laminated glass are prepared using the polyvinyl acetal film. A plasticized polyvinyl acetal film which comprises 15 to 60 parts by mass of a plasticizer having a total number of 28 or more of carbon atoms and oxygen atoms constituting a molecule based on 100 parts by mass of a polyvinyl acetal resin, and which has an acid value of 5.0 meq/kg or less.
US09676924B2

A method of making a benzyl cis-cyclohexane 1,2-dicarboxylate triester having the steps: a. forming a reaction mixture by reacting the following three components: i. a synthetic or biobased reagent selected from the group consisting of an alpha-hydroxyester and a beta-hydroxyester, ii. an anhydride selected from the group consisting of cis-hexahydrophthalic anhydride, 4-methylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride, and 3-methylcyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride, and iii. an alkylamine catalyst; and b. contacting benzyl chloride with the reaction mixture to yield a product that is free of phthalates and includes at least one benzyl cis-cyclohexane 1,2-dicarboxylate triester.
US09676923B2

The present invention relates to novel succinic acid alkyl ester mixtures and to the use there as plasticizers for plastic materials. The claimed mixtures are characterized by having good plasticizing effects which lead the products produced with the mixtures to have improved application properties.
US09676919B2

A hybrid carbon black is provided, which includes a carbon black core and a polymer film wrapping an entire surface of the carbon black core. The polymer film includes a network of a plurality of polymer main chains crosslinked each other, and a plurality of dispersion-side chains bonded to the polymer main chains. The dispersion-side chains come from an acrylate monomer with a chemical structure of: wherein when n is 4 to 7, R1 is H or CH3, and when n is 8 to 14, R1 is CH3.
US09676918B2

A method is provided for de-bonding objects contained in an article at an interface between the objects, wherein the objects are joined at the interface through an intermediate layer, which involves applying energy from a radiation source, wherein the energy is sufficient to cause destruction of bonds within the intermediate layer; and separating the two objects from one another.
US09676916B2

A multifunctional syntactic foam including a matrix material and hollow particles, where a first and second material property of the syntactic foam are tailored on the basis of the wall thickness and volume fraction of the hollow particles.
US09676915B2

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of porous particles comprising at least one polyimide by reacting (A) at least one polyisocyanate having on average at least two isocyanate groups per molecule and (B) at least one polycarboxylic acid having at least two COOH groups per molecule or anhydride thereof, in the presence of at least one solvent, optionally at least one catalyst and optionally at least one further additive, to cause precipitation of a polyimide in the solvent to form the porous particles, to porous particles, obtained with this process, to parts, bodies, foams and/or material comprising these porous particles, and to the use of the porous particles or of the parts, bodies, foams and/or material as insulation material and in vacuum insulation.
US09676913B2

This patent is provided a method for producing a porous polymer film using vanadium oxide nanowires, and a porous polymer film obtained from the method. The method allows control of a uniform pore size and density through a simple process including the steps of: adding an ion exchanger to deionized water to perform acidification and adding a vanadate compound thereto to grow vanadium oxide nanowires by a sol-gel process; mixing the resultant solution of grown nanowires with a polymer solution to provide a mixed solution of nanowires; pouring the mixed solution of nanowires to a mold, followed by drying and curing, to form a film; and etching the resultant film with an etching solution to remove the vanadium oxide nanowires.
US09676911B2

A dispersion that includes at least one organic solvent; nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles are infrared absorptive, conductive or a both infrared absorptive and conductive; and at least one polycaprolactone-polyamine copolymer, wherein the dispersion comprises agglomerates of the nanoparticles and a majority of the agglomerates have an average diameter that are not greater than 100 nanometers. Compositions, films, articles and light control articles that utilize such dispersions are also discussed.
US09676909B2

The present invention pertains to a process for the manufacture of a grafted fluoropolymer [polymer (Fg)], said process comprising reacting: A) at least one fluoropolymer comprising at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and a carboxylic acid group [polymer (F)], B) at least one polyoxyalkylene (POA) of formula (I): RB—(CH2—O)x—(CH2CHRAO)n—(CH2—O)x′—RC, wherein at least one of RB and RC is a reactive group comprising at least one heteroatom selected from oxygen and nitrogen different from the hydroxyl group, the remaining, if any, being a —[O]z—CH3 alkyl group, wherein z is 0 or 1, RA is a hydrogen atom or a C1-C5 alkyl group, x and x′, equal to or different from each other, are independently 0 or 1, and n is an integer comprised between 2 and 1000, preferably between 5 and 200, C) optionally, in the presence of at least one catalyst, and D) optionally, in the presence of at least one organic solvent (S). The present invention also pertains to grafted fluoropolymers obtained from said process and to uses of said grafted fluoropolymers for manufacturing porous membranes.
US09676904B2

The invention provides a metal alkoxide complex of Formula (I), wherein X, M, R1, R2, R3, m, n, y and z are as defined in the Description. The invention also provides a catalyst composition comprising the metal alkoxide complex and a hydroxy-containing compound, wherein the molar ratio of the metal alkoxide complex to the hydroxy-containing compound is 1:0.1-1000. The invention also provides a production method of poly-ε-caprolactone or polyactide, wherein an ε-caprolactone monomer or a lactide monomer is reacted in the presence of the metal alkoxide complex or catalyst composition to obtain poly-ε-caprolactone or polylactide. The metal alkoxide complex and the catalyst composition thereof can be used to catalyze the synthesis of poly-ε-caprolactone or polylactide with a high efficiency. The molecular weight of polycaprolactone or polylactide can be controlled by the molar ratio of the metal alkoxide complex and the hydroxy-containing compound, and is adjustable in the range of 1000-600,000, and wherein the molecular weight distribution is from 1.03 to 1.50. [Xn-mM(OCR1R2R3)m]y.(organic solvent)z   (I)
US09676903B2

A polyester resin copolymerized with isosorbide and 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol and having an improved impact strength, and a method for preparing the same are disclosed. The copolymerized polyester resin has an alternating structure of acid moieties which are derived from acid components and diol moieties which are derived from diol components, wherein the acid components comprise terephthalic acid, and the diol components comprise (i) 5˜99 mol % of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol and (ii) 1˜60 mol % of isosorbide with respect to the total diol components.
US09676897B2

To suppress deterioration of mechanical properties of a foam, by using a polyol system solution stored.A polyol system solution is prepared by using a polyether polyol (A1) having a hydroxy value of from 5 to 45 mgKOH/g and an average number of hydroxy groups of from 2 to 8, obtainable by subjecting an alkylene oxide to ring-opening addition polymerization to an initiator, in the presence of a double metal cyanide complex catalyst, to obtain an intermediate polyol; and subjecting ethylene oxide to a ring-opening addition polymerization in an amount of from 1 to 23 mol per 1 mol of the initiator to the intermediate polyol, in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide as a polymerization catalyst, and a flexible polyurethane foam is produced by using the polyol system solution.
US09676888B2

To provide a novel compound having both a surface-activating ability and a polymerization controlling ability.A compound represented by the following general formula (1) or (2): wherein, R1 and R3 are an organic group having the hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) determined by Griffin's method of 3 or more. The definitions of R1, R2, R3, R4, Z, p and q are described in the Description.
US09676887B2

Structural adhesives are prepared from an elastomeric toughener that contains urethane and/or urea groups, and have some terminal isocyanate groups that are capped with a phenol and other terminal isocyanate groups that are capped with a hydroxy-functional acrylate or a hydroxy-functional methacrylate. In certain embodiments, the presence of both types of capping on the toughener leads to higher impact peel strengths and a greater level of cohesive failure, than when the toughener is capped with a phenol an hydroxy-functional acrylate or hydroxy-functional methacrylate alone.
US09676882B2

This invention relates to processes using staged hydrogen addition in propylene polymerization. Using this process, broad/bi-modal MWD iPP with excellent stiffness properties and melt flow rates were produced.
US09676878B2

The process begins by obtaining a first batch of monomers selected from a group of acrylates with a molecular weight equal to or less than butyl acrylate and/or methacrylate with a molecular weight equal to or less than butyl methacrylate. A second batch of monomers is then selected from a group of acrylates with a molecular weight greater than butyl acrylate and/or methacrylate with a molecular weight greater than butyl methacrylate. A mixture is then prepared by mixing the first batch of monomers and the second batch of monomers, wherein the second batch of monomers are greater than 50% by weight of the mixture. Finally, the mixture is polymerized to produce an ultra high molecular weight polymer.
US09676872B2

The present invention pertains to an affinity tag system for the immobilization and/or purification of molecules such as biological or organic molecules. The invention provides EF-hand subdomains of calcium binding proteins, such as calbindin D9k, as affinity tags and affinity ligands for immobilizing, detecting and/or for purifying molecules, particularly proteins. Also provided are methods utilizing the affinity tag system of the invention, affinity matrices comprising EF-hand subdomain affinity ligands and fusion proteins comprising EF-hand subdomain affinity tags.
US09676868B2

The invention relates to anti-Factor D antibodies, their nucleic acid and amino acid sequences, the cells and vectors that harbor these antibodies and their production and their use in the preparation of compositions and medicaments for treatment of diseases and disorders associated with excessive or uncontrolled complement activation. These antibodies are useful for diagnostics, prophylaxis and treatment of disease.
US09676866B2

The present invention provides antibodies, and antigen-binding fragments of antibodies, fusion polypeptides and analogs that preferentially bind cell-associated CA 125/O772P polypeptides relative to shed CA 125/O772P polypeptides. The present invention further provides methods of preventing, managing, treating or ameliorating one or more symptoms associated with a CA 125/O772P-related disorder. In particular, the present invention provides methods of preventing, managing, treating, or ameliorating one or more symptoms associated with a cell proliferative disorder, such as cancer, e.g., ovarian cancer. The present invention still further provides methods for diagnosing a CA 125/O772P-related disorder or predisposition to developing such a disorder, as well as methods for identifying antibodies, and antigen-binding fragments of antibodies, that preferentially bind cell-associated CA 125/O772P polypeptides relative to shed CA 125/O772P polypeptides.
US09676855B2

The present invention is concerned with diagnostic methods and means. Specifically, it relates to an antibody which specifically binds to a portion of the extracellular domain of the B7-H6 polypeptide. Moreover, said antibody is provided for use in the treatment or diagnosis of cancer or inflammatory disease. Furthermore, provided are a method for diagnosing cancer in a sample of a subject suspected to suffer from cancer or an inflammatory disease. Further, the present invention concerns a device and a kit for diagnosing cancer or an inflammatory.
US09676854B2

The present invention relates to antibodies (including anti-B7-H4 antibodies) and their antigen-binding fragments and to other molecules (including fusion proteins that bind to the cognate antigen/receptor, etc.) that are capable of immunospecifically binding to B7-H4 and the uses of such molecules in the diagnosis and the treatment of cancer and other diseases. The invention particularly concerns the use of such molecules to retard or prevent tumor growth, inhibit tumor-mediated suppression, eliminate tumors and/or deplete or block the activity of tumor associated macrophages (“TAMs”) so as to alter their activity and/or decrease TAM—mediated immune suppression.
US09676842B2

A method of inhibiting alternative complement pathway activation in a mammal includes administering an amount of an antibody and/or fragment thereof that specifically binds to an epitope of the N terminus end of properdin effective to the inhibit alternative complement pathway in the subject.
US09676837B2

Disclosed are methods of making collagen 7, or functional fragments thereof, as well as collagen 7, and functional fragments thereof produced by such methods, nucleic acids encoding collagen 7, and functional fragments thereof, as well as vectors and host cells comprising such nucleic acids.
US09676832B2

The present invention provides a dendritic cell modulatory protein which modulates, and preferably inhibits, the differentiation and/or maturation of mammalian dendritic cells. The invention also provides proteins comprising conserved motifs found in such proteins as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the dendritic cell modulatory protein and homologs and active fragments thereof, antibodies thereto and methods of treatment which utilize such proteins, homologs, fragments and antibodies.
US09676829B2

The present invention discloses polypeptides with antibacterial properties and use said polypeptides and/or polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides in the preparation of medicament for the treatment of infectious diseases. The inventors also provide vectors encoding and adapted for expression of the polypeptides and polynucleotides of the invention. The vectors may be used in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of bacterial infections. Further, the vector of the invention may be used to reduce the load of bacteria in food and/or feed.
US09676827B2

A fusion protein for use as an immunogen enhancer for enhancing antigen-specific T cell responses is disclosed. The fusion protein comprises: (a) an antigen-presenting cell (APC)-binding domain or a CD91 receptor-binding domain; (b) a protein transduction domain; and (c) an antigen of a pathogen, wherein the APC-binding domain or the CD91 receptor-binding domain is located at the N-terminus of the fusion protein, and the antigen of the pathogen is located at the C-terminus of the protein transduction domain. The protein transduction domain is selected from the group consisting of: (i) a fusion polypeptide, comprising a T cell sensitizing signal-transducing peptide, a linker, and a translocation peptide; (ii) a T cell-sensitizing signal-transducing peptide; and (iii) a translocation peptide of 34-112 amino acid residues in length.
US09676821B2

The invention features echinocandin class compounds. The compounds can be useful for the treatment of fungal infections.
US09676809B2

Some embodiments of the present invention include nucleoside 5′-monophosphate derivative compounds, their preparation and their uses. In some embodiments, such compounds are useful to treat hepatitis C viral infections.
US09676799B2

A method for the synthesis of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine or one of its derivatives selected from the group consisting of its salts, its phosphonate esters, or its phosphonate ester salts, which includes the steps of: a) forming, in the presence an acid catalyst, a reaction mixture having 2,5-diketopiperazine, formaldehyde and a compound including one or more P-0-P anhydride moieties, the moieties having one P atom at the oxidation state (+III) and the other P atom at the oxidation state (+III) or (+V), to form N,N′-bisphosphonomethyl-2,5-diketopiperazine, its mono- to tetra phosphonate esters, the dehydrated forms of N,N′-bisphosphonomethyl-2,5-diketopiperazine and the phosphonate esters of its dehydrated forms; and b) hydrolyzing the N,N′-bisphosphonomethyl-2,5-diketopiperazine, its dehydrated forms or their phosphonate esters to obtain N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine or one of its derivatives selected from the group consisting of its salts, its phosphonate esters and its phosphonate ester salts.
US09676795B2

Process to obtain a trifluoromethylating composition which comprises the reaction between a copper (I) source and a base in the presence of a solvent and between the resulting cuprating reagent with fluoroform.
US09676782B2

Described are negative allosteric modulators of metabotropic glutamate receptor 3 (mGlu3), pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds, and methods of using the compounds and compositions for treating depression, cognitive disorders, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, or cancer in a subject. Exemplary negative allosteric modulators of metabotropic glutamate receptor 3 include pyrazolo[1,5-α]pyrazine compounds, such as those of the following formula:
US09676769B2

The compounds of formula (I) are inhibitors of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) activity useful in the treatment of inflammation, an inflammatory disease, an immune or an autoimmune disorder, or inhibition of tumor growth.
US09676764B2

A compound having the structure according to formula III wherein: X is NH or S; R1 is H or (1C-4C)alkyl; R2 is (1C-4C)alkyl, phenyl or a monocyclic aromatic ring having one or more N-, O- or S-atoms in the ring, which alkyl, phenyl or aromatic ring is optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from (1C-4C)alkyl, (1C-4C)alkyloxy, halo(1C-4C)alkyl, halo(1C-4C)alkyloxy, phenyloxy, phenylthio, halogen, or nitro; R3 and R4 are each independently H, (1C-6C)alkyl, (2C-6C) alkenyl, (2C-6C)alkynyl, cyano, (3C-6C)cycloalkyl, phenyl, a monocyclic aromatic ring having one or more N-, O- or S-atoms in the ring, a monocyclic non-aromatic ring having one or more N-, O- or S-atoms in the ring, each optionally substituted with hydroxyl, (1C-4C)alkoxy, phenyl, cycloalkyl, piperidyl, piperazinyl, furyl, thienyl, pirazinyl, pyrrolyl, 2H-pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyrrolidonyl, pyrrolinyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolyl, a monocyclic aromatic ring having one or more N-, O- or S-atoms in the ring, whereby each of these optional substituents is optionally further substituted with (1C-4C)alkyl, (1C-4C)alkyloxy, halo(1C-4C)alkyl, halo(1C-4C)alkyloxy, halogen, nitro or (1C-2C)dioxol forming a ring; or R3 and R4 form together pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolinylimidazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, piperidyl, piperazinylmorpholinyl, each optionally substituted with (1C-6C)alkyl, phenyl(1C-4C)alkyl, phenylketo(1C-4C)alkyl; R5 is H, Cl, F, Br, Me, NO2, t-butyl, OCF3, OCH3, CF3; R6 is H, (1C-4C)alkyl, (1C-4C)alkyloxy, halo(1C-4C)alkyl, halo(1C-4C)alkyloxy, nitro or halogen; R7 is H, F, Cl, Br, Me, NO2, t-butyl, OCF3, OCH3, CF3; or pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts thereof for use in treatments of carcinoma, in particular, to delay, prevent or reverse metastasis in prostate cancer.
US09676760B2

The present disclosure relates to compounds that are sodium channel inhibitors and to their use in the treatment of various disease states, including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. In particular embodiments, the structure of the compounds is given by Formula I: wherein Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, X, Y, R2, R3 and R4 are as described herein, to methods for the preparation and use of the compounds and to pharmaceutical compositions containing the same.
US09676744B2

Long-chain carboxychromanol compounds useful for treating conditions associated with the need to inhibit cyclooxygenase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, and/or 5-lipoxygenase, and pharmaceutical formulations containing the compounds are provided herein.
US09676741B1

The present invention relates to a dapagliflozin-citric acid co-crystal, processes for its preparation, and its use for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. A dapagliflozin citric acid co-crystal. The dapagliflozin citric acid co-crystal of claim 1, characterized by X-ray powder diffraction peaks having d-spacing values at about 3.89, 3.90, 4.01, 4.35, 5.77, and 5.80.
US09676740B2

Disclosed is a process to produce a dry purified carboxylic acid product comprising furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA). The process comprises oxidizing at least one oxidizable compound selected from the following group: 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (5-HMF), 5-HMF esters (5-R(CO)OCH2-furfural where R is alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl), 5-HMF ethers (5-R′OCH2-furfural where R′ is alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl), 5-alkyl furfurals (5-R″-furfural where R″ is alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl), mixed feedstocks of 5-HMF and 5-HMF esters, mixed feedstocks of 5-HMF and 5-HMF ethers, and mixed feedstocks of 5-HMF and 5-alkyl furfurals to generate a crude carboxylic acid slurry comprising FDCA.
US09676732B2

It has been surprisingly been found that the compounds of general formula I are positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 (mGluR4), useful for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, anxiety, emesis, obsessive compulsive disorder, autism, neuroprotection, cancer, depression and diabetes type 2.
US09676728B2

The present invention provides a compound of formula (I) a method for manufacturing the compounds of the invention, and its therapeutic uses. The present invention further provides a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a pharmaceutical composition.
US09676718B2

Piperidine compounds and pharmaceutically useful salts thereof, a pharmaceutical composition including an effective amount of the racemic or enantiomerically enriched piperidine compounds to treat gastrointestinal diseases, and a method of treating gastrointestinal diseases in a mammal are provided.
US09676713B2

The present invention provides a production intermediate of an atropisomer of a pyrrole derivative having excellent mineralocorticoid receptor antagonistic activity, a method for producing the same, and a crystal thereof. A method for producing an atropisomer of a pyrrole derivative including a step of resolving a compound represented by the following general formula (I) [wherein R1 represents a methyl group or a trifluoromethyl group, R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-C3 alkoxy group, and n represents an integer selected from 1 to 3] into its atropisomers, characterized by using an optically active amine having a cinchonine skeletal formula, and a crystal of (S)-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methyl-N-[4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl]-5-[2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxamide.
US09676712B2

Disclosed herein are compounds of formula (I) wherein L1, L2, L3, R1, R4, R5, and R6 are as defined in the specification. Compounds of formula (I) are EP4 agonists useful in the treatment of glaucoma, osteoporosis, bone fracture, periodontal bone loss, orthopedic implant, alopecia, neuropathic pain, and related disorders. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating conditions or disorders are also described.
US09676710B2

Industrial methods for producing arylsulfur pentafluorides are disclosed. Methods include reacting arylsulfur halotetrafluoride with hydrogen fluoride in the absence or presence of one or more additives selected from a group of fluoride salts, non-fluoride salts, and unsaturated organic compounds to form arylsulfur pentafluorides.
US09676706B2

The invention provides a process for making compounds according to Formula I: where R1, R1a, R2, R2a, R3 and R3a are defined as set forth in the specification. Formula I compounds are useful as chelants and stabilizers of cations in aqueous media and the invention therefore provides a method for using the compounds in the treatment of subterranean formations, such as in acidizing operations.
US09676699B2

A process for producing methyl methacrylate, the process comprising contacting reactants comprising methacrolein, methanol and an oxygen-containing gas, under reaction conditions in the presence of a solid catalyst comprising palladium, bismuth and at least one third element X, where X is selected from the group consisting of P, S, Sc, V, Ga, Se, Y, Nb, Mo, La, Ce, and Nd, wherein the solid catalyst further comprises a support selected from at least one member of the group consisting of silica, alumina, calcium carbonate, active carbon, zinc oxide, titanium oxide and magnesium oxide.
US09676696B2

Personal care compositions containing an active selected from the group consisting of phlorogine, phlorgine BG, deoxyArbutin, sucrose dilaurate, bakuchiol, pyrenoine, millet, arlatone dioic acid, cinnamic acid, ferulic acid, achromaxyl, methyl nicotinamide, oil soluble licorice extract, folic acid, undecylenic acid, zinc undecylenate, L-tryptophan, thiamine HCl, hexylresorcinol, lipidami red vine, dragosine, methyl gentisate, inositol, symdiol 68, laminaine, their salts, their derivatives, their precursors, and/or combinations thereof. Methods for regulating the condition of mammalian keratinous tissue by topically applying the personal care compositions are also provided.
US09676685B2

A process for reducing the diene content of an olefin by feeding hydrogen to the process in stages.
US09676683B2

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for purifying 1,3-butadiene which can effectively remove an organic compound detrimental to anionic polymerization from 1,3-butadiene containing a polymerization inhibitor and suppress the formation of popcorn. The method includes: a water-washing step of washing 1,3-butadiene by using low-oxygen water having an oxygen concentration of less than 2 mg/L as wash water; and a polymerization inhibitor removing step of subsequently removing the polymerization inhibitor in 1,3-butadiene.
US09676676B2

This invention relates generally to C—H activated ruthenium olefin metathesis catalyst compounds which are stereogenic at the ruthenium center, to their preparation, and the use of such catalysts in the metathesis of olefins and olefin compounds. In particular, the invention relates to the use of C—H activated ruthenium olefin metathesis catalyst compounds in Z-selective olefin metathesis reactions, enantio-selective olefin metathesis reactions, and enantio-Z-selective olefin metathesis reactions. The invention has utility in the fields of catalysis, organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, and industrial and fine chemicals chemistry.
US09676673B2

The invention provides a process for the bio-based reparation of a concrete element having an element surface with cavities, comprising applying a first liquid with a first composition and a second liquid with a second composition to the element surface of the concrete element to provide a combined product to the cavities, wherein the first composition and the second composition are selected to provide gel formation in the cavities after application of one or more of the first liquid and the second liquid to the element surface, wherein the first composition and the second composition are also selected to provide bacterial material, a calcium source, and a nutrient for bacteria in the cavities after application of the first liquid and the second liquid to the element surface, wherein the first liquid at least comprises sodium silicate and wherein the second liquid at least comprises the calcium source.
US09676668B2

A dry mix for a composite cement is described. The dry mix includes a calcium-containing material, an aluminum-containing material, a lithium-containing accelerant, a retarder, and a pozzolanic additive that contains a soluble sulfur salt. The pozzolanic additive preferably includes a soluble sulfur salt at a fraction greater than approximately 0.2% by weight. The pozzolanic additive may be a fly ash, and is preferably a class C fly ash. A powdered additive for use with a pre-prepared dry mix for a calcium aluminate cement is also described. The powdered additive includes a lithium-containing accelerant, a retarder, and a pozzolanic additive that contains a soluble sulfur salt.
US09676652B2

Submerged combustion systems and methods of use to produce foamed glass. One system includes a submerged combustion melter having an outlet, the melter configured to produce an initial foamy molten glass having a density and comprising bubbles filled primarily with combustion product gases. The initial foamy molten glass is deposited directly onto or into a transport apparatus that transports the initial foamy molten glass to a downstream processing apparatus. An intermediate stage may be included between the melter and the transport apparatus. One intermediate stage is a channel that includes gas injectors. Another intermediate stage is a channel that produces an upper flow of a less dense glass and a relatively more dense glass lower flow. The upper flow may be processed into foamed glass products, while the more dense flow may be processed into dense glass products.
US09676644B2

Methods and systems produce a molten mass of foamed glass in a submerged combustion melter (SCM). Routing foamed glass to a fining chamber defined by a flow channel fluidly connected to and downstream of the SCM. The flow channel floor and sidewalls have sufficient glass-contact refractory to accommodate expansion of the foamed glass as fining occurs during transit through the fining chamber. The foamed glass is separated into an upper glass foam phase and a lower molten glass phase as the foamed glass flows toward an end of the flow channel distal from the SCM. The molten glass is then routed through a transition section fluidly connected to the distal end of the flow channel. The transition section inlet end construction has at least one molten glass inlet aperture, such that the inlet aperture(s) are positioned lower than the phase boundary between the upper and lower phases.
US09676643B2

A method for producing bubble-free glasses is provided, in which a glass mixture that is arsenic-free, antimony-free and tin-free with the exception of any unavoidable raw material impurities and at least one sulfate compound as a refining agent are used. The glass mixture and refining agent are melted and primarily refined in a first region of a melting tank, an average melting temperature (T1) is set at T1>1580° C. and an average melt residence time (t1) is set at t1>2 hours. A secondary refinement is carried out in a second region, an average melting temperature (T2) is set at T2>1660° C. and an average melt residence time (t2) is set at t2>1 hour, and the proportion of the SO3 resulting from decomposition of the sulfate is reduced to less than 0.002 wt. %.
US09676639B2

Improved systems and processes for forward osmosis water purification or desalination are herein disclosed. According to one embodiment a process for purifying contaminated water is provided wherein a contaminated feed solution stream comprising water and with a first osmotic pressure is passed through a semipermeable membrane to a draw side having a draw solution stream with a second osmotic pressure on a draw side of the semipermeable membrane. The diluted draw solution stream is heated, agglomerated and cooled to produce a cooled single phase water rich stream that is purified to produce a water product stream.
US09676633B2

The invention relates to a process for preparing a crystalline ammonium sulfate product, which process comprises: a) subjecting in a crystallizer a feed solution of ammonium sulfate to crystallization to form a first slurry of ammonium sulfate crystals; b) subjecting the first slurry of ammonium sulfate crystals to a first size classification to yield a first coarse ammonium sulfate crystal fraction and a first fine ammonium sulfate crystal fraction; c) recycling at least part of the first fine ammonium sulfate crystal fraction to the feed solution of ammonium sulfate; and d) recovering a crystalline ammonium sulfate product from the first coarse ammonium sulfate crystal fraction, characterized in that: e) a second size classification is carried out on a second slurry of ammonium sulfate crystals to yield a second coarse ammonium sulfate crystal fraction and a second fine ammonium sulfate crystal fraction.
US09676631B2

A process for producing reaction bonded silicon carbide (RBSC) from high purity, porous, essentially all-carbon preforms through contacting said preforms with silicon metal at room temperature, and subsequently heating to melt silicon metal and cause infiltration into said preform causing reaction to silicon carbide and leaving residual silicon, to result in a dense silicon carbide-silicon composite. The process offers the ability to produce RBSC with higher purity, higher strength, and lower cost as long as the carbonaceous preforms are of sufficient purity and pore size distribution to allow for uniform, crack-free bulk bodies to be fabricated.
US09676624B2

This invention pertains to processes for selectively oxidizing hydrogen cyanide contained in syngas using permanganate anion as an oxidant contained in an aqueous solution that is contacted with the syngas under certain conditions of temperature, pressure and duration of contact.
US09676622B2

An object is to provide a process for providing hydrogen or heavy hydrogens conveniently without the necessity of large-scale equipment and a process capable of performing hydrogenation (protiation, deuteration or tritiation) reaction conveniently without the use of an expensive reagent and a special catalyst. The production process includes a process for producing hydrogen or heavy hydrogens, containing subjecting water or heavy water to mechanochemical reaction in the presence of a catalyst metal, and a process for producing a hydrogenated (protiated, deuterated or tritiated) organic compound, containing subjecting an organic compound and water or heavy water to mechanochemical reaction in the presence of a catalyst metal.
US09676620B1

The invention generally relates to fluorescent particles and more specifically to silica-based fluorescent nanoporous particles with physically encapsulated organic dyes. In one aspect of the invention, the nanoporous architecture provides a significant enhancement in fluorescence of the particles brightness compared to free dye. A particular chemical control of the silica matrix prevents the dye molecules from leaking the particles.
US09676618B2

A sensor device is constructed to maintain a high glass strength to avoid the glass failure at low burst pressure, resulting from the sawing defects located in the critical high stress area of the glass pedestal as one of the materials used for construction of the sensor. This is achieved by forming polished recess structures in the critical high stress areas of the sawing street area. The sensor device is also constructed to have a robust bonding with the die attach material by creating a plurality of micro-posts on the mounting surface of the glass pedestal.
US09676608B2

A substrate includes a functional element. An insulating first film forms a cavity which stores the functional element, together with the substrate, and includes a plurality of through-holes. An insulating second film covers the plurality of through-holes, is formed on the first film, and has a gas permeability which is higher than that of the first film. An insulating third film is formed on the second film and has a gas permeability which is lower than the second film. An insulating fourth film is formed on the third film and has an elasticity which is larger than the third film.
US09676607B2

Micromechanical devices include actively deflectable elements. The activation is performed by a layer stack which causes the deflection responsive to attractive forces acting upon the layers of the layer stack.
US09676606B2

A method for manufacturing a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) structure with sacrificial supports to prevent stiction is provided. A first etch is performed into an upper surface of a carrier substrate to form a sacrificial support in a cavity. A thermal oxidation process is performed to oxidize the sacrificial support, and to form an oxide layer lining the upper surface and including the oxidized sacrificial support. A MEMS substrate is bonded to the carrier substrate over the carrier substrate and through the oxide layer. A second etch is performed into the MEMS substrate to form a movable mass overlying the cavity and supported by the oxidized sacrificial support. A third etch is performed into the oxide layer to laterally etch the oxidized sacrificial support and to remove the oxidized sacrificial support. A MEMS structure with anti-stiction bumps is also provided.
US09676601B2

A gripping apparatus for outfitting vehicles for handling loads include a structure, which can be removably coupled with an operating arm of a vehicle for handling of loads. It includes: a support element which comprises a coupling base for connection with a corresponding coupling head which is fitted to the operating arm, a holding element which is fixed to the coupling base and can rotate, on command, with respect to the coupling base and about a first axis. The holding element is provided with a load gripping apparatus for gripping a load. A load handled by the load gripping apparatus can translate along a predetermined direction contained in a plane extending perpendicularly with respect to the first axis.
US09676595B2

A method of manufacturing an elevator includes installing a movable supporting platform and an elevator car in the elevator hoistway; taking the elevator car into use to serve passengers and/or to transport goods; removing the elevator car from use; changing the service range of the elevator car to reach higher up in the elevator hoistway by lifting the supporting platform higher up in the elevator hoistway; and taking the elevator car back into use. The elevator is reeved to include construction-time hoisting roping, which includes one or more ropes, the longitudinal power transmission capacity of which is based at least essentially on non-metallic fibers in the longitudinal direction of the rope. In the method, guide rails to be fixed with guide rail brackets can additionally be installed by the aid of an installation device. An elevator arrangement can be used to perform the method.
US09676594B2

An anti-rotation system for an elevator system that includes an elevator shaft, elevator suspension cables, and a mechanical room includes a hitch plate disposed on a floor of the mechanical room and at a top of the elevator shaft, a plurality of cable shackles, each cable shackle including a cable locking mechanism on a first end thereof configured to lock one of the elevator suspension cables and a threaded rod on a second end thereof configured to extend through the hitch plate from the elevator shaft to the mechanical room, and a plurality of anti-rotation devices, each anti-rotation device being fixed to the threaded rod of one of the plurality of cable shackles in the mechanical room, and each anti-rotation device being connected to at least one other anti-rotation device, whereby rotation of cable shackles is prevented.
US09676583B2

A sheet conveying device includes a casing, first discharge rollers arranged in an axial direction, a roller shaft supporting the first discharge rollers and configured to rotate together with the first discharge rollers, second discharge rollers provided in correspondence with the first discharge rollers, a bearing member attached to the casing such that the bearing member is entirely located between adjacent two of the first discharge rollers, the bearing member supporting roller shaft. The bearing member includes a downstream guide located downstream of the roller shaft in a conveying direction in which the sheet is conveyed. The downstream guide of the bearing member protrudes toward the plurality of second discharge rollers beyond a tangential line at a contact point between one of the first discharge rollers and a corresponding one of the second discharge rollers, when viewed in the axial direction.
US09676582B2

In a sheet-processing apparatus, a controller controls a conveying guide to change over a sheet-conveying path of sheets that are ejected without stapling them to a sheet-processing conveying path based on predetermined sheet-conveying path selection information when judging that a non-stapling mode in which the sheet stapling processing is not performed on a first type of sheets follows a stapling mode in which the sheet-stapling processing is performed on a second type of sheets. The first type of sheets, which are not to be stapled, conveyed on the sheet-processing conveying path waits on a waiting portion in the non-processing mode while in the processing mode, a sheet-processing portion performs the sheet processing on the second type of sheets.
US09676578B2

The roller-to-roller conveyance control apparatus includes an amplitude target setting unit that sets an amplitude target value of the tension deviation; an adjustment execution command generation unit that provides a command to adjust the control gain; an adjustment manipulated-variable output unit that outputs an adjustment manipulated variable; a manipulated-variable amplitude determination unit that increases the amplitude of the adjustment manipulated variable until the amplitude of the tension deviation becomes larger than the amplitude target value; and a control-gain calculation device that calculates the control gain from the amplitude and the vibration period of the tension deviation. A tension-shaft speed controller controls a tension-control-shaft motor on the basis of the line speed reference and the adjustment manipulated variable during the adjustment of the control gain.
US09676576B2

A sheet discriminator includes a sheet loader on which a recording medium is loaded, an information detector to detect information of the recording medium loaded on the sheet loader, and a sheet distinguisher to distinguish a type of the recording medium based on the information detected by the information detector. The information detector detects the information of the recording medium with the recording medium being inserted between the sheet loader and the information detector. An image forming apparatus incorporates the sheet discriminator and an image forming part to form an image on the recording medium.
US09676574B2

An image forming apparatus and a method of controlling the same capable of obtaining the same effect as when sheets of paper are picked up in such a state that front ends thereof are all aligned by controlling paper feeding based on results of detecting paper movement and capable of improving feeding speed by maintaining a time taken for the sheet of paper to move to a feed roller constant are provided. The apparatus includes a pick-up roller to pick up a sheet of paper, a forward roller to feed the picked-up sheet of paper toward a downstream side of a paper moving path, a feed roller to feed the sheet of paper fed by the forward roller toward the downstream side of the paper moving path, and a feed sensor mounted between the forward roller and the feed roller to detect movement of the sheet of paper.
US09676571B2

This disclosure provides a coupling device configured to couple a shaft and a rotating member supported on the shaft so as to be rotatable and demountable from the shaft including a contacting portion provided on a rotating member, and a restricting member provided on the shaft so as to be rotatable and configured to restrict a movement of the rotating member in the axial direction by coming into contact with the contacting portion.
US09676568B2

A device for transferring pre-formed layers of objects to the top of a pallet. The device has a guide column (2), a depositing head (4) designed to deposit the layers (11) on top of one another on the pallet (6), and a receiving tray (3) for receiving a pre-formed layer of objects. The receiving tray (3) is movable relative to the depositing head (4). The depositing head (4) and the receiving tray (3) is each slidably mounted in cantilever fashion on the guide column (2).
US09676565B2

A vacuum gripping device comprising a plurality of suction bodies, each comprising a suction chamber for applying to a workpiece to be gripped, a suction valve is associated with each suction point, wherein each suction valve comprises a vacuum supply side for connection to a vacuum supply device and a suction side connected to the suction chamber of the assigned suction body, wherein the suction valve comprises a valve body, moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve body is arranged on a flexible control membrane which delimits a control chamber; in such a way that the valve body is moveable from the open position into the closed position using deformation of the control membrane, and wherein a membrane cloth extending across multiple or all suction points is arranged in the gripper housing.
US09676553B2

A material handling system have the ability for the rollers to slip relative to the drive system, such as a roller bed conveyor used an accumulator conveyor system. The rollers include a slip assembly with a clutch surface, wherein the tube of the roller is configured to act as a heat sink.
US09676551B2

An autonomous transport robot for transporting a payload, the autonomous transport robot includes a payload bed having at least one reference datum surface and at least one payload justification device, the at least one payload justification device being configured to position a payload on the payload bed in substantial contact with the at least one reference datum surface to place the payload in a predetermined position on the payload bed.
US09676549B2

A floor assembly includes a plurality of transverse stringers spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the floor assembly. The assembly also includes a plurality of transverse bottom flanges, each transverse bottom flange being coupled to a lower portion of a respective transverse stringer and to a neighboring transverse bottom flange along respective transversely extending side edges thereof. A top flange comprising a supporting sheet is coupled to an upper portion of each transverse stringer. A plurality of longitudinal panels are supported by the supporting sheet and coupled to one another along respective longitudinally extending edges thereof to form a floor surface, each longitudinal panel in the plurality of longitudinal panels having at least one longitudinally extending rib depending substantially perpendicularly from a bottom surface thereof. The at least one rib is coupled to a top surface of the supporting sheet.
US09676535B2

A carton for holding a plurality of containers, the carton includes a top retainer having a top panel and at least one top end flap foldably connected to the top panel. The top panel includes at least one retaining portion having at least one receptacle for retaining at least one container of the plurality of containers, and the at least one retaining portion is removable from the carton. The carton further includes a tray having a bottom panel and at least one bottom end flap foldably connected to the bottom panel. The at least one top end flap and the at least one bottom end flap cooperate to form a closed end of the carton.
US09676533B2

A tamper-evident package includes a flexible web having first and second opposed surfaces, and a tamper-evident layer on at least the first surface. The tamper-evident layer defines a blank space on the web, and includes a first pattern of protected areas and a second pattern of tamper-evident areas. A first semi-rigid outer layer is attached to the first tamper-evident layer so as to adhere only to the tamper-evident areas on the tamper-evident layer, the first semi-rigid outer layer including a transparent portion aligned with the blank space. A second semi-rigid outer layer is attached to the second surface of the web. The blank space may be removed to form a hole in the web, and the second outer layer may include a transparent portion aligned with the hole. A second tamper-evident layer may optionally be provided on the second surface of the web.
US09676531B2

A membrane for sealing an open spout of a food package comprises a central circular disc member, an outer annular disc member connected to the central circular disc member along its inner periphery at a connection angle, and a resilient tubular portion extending between a first open end and a second end being connected to the outer annular disc member, the diameter of the second end being smaller than the outer diameter of the annular disc member, wherein the annular disc member is pivotable relative the central circular disc member for increasing the diameter of the second end of the tubular portion by changing the connection angle.
US09676528B2

An encased dispenser (100, 100′, 200, 300, 400) comprising a casing (102) and a dispenser (104, 104′, 204, 304) is provided. The casing (102) comprises a cap (120, 120′, 220, 320, 420) and a cover (140, 140′, 240, 340, 440). The dispenser (104, 104′, 204, 304) comprises a top part (107) and a bottom part (106). The top part (107) comprises a dispensing mechanism (135). The casing (102) and the bottom part (106) are engaged to each other, and the cap (120, 120′, 220, 320, 420) and the top part (107) are engaged to each other. The engagement of the casing (102) to the bottom part (106) is stronger than the engagement of the cap (120, 120′, 220, 320, 420) to the top part (107), and the encased dispenser (100, 100′, 200, 300, 400) excludes threading.
US09676525B2

A protective cap for a dispenser for discharging liquids, wherein the dispenser has a liquid reservoir and an outlet opening through which the liquid is discharged into a surrounding atmosphere. The protective cap has an inner cap and an outer cap, the inner cap having a ventilation opening for communication between an interior of the protective cap and an external environment. Before use, the outer cap is mounted on the inner cap in a first position with the inner cap and the outer cap in sealing contact with each other and the ventilation opening is separated in an airtight and germproof manner from the environment, and the outer cap is movable relative to the inner cap from the first position to a second position in which the inner and outer caps are out of sealing contact with each other and the ventilation opening communicates with the environment.
US09676521B2

A breathing assist device storage compartment assembly includes a housing having a rear wall and a perimeter wall attached thereto and extending forward of the rear wall. The perimeter wall includes a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. A front side of the housing is open. A support is attached to the housing and engages the top wall adjacent to front side. The support engages furniture at an edge thereof such that the housing extends downwardly from the edge of the furniture and the furniture closes the front side. The support is hingedly coupled to the housing to allow the housing to pivot with respect to the support and facilitate access into an interior of the housing, wherein a breathing assist device is positioned.
US09676520B2

A storage device includes a housing, a non-volatile memory disposed within the housing, and an interface operatively connected to the housing for communicating with a computing device to provide access to the non-volatile memory to the computing device. The storage device further includes a tray comprising a bio-sample storage area for storing bio-samples and a gasket for sealing the bio-sample storage area within the housing for storage. In a closed position, the tray is sealed within the housing by the gasket and wherein in an open position, the bio-sample storage area is exposed and accessible.
US09676519B2

A dispenser bottle assembly (12) is adapted for attachment to a mounting base (14) fixed to a surface. The assembly (12) includes a dispenser bottle (24) having a base and a projection extending outwardly from the base, an externally threaded collar (28) mounted for rotation about the projection, and a drive member (26) mounted about the projection between the collar and the base of the bottle. The threaded collar (28) is received in a threaded recess (18) in the mounting base to secure the bottle to the base. Corresponding formations on the drive member (26), the base and the collar (28) allow the collar to be screwed into and out of the mounting base (14) by rotating the bottle whilst allowing a limited degree of rotational freedom between the bottle and the collar so that the angular orientation of the bottle can be adjusted after fitting.
US09676511B2

A foldable packaging which may include a liquid-resistant paperboard form that is foldable to provide an attractive stackable container that resists water leakage, can be assembled without fastening hardware and has concealed gussets. The packaging can be folded into overlapping flaps and wings which are folded and interlocked to define a generally trapezoidal packaging which can receive a variety of different pot sizes and types. The die cut pattern forming the packaging can be of a universal shape but formed in a variety of different sizes to accommodate different sized potted plants.
US09676501B1

A large area, deployable flexible blanket photovoltaic solar array architecture for high power applications is disclosed. The structure is a modularized and scalable solar array system that provides high power level scalability. The structure is comprised of repeating, similar modular deployable roll-out solar array wings mounted in an opposing manner and along the length of a rigid, strong and efficiently packaged deployable backbone structure. The deployable roll-out solar array building block modular “winglet” elements can be comprised of either a rolled or z-folded flexible photovoltaic blanket configuration, and their structural deployment is motivated by the elastic strain energy of longitudinal roll-out booms. The backbone structure is comprised of a stiff deployable beam structure articulated that is deployed perpendicular with respect to the spacecraft sidewall and latched out. Deployment of the “winglets” can be conducted once the articulated backbone structure has been deployed, is latched, and forms a rigid beam.
US09676495B2

A hydrant coupler (12) is disclosed that includes a coupler body (16), an actuating collar (20) movable relative to the coupler body (16) and a handle assembly (25) connected to the actuating collar (20). The handle assembly (25) includes an upper arm component (31) and a lower arm component (33) separated by a handle articulating feature (35) that connects the upper and lower arm components (31, 33), but permits relative motion therebetween.
US09676491B2

A method of managing evaporated cryogenic fuel in a storage tank of a cryogenic fuel system of an aircraft and an aircraft having at least one turbine engine providing propulsive force for the aircraft and a cryogenic fuel system including a passively cooled cryogenic fuel storage tank located within the aircraft, a pressure vent fluidly coupled to the cryogenic fuel storage tank and exhausting evaporated gas from the cryogenic fuel to define a natural gas vent stream, and a catalytic converter fluidly coupled to the pressure vent.
US09676489B2

A device for attaching an aircraft engine to a pylon secured to the aircraft, the attachment device comprising a beam secured to the pylon and a first clevis mount comprising two cheeks connected to one another by a first clevis pin. A second clevis mount is secured to the engine and comprises two cheeks connected to one another by a second clevis pin. A shackle is rotatably connected to the first and second pins by first and second spherical joints. The attachment device further comprises at least one pair of washers positioned around one of the pins, one washer on each side of the shackle, and separating the shackle from the cheeks of the clevis mount bearing the one of the pins. The shackle, in its extreme positions of rotation about the one of the pins passing through the two spherical joints, coming into contact with the washers.
US09676488B2

A system and method for controlling a tail-sitter aircraft, includes determining a mode of operation for the aircraft; operating each of a large turbine engine and a small turbine engine to provide total aircraft power during hover or high-power mode of operation; and selectively providing aircraft power from the small turbine engine to a plurality of rotors during a long-range endurance cruise mode of operation.
US09676487B1

A ring release system is configured to releasably couple a parachute to a payload. The ring release system may comprise an upper release ring, an intermediate release ring with a partially and/or completely flattened end, and a lower release ring having a J-shape. When activated, the release rings cascadingly separate to release the parachute from the payload. With these systems and related methods, larger payloads may be supported, the mass and size of the ring release system may be reduced as compared to prior systems, and various failure modes may be eliminated.
US09676486B2

A harness container for a parachutist has a bio-contoured support cradle or load distributing vest. The load distributing vest, which is generally U-shaped and includes an upper yoke and two straps integral with the yoke, has a multi-layer construction that includes an outer layer and an inner layer mounted on a bio-contoured pad. The outer layer and the inner layer are of corresponding shape and are sewn to one another along a reinforced edging with the pad therebetween. The upper yoke is attached to the front side of the harness container and the ends of the vest straps are attached to the main lift webs so that the vest elevates the harness container and distributes the load thereof across the jumper's shoulders, back and chest for increased comfort.
US09676473B2

Aircraft landing gear having a leg (12) for hinging to a structure of the aircraft so as to be movable between a deployed position and a retracted position, a main brace (15), a secondary brace (20), and a double-acting type unlocking actuator (30) having a first end coupled to the secondary brace and controllable for causing its links to move out of alignment against the action of the resilient member during retraction or deployment of the landing gear. The landing gear includes couplers (31, 33) for coupling to a second end of the unlocking actuator, which couplers ensure movement of said second end relative to the leg so that, for a given action, the unlocking actuator tends to break the alignment of the links when the landing gear is in one of its positions and tends to confirm said alignment when the landing gear is in its other position.
US09676468B1

Aspects of the disclosure relate to fabricating high-altitude balloons having a prebuilt parachute overlying the surface of the balloon envelope to handle catastrophic envelope failures. The balloon envelope is formed from a number of gore panels. Tendons are positioned adjacent to corresponding ones of the gore panels. Each tendon is configured to carry a load caused by pressurized lifting gas within the balloon envelope. The parachute is affixed to at least some of the tendons, and covers at least a portion of the balloon envelope adjacent to the apex of the envelope. The parachute may be sewn onto the tendons. An outer surface of the parachute is covered with a UV-protective material. For instance, an aluminum coating may be vapor-deposited onto the parachute's outer surface. An IR-reflective material may cover an inner surface of the parachute.
US09676452B2

A dampening platform includes a base and a first pedal assembly coupled to a first side of the base. The first pedal assembly includes a first pedal pivotably rotatable about a first pivot point at a first end of the first pedal. A first dampener is operatively coupled to the first pedal. The first dampener is configured such that the dampener is at less than full compression under a load of about 200 lbs. The first pedal assembly is slideably coupled to the base. A position of the first pedal assembly is laterally adjustable with respect to the base.
US09676436B2

A headlight device for a motorcycle that enables substrates with LED light sources mounted thereon to be disposed efficiently while securing such required functions as the external appearance quality of a shape like eyes that are turned up at the corners, light distribution characteristics, etc. In the headlight device for the motorcycle, a plurality of reflectors provided correspondingly to a plurality of substrates having headlight light sources mounted thereon are disposed in such shapes so as to be turned up, like eyes that are turned up at the corners, in a direction away from a center line in an external view. Each of upper surface parts of the reflectors is substantially horizontal and is in a stepped form relative to the adjacent upper surface part. The substrates are disposed substantially horizontally at the upper surface parts.
US09676430B2

A vehicle track assembly includes a track framework including a frame structure, a drive drum, and a plurality of idler wheels supported by the frame structure. A drive track is arranged about and cooperatively engages the plurality of idler wheels and the drive drum. An adjustable ski is connected to the framework. The ski may extend forward of the track. An adjustable rearward extending ski may extend rearward of a track assembly. An indicator pole is coupled to the assembly to provide an indication of the angle of rotation of the assembly.
US09676416B2

A vehicle body front portion structure is equipped with a front side member that is disposed along a vehicle front and rear direction at a vehicle width direction outer side of a power unit disposed in a vehicle body front portion. A spacer is attached to an outside portion at the vehicle width direction outer side of the front side member. The spacer has a rear side attachment portion that is joined to the outside portion of the front side member, an outside front wall portion that is positioned at the vehicle front and rear direction front side and the vehicle width direction outer side of the rear side attachment portion, and a load transmitting rib that interconnects the outside front wall portion and the rear side attachment portion.
US09676413B2

An apparatus for controlling start-up of a lane keeping assistance system (LKAS) which prevents lane departure of a first vehicle includes a detecting unit configured to detect a second vehicle which is traveling in a neighboring lane, a dividing line interposed between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, and a start-up controlling unit configured to determine a weighting factor based on a detection result of the detecting unit, change parameters which control a time point of the start-up of the LKAS based on the determined weighting factor, and control the time point of the start-up of the LKAS based on the changed parameters.
US09676404B2

The present invention provides a system and method for preventing theft of mobile objects which are used by for temporary time period by anonymous users. The system is comprised of: at least one locking mechanism engaging a mobile object to a secure locking arrangement, wherein the locking mechanism can be unlocked by a remote communication device, an identifying tag attached to said mobile object including an identifying code, a controller network device including identification data of plurality of mobile objects, said controller device is enabled to send unlocking instruction to at least one locking mechanism and a mobile communication device enabled to send electronic message to said controller network device.
US09676402B2

A system includes an onboard device and a ground device. The onboard device incorporates a geolocation device, a plurality of sensors and at least one shaping module for the raw measurement signals delivered by one or more of the sensors to generate at least one formatted signal. The ground device incorporates a computer able to analyze the at least one formatted signal, to generate at least one indicator relative to the track and/or the rolling stock, the indicator making it possible to detect a damage and monitor variations of the damage so as to optimize maintenance of the track and/or rolling stock. The computer is a damage module able to compute the indicator from the at least one formatted signal and a model of the type of the damage monitored.
US09676399B1

A swivel deck loading and off loading system for flatcars. The system is mounted onto a flatbed railcar and works in conjunction with the railroad loading/off loading area for the safe and efficient loading/off loading of transported equipment, such as trailers, from either side of the rail car. The system uses a structured ramp platform, which is affixed to the top flange of a slew ring bearing. The slew ring bearing lower flange is affixed to a mounting plate. This mounting plate is affixed to the bed of the rail car. The ramp platform swivels freely and is supported on a polyethylene sheet, which is affixed to the bed of the rail car. This arrangement operates such that it allows the platform to freely rotate without binding when under load. A forklift is used to lift the front of trailers so that the trailers can be loaded/unloaded from the flatcar.
US09676387B2

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.
US09676383B2

A vehicle control device includes a remaining capacity detecting module that detects a remaining capacity of a secondary battery which supplies an electric power to the drive motor, and a cruise mode switching module that switches a cruise mode from the first cruise mode to the second cruise mode on the basis of the remaining capacity, and switches the cruise mode from the second cruise mode to the first cruise mode on the basis of an external charging.
US09676382B2

Hybrid vehicle design circuitry quantifies values for utility/disutility variables of a hybrid vehicle design by evaluating a hybrid vehicle model over a collection of drive cycles/routes. The utility/disutility values include at least one of: total time or additional time beyond a reference time needed for the hybrid vehicle design to complete the drive cycles/routes, a fraction or number of the drive cycles/routes for which the hybrid vehicle design fails to achieve a target velocity, and amount of time or distance over which the hybrid vehicle design fails to achieve a target acceleration or the target velocity over the drive cycles/routes. The hybrid vehicle design circuitry calculates one or more specifications of a hybrid vehicle design based on the utility/disutility values.
US09676381B2

A generation control method for a vehicle may include a deceleration driving determination step of determining whether a driving state of the vehicle is a deceleration driving state, an acceleration driving determination step of determining whether the driving state of the vehicle is an acceleration driving state when the driving state of the vehicle is not the deceleration driving state, and a constant speed driving generation step of performing constant speed driving generation when the driving state of the vehicle is not the deceleration driving state or the acceleration driving state.
US09676379B2

A method for operating an electromechanical brake booster of a braking system including: establishing a virtual setpoint brake pressure variable; and establishing a setpoint differential travel variable with respect to a setpoint differential travel at least by: establishing a first intermediate value while taking into consideration a first weighting relation and a minimum from a first value set including the virtual setpoint brake pressure variable and a jump-in pressure variable; and establishing a second intermediate value while taking into consideration a second weighting relation and a maximum from a second value set including zero and a value of a difference using the virtual setpoint brake pressure variable as the minuend and the jump-in pressure variable as the subtrahend. A method for operating a recuperative braking system is also provided.
US09676364B2

Airbag assemblies and vents are disclosed. An airbag assembly includes an airbag cushion and a vent assembly including a vent, one or more sheer tethers, and a peel tether. The sheer tether(s) are configured to be drawn to a taut state by expansion of the airbag cushion to configure the vent in a first venting state. The sheer tether(s) are releasably coupled to the peel tether. The releasable coupling is configured to maintain the sheer tether(s) releasably coupled to the peel tether. The peel tether is configured to transition from a slack state to a taut state as the airbag cushion continues to expand. The peel tether drawn taut produces a peel force transverse to the sheer force. The peel force causes the releasable coupling to release and the peel tether to uncouple from the sheer tether(s), to transition the vent to a second state.
US09676360B2

A safety module for a motor vehicle includes at least one inflatable cushion with a first fixation interface and at least one actuating device. The at least one actuating device includes an igniter and an igniter support. The igniter has a plastic overmolding forming a second fixation interface. The igniter support has a third fixation interface designed to receive and fix the second fixation interface. The at least one actuating device retains the first fixation interface by sandwiching it between at least one part of the second fixation interface and at least one part of the third fixation interface.
US09676357B2

A circuit arrangement includes a controller and an integrated driver arrangement coupled to the controller. The integrated driver circuit includes a driver unit having at least one operation parameter, and a diagnostic unit coupled to the driver unit. The diagnostic unit is adapted to retrieve the at least one operation parameter from the driver unit, and is coupled to the controller.
US09676355B2

An inflatable airbag system can be configured to be mounted to a frontal region of a vehicle. The inflatable airbag system includes an airbag and an active control mechanism, and is configured to deploy in various configurations in response to frontal and oblique collision events. An active portion of the inflatable airbag deploys to an expanded configuration when a collision event is an oblique collision event and deploys to a less expanded configuration when the collision event is a frontal collision event. The active control mechanism can include one or more tethers or an inflatable member.
US09676351B2

A solid state primary power switching network for modular equipment centers (MECs) distributing primary power throughout a vehicle. The solid state primary power switching network includes multiple primary power switch network devices (PPSNDs) of a MEC for controlling and distributing primary power to other MECs spatially distribute throughout a vehicle. In one or more configurations, the PPSNDs have a universal structure in that each includes a common power input source and a plurality of common power outputs. In one or more configurations, primary power sources to the vehicle are switched without a perceivably visible break in power.
US09676344B2

A folding device support system allows a device, such as a phone, GPS device and the like, to be held upright. A foldable support member contains a series of hinge sections configured so as to create a pocket into which the device to be held is contained. It is foldable to allow the unit, when not in use, to be deployed essentially flat for easy storage or transportation between vehicles or locations, and is optionally fitted with a flexible base to provide stability.
US09676337B2

An automobile running board includes a load-bearing member and an anti-slip member mounted on an upper surface of the load-bearing member. A cross section of the load-bearing member is a downwardly opening C-shaped channel structure which is an integrally formed curved structure, and a lower portion of each of two inner sides of the load-bearing member is provided with a slide rail formed by an upwardly opening C-shaped channel structure. A slide block located within the load-bearing member is provided with a respective recess which may slide along each slide rail. The slide block has a closed periphery as viewed in a lateral cross section of the automobile running board, and a lower end of the slide block is provided with a mounting member to be connected to a car. Two end portions of the load-bearing member are provided with a sealing structure fixed to an inner side of the load-bearing member.
US09676330B2

A roadside object detection apparatus to detect a roadside object by analyzing images, detecting height information of an object in the images in a neighboring region having a distance less than or equal to a threshold from a vehicle, detecting a change of a height of a road surface due to the roadside object from the height information in the neighboring region, determining positions having the change of the height detected as characteristic points of the roadside object, extrapolating the characteristic points into a far-off region having a distance greater than or equal to the threshold from the vehicle, based on a road model, setting a search range for the roadside object in the far-off region based on a virtual line that is obtained by the characteristic points being extrapolated by the characteristic point extrapolation unit, and detecting the roadside object in the far-off region based on the search range.
US09676316B2

The present invention provides a lift gate system. In one embodiment, the lift gate system comprises a lift platform, a lifting mechanism, and at least one stop member. The lifting mechanism moves the lift platform between a raised position and a lowered position. The lift platform is substantially aligned with an extension plate when the lift platform is in the raised position. The stop members are positioned relative to the lift platform to provide a gap between the extension plate and the lift platform when the lift platform is in the raised position.
US09676313B2

Storage compartment for a vehicle comprising: a receptacle having an interior volume; a movable partition member that can be moved in a sliding direction and partitions said interior volume, and; a locking device for locking the partition member in the sliding direction, comprising a first locking member provided on the receptacle and suitable for engaging with a second locking member provided on the partition member; the partition member being movable in an unlocking direction perpendicular to the sliding direction between a locked position in which the first and second locking members engage and a sliding position in which the first and second locking members are disengaged from each other, and the compartment comprising an elastic member biasing the partition member towards the locked position.
US09676307B2

An armrest comprises an arm body in which a through hole is formed, an arm connected to the arm body, a drum that includes a cylinder inserted in the through hole, a bottom, and planar walls extending outside from a part of an end of the cylinder, is arranged rearward the arm body, and pivots the arm body about the cylinder; and mounting metal fittings that are integrally connected to the drum while locking the bottom and can be mounted on the seat frame. The armrest can adjust a position of the arm at a storage state and at a use state. The planar walls are arranged in such a manner as to position in a front-and-rear direction of the arm body in the use state, and the arm body is sandwiched between the planar walls and the mounting metal fittings in an axial direction of the cylinder.
US09676305B2

A vehicle seat with integrated child seat comprising: a passenger seat backrest and a seat cushion configured to seat a front-facing adult, the passenger seat backrest further configured to be foldable onto the seat cushion; a child seat backrest integrated with the passenger seat backrest, the child seat backrest configured to be raisable from the passenger seat backrest when the passenger seat backrest is folded onto the seat cushion so as to form a rear-facing child seat.
US09676304B2

A vehicle seat includes a seatback and a seat bottom having a seating surface. A child car seat anchoring system is provided behind the vehicle seat and extends between the seatback and seat bottom. A guide ramp on the seat bottom is aligned with an anchor point of the child car seat anchoring system to aid an individual in connecting a child car seat to the child car seat anchoring system.
US09676292B2

A hybrid vehicle control device is provided for controlling a drive system in a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle control device is provided with a hybrid control module that controls an operation start timing of a DC/DC converter at vehicle startup. When an ignition switch is pressed, after connecting a high power relay that is interposed between the motor/generator and the high power battery, the hybrid control module starts operation of the DC/DC converter upon determining that the outputtable electric power by the high power battery is a prescribed value or greater.
US09676291B2

The invention relates to a refrigerant circuit of a hybrid or electric vehicle with a refrigerant distributor and to a refrigerant distributor (10) with an inlet channel (12), which extends substantially linearly along an inlet axis (E) and has a channel cross-section (QE), and at least two outlet channels (14, 16) branching off from the inlet channel (12), which each extend substantially linearly along an outlet axis (A1, A2) and have a channel cross-section (QA1, QA2), wherein the outlet axis (A1) of a first outlet channel (14) and the outlet axis (A2) of a second outlet channel (16) intersect in a point of intersection (S), and wherein the refrigerant distributor (10) has at least one of the following features: a) the channel cross-section (QA1) of the first outlet channel (14) differs from the channel cross-section (QA2) of the second outlet channel (16), b) the point of intersection (S) of the outlet axes (A1, A2) is arranged laterally offset from the inlet axis (E).
US09676290B2

A vehicle controller includes an electric motor connected to wheels, a power storage device connected to the electric motor, a charge/discharge controller that controls charge/discharge of the power storage device, a first traveling controller that controls the electric motor in accordance with a driver's operation, and a second traveling controller that controls the electric motor in accordance with a cruise function that automatically controls a vehicle speed. When the first traveling controller controls the electric motor, the charge/discharge controller controls charge/discharge power of the power storage device within a first charge/discharge range. When the second traveling controller controls the electric motor, the charge/discharge controller controls charge/discharge power of the power storage device within a second charge/discharge range that is wider than the first charge/discharge range.
US09676287B2

An installation and a method for charging an electric battery for an electric vehicle. The electric vehicle comprises an on-board computer. The installation comprises a main power source delivering a charging power Pc1. The charging method comprises the step of determining the charging power Pc to be delivered to the electric battery in relation to a charging voltage and/or current set point demanded at an instant t by the onboard computer. The charging power is compared against the charging power Pc1 delivered by a main power source. If Pc>Pc1, at least one auxiliary power source delivering a charging power Pc2 is utilized in addition to the main power source such that the sum of the charging powers delivered by the power sources is equal to the charging power Pc.
US09676274B2

A fuel tank for a transport refrigeration system is provided. The fuel tank includes an elongate tank body. The elongated tank body has a first end wall; a second end wall; a sidewall extending between the first and second end walls; and an interior space defined by the sidewall and the first and second end walls. The fuel tank further includes a fuel tank vent configured to vent air outside of the fuel tank; a fuel outlet fitting; a fuel discharge tube fitting; and a fuel pickup tube fitting. The entire tank body can be made of a plastic.
US09676273B2

A strap adjustment mechanism may include a pin with a pin opening that is insertable into a looped portion of an end of a strap. The strap adjustment mechanism may also include a fastener support assembly that has a first member and a second member. The second member is configured to translate along a central axis relative to the first member in response to rotation of the first member. The first member includes a first opening substantially collinear with the central axis of the second member, and the second member includes a second opening substantially collinear with the central axis of the second member. The strap adjustment mechanism further includes a strap attachment member that is insertable through the first and second openings of the first member and the second member. The strap attachment member is configured to engagably couple to the pin via the pin opening.
US09676262B2

A protective vehicle cover is a device that is placed over the windshield or other window of a vehicle in order to protect the vehicle interior from damage due to sunlight and heat. The protective vehicle cover features a multilayer shield that repels liquid and reflects sunlight as well as an at least one intermediate layer that provides additional functions such as increasing the weight and facilitating handling of the protective vehicle cover. The protective vehicle cover is magnetically secured to metallic portions of the vehicle's roof, hood, left strut, and right strut. At least one securing flap and at least one magnetic fastener are utilized to further secure the protective vehicle cover to both the interior and the exterior portions of the vehicle's windshield or windows. The at least one securing flap is folded into the interior of the vehicle and magnetically secured in place.
US09676257B2

According to one aspect of the present invention, a load-transmittal system for a vehicle includes a cross member of a vehicle frame extending substantially perpendicular to a vehicle door. A pusher is disposed within a cavity defined between inner and outer sheet metal panels of the vehicle door, wherein the pusher is disposed distal from the cross member to define an idle state. A container receptacle is disposed between the pusher and the cross member, wherein the container receptacle defines a transmittal zone of the vehicle door. When the vehicle door experiences a side-impact load, the side-impact load moves the pusher through the transmittal zone and into at least partial engagement with the cross member to define a collapsed position of the pusher. In this manner, the side-impact load is transferred through the pusher to the cross member.
US09676256B2

A power assist device for a vehicle includes a door is pivotally coupled to a vehicle body. A hinge assembly is coupled between the vehicle body and the door to define a hinge axis for the door. A motor is coupled to the door and includes a drive shaft extending outwardly from the motor. A first spool is disposed on the drive shaft for rotation therewith. A second spool is mounted on the hinge assembly at a spool axle. A cable is operably couples the first spool to the second spool and the motor is configured to drive the first spool in a rotational movement, and the cable is configured to translate the rotational movement of the first spool to the second spool. The movement of the second spool drives an opening and closing movement of the door at the hinge axis of the hinge assembly.
US09676249B2

A method for controlling a climate control system is disclosed. In one example, the climate control system includes an air mixing valve that is adjusted in response to a energy conversion device load demand. The method may provide improved climate control in a vehicle cabin during high energy conversion device load conditions.
US09676248B2

Vehicles and methods for controlling climate control systems may include, but are not limited to at least one seat, a climate control system, and a controller communicatively coupled to the climate control system, wherein the controller is configured to calculate a directional sun effect for each of the at least one seats, and modify at least one of an airflow, a temperature and air distribution of the climate control system based upon the calculated directional sun effect for each of the at least one seats.
US09676246B2

An air-delivery system, for use in a vehicle. The system includes a backrest of a vehicle seat assembly and an air-delivery port connected to or integral to the backrest. The system also includes an input conduit connected to the air-delivery port for delivering air received from an air source to the air-delivery port. The air-delivery port is configured and arranged in the backrest facing a generally aft direction to, during operation of the system, deliver air received from the air source aftward from the backrest.
US09676241B2

A suspension arm adapted for use in a suspension system of an automotive vehicle including an arm member, a first mounting portion formed at a first end of the arm member and a second mounting portion formed at a second end of the arm member spaced in a first direction relative to the first mounting portion. The first mounting portion including a bushing collar equipped with a frangible portion comprising at least one stress riser, and the longitudinal axis of the collar in the first direction. By adding a frangible feature to the bushing collar of the suspension arm, the breakage mode and breakage timing can be optimized to ensure a tire-and-wheel assembly consistently contacts surrounding parts at the desired time and locations in a predictable sequence and manner during a vehicle impact event.
US09676239B1

A trailer dolly for joining a trailer to a towing vehicle has a frame mounted on an axle for a pair of wheels. The frame supports a hitch ball assembly that is positionable on the frame for allowing the tongue-weight of a towed trailer that is coupled to the hitch ball to be shifted from a position over the wheels of the dolly to a position that increases traction of the wheels of the towing vehicle.
US09676237B2

The collapse of conductive terminal rubber strips is prevented while a conductive terminal portion is formed stably to have an exposure width of 5 mm or less. The conductive terminal portion is formed by continuously winding the terminal strips formed of a conductive rubber toward an outward radial direction from a tread conductive layer to a tread ground contacting surface. The terminal strip is sequentially wound while shifting a position at a pitch D of a distance in a tire axial direction while the terminal strip goes around such that the conductive terminal portion constitutes a trapezoidal cross section in which a width (Wa) of an upper base is smaller than a width (Ws) of the terminal strip and a width (Wb) of a lower base is larger than the width (Ws) of the terminal strip. The width (Wa) of the upper base is within a range of between 2 mm and 5 mm.
US09676235B2

A tire 1 according to the present invention comprises: a circumferential groove 12 formed in a tread portion; a land portion 22 divided by the circumferential groove 12; and transverse grooves formed in the land portion. The transverse grooves comprise a first transverse groove 32 dividing the land portion into several blocks, and a second transverse groove 51 dividing a block 42 divided by the first transverse groove into a first block portion 61 and a second block portion 62. A groove depth of the circumferential groove contacting the second block is smaller than the groove depth of the circumferential groove contacting the first block.
US09676234B2

The strip is formed of a single layer including a first layer arranged in a tire innermost layer or composite layers of the first layer and a second layer disposed adjacently to a carcass ply and made of a thermoplastic elastomer composition. The first layer is a thermoplastic elastomer composition containing a styrene-isobutylene-styrene block copolymer and a tackifier, a butyl-based rubber and a natural rubber. The strip has a strip main body having a thickness (T1) of 0.02 to 1.0 mm and ear portions formed on opposite sides of the strip main body. The ear portions have a thickness (T2) smaller than the thickness (T1) and a width (W2) of 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm.
US09676230B2

A center cap is provided for a motor vehicle wheel. That center cap includes a disc-shaped body having a plurality of radially arrayed mounting projections for engaging in a plurality of cooperating slots in the wheel. Further, a motor vehicle wheel is provided. That motor vehicle wheel includes a body incorporating a wheel hub having a central opening defined within a boundary wall and a center cap received and held in the central opening. The center cap includes a plurality of radially arrayed mounting projections while the body includes a matching plurality of slots and tapering channels sized and shaped to receive the plurality of radially arrayed mounting projections.
US09676224B2

A modular magnet writing instrument and hobby tool comprises a plurality of permanent magnet segments and a writing cartridge. Each magnet segment is magnetized axially. An aperture extends longitudinally through the entirety of each magnet segment. The writing cartridge has an elongate body, which is sized for coaxial insertion within a magnet segment, or plurality of magnet segments, such that the magnet segments are in sliding engagement with the elongate body. In operation, different combinations of magnet segments can be axially positioned on the elongate body, in a variety of like-pole and unlike-pole interactions, to produce a plurality of writing and hobby tool configurations.
US09676210B2

A printing system includes a media transport device to move a medium at a speed ranging from about 15.24 mpm to about 609.6 mpm. The system includes an ink applicator to apply ink on the medium, and a treatment applicator to apply a treatment composition (including liquid vehicle, polyvalent metal salt fixing agent, and latex resin having an acid number less than 20) before or after the ink is applied, to form a printed-on medium. The system further includes a heating system programmed to: i) dry the printed-on medium at a predetermined temperature for a reduced dwell time (from about 1 second to about 40 seconds); and ii) leave residual moisture in the printed-on medium for a predetermined time after the reduced dwell time. The residual moisture is at a level that is higher than an initial moisture content of the medium prior to treatment composition and ink application.
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