US09697428B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network device including a controller programmed to receive security video content associated with a premises where the security video content has been captured by one or more cameras located within or in proximity to the premises and where the premises have one or more digital video recorders, and transmit the security video content to the digital video recorders for forwarding to a communication device that is remote from the premises, where the security video content is wirelessly transmitted over a wireless television channel dynamically selected from available wireless television channels associated with the premises. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09697426B2

A method of encoding a continuous path within a road network is described, the path being completely represented within a digital map and expressible as a path list of lines and/or segments existing in said digital map and consecutively ordered, wherein said lines and/or segments have one or more attributes associated therewith. The method involves storing a start position in a route search list, and determining a path from the start node of the start position and including said start position to an end node of the last line or segment in the path list within said digital map. The path is determined according to an algorithm utilizing an attribute of said lines or segments. The attribute may be a lowest functional road class (LFRC) of the path to be encoded or a part thereof.
US09697425B2

A camera system comprises an image capturing device and an object classification module connected to the image capturing device. The object classification module is operable to determine whether or not an object in an image is a member of an object class. The object classification module includes multiple decision steps configured in a cascade configuration, wherein at least one of the multiple decision steps is operable to (a) accept an object as a member of the object class, (b) reject an object as a member of the object class, and (c) call on a next step to determine whether or not an object is a member of the object class.
US09697423B1

A method for image processing, including: obtaining an image including a table; identifying a first plurality of geometric lines in the image; grouping the first plurality of geometric lines into a plurality of clusters; determining a plurality of hand-drawn lines in the image corresponding to the table from the plurality of clusters; calculating a plurality of points for the plurality of hand-drawn lines; and determining a geometry of the table based on the plurality of points.
US09697415B2

An information terminal includes acquiring an image of a first subject that is captured by a first sensor provided on a back surface of a surface on which a screen of the information terminal is disposed, and when displaying the image on the screen, changing a degree of scaling up/down of the image and a position at which the image is displayed in accordance with a position of a second subject that is imaged by a second sensor provided to the information terminal.
US09697414B2

A user of a computing device can be authenticated using image information captured by at least one camera of the computing device. In addition to analyzing the image information using a facial recognition algorithm, for example, variations in color of a portion of the captured image information corresponding to a user's face can be monitored over a period of time. The variations can be analyzed to determine whether the captured image information likely corresponds to an actual human user instead of a representation (e.g., photo) of a human user, such as where the chroma variations in at least a red channel occur with an oscillation frequency and amplitude consistent with changes due to a pulse or heartbeat.
US09697399B2

A communication method of an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached to a product or a pallet is provided. The method includes: transmitting movement completion information to a reader by using a communication channel, which consumes power of a battery, at a time when movement of the product or the pallet which is moving is not sensed, the movement completion information indicating movement completion of the moving product or pallet; receiving a request message, requesting position information of the tag corresponding to the movement completion information, from the reader by using the communication channel; activating a positioning channel, which consumes relatively more power of the battery that the communication channel, to transmit positioning information to the reader by using the activated positioning channel in response to the request message received through the communication channel; and when the transmission of the positioning information is completed, deactivating the positioning channel.
US09697397B2

A system and method of using motion or spatial identification technology with a mobile RFID reader to detect whether an RFID tag is part of a forklift load or other ambulatory space such as a shopping cart receptacle, includes determining whether a tag is within a defined space and/or whether a tag is in motion relative to a mobile RFID reader. The system and method determines whether a particular RFID tag is part of a forklift load/space, has been added to or removed, is an extraneous tag, etc.
US09697396B2

Provided are an interactive processing method and device and an electronic apparatus. The interactive processing method is applied to a first electronic apparatus that supports radio frequency identification (RFID) transmission. The interactive processing method includes: obtaining data to be processed from a peer communication node through an RFID technology; obtaining a first input operation input by a user through an input device; determining a first control instruction corresponding to the first input operation according to a pre-defined first corresponding relation that records a plurality of input operations and corresponding control instructions; and executing the first control instruction, and controlling the first electronic apparatus to process the data to be processed. The solution improves the use flexibility of the RFID in the electronic apparatus.
US09697393B2

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for adjusting mobile-device operating parameters based on housing-support type. In an embodiment, a mobile device includes a housing; a data-acquisition device disposed in the housing; a sensor module configured to detect at least one housing-support element in a housing support, and to communicate a mode-identification signal indicative of the detection; and a processor coupled to the sensor module, configured to receive the mode-identification signal, to determine (a) whether the housing is positioned in a housing support and (b) a housing-support type, and to adjust one or more operating parameters of the mobile device based at least in part on the determined housing-support type.
US09697390B2

A card reader may include a plurality of IC contact points to communicate data with a card; an IC contact block holding the plurality of the IC contact points; a cable including a first end side connected with the plurality of the IC contact points; a control circuit board with which a second end side of the cable is connected; a front face cover which including an insertion port for the card; a main body frame which is fixed to the front face cover; and a sealing member which is formed in a ring shape and is disposed between the front face cover and the main body frame.
US09697385B2

Systems, device and techniques are disclosed for implementing a security configuration change based on one or more base events and a current security configuration. An inference module may identify a security configuration change based on receiving base events from a state storage/event listener and analyzing the base events to determine if a current security configuration is optimal given the base events.
US09697383B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for numeric keypad encryption using an augmented reality device. The method may include establishing a secure connection to an augmented reality device. A random keypad layout is generated and sent to the augmented reality device. The random keypad layout is displayed in the augmented reality view over a real-world numeric keypad.
US09697382B2

A system for providing security policy for a Linux-based security operating system, which includes a template policy module configured to set an authority using policy information of a downloaded application so that the template policy module can set an access control rule for accessing a system resource of the application, a base policy module executing the access control rule for the system resource in accordance with the access control rule set by the template policy module, and a template policy module editor generating a custom application for the corresponding application using information output from the template policy module.
US09697381B2

A computing system includes: a communication unit configured to access a target account including a feature; a control unit, coupled to the communication unit, configured to: calculate a comparison result based on the feature, determine an anonymity threshold for conforming the target account with a comparison account, and determine the feature for the target account based on the comparison result and the anonymity threshold for displaying on a device.
US09697375B2

A computing device is described that utilizes two file systems to enable sensitive data stored thereon to be deleted automatically, quickly, and discretely when the computing device is in a risky environment or context or when data protection has otherwise been activated. A first file system on the computing device manages a first memory area that stores non-sensitive data while a second file system on the computing device manages a second memory area that stores sensitive data. Only the first file system operates to receive data requests from other processes executing on the computing device. In a first operating mode, the first file system interacts with the second file system to ensure that both non-sensitive and sensitive data is returned in response to data requests. In a second operating mode, communication between the two file systems is disabled and the second file system deletes the sensitive data.
US09697373B2

Embodiments of the present invention support a flexible access control design that includes flexible ownership and assignment of access control lists (ACLs). The ACLs can be assigned to one or more resources, or items, or types of resources or items. A creator or owner of an ACL can grant privileges to others such that they may modify or assign the ACL. Each ACL can have one or more owners, i.e., users that can exercise control over the ACL. Any owner of an ACL can designate certain privileges to other users. These other users may then use the ACL based on the privileges granted to them.
US09697372B2

Embodiments of a method and apparatus for securing and accessing files are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the method includes adding a communication portion to the file. The communication portion may communicate with an authentication agent on the first computing device. The method may include encrypting data of the file using a first key received through the communication portion from the authentication agent. The first key may be generated based on identification information of a second computing device in a trusted network of computing devices with the first computing device. The method may include saving the file to a remote file storage location.
US09697371B1

A trusted execution environment (TEE) of a computing device may receive an operation request requiring use of a protected data accessible only to the TEE. Responsive to receiving the operation request, the TEE may generate first data. The computing device may send the first data to a remote computing device. Responsive to sending the first data, the TEE may receive second data. The TEE may validate the second data to verify the remote computing device generated the second data. Responsive to validating the second data was generated by the remote computing device, the TEE may perform the requested operation using the protected data.
US09697363B1

Techniques are described for reducing time to decrypt a next encrypted frame in a content stream by optimizing a license/key acquisition process. When requesting content, a key identifier and/or license identifier may be included within a webpage using a link, script, or similar access point. When a client device sends a request for content, the loading of the webpage within the client device includes the embedded key identifier. Access to the key/license identifier at the client device then may initiate a key/license acquisition process by the client device. The key/license may be obtained from a key management device in parallel with, or prior to, downloading of at least a portion of the content stream.
US09697362B2

In one aspect, the disclosure provides: A method comprising: assessing a plurality of researchers as a precondition for receiving an invitation to be a researcher of a distributed plurality of researchers, resulting in the distributed plurality of researchers wherein each researcher is associated with one or more tags in records that identify the researcher for one or more attributes; inviting a subset of the distributed plurality of researchers to participate in one or more computer vulnerability research projects directed to identifying computer vulnerabilities of one or more computers that are owned or operated by a third party, the subset of the distributed plurality of researchers selected based on the one or more tags in records that identify the researcher and a description of the computer vulnerabilities of the one or more computers; using a computer that is communicatively coupled to a particular researcher among the subset of the distributed plurality of researchers and a network under test among the one or more computers, monitoring communications between the particular researcher and the particular third party computer, wherein the communications relate to attempting to identify a candidate security vulnerability of the particular third party computer; in response to a report of the candidate security vulnerability of the particular third party computer that is received from the particular researcher, evaluating the report of the candidate security vulnerability.
US09697357B2

For an antivirus scan during a data scrub operation, an antivirus scan is concurrently performed as an overlap with the data scrub operation, wherein the data scrub operation periodically inspects and corrects memory errors. The antivirus scan concurrently performing as an overlap with the data scrub operation is increased if a reduction in disk access by a host application is detected. A number of antivirus scan input/output (I/O) operations and data scrub I/O operations is reduced.
US09697337B2

Methods and apparatus collecting blood from patients and managing blood donations are provided, which may include any number of features. One feature is a blood collection device configured to collect blood from a patient and periodically transmit blood collection data from the device to a control system. Another feature is a system and method for updating firmware on a plurality of blood collection devices. In one embodiment, a software interface with a blood collection control can be used to specify a blood collection protocol, and the blood collection protocol can be then transmitted to one or more blood collection devices.
US09697335B2

A pharmaceutical order filling system receives pharmaceutical orders and uses an automated dispensing device to dispense pharmaceuticals into containers. The automated dispensing device is configured with a filling cabinet that stores and dispenses measured quantities of pharmaceuticals and is further configured to stage measured quantities of pharmaceuticals in buffer tubes to enable efficient fulfillment of the pharmaceutical orders. Containers may be disposed on a pallet which may be moved within an automated dispensing device to place the containers under buffer tubes to receive measured quantities of pharmaceuticals from the buffer tubes into appropriate containers in an efficient manner.
US09697328B2

There is provided a transmission apparatus including a video signal transmission unit configured to transmit a video signal to another apparatus, a time information reception unit configured to receive, from the other apparatus, time information including a duration from reception of the video signal until a timing at which display of each frame in the video signal starts at the other apparatus, and a degree-of-redundancy determination unit configured to determine a degree of redundancy for the video signal transmitted from the video signal transmission unit based on the time information received by the time information reception unit.
US09697324B1

A system for concurrent target diagnostics is disclosed. The system comprises dedicated FPGA for generating test data to test target connections between an emulator and a target system. In this way, domains of the emulator may continue to emulate at least a portion of a hardware design during the testing of the target connections. Further, a multiplexer operable to select target connections for testing eliminates errors resulting from manual swapping of target connections during the testing process. The system further comprises multiple paths to a target pod. The paths enable monitoring and reporting on the status of target connections between an emulator and a target system.
US09697316B1

Systems and methods for efficient data aggregation with sparse exponential histograms may support a performance monitor monitoring and recording of one or more performance metrics for one of one or more dimensions. In response to receiving performance data, a performance data aggregator may parse the performance data for one of one or more performance metrics and one or more dimensions. A sparse exponential histogram generator may create a sparse exponential histogram with the parsed performance data. The sparse exponential histogram generator may transmit or store the sparse exponential histogram representation for subsequent analysis.
US09697313B2

In Integrated Circuit (IC) Physical Design, the shapes and other geometric objects that are used to represent the mask data have physical coordinates expressed in a Cartesian plane. When the designs are hierarchical, each level of physical hierarchy has its own coordinate system. When viewed from the top level of a hierarchical design, lower-level shapes must be transformed in order to understand their location from the point of view of the top block. Users and algorithms that manipulate physical data across these hierarchy boundaries must go through the tedious task of transforming data, sometimes multiple times, as it is being changed.
US09697303B2

Methods for constraining a geometric model and corresponding systems and computer-readable mediums. A method includes creating a rigid sketch group that includes some or all of the plurality of curves and receiving a user selection of first option rules or second option rules. The method includes editing the rigid sketch group according to the selected first option rules or second option rules. The method includes displaying the geometric model by the data processing system, including displaying the edited rigid sketch group.
US09697283B2

A user may submit a search query to a search engine. The search engine may process the search query and generate a set of results. Each of the items searched by the search engine may have been pre-assigned to a category in a category tree. Previous interactions by other users with the items after similar queries may have been recorded. The search engine may identify categories based on the distribution of the interacted-with results among the categories. The category tree may be analyzed at different levels, based on the entropy observed at each level. A level with low entropy may be chosen, and categories at that level used to constrain the query.
US09697280B2

In embodiments, the present invention provides a method and system for mobile media event mediation, normalizing mobile media event information from a plurality of sources, wherein at least some of the information is represented differently in each of the plurality of sources, producing a mobile media data record from the normalized information, analyzing the mobile media data record to determine a settlement arrangement, providing at least some of the participants represented in the mobile media record with relevant information from the settlement agreement.
US09697279B2

A method includes creating an electronic record of an asset, and automatically associating a predefined data structure with an electronic record of the asset that controls organization and display of user provided metadata describing the asset. The method may also include receiving the metadata describing the asset from a remote computer, populating the predefined data structure with the metadata describing the asset, and generating a graphical user interface corresponding to the electronic record of the asset with active tabs that provide a visual representation of the predefined data structure associated to the electronic record of the asset. The active tabs are respectively associated with predefined displays including the data fields provided by the predefined data structure, enabling a user to navigate through different displays corresponding to the data fields provided in the predefined data structure associated with the asset to view the metadata describing the asset.
US09697278B2

In a general aspect, an approach to query specification includes processing a query by identifying one or more terms and validating the terms using a first corpus of media elements. The result of the validation is used to form a modified query. In some examples, identifying the one or more terms is based on a second corpus of media elements, which may include a different type of media than the first corpus. In some examples, the validating of the terms includes accepting input from a user according to parts of the elements of the first corpus presented to the user.
US09697277B2

A computer-implemented method includes partitioning a plurality of records into a plurality of splits. Each split includes at least a portion of the plurality of records. The method further includes providing at least one split of the plurality of splits to a mapper. The mapper scans the input data set, transforms each input record using a map function, and extracts a grouping key in parallel. The method further includes assigning at least a portion the records of the at least one split to a group. Each assignment to the group is based on a strata of the assigned record, and filtering the records of the group. Each filtering is based on a comparison of a weight of a record to a local threshold of the mapper. The method further includes shuffling the group to a reducer and providing a stratified sampling of the plurality of records based on the group.
US09697266B1

A first data set is obtained specifying configuration information associated with elements of a computing system. A second data set is also obtained specifying dependency information associated with the elements of the computing system. A third data set is also obtained specifying deployment constraint information associated with the elements of the computing system. A plan for migrating one or more of the elements of the computing system is automatically generated based on at least a portion of the first data set, at least a portion of the second data set, and at least a portion of the third data set. The automatic generation of the migration plan checks for one or more conflicts between configuration information, dependency information and deployment constraint information and generates the migration plan to at least substantially eliminate the one or more conflicts.
US09697263B1

A consumer data request fulfillment system enables a client to easily and speedily obtain consumer contact data that the client does not already possess. The consumer data request fulfillment system provides bulk consumer data to a client upon request. The bulk data may include, for example, encrypted consumer identifiers (IDs), and/or a partial subset of consumer contact information for a particular specified segment of consumers. The client may then request from the system a full set of consumer contact information. For example, the client may send a request for consumer contact information by identifying particular consumers by their consumer IDs. The consumer data request fulfillment system will then provide the full set of consumer contact information to the client. The requests and request fulfillments are advantageously accomplished automatically by the consumer data request fulfillment system, enabling the client to obtain consumer contact information conveniently and rapidly.
US09697262B2

Some examples include high-performance query processing of real-time and offline temporal-relational data. Further, some implementations include processing streaming data events by annotating individual events with a first timestamp (e.g., a “sync-time”) and second timestamp that may identify additional event information. The stream of incoming data events may be organized into a sequence of data batches that each include multiple data events. The individual data batches in the sequence may be processed in a non-decreasing “sync-time” order.
US09697228B2

A computer implemented method and a secure relational file system (SRFS) for storing and managing data for backup and restore are provided. The SRFS receives data, generates first metadata including file-to-sector mapping information, splits the data into fixed sized data chunks (FSDCs), generates second metadata including logical boundaries used for splitting, creates fixed sized data blocks by prepending the second metadata to the FSDCs, splits each FSDC into variable sized data chunks (VSDCs), generates third metadata including unique identifiers (UIDs) for the VSDCs, creates variable sized data blocks (VSDBs) by prepending the third metadata and the second metadata to each VSDC, identifies unique variable sized data chunks (UVSDCs) of the VSDBs using the UIDs, stores the UVSDCs in chunk files, and stores the first metadata, the second metadata extracted from the VSDBs, and storage locations of the UVSDCs with the third metadata of the UVSDCs and duplicate VSDCs in databases.
US09697227B2

Embodiments described herein provide techniques for maintaining consistency in a distributed system (e.g., a distributed secondary storage system). According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a first set of file system objects included in performing the requested file system operation is identified in response to a request to perform a file system operation. An update intent corresponding to the requested file system operation is inserted into an inode associated with each identified file system object. Each file system object corresponding to the inode is modified as specified by the update intent in that inode. After modifying the file system object corresponding to the inode, the update intent is removed from that inode.
US09697225B2

Provided is a method of file synchronizing. The method includes: determining whether there is a changed matter in a file which is divided into a plurality of chunk files; calculating a hash value for each of plurality of divided chunk files when it is determined that there is a changed matter in file; transmitting a hash value list configured by calculated hash values to a server; receiving a transmission request for a chunk file corresponding to a hash value which is not stored in server, among hash values included in hash value list; and transmitting chunk file to the server in response to the transmission request.
US09697217B1

Methods and apparatus for secure data modification using segmented hashing are disclosed. An intermediate device on a data path between a storage service and a client receives a modification request for a data segment of a data chunk of a storage object. The device generates a new chunk hash value for the chunk based on an original chunk hash value of the chunk, an original segment hash value of the segment to be modified, and a new segment hash value computed based on the modification. The device generates a modified version of the chunk based on the modification request, and uploads the modified version and the new chunk hash value to the storage service.
US09697216B2

Method and apparatus for locating data on disk storage, wherein multiple instances of data can be stored at different locations to satisfy different use requirements such as read access, write access, and data security. The method allows a data storage system, such as a file system, to provide both read optimized and write optimized performance on disk storage of different types (e.g., sizes and speed).
US09697214B2

A content lifespan management device assigns a life to a first content based on a user preference for the first content. The content lifespan management device extends or shortens a lifespan of the first content based on the user preference of the first content that is calculated after the life is assigned to the first content.
US09697213B1

A cluster file system comprises a metadata server and a plurality of object storage servers each having one or more object storage targets. The object storage servers and their corresponding object storage targets are arranged in a first storage tier of the cluster file system. The cluster file system further comprises a second storage tier that includes a plurality of nodes of a scale-out network attached storage cluster. The cluster file system is configured to control movement of data between the first and second storage tiers. For example, in some embodiments, the object storage servers comprise one or more components of parallel log-structured file system (PLFS) middleware configured to control migration of data between the first and second storage tiers.
US09697208B2

A search query is received from a first user through one or more input devices. A set of results is determined from content stored on a computer system based on the search query. The set of results includes a first subset of results not accessible to the first user due to access control. A list of results is provided to the first user. The list excludes the first subset of results. A target result is identified from the first subset of results. An owner is identified with control over access to the target result. The owner is notified that the target result is not accessible to at least one user.
US09697204B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus relate to technologies generally relating to the placement of hyperlinks within the body of text of a document. The placement of hyperlinks can be on specified words or phrases, according to a specified link distribution function across the body of the text content of a document. Some techniques involve a method for determining a placement of links on a document that involves selecting a document comprising words of text for placing links in the document, selecting a link distribution function, and using the link distribution function in determining locations for the placement of the links in the document. The placement of hyperlinks in the document may be automatically performed on a server side.
US09697192B1

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method which, in one example embodiment, can include reading text data corresponding to messages and creating semantic annotations to the text data to generate annotated messages. Creating the semantic annotations can include generating, at least in part by at least one trained statistical language model, predictive labels as annotations corresponding to language patterns associated with the text data. The method further includes aggregating the annotated messages and storing information associated with the aggregated annotated messages in a message store, and performing, based on information from the message store and associated with the messages, global analytics functions. The global analytics functions can include identifying an annotation error in the created semantic annotations, updating the respective semantic annotation to correct the annotation error, to form an updated semantic annotation, and back-propagating the updated semantic annotation into training data for further language model training.
US09697186B2

An illustrative implementation is described for copying an identified portion of source content along with style information associated with the portion. The implementation allows the identified portion to be pasted into target content. By virtue of the extraction and retention of style information, the identified portion that is pasted into the target content visually resembles the identified portion as it appears in the source content. The implementation can identify relevant style information to be preserved based on a contextual analysis of style information applied to the source content. In one illustrative case, some of the style information may be revealed by parts of the content that are not directly demarcated by the identified portion.
US09697185B1

A method, apparatus, and manufacture for content protection for protecting some objects is provided. A content protection operation or license operation is performed for at least one media object of a web application. Some or all of the objects are then marked as protected. When an operation is performed that accesses a protected object, a user agent determines whether to deny the operation, to allow the operation and mark data exported by the operation and objects storing the exported data as protected objects, or to allow the operation and not mark data exported by the operation and objects storing the exported data as protected objects.
US09697182B2

This disclosure provides a method and system for navigating hard copies of web pages. According to one exemplary method, a hard copy of a web page is navigated by capturing with a mobile device an image of the hard copy, performing OCR on the captured image to identify the captured web page, accessing a database to retrieve a copy of the identified web page and displaying the retrieved copy of the identified web page along with active web page links on the mobile device.
US09697181B2

The invention includes system for centralized rendering of user interface elements based on configurations as described in XML. A developer may create a definition for a field based on the nature of the information to be displayed to a user within a single file. Such definition will affect all future instances of the particular data type without a need to modify and/or compile code residing either within an HTML file or on a server.
US09697179B2

A method of inserting an image into an electronic document, the method including receiving setting information and identification information regarding the image; determining whether the image included in image data corresponds to the identification information by using a result of analysis of the image data; and according to a result of the determination, inserting the image corresponding to the identification information into a position of the electronic document, according to the setting information.
US09697177B1

A computing device determines upper and lower bounds of a largest singular value for an approximate decomposition of a dataset. An approximate decomposition is computed using either a principal components or a singular value decomposition algorithm. A lower bound of a largest singular value is computed for the computed approximate decomposition using a first linear approximation to a function of a singular value ratio. A first set of coefficients for a second linear approximation to an error function is computed for the function of the singular value ratio using the computed approximate decomposition. A second set of coefficients for a third linear approximation is computed using the computed first set of coefficients. An upper bound of the largest singular value is computed using the computed second set of coefficients. The upper bound and the lower bound are output to provide an estimate of a quality of the decomposition.
US09697166B2

A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing health check for optical cable attached Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIE) enclosures in a computer system. System firmware is provided for implementing health check functions. One or more optical cables are connected between a host bridge and a PCIE enclosure. A PCIE link to the PCIE enclosure is reset responsive to a predefined event. After a set delay, a PCIE link health check is performed verifying PCIE link width and speed.
US09697151B2

A data processing system includes a plurality of processors, each processor configured to execute instructions, including a message send instruction, and a message filtering unit. The message filtering system is configured to receive messages from one or more of the plurality of processors in response to execution of message send instructions, each message indicating a message type and a message payload. The message filtering unit is configured to determined, for each received message, a recipient processor indicated by the message payload. The message filtering system is further configured to, in response to receiving, within a predetermined interval of time, at least two messages having a same recipient processor and indicating a same message type, delivering a single interrupt request indicated by the same message type to the same recipient processor, wherein the single interrupt request is representative of the at least two messages.
US09697149B2

A method for generating interrupt requests, the method comprising: receiving, by a first circuit, an indication of an occurrence of an interrupt triggering event; determining whether a time difference between the occurrence of the interrupt triggering event and an occurrence of a last interrupt triggering event that preceded the occurrence of the interrupt triggering event exceeded a threshold; generating, by the first circuit, an interrupt request in response to the occurrence of the interrupt triggering event if the time difference exceeded the threshold; and delaying, for a predetermined delay period after a generation of a last interrupt request, a generating of the interrupt request that is responsive to the occurrence of the interrupt triggering event if the time difference is shorter than the threshold.
US09697148B2

An apparatus for managing a memory having a plurality of command/address pins is provided. The apparatus includes a command generating module and a control module. The command generating module generates a set of target commands. The set of target commands include a plurality of command groups. Each of the command groups corresponds to at least one command/address pin of the plurality of command/address pins. It is known that the memory accesses the set of target commands from the plurality of command/address pins at a target time point. The control module controls the command groups to have different transition times prior to the target time points when the command groups are transmitted on the plurality of command/address pins.
US09697141B2

A host access instruction is received from one of a plurality of channels which are served in parallel. The host access instruction includes an address range of one or more addresses and a type of access. The address range and type of access are compared against a table of stored address ranges and stored types of access associated with any pending host access instructions. It is determined whether to execute the host access instruction based at least in part on the comparison. If it is decided to execute the host access instruction, the host access instruction is forwarded for execution and the address range and the type of access from the host access instruction are stored in the table.
US09697140B2

Apparatus, systems, and methods for AES integrity check in memory are described. In one embodiment, a controller comprises logic to receive a write request from a host device to write a line of data to the memory device, determine a first plaintext cyclic redundancy check from the line of data, encrypt the line of data, encrypt the first plaintext CRC with a unique value to generate a first encrypted CRC, and store the encrypted line of data and the first encrypted CRC in memory. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US09697139B2

For a cache in which a plurality of frequently accessed data segments are temporarily stored, reference count information of the plurality of data segments, in conjunction with least recently used (LRU) information, is used to determine a length of time to retain the plurality of data segments in the cache according to a predetermined weight, where notwithstanding the LRU information, those of the plurality of data segments having a higher reference counts are retained longer than those having lower reference counts.
US09697128B2

Embodiments relate to a prefetch threshold for cache restoration. An aspect includes determining, based on a task switch from an outgoing task to a current task in a processor, a prefetch threshold for a next task, the prefetch threshold corresponding to an expected runtime of the current task and an amount of time required to prefetch data for the next task. Another aspect includes starting prefetching for the next task while the current task is executing based on the prefetch threshold.
US09697124B2

A dynamic cache extension in a multi-cluster heterogeneous processor architecture is described. One embodiment is a system comprising a first processor cluster having a first level two (L2) cache and a second processor cluster having a second L2 cache. The system further comprises a controller in communication with the first and second L2 caches. The controller receives a processor workload input and a cache workload input from the first processor cluster. Based on processor workload input and the cache workload input, the cache controller determines whether a current task associated with the first processor cluster is limited by a size threshold of the first L2 cache or a performance threshold of the first processor cluster. If the current task is limited by the size threshold of the first L2 cache, the controller uses at least a portion of the second L2 cache as an extension of the first L2 cache.
US09697122B2

A data processing device includes: data processing stages having a processing element, a stage memory and an event controller; and an inter-stage bus connecting the stages via an access point. External and process completion events are input into the controller for generating a task start event toward the processing element according to the external and process completion events. Each access point has an access table storing a data write history when the processing element writes data in the memory in a memory access process. The processing element executes an event access process indicative of memory access process completion after the processing element completes the memory access process to the memory via the access point. The access point executes another event access process for inputting the process completion event into the controller of another stage, based on the data write history when the processing element executes the event access process.
US09697117B2

The embodiments relate to a method for managing a garbage collection process. The method includes executing a garbage collection process on a memory block of user address space. A load instruction is run. Running the load instruction includes loading content of a storage location into a processor. The loaded content corresponds to a memory address. It is determined if the garbage collection process is being executed at the memory address. The load instruction is diverted to a process to move an object at the memory address to a location outside of the memory block in response to determining that the garbage collection process is being executed at the first memory address. The load instruction is continued in response to determining that the garbage collection process is not being executed at the memory address.
US09697109B2

Method for generating dynamically configurable test doubles for software testing includes: detecting functions or methods invocations in a source code under test; collecting information about parameters and return types of one or more of original functions and original methods that are invoked by the source code under test, generating test doubles using source code with alternative definitions based on collected information; instrumenting the source code under test to replace the calls to one or more of original functions and methods with calls to the generated test doubles; and dynamically configuring runtime behavior of the generated test doubles, where all input parameters and return values of the one or more of original functions and original methods are provided to respective retrieved trigger objects by passing said input parameters and return values as arguments to function calls.
US09697106B1

A method for verifying historical artifacts in disparate source control systems. The method comprises obtaining historical artifacts from a target repository; obtaining historical artifacts from a source repository; and verifying the historical artifacts in the target repository match the historical artifacts in the source repository. Verification further comprises comparing commit data in the historical artifacts in the target repository with commit data in the historical artifacts in the source repository; and evaluating whether each commit data event in the historical artifacts in the target repository is equivalent to the corresponding commit data event in the historical artifacts in the source repository. Evaluating further comprises logging a commit data event in the historical artifacts in the target repository which is not equivalent to a corresponding commit data event in the historical artifacts in the source repository; and reviewing the logging results.
US09697103B2

A system for determining a root cause of a performance issue of a software application executing in a distributed computer system. The system includes constructing a hierarchical graph of metrics of a component of the distributed computer system based on search traces of the metrics of different users. A parent-child edge between a first metric and a second metric in the hierarchical graph is constructed when there is a sequential association between the search traces. A sibling edge between the first metric and the second metric in the hierarchical graph is constructed when there is no sequential association between the search traces. A metric investigation recommendation is provided to address the performance issue based on traversal of the hierarchical graph of the metrics.
US09697084B2

Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for using geographical location information to provision multiple target storages for a source device. A determination is made of a geographical location of the source device and a distance between the source device and each of the target storages and between each pair of target storages. A determination is further made of qualifying k-tuples of the target storages, wherein each k-tuple comprises a group of k target storages to which the source data is to be backed-up. A qualifying k-tuple has one target storage that satisfies a distance requirement with respect to the source device and a distance between any two target storages in the k-tuple satisfies the distance requirement. A selected qualifying k-tuple is indicated to use to backup the source data at the k target storages in the qualifying k-tuple.
US09697082B2

Systems and methods described herein involve a virtual storage utilized to virtualize the storage of storage systems across multiple sites. The virtual storage is associated with a virtual multipath control. The virtual multipath control manages the virtual path state of the inter-physical storage, the remote copy volume state which has primary volume or secondary volume state, and the volume copy operation mode such as synchronous copy mode journal copy mode, or bitmap resync mode. The virtual multipath control of the virtual storage facilitates choices from the host for a preferred site, path, state, and volume by utilizing a virtual multipath state from a get virtual multipath information command.
US09697080B2

Techniques described and suggested herein include systems and methods for storing, indexing, and retrieving original data of data archives on data storage systems using redundancy coding techniques. For example, redundancy codes, such as erasure codes, may be applied to archives (such as those received from a customer of a computing resource service provider) so as allow the storage of original data of the individual archives available on a minimum of volumes, such as those of a data storage system, while retaining availability, durability, and other guarantees imparted by the application of the redundancy code. Sparse indexing techniques may be implemented so as to reduce the footprint of indexes used to locate the original data, once stored. The volumes may be apportioned into failure-decorrelated subsets, and archives stored thereto may be apportioned to such subsets.
US09697076B2

A data reading method, applied to a data storage device that includes a flash memory capable of operating in a SLC mode and a multi-level cell mode. The data reading method includes reading a page corresponding to a first word line of the flash memory in the SLC mode according to a read command of a host to obtain a first data segment, writing a predetermined data into a most-significant-bit page corresponding to the first word line in the multi-level cell mode when the first data segment has an error, and reading the page corresponding to the first word line in the SLC mode again to obtain a second data segment.
US09697072B2

Certain example embodiments relate to a complex event processing, CEP, system, including an error correction component configured to receive a stream of events including at least one event from at least one event source. The error correction component is configured to detect at least one error in the at least one event. The error correction component is configured to emit a corrected stream of events including at least one event, which can then be processed by at least one event processing application.
US09697063B2

A data storage service receives a request to store data into a data storage system that consists of many physical data storage locations, each location having various physical characteristics. The data storage service determines a proper location for the data based on data placement rules applied to the physical data storage locations such that a set of proper locations is identified. The data storage service can place the data according to data placement rules.
US09697046B2

A method for managing computing resource reservations comprises receiving a first reservation, at a reservation system, for a requested amount of computing resources for a virtual application from a total pool of available resources. The method further comprises adding the first reservation to a database of existing reservations if the requested amount of computing resources is available and associating the first reservation with a universal timestamp. The method also comprises verifying that the requested amount of computing resources is still available by: summing a total of all existing reservations in the database with a same target and reservation type as the first reservation and with a universal timestamp before the universal timestamp associated with the first reservation; and subtracting the sum total of those existing reservations from the total pool of available resources to produce a difference. The method then comprises comparing the difference to the requested amount of computing resources. If the requested amount of computing resources is less than the difference, the method provisions the requested resources for the virtual application. If the requested amount of computing resources is more than the difference, the method returns an error message.
US09697045B2

Techniques for workload management in cloud computing infrastructures are provided. In one aspect, a method for allocating computing resources in a datacenter cluster is provided. The method includes the steps of: creating multiple, parallel schedulers; and automatically selecting a resource allocation method for each of the schedulers based on one or more of a workload profile, user requirements, and a state of the datacenter cluster, wherein an optimistic resource allocation method is selected for at least a first one or more of the schedulers and a pessimistic resource allocation method is selected for at least a second one or more of the schedulers. Due to optimistic resource allocation conflicts may arise. Methods to resolve such conflicts are also provided.
US09697043B2

Computer system including storage unit and processing unit including performance monitoring unit (PMU) for performance monitoring on tasks is provided. Processing unit is configured to provide a callback function at location at which a task switch is being performed, reset a counter for external access counting of PMU when first task switch which is to switch execution of tasks to first task occurs, read counted value from counter and record read value into a log of storage unit as record of first task when second task switch which is to switch execution of tasks from first task to second task occurs, and reset counter for second task after log is generated. Records of first task in log within a predetermined time period are summed to analyze performance of first task within predetermined time period so as to determine performance of external access of first task for specific event.
US09697041B2

The invention discloses a method for dynamic interrupt balanced mapping method based on the current scheduling states of VCPUs. When the virtual I/O APIC of an SMP virtual machine needs to map a virtual interrupt into a VCPU of the virtual machine after receiving the virtual interrupt, a part of VCPUs in the active state are analyzed according to the scheduling states of all VCPUs of the current VM in a VMM scheduler, and the virtual interrupt is mapped into the active VCPUs to obtain lower interrupt processing delay. If a plurality of VCPUs are in the active state simultaneously, the interrupt load of each active VCPU is considered further, and the interrupt is mapped into the active VCPU with the current lowest current load to further ensure balancing of interrupt processing loads of all VCPUs, and therefore, the loads of VCPUs in the SPMP structure are more symmetrical to promote balancing of the overall performance of all VCPUs in the SMP structure.
US09697039B2

A first computer of a distributed computing system receives a request for a transaction. The transaction is an eXtended Architecture (XA) protocol based global transaction. The first computer generates a unique identifier for the request. The first computer sends the unique identifier to a second computer of the distributed computing system. The unique identifier enables the second computer to participate with the first computer as an XA protocol based resource participant.
US09697036B2

Methods for generating a unique identifier of a distributed computing system are provided, one of methods comprise, receiving, by the first virtual machine, a first index range allocated by the identifier allocation server, receiving, by the second virtual machine, a second index range allocated by the identifier allocation server, the second index range being different from the first index range, generating, by the first virtual machine, a first unique identifier using an index in the first index range without intervention of the identifier allocation server and generating, by the second virtual machine, a second unique identifier using an index in the second index range without intervention of the identifier allocation server, wherein the first unique identifier and the second unique identifier are identifiers satisfying uniqueness for the whole distributed computing system.
US09697033B2

Some embodiments provide a system for implementing a logical network that includes a set of end machines, a first logical middlebox, and a second logical middlebox connected by a set of logical forwarding elements. The system includes a set of nodes. Each of several nodes includes (i) a virtual machine for implementing an end machine of the logical network, (ii) a managed switching element for implementing the set of logical forwarding elements of the logical network, and (iii) a middlebox element for implementing the first logical middlebox of the logical network. The system includes a physical middlebox appliance for implementing the second logical middlebox.
US09697028B1

Techniques for placing guest virtual machines on a distributed and/or virtualized computer system while obeying communications latency constraints are described herein. A placement map is created with regions based on available capacity measurements of one or more host machines in a virtualized computer system. Requests to place one or more guest virtual machines on the host machines are retrieved and the placements are optimized by iteratively assigning the requests to the regions in the map such that constraints are satisfied but capacity may be exceeded and then reassigning those requests that violate available capacity. The iterative process completes when a valid placement map is produced.
US09697015B2

A method is described for operating a vehicle audio system having a wired audio source, a display, multiple speakers and logic circuitry. The system is configured to sense the availability of a wireless audio device that is located near the vehicle, and identify a wireless audio device record stored in memory. The wireless device record includes data codes from the wireless audio device and from a software application running on the device. When the data codes and a software application are identified on the device, a second software application is downloaded from memory and data is processed from the device with the second software application. The method provides a vehicle occupant with an option to play sound from the wireless audio device through vehicle speakers or a speaker in the device.
US09697009B2

In a method for improving the performance of a computer system by releasing computer resources, a list P of programs installed on a computer system is determined. All relevant extension points EP of the computer system are searched for registered entries. A list A of automatically starting programs is generated by assigning the registered entries at the relevant extension points EP to the installed programs, respectively. The list A of the automatically starting programs is compared with a list S of system-required programs and a list V of used programs. Programs that are not system-required and programs that have not been used for a longer period of time are deactivated and computer resources that have been used by the deactivated programs are released. The deactivation of programs can be done by the user or automatically and can be cancelled when necessary.
US09697001B2

Embodiments relate to variable branch prediction. An aspect includes determining a branch selection of an execution unit of a processor and determining whether a present prediction state of the state machine correctly predicted the branch selection by the execution unit. The aspect includes determining whether a predetermined condition is met for performing an alternative state transition and, based on determining that the predetermined condition is met, changing the present prediction state of the branch prediction state machine from the one state to another state according to an alternative state transition process based on the branch selection of the execution unit and the determination whether the present prediction state of the state machine correctly predicted the branch selection by the execution unit.
US09696987B2

An install request including a hierarchy of a complex computer environment is received, wherein the hierarchy comprises a first component needed on the first computer and one or more other components needed in the complex computer environment. One or more other computers on which to install the one or more components is determined. Responsive to determining the one or more other computer on which to install the one or more other components, installation of the one or more other components on the one or more other computers is initiated.
US09696973B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for using an imports scanner to maintain a compilation cache. One of the methods includes receiving an original set of source code files to be compiled for a compilation target. Each file in in the original set having an entry point is added to a reduced set of source code files. Each unscanned file in the reduced set of source code files is scanned for import statements until no unscanned files in the reduced set of source code remain. Each file identified by an import statement is added to the reduced set of source code files. If the reduced set of files is not represented by an entry in a compilation cache, the compilation target is generated using only the reduced set of source code files instead of the original set of source code files.
US09696964B2

A floating point multiply add circuit 24 includes a multiplier 26 and an adder 28. The input operands A, B and C together with the result value all have a normal exponent value range, such as a range consistent with the IEEE Standard 754. The product value which is passed from the multiplier 26 to the adder 28 as an extended exponent value range that extents lower than the normal exponent value range. Shifters 48, 50 within the adder can take account of the extended exponent value range of the product as necessary in order to bring the result value back into the normal exponent value range.
US09696963B2

A watch type mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which the watch type mobile terminal can be controlled through voice. The present disclosure includes a touch input unit configured to receive a touch input, a wireless communication unit configured to perform a wireless communication, a sensing unit configured to sense a movement of the mobile terminal, a microphone configured to receive a sound, and a controller is configured to activate the microphone when a preset first gesture input is detected, if a user voice is received via the microphone while the touch input unit is touched, control data to be transmitted to a target indicated by the user voice, and if the user voice is received via the microphone while the touch input unit is not touched, control a function indicated by the user voice to be executed on the mobile terminal.
US09696958B2

A system and method for presenting content through a plurality of electronic devices are provided. The method includes presenting content through a plurality of electronic devices comprising at least a first electronic device and a second electronic device, wherein the presenting of the content comprises displaying a first portion of the content through the first electronic device and displaying a second portion of the content through the second electronic device, identifying an input for at least one of the plurality of electronic devices while the content is being displayed, setting the plurality of electronic devices as a first group comprising the first electronic device and a second group comprising the second electronic device, based on at least the input, and independently presenting the content through the first group and the second group, based on the setting.
US09696957B2

The present disclosure discloses a graphic processing method, a system and a server, the graphic processing method includes: analyzing a graphic processing template to generate a graphic configuration link when receiving the graphic processing template by a server; receiving at least one graphic information to be processed and processing the at least one graphic information to generate a graphic file by the server according to the graphic configuration link; and sending, by the server, the graphic file to a client device for displaying. The present disclosure can enhance the efficiency of the graphic processing and make the results of the graphic processing more unification and standardization, and reduce the costs of the graphic processing and improve intelligence of the graphic processing.
US09696956B2

A communication device may communicate a first establishing command with an external device via a NFC interface so as to establish a first communication link, receive first target data from the external device via the NFC interface by using the first communication link, process a specific command included in the first target data so as to create second target data, select one type of disconnection method according to information included in the first target data from among plural types of disconnection methods for disconnecting the first communication link, and disconnect the first communication link by using the selected one type of disconnection method. The communication device may communicate a second establishing command with the external device via the NFC interface so as to establish a second communication link, and send the second target data to the external device via the NFC interface by using the second communication link.
US09696954B2

The present invention intends to improve usability in entering print data using a hot folder. If exceptional setting for the page is set in the print setting, which is to be applied to the print data entered into the folder, when it is detected that the print data is entered into the folder, the total number of pages of the print data is calculated, and whether the calculated total number of pages fulfills the exceptional setting in the print setting or not is determined. If the calculated total number of pages fulfills the exceptional setting according to the determination, the print job including the print data and the setting of the print setting is generated. If the calculated total number of pages does not fulfill the exceptional setting, the print setting and the print data are matched.
US09696942B2

A method for data storage includes configuring a driver program on a host computer to receive commands in accordance with a protocol defined for accessing local storage devices connected to a peripheral component interface bus of the host computer. When the driver program receives, from an application program running on the host computer a storage access command in accordance with the protocol, specifying a storage transaction, a remote direct memory access (RDMA) operation is performed by a network interface controller (NIC) connected to the host computer so as to execute the storage transaction via a network on a remote storage device.
US09696941B1

A memory system may include a memory module accessed by a first address, a memory controller configured to provide a read or write command for the memory module according to a host request, and a memory buffer accessed by a second address. The memory buffer may include a register file having two or more entry spaces corresponding to interleaving units of the memory module, and the two or more entry spaces may be positioned in different address areas which are accessible at the same time.
US09696936B2

Applying a content defined maximum size bound on blocks produced by content defined segmentation of data by calculating the size of the interval of data between a newly found candidate segmenting position and a last candidate segmenting position of the same or higher hierarchy level, and then using the intermediate candidate segmenting positions of that interval if the size of the interval exceeds the maximum size bound, or discarding the intermediate candidate segmenting positions of that interval if the size of the interval does not exceed the maximum size bound.
US09696926B2

A method and technique are provided for providing a service address space. The method includes providing a service co-processor with a service address space attached to a main processor. The main processor is provided with a main address space, and the service address space and the main address space include a full range of memory available to the respective service-co-processor and the main processor. The service co-processor creates and maintains an independent copy of the main address space in the form of the service address space. The service address space is updated by receiving storage delta packets from the main processor and applying the storage delta packets to the service address space.
US09696918B2

A method for data storage includes, for a memory including groups of memory cells, defining a normal mode and a protected mode, wherein in the protected mode a respective analog value of each memory cell remains at all times unambiguously indicative of a respective data value stored in that memory cell. Data is initially stored in the memory using the normal mode. In response to an event, the protected mode is reverted to for at least one of the groups of the memory cells.
US09696915B2

A tape drive adapted for providing a best access order for files or data sets on a tape loaded into the tape drive. The tape drive includes a processor and memory storing a file location table for the tape. The file location table includes identifiers for a plurality of files on the tape and location information for the plurality of files on the tape. The tape drive includes an order determination module, executed by the processor, processing an order request. The order request, from a host or user, includes a list of the files on the tape from which to generate, based on the location information in the file location table, a reordered list defining an order for accessing the files on the tape. The reordered list or best access order has (or produces via tape drive access) an access time for the files that is minimal or reduced.
US09696914B2

A system and method of transposed storage in RAID arrays includes a storage manager with an interface for receiving storage requests associated with multi-segment blocks stored in a storage array, a controller for processing the received storage requests and controlling the storage manager, and a write request handler. The storage array includes a plurality of storage devices for which consecutive logical addresses are assigned to different ones of the storage devices. The write request handler is configured to process block write requests and send segment write requests to the storage array based on the write requests so that each segment of a given multi-segment block is written to a single respective one of the storage devices in the storage array. In some embodiments, the storage manager further includes a read request handler configured to determine logical addresses of requested segments and send segment read requests to the storage array.
US09696913B1

Techniques are disclosed for storing data in a plurality of storage tiers on a computing node. A node receives a request to write data corresponding to at least a first portion of a file. The node determines whether to perform the request either as an in-place write or as an out-of-place write. Upon determining to perform the request as the in-place write, the node writes the data to a first location on a storage tier which currently stores the first portion of the file. Upon determining to perform the request as the out-of-place write, the node writes the data to a second location on one of the storage tiers, other than the first location.
US09696907B2

Technologies for identifying data stored on a solid state drive (“SSD”) device that correspond to data associated with a delete event, and marking the deleted data stored on the SSD as invalid such that the SSD can avoid unnecessary operations on the invalid data. Included are interfaces operable to communicate invalid data information providing a remove-on-delete command that provides invalid data information sufficient to identify the SSD data to be marked as invalid.
US09696905B2

Described herein is a computer-implemented system and method for processing one or more alternate symbols associated or linked to a base symbol. A base symbol is a symbol to which at least one alternate symbol is linked. A base symbol commonly appears on a key of a keyboard or a display of a keyboard, or is a handwritten symbol recognized by handwriting entry software. Examples of alternate symbols are accented characters and punctuation marks that do not appear on a keyboard or are not commonly recognized by a handwriting entry program, and short symbol sequences. An example of a common short symbol sequence is an emoticon used in e-mail messages to convey tone or feelings. An example of a computer device that may embody the system or method is a hand-held computing device.
US09696903B2

In certain implementations, a first data element set associated with a first attribute (including first data elements where each represents a value associated with the first attribute) may be provided on a user interface. A control element set, including control elements where each represent an attribute, may be provided on the user interface. A touch-based input indicating a touch-based association of a first one of the control elements with a first one of the first data elements may be received. Responsive to the touch-based association, a second data element set associated with a second attribute (represented by the first one of the control elements) may be provided on the user interface. Second data elements of the second data element set may each represent a second value associated with the second attribute and correspond to a first value represented by the first one of the first data elements.
US09696897B2

Provided are methods, systems, devices, and computer programs enabling the measurement of various objects using imaging. The inventions are adaptable to mobile devices such as smartphones, allowing a range of unique measurements to be conveniently made, including length, area, distance, velocity, and height. The methods, systems, devices, and computer programs include the novel application of image-based measurement in medical, research, and other contexts.
US09696896B2

A computer-implemented method for visualizing patterns during internet browsing includes loading a web page in response to a user opening a browser. The web page includes web content. The computer-implemented method also includes initializing a marker corresponding to the web page, the marker implying beginning of a web session. Further, the computer-implemented method includes creating a visual pattern during the web session. The visual pattern includes the marker. Furthermore, the computer-implemented method includes terminating the marker implying end of the web session. Moreover, the computer-implemented method includes analyzing the visual pattern to infer a corresponding significance factor. The computer-implemented method includes performing appropriate actions on the web content based on the significance factor.
US09696893B2

A computer-implemented method for controlling a plurality of electromagnetic energy sources is disclosed. Instructions are executed on a processor to display on a computer-human interface display device a user interface region. The user interface region includes a pie-graph configured to display a total output power of the plurality of the electromagnetic energy sources. The pie-graph includes a radius that indicates the total output power and a plurality of sectors that indicate percentages of the total output power contributed by each of the plurality of the electromagnetic energy sources. An input is received via the user interface region, where the input is an interaction with the pie-graph that changes one of the radius or a sector of the plurality of the sectors. A power output of one or more of the electromagnetic energy sources is adjusted based on the input.
US09696892B2

A mechanism is described for facilitating dynamic edit modes at computing devices according to one embodiment. A method of embodiments, as described herein, includes receiving a first request for accessing an edit mode at a computing device, where the first request is placed by turning the computing device from a first position to a second position, and allowing access to the edit mode, if the first request is determined to be intentional.
US09696889B2

Provided is an electronic device, including: a display unit that displays, on one screen, a plurality of objects to be selected by a user; a line-of-sight detection unit that detects visually-recognized coordinates on the display unit to which the user's line-of-sight is directed; an object visually-recognized time period calculation unit that calculates a time period during which the visually-recognized coordinates detected by the line-of-sight detection unit fall within a range of the object; and a selection exclusion unit that excludes the object from candidates to be selected by the user if the time period calculated by the object visually-recognized time period calculation unit is longer than a time period threshold value and a frequency at which the object is selected is higher than a frequency threshold value.
US09696886B2

Embodiments are provided for communicating reminders of pending tasks to users of electronic devices before the electronic devices lose battery power. According to certain aspects, an electronic device can generate (220) a battery trigger when the battery level decreases below a certain threshold. The electronic device retrieves (224, 226) a listing of pending scheduled tasks, incomplete tasks, and routine tasks that a user may wish to complete. The electronic device presents (232) the listing of pending tasks to the user and enables the user to select (234) one or more of the pending tasks. The electronic device initiates (240) a corresponding application to enable the user to complete the selected pending task.
US09696883B2

A touch sensitive display device and a method for driving the same capable of increasing the touch recognition rate of the touch sensitive display device in the sleep mode are disclosed. The touch sensitive display device supports a normal mode and a sleep mode. The display device includes touch driving lines and a touch driver to supply one or more touch driving signals to the touch driving lines. The touch driver supplies the one or more touch driving signals at a first frequency during the normal mode of the touch sensitive display device, supplies the one or more touch driving signals at a second frequency during a first portion of the sleep mode of the touch sensitive display device, and supplies the one or more touch driving signals at a third frequency during a second portion of the sleep mode of the touch sensitive display device.
US09696882B2

An operation processing method and an operation processing device applied in an electronic apparatus include a display unit in which a first interactive interface having a first size is displayed. The method includes displaying a second interactive interface having a second size which is different from the first size and having a mapping relation with the first interactive interface in the display unit, detecting a first action executed by the user in the second interactive interface; and executing a first operation in the first interactive interface according to the first action. Thus, the first interactive interface can be mapped into the second interactive interface and the first operation that the user expects to execute in the first interactive interface can be implemented by the first action executed in the second interactive interface, so that the user can conveniently operate the electronic apparatus.
US09696876B2

A method for enabling at least one user interface display field to perform at least one action is provided. The method may include receiving a first user action associated with the at least one user interface display field. The method may further include activating the at least one user interface display field in response to the received first user action. Additionally, the method may include determining a context associated with the activated at least one user interface display field. The method may also include applying the determined context associated with the activated at least one user interface display. The method may further include receiving a second user action associated with the activated at least one user interface display field based on the applied determined context. The method may also include executing the received second user action.
US09696868B2

Methods and systems are provided for an improved three-dimensional graphical user interface. In one embodiment, the method generally comprises: receiving a plurality of inputs from a user and opening a plurality of applications in response thereto, wherein outputs from each application are displayed (e.g., individually) within a two-dimensional space. The method further comprises allowing a user to switch between the plurality of applications by generating images of each output, and displaying those images (e.g., collectively) within a three-dimensional space. The user can then interact with a particular application by selecting a corresponding one of the images displayed within the three-dimensional space. In one embodiment, the method further comprises replacing the output(s) in two-dimensional space with the images in three-dimensional space, and replacing the images in three-dimensional space with the output from the selected application in two-dimensional space.
US09696857B2

A signal processing circuit is provided, which is suitable to be connected to a signal receiving conductor of a capacitive position detecting sensor, which has low power consumption and small circuit scale, and which allows setting of a small value as the capacitance value of a capacitor used for I-V conversion. After a receiving conductor is clamped to a predetermined potential by a clamp circuit, this receiving conductor clamped to the predetermined potential is connected to a capacitor circuit via a gate circuit. Thereby, a potential that changes corresponding to a position indicated by an indicator such as a finger is generated in the capacitor circuit, and a voltage signal generated in this capacitor circuit is converted to a digital signal to be output.
US09696851B2

An on-cell capacitive touch panel is disclosed. Its laminated structure includes a LCD module, a touch sensing module, and a polarizing module. The touch sensing module is disposed on the LCD module. The polarizing module is disposed on the touch sensing module. The touch sensing module includes a touch sensor pattern having a single-layer ITO structure. The touch sensor pattern includes a first pattern unit and a second pattern unit which are the same and both have at least one first electrode, second electrode, and extending electrode. The first electrode is arranged along a first direction and the second electrode is arranged along a second direction. The first direction and second direction are vertical. The first electrode crosses the second electrode via a bridge structure. The extending electrode surrounds the first electrode and it is arranged along the first direction.
US09696849B1

In response to detecting a predetermined pressure change between two consecutive contacts on a trackpad of a computing device, the two consecutive contacts are ignored. In response to detecting a predetermined pressure change of a single contact on the trackpad, the single contact is ignored. After detecting a new contact on the trackpad after a predetermined period of time without any contact on the trackpad, any movement tied to a predetermined amount of increasing pressure on the trackpad for the new contact is temporarily discarded, for a preset amount of time.
US09696846B2

The present disclosure discloses a touch device and a method for driving the same which is capable of enabling the touch device to operate a higher display refresh rate when there is no touch. The touch device comprises a touch panel, a timing controller, a touch controller, a controller, and a sensor. The sensor is configured to detect whether there is an object contacting or approaching the touch panel, and to output a first indication signal if there is no object contacting or approaching the touch panel and a second indication signal if there is an object contacting or approaching the touch panel. The controller is configured to control the timing controller to output a first display scanning signal when the first indication signal is received and to control the timing controller to output a second display scanning signal when the second indication signal is received. The scanning frequency of the first display scanning signal is higher than that of the second display scanning signal.
US09696842B2

A display system that detects the point of touch and three-dimensional direction of a pressure exerted by an object on a surface to select a corresponding spot on a real object. The system is comprised of a touching cube, a plurality of sensors attached to the touching cube, a microprocessor that receives the output of the plurality of sensors, a database, and a presentation unit that highlights a spot on the real object corresponding to the point of touch and three-dimensional direction.
US09696841B2

The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for controlling an electric device. The electric device has a touch screen. The method comprises: detecting whether there is an operation input on the touch screen so as to generate a piece of detection information; when the detection information indicates that there is an operation input on the touch screen, forming a sliding track on the touch screen in response to the operation; judging whether the sliding track meets a predetermined condition so as to generate judgment information, wherein the predetermined condition is that the sliding track is a curvilinear track and comprises a first contact point and a second contact point, the first contact point and the second contact point being contact points which coincide or not coincide with each other; determining an independent operation area on the touch screen based on the sliding track, and determining a display orientation of a displayed object within the independent operation area based on the sliding track when the judgment information indicates that the sliding track meets the predetermined condition.
US09696840B2

An information processing method and an electronic device related to a field of communication technique are described. The method includes obtaining an operation performed by an operator on the electronic device, wherein the operation is capable of producing a force on the electronic device detecting a parameter of the operation; deforming the electronic device in response to the operation when the parameter satisfies a first condition; and generating a control instruction based on the operation when the parameter does not satisfy the first condition or satisfies a second condition, and at the same time maintaining the electronic device to be not deformed or to be deformed in a degree lower than a preset threshold. A false operation can be avoided in the process of bending the flexible screen, and accuracy of operation with respect to the flexible screen can be improved.
US09696837B1

A display of an electric device includes a plurality of separated transparent electrode blocks, which are configured to provide one or more of supplemental features such as touch recognition. Signal paths between the transparent electrode blocks and the driver for the supplemental feature are implemented with a plurality of conductive lines placed under positioned under one or more planarization layers. The conductive lines implementing the signal paths are routed across the display area, directly toward a non-display area where drive-integrated circuits are located.
US09696834B2

A method of making a touch screen panel includes providing a substrate assembly and a multi-layered film. The substrate assembly includes a substrate, and first and second sensing electrodes formed over the substrate. The multi-layered film includes a first conductive photosensitive layer, a second conductive photosensitive layer, and an insulation photosensitive layer. The insulation photosensitive layer has a light sensitivity different from that of at least one of the first and second conductive photosensitive layers. The method further includes forming insulators by exposing and developing the insulation photosensitive layer, and forming bridges and insulators by exposing and developing the second conductive photosensitive layer. The substrate assembly and the multi-layered film are assembled to form the touch panel.
US09696831B2

A method and apparatus for detecting touch input at a touch sensor is provided. The touch sensor comprises a plurality of row traces, a plurality of column traces and an intersection corresponding to an identified row trace of the plurality of row traces and an identified column trace of the plurality of column traces. The touch sensor also includes at least one driver for driving the plurality of column traces and at least one reader for reading the plurality of row traces. The drivers and the readers scan the identified intersection by entering into a with-floating scan state, reading a first value for the identified row trace, entering into a without-floating scan state and reading a second value for the identified row trace. The presence of a touch input is accordingly determined based on the first and second values.
US09696829B2

A portable terminal is a portable terminal which displays delivered content on a screen, and includes a proximity detection unit that detects proximity of a physical object to the screen and outputs a proximity detection signal, an information request unit that requests additional information for an object of content that is displayed at a proximity corresponding position which is a position on the screen corresponding to the physical object of which the proximity is detected, based on the proximity detection signal, and a display control unit that displays additional information for an object of content delivered in response to a request from the information request unit, in the vicinity of the proximity corresponding position of the screen.
US09696823B2

According to the present invention, a computer is provided, which comprises a host system, an embedded subsystem, a power source, an input device control module, a first transmission interface and a second transmission interface, the input device control module being connected to the embedded subsystem through the first transmission interface, wherein the input device control module is configured to establish, in response to receipt of a first switching instruction, communication with the embedded subsystem such that the embedded subsystem is enabled to process input data from an input device and to transmit the input data obtained from the input device to the first transmission interface; and the embedded subsystem is configured to receive the input data from the first transmission interface, process the input data and perform an operation corresponding to the input data. According to the present invention, one set of input devices can be shared between a computer and an embedded system through design and modification in software without any change in the existing hardware design for the computer.
US09696821B2

According to one embodiment, a data input system includes an active stylus and an apparatus. The active stylus switches a mode from a first mode in which the signal is output with a first transmission interval to a second mode in which the signal is output with a second transmission interval longer than the first transmission interval when a pressure in a handwriting input operation is not detected for more than a first period. The apparatus displays an object indicative of a position pointed to by the active stylus based on the signal. The apparatus maintains, when the active stylus is in the second mode, a display state of the object displayed on the basis of the signal output at a first timing until the signal is output at a second timing following the first timing.
US09696813B2

A gesture interface robot (GIR) automatically measures a work zone to establish virtual puzzle cells located in a user gesture comfortable area. The GIR allows the user to easily move hands to press selected virtual keys so as to prevent injury. The GIR draws virtual keyboard images that display commands on virtual puzzle cells. The GIR uses video vision sensing to detect user's hand location on the virtual keyboard images. Special unique gesture hand sings are designed for enhancing hand control virtual key selections. A push-hand-z-dimensional distant is divided into 3 selectable zones. A real-time display highlights a selected key graphic image to be visually seen by the user. Using a UIRT cable to send IR signal to a remote control computer. The GIR instantly generates a virtual puzzle cell keyboard or controller that the user selected. The GIR introduces a new gesture interface method, a touch screen mouse combined with puzzle cell virtual keys in sandwich layers gesture zones and a method for operating computer keys and mouse operations.
US09696811B2

An electronic apparatus and a method are disclosed. The electronic apparatus can be worn on a wrist of a user and can have established a data connection to a remote apparatus. The electronic apparatus includes a first image collecting unit for collecting an image; a storing unit for storing image collected by the first image collecting unit; a gesture detecting unit for detecting a gesture of the user; a data transmitting unit for transmitting data with the remote apparatus; a control unit for activating the first image collecting unit when it is determined that a first gesture of the user is detected; and activating the data transmitting unit to transmit the image stored in the storing unit to the remote apparatus when it is determined that a second gesture of the user is detected.
US09696808B2

One embodiment of the invention includes a method of providing device inputs. The method includes illuminating hand gestures performed via a bare hand of a user in a foreground of a background surface with at least one infrared (IR) light source. The method also includes generating a first plurality of silhouette images associated with the bare hand based on an IR light contrast between the bare hand and the background surface and generating a second plurality of silhouette images associated with the bare hand based on an IR light contrast between the bare hand and the background surface. The method also includes determining a plurality of three-dimensional features of the bare hand relative to the background surface based on a parallax separation of the bare hand in the first plurality of silhouette images relative to the second plurality of silhouette images. The method also includes determining a provided input gesture based on the plurality of three-dimensional features of the bare hand and comparing the provided input gesture with a plurality of predefined gesture inputs in a gesture library. The method further includes providing at least one device input corresponding to interaction with displayed visual content based on the provided input gesture corresponding to one of the plurality of predefined gesture inputs.
US09696800B2

A menu selection apparatus using gaze tracking includes: a gaze tracker configured to track a gaze of a driver and to output time series gaze data; a timer included in the gaze tracker and configured to output a timing pulse; a buffer configured to store the time series gaze data; a counter configured to count the timing pulse to adjust synchronization with the timer; a button configured to output a click signal when being clicked by the driver; and a controller configured to extract the time series gaze data for a critical time based on button click timing as the click signal is output from the button and to then calculate an average of gaze vectors within each time series gaze data.
US09696796B2

An improved playground system is disclosed. A playground toy incorporates a wireless transceiver and a motion sensor. Based on the level of activity monitored by the motion sensor, the wireless transceiver transmits a message to smart devices, such as smart phones or wearable computers that causes an augmented reality avatar for the playground toy to transform. When additional activity is noted, additional messages causing additional avatar transformations can be sent.
US09696790B2

Processor power may be managed by executing state storage and power gating instructions after receiving an idle indication. The idle indication may be received while the processor is executing instructions in a first mode, and the processor may execute the state storage and power gating instructions in a second mode. The state storage and power gating instructions may be inaccessible to the processor when operating in the first mode.
US09696789B2

An apparatus is disclosed that includes a processing sub-system having a plurality of processor circuits and an interrupt control circuit. The interrupt control circuit is configured to, in response to a peripheral interrupt, initiate performance of a task indicated by the peripheral interrupt by at least one of the plurality of processor circuits. The processing sub-system is configured to generate a power-down control signal in response to suspension of the plurality of processor circuits. A power management circuit disables power to the processing sub-system, including the interrupt control circuit, in response to the power-down control signal. The power management circuit enables power to the processing sub-system in response to a power-up control signal. The apparatus also includes a proxy interrupt control circuit configured to generate the power-up control signal in response to receiving a peripheral interrupt and power to the processing sub-system being disabled.
US09696782B2

This document describes techniques and apparatuses for suppressing power spikes. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses determine an available amount of power that a battery is capable of providing while maintaining a particular voltage level and a requisite amount of power that components will consume to perform a task. When the requisite amount of power exceeds the available amount of power, power states of the components are altered effective to enable the battery to maintain the particular voltage level.
US09696781B2

In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring power usage parameters in a data center at a controller and automatically modifying components within the data center to reduce power usage based on the power usage parameters. The power usage parameters include routing distances between the components within the data center. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein.
US09696773B2

A network system is provided. The network system includes: at least one component selected from an energy receiving unit receiving energy and an energy management unit managing the energy receiving unit. The energy receiving unit or the energy management unit receives energy rate related information; an energy usage amount or a usage rate of when the component is controlled on the basis of at least the energy rate related information is less than that of when the component is controlled without the basis of at least energy rate related information; if the energy rate related information is high cost information, a function of one component constituting the energy receiving unit is limited; and an operating time or an output of the energy receiving unit is adjusted in correspondence to the limited function of one component.
US09696770B2

A server cooling system includes: a flex-switch with one or more flexible building bridges; one or more utility farms coupled with the flex-switch; a power distribution unit operably connected to the flex-switch; and a server POD including one or more racks operably connected to the power distribution unit. The flex-switch is configurable to include additional utility farms, one or more generator farms, and one or more UPS farms.
US09696766B1

The double-jointed hinge comprises a dual hinge part, first rotary part, second rotary part and at least one conductor assembly wherein the conductor assembly is sandwiched between the dual hinge part and the two rotary parts. The dual hinge part is connected to the keyboard by a cylindrical column, and connected to the computer by another cylindrical column. The cylindrical column is partially received in a cylindrical column hole in the keyboard and received in a cylindrical column hole in the dual hinge part, and in a similar manner, the other cylindrical column is received in a cylindrical column hole in the computer and partially received in a cylindrical column hole in the dual hinge part. A multiple of four dual hinge parts are used to connect the keyboard and the computer.
US09696765B2

In one example, a double-track guided hinge for an electronic device. The hinge includes a bent lever arm having an arm pin adjacent one end, an arm pivot, and a curved slot adjacent the other end, the curved slot extending towards the arm pivot. The hinge also includes an angled slot slidably engaged with the arm pin. The hinge further includes a rotatable connector block having a block pivot and a pin radially offset from the block pivot, the offset pin slidably engaged with the curved slot A carrier moveably attached to the lever arm at the arm pivot and to the connector block at the block pivot, is linearly moveable responsive to rotation of the pivot connector block.
US09696758B2

A docking station to dock locating equipment (e.g., marking devices, locate devices, combined locate and marking devices) may be communicatively coupled to and/or equipped with a mobile/portable device (e.g., a mobile phone, personal digital assistant or other portable computing device) that provides processing, electronic storage, electronic display, user interface, communication facilities and/or other functionality (e.g., GPS-enabled functionality) for the docking station. A mobile/portable device may be mechanically and/or electrically coupled to the docking station. The mobile/portable device may provide redundant, shared and/or backup functionality for the docking station to enhance robustness. In one example, the mobile/portable device itself serves as a docking station for the locating equipment.
US09696749B2

Control devices and systems for self-propelled machinery and related methods are disclosed. In one aspect, a control device for self-propelled machinery includes a central portion disposed between a first gripping portion and a second gripping portion and at least one pressure sensitive trigger control provided over either the first or the second gripping portion. The trigger control can be configured to reduce a speed of the self-propelled machinery by actuating a portion of a potentiometer for varying an electrical signal carried by the control device. In some aspects, the control device can electrically communicate with a control unit of the self-propelled machinery.
US09696744B1

Bandgap Voltage Reference circuits configured to produce reference voltages with both voltage offset and a voltage temperature slope are disclosed. By generating the voltage offset from a temperature-independent current, the voltage offset of the reference voltage may be temperature-independent, while generating the voltage temperature slope from a temperature-dependent current allows the voltage temperature slope to vary with temperature. To ensure that the voltage offset remains independent from the voltage temperature slope, an apparatus is disclosed for orthogonal trimming of voltage offset and voltage temperature slope.
US09696739B2

In an embodiment, a coupled-inductor structure includes first and second windings. The first winding is configured to conduct a phase current, has a first node configured for coupling to a phase node of a power supply, and has a second node configured for coupling to an output node of the power supply and to a first node of a sense impedance that is configured to generate a sense signal representative of the phase current. And the second winding is configured for magnetic coupling with the first winding, has a first node coupled to the first node of the first winding, and has a second node configured for coupling to a second node of the sense impedance. For example, the first winding may be a phase inductor of a switching power supply, and the impedance may be a capacitor that generates a sense voltage representative of the phase current.
US09696734B2

A thermostat and related methods are described for controlling one or more functions, such as heating and cooling in an HVAC. According to some embodiments the thermostat includes a switching circuit for controlling an HVAC function, where closing the switching circuit activates the HVAC function. The thermostat may also include power harvesting circuitry adapted and arranged to harvest power from the HVAC system, where during times when the HVAC function is active the switching circuit opens for a time interval. The power harvesting circuitry may harvest power from the HVAC system during the time interval, and the time interval may be short enough that the HVAC function remains activated without interruption during the time interval.
US09696719B2

Systems and methods are provided for autonomously navigating a vehicle along a road segment. In one implementation, a system includes at least one processor programmed to receive from a camera at least one image representative of an environment of the vehicle. The at least one image may be analyzed to identify at least one recognized landmark based upon one or more landmark group characteristics associated with a group of recognized landmarks. The current location of the vehicle relative to a predetermined road model trajectory associated with the road segment may be determined based, at least in part, on a predetermined location of the recognized landmark. An autonomous steering action for the vehicle may be determined based on a direction of the predetermined road model trajectory at the determined current location of the vehicle relative to the predetermined road model trajectory.
US09696711B2

A processing indicating device to improve the efficiency of processing on an object. The device includes a first communication unit which communicates information with a plurality of processing devices for processing the object and a second communication unit which communicates information with a conveyance controlling device controlling conveying of the object to the plurality of processing devices. An arrival time predicting unit predicts on the basis of information received by the second communication unit, the time when the conveying device arrives at one of the processing devices. In addition, a finish time predicting unit receives information and predicts the time when the processing on the object in the one processing device finishes. A processing indicating unit causes processing control information that orders the execution of device state improvement treatment to be transmitted to the one processing device on the basis of the predicted respective times.
US09696710B2

A machine implement includes sensors that measure a force imparted by the machine implement to a structure during a machining process. A sensor array coupled to the structure measures the vibrational response of the structure to the imparted force. Analysis software compares the imparted force to the vibrational response to generate a transfer function for the structure. Based on the transfer function, a tool-path of the machine implement may be adjusted such that the resulting structure has precise vibrational characteristics that substantially comply with a set of design goals for the structure.
US09696708B2

A machining curve creating apparatus create curve of a tool used to machine a workpiece by repeating a procedure of taking, as a partial point sequence, a part of a point sequence expressing the tool path and generating a partial curve. The machining curve creating apparatus includes stored-information-utilized curve generating unit for generating a partial curve utilizing segmented curve information. When curve information utilization determining unit determines to utilize the stored information, the stored-information-utilized curve generating unit generates a partial curve.
US09696699B2

A Self-Organizing Process Control Architecture is introduced with a Sensing Layer, Control Layer, Actuation Layer, Process Layer, as well as Self-Organizing Sensors (SOS) and Self-Organizing Actuators (SOA). A Self-Organizing Sensor for a process variable with one or multiple input variables is disclosed. An artificial neural network (ANN) based dynamic modeling mechanism as part of the Self-Organizing Sensor is described. As a case example, a Self-Organizing Soft-Sensor for CFB Boiler Bed Height is presented. Also provided is a method to develop a Self-Organizing Sensor.
US09696697B2

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to automatic switching of HMI (human-machine interface) screens based on process, task, and abnormal deviation in a power plant. According to one embodiment, a method is provided. The method can include monitoring one or more processes occurring during the operation of a turbine power plant in a steady state monitoring sequence, in which a plurality of overview screens are monitored, and at least one process state is determined. If the at least one process state indicates a predefined condition has occurred, at least one human interface screen can be presented to a user for troubleshooting, based at least in part on the severity of the predefined condition. If the determined process state does not indicate the predefined condition is present, and the at least one determined process state indicates an automated task sequence, the method present a sequence of preconfigured task screens to a user.
US09696693B2

The present invention is an apparatus, system, method, computer program, and computer program product for controlling window coverings to adjust admitted daylight. More particularly, the present disclosure plates to a control system for controlling the amount of daylight admitted through adjustable window coverings. In an embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a stand-alone open loop proportional control subsystem including a calculation or algorithm that is operable to convert a sunlight sensor signal to a blind slat position based on a predetermined curve stored in memory. In another embodiment of the present invention, the system is operable to transmit the sunlight sensor information, for example, such as in Lux, to an external system, which may then provide blind slat position requests based on some other curve, algorithm, or user need. The blind slat position may be controlled by the system to avert undesirable solar heat gains and also achieve significant daylight harvesting.
US09696690B2

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate the use of a multi-segment wearable accessory. In this regard, methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided for controlling and, in some instances, interacting with a multi-segment wearable accessory. Each screen presented on or capable of being presented on the display of a segment of the multi-segment wearable accessory may be considered a virtual segment, and the number of virtual segments may be greater than the number of physical segments of the accessory. One or more of the virtual segments may be associated with one or more of the segments in an overlaid configuration, such that a topmost virtual segment is presented for viewing while another virtual segment lies below the topmost virtual segment, hidden from the user's view. A virtual segment may be replaced with presentation of another virtual segment in response to rotation of the accessory.
US09696681B2

An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum and a brush roller. The photosensitive drum has a circumferential surface on which a toner image is to be formed. The brush roller rotates while in contact with the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum to charge the photosensitive drum. The brush roller removes toner remaining on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum.
US09696679B2

An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device and an image forming apparatus body. The fixing device includes a pressure unit, a heating unit, a pressure adjuster that adjusts a pressure between the pressure unit and the heating unit, and a fixing-device-side connecting device. The image forming apparatus body to which the fixing device is detachably attached includes an electrical power unit, a drive device to which electrical power is supplied from the electrical power unit so as to drive the pressure adjuster, and a body-side connecting device connected to the electrical power unit. When the fixing device is detached from the image forming apparatus body, the body-side connecting device and the fixing-device-side connecting device are disconnected from each other and electrical power supply to the drive device is interrupted.
US09696678B2

The sheet feeding apparatus of the invention includes a sheet stacking portion, a rotating body, a contact member, a conveyance guide, a driving source, a shutter member and a torque limiter. The torque limiter is disposed between the rotating body and the driving source, transmits a driving force of the driving source to the rotating body in a state that a load in the sheet feeding direction of less than a predetermined torque is applied to the rotating body, and not transmit the driving force of the driving source to the rotating body in a state that the load in the sheet feeding direction of more than the predetermined torque is applied to the rotating body.
US09696675B2

An image forming apparatus or an image forming system, includes a control section to control, at the time of forming an image by using a long sheet with a conveying direction sheet length longer than that of a sheet with a fixed paper size, so as to perform image formation by arranging multiple images on the long sheet, and the control section controls so as to form images repeatedly with a predetermined cycle on the long sheet, detects a margin region being a region where images are not formed on the long sheet, and controls image formation so as to dispose a patch image on the margin region.
US09696671B1

This invention discloses a polyimide fuser belt incorporating synthetic graphite or expanded synthetic graphite as a filler. The resulting fuser belt has increased thermal diffusivity without sacrificing mechanical strength. Fuser belts made with synthetic or expanded synthetic graphite enable electrophotographic printers to exhibit superior fuse temperatures and better print speeds across a range of different media types.
US09696651B2

An image-forming apparatus includes a light-irradiation unit configured to move a spot of laser light on a surface of a photosensitive member at a non-constant scanning velocity in a main scanning direction to form a latent image on the photosensitive member, an image data correcting unit configured to correct a length in the main scanning direction of image data by inserting one or more image data pieces into the image data, the number of the image data pieces increasing as the scanning velocity increases, and/or extracting one or more image data pieces from the image data, the number of the image data pieces increasing as the scanning velocity decreases, and a brightness correcting unit configured to correct a brightness of the laser light so that an emission brightness increases as the scanning velocity increases and/or the emission brightness decreases as the scanning velocity decreases.
US09696639B2

A projection exposure system (10) for microlithography which includes: a mask holding device (14) holding a mask (18) with mask structures (20) disposed on the mask, a substrate holding device (36) holding a substrate (30), projection optics (26) imaging the mask structures (20) onto the substrate (30) during an exposure process, and a measurement structure (48) disposed in a defined position with respect to a reference element (16) of the projection exposure system (10), which defined position is mechanically uncoupled from the position of the mask holding device (14). The projection exposure system (10) also includes a detector (52) arranged to record an image of the measurement structure (48) imaged by the projection optics (26). The projection exposure system (10) is configured such that during operation of the projection exposure system (10) the imaging of the mask structures (20) and the imaging of the measurement structure (48) take place at the same time by the projection optics (26. An evaluation device (54) is configured to establish a lateral position of the image of the measurement structure (48) in the area of the detector (52) during the exposure process.
US09696630B2

Lithography apparatus and device manufacturing methods are disclosed in which means are provided for reducing the extent to which vibrations propagate between a first element of a projection system and a second element of a projection system. Approaches disclosed include the use of plural resilient members in series as part of a vibration isolation system, plural isolation frames for separately supporting first and second projection system frames, and modified connection positions for the interaction between the first and second projection system frames and the isolation frame(s).
US09696629B2

Photoresist pattern trimming compositions are provided. The compositions comprise: a matrix polymer, an aromatic sulfonic acid and a solvent, wherein the aromatic sulfonic acid comprises one or more fluorinated alcohol group. Also provided are methods of trimming a photoresist pattern using the trimming compositions. The compositions and methods find particular applicability in the manufacture of semiconductor devices.
US09696619B2

During a calculation technique, a modification to a reflective photo-mask is calculated. In particular, using information specifying a defect associated with a location on a top surface of the reflective photo-mask, the modification to the reflective photo-mask is calculated. For example, the calculation may involve an inverse optical calculation in which a difference between a pattern associated with the reflective photo-mask at an image plane in a photo-lithographic process and a reference pattern at the image plane in the photo-lithographic process is used to calculate the modification at an object plane in the photo-lithographic process. Note that the modification includes a material added to the top surface of the reflective photo-mask using an additive fabrication process. Moreover, the modification is proximate to the location.
US09696618B2

A method for generating a pattern including patterns of cells having assist patterns arranged therein. The present invention provides a method for generating a pattern of a cell used when a mask pattern is generated by arranging cells selected from among a plurality of types of cells. The method includes generating a pattern including isolated rectangular pattern elements and an assist pattern as a cell pattern by obtaining data on a cell including the rectangular pattern elements and generating the assist pattern which assist resolution of the rectangular pattern elements in accordance with the data.
US09696616B2

Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for controlling the focus of a projector of a portable terminal when the projector is operated. The method includes projecting screen data by enabling an auto-focusing operation of the projector; capturing the projected screen data through the camera, and detecting a change of a value of the captured screen through a sensor; and when the change of the value is greater than a preset threshold value, temporarily stopping the auto-focusing operation of the projector and projecting the screen data.
US09696613B2

An image processing apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to image a region including a target on which an image is projected to acquire imaged data, a distance measuring unit configured to compute distance data associated with a distance between the target and the imaging unit based on the imaged data acquired from the imaging unit, a plane estimating unit configured to estimate a plane corresponding to the target based on the distance data, and a range specifying unit configured to generate image data associated with the region based on the imaged data and specify a projectable range to the target based on the image data and in formation associated with the plane.
US09696606B2

A display device includes a light source generating light and a thin film transistor array panel including a pixel electrode and a common electrode. The display includes an upper panel and a quantum rod layer positioned between the thin film transistor array panel and the upper panel. The display includes an upper polarizer attached outside of the upper panel, in which the quantum rod layer includes quantum rods, and an arrangement direction of the quantum rods is controlled by an electric field generated by the pixel electrode and the common electrode, light is polarized according to the controlled arrangement direction, and the polarizer controls the transmission degree of the polarized light from the quantum rods according to the arrangement direction of the quantum rods.
US09696599B2

According to an aspect, a display device has a first electrode, a second electrode and liquid crystal layer. When a voltage is not applied to the first and second electrodes, the major axes of the liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a third direction. When a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, the major axes are oriented so as to rise in a direction perpendicular to a first substrate while rotating clockwise in a vicinity of one of long sides of comb tooth portion that face each other and counterclockwise in a vicinity of the other of the long sides. An angle between an electrode base-side portion of a long side of each comb tooth portions and the third direction is larger than an angle between a distal end-side portion of the long side of each comb tooth portions and the third direction.
US09696592B2

In order to avoid generation of black unevenness caused by the water intrusion into a liquid crystal display device, there is to provide a liquid crystal display device including a display area and a terminal portion, in which a TFT substrate with an organic passivation film formed and an opposite substrate are adhered to each other by a seal portion and a liquid crystal is enclosed there, wherein in the seal portion of the TFT substrate, a groove-shaped through-hole is formed in the organic passivation film to surround the display area, a water absorption layer formed of the same material in the same process as that of the organic passivation film is formed within the groove-shaped through-hole, and the water absorption layer is not covered with the inorganic insulating film.
US09696582B2

The present invention provides an array substrate, a method for manufacturing the same, and a liquid crystal display panel. The array substrate includes a plurality of pixel units arranged in an array, each pixel unit comprising a reflection region and a transmission region, and for any pixel unit, the array substrate comprising a substrate; a thin film transistor provided on the substrate; and a reflection electrode and a first transparent electrode which are electrically connected with each other, the reflection electrode being located in the reflection region, and the first transparent electrode being located in the transmission region, wherein a first transparent insulation layer is provided between the reflection electrode and the first transparent electrode, and the reflection electrode is on a side of the first transparent insulation layer which is closer to the substrate.
US09696580B2

An array substrate and a fabricating method thereof and a display apparatus are provided. The array substrate comprises a base substrate, a pixel electrode layer formed on the base substrate, and a first wire grid polarizing film disposed on a surface of the pixel electrode layer, wherein the first wire grid polarizing film includes a plurality of first metal lines (L1) which are mutually parallel and are periodically arranged; the surface of the pixel electrode layer is a surface of the pixel electrode layer facing the base substrate or a surface of the pixel electrode layer opposite to the base substrate. The array substrate and the fabricating method thereof and the display apparatus can facilitate an ultrathin design.
US09696573B2

A display module, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) device including the same, includes a guide panel surrounding a side surface of a liquid crystal panel. The guide panel and a cover bottom are fastened to each other by hooks.
US09696570B2

Disclosed are a VCOM generation circuit and a liquid crystal display. The VCOM generation circuit has a voltage divider circuit coupled between a power source input end of the VCOM generation circuit and a ground, and a voltage output end; an operational amplifier output circuit, and one input end is coupled to the voltage output end of the voltage divider circuit, and an output end is a VCOM input end of a liquid crystal display, employed for outputting a liquid crystal drive reference voltage VCOM as the liquid crystal display functions to charge a liquid crystal layer; a delay circuit, coupled between the one input end of the operational amplifier output circuit and the ground, and employed for delaying a change rate of the VCOM as the operational amplifier output circuit outputs the VCOM.
US09696555B2

An image display apparatus includes a stereoscopic image display apparatus configured to display a stereoscopically visible image, and a planar image display apparatus configured to display a planar image. An adjustment section of the image display apparatus adjusts relative positions, relative sizes, and relative rotations of a left-eye image taken by a left-eye image imaging section and a right-eye image taken by a right-eye image imaging section. The adjusted left-eye image and the adjusted right-eye image are viewed by the left eye and the right eye of the user, respectively, thereby displaying the stereoscopic image on the stereoscopic image display apparatus. The adjusted left-eye image and the adjusted right-eye image are made semi-transparent and superimposed one on the other, and thus a resulting superimposed planar image is displayed on the planar image display apparatus.
US09696550B2

A device for improving the vision of an eye of a human being includes optical elements for forming an image of a scene; a controllable projector having an input and mounted to co-operate with the optical elements, and suitable for outputting a beam; a mirror; elements for linking the mirror to the orbit and to the projector in such a manner that the optical axis of the mirror passes through the center of rotation of the eye and that the mirror is on the light path of the beam; a sensor for determining the rotation of the eye relative to its orbit, and elements for applying the signal output from the sensor to the input of the projector so as to cause the image light beam to be projected on a location of the mirror that is a function of the rotation of the eye in its orbit.
US09696547B2

A see-through, near-eye, mixed reality display apparatus providing a mixed reality environment wherein one or more virtual objects and one or more real objects exist within the view of the device. Each of the real and virtual have a commonly defined set of attributes understood by the mixed reality system allowing the system to manage relationships and interaction between virtual objects and other virtual objects, and virtual and real objects.
US09696546B2

Systems and apparatus are provided for head-mountable cockpit displays for providing information related to an aircraft system to a user. A cockpit display system comprises an eyeglass frame adapted for wearing on the head of the user. The eyeglass frame has a perimeter defining a field of view. A display element is mechanically coupled to the eyeglass frame and aligned with a bottom portion of the field of view. Display electronics are coupled to the display element, and an avionics system is coupled to the display electronics. The display electronics are configured to render an image of a cockpit instrument panel associated with the avionics system on the display element.
US09696540B2

Micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) mirror devices and manufacturing methods thereof. The device comprising a hinge layer having orthogonal tilt and roll hinges connecting inner and outer platforms such that the inner platform has bi-directional rotation. An electrode layer connected beneath the hinge layer controls rotation of the platforms. A mirror layer above the hinge layer comprises a mirror connected to the inner platform via a pedestal and fixed membrane connected to the hinge layer but detached from the mirror. An anchor temporarily reduces movement of the outer platform during fabrication. In a fabrication state, the anchor anchors the outer platform to the mirror layer's fixed membrane. In a post-fabrication state, a gap releases the outer platform.
US09696535B2

An optical device, such as a microscope, is disclosed that can be assembled from flat materials. The optical device can be assembled via a series of folds of a flat material. The optical microscope can include a stage for supporting a sample, an optic stage, and a light source. The optic stage can include one or more lenses. The optical microscope can be capable of obtaining simultaneous images from different forms of microscopy. The optical microscope may have bright field and filter field viewing capabilities wherein a user shifts from bright field to filter field by lateral movement of the stage containing a lens and a light source that cooperate to provide either the bright field or the filter field.
US09696524B2

The invention relates to an electronic image pickup system whose depth dimension is extremely reduced, taking advantage of an optical system type that can overcome conditions imposed on the movement of a zooming movable lens group while high specifications and performance are kept. The electronic image pickup system comprises an optical path-banding zoom optical system comprising, in order from its object side, a 1-1st lens group G1-1 comprising a negative lens group and a reflecting optical element P for bending an optical path, a 1-2nd lens group G1-2 comprising one positive lens and a second lens group G2 having positive refracting power. For zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the second lens group G2 moves only toward the object side. The electronic image pickup system also comprises an electronic image pickup device I located on the image side of the zoom optical system.
US09696520B2

A wide-angle lens, from an object side to an image side along an optical axis, includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, a sixth lens, a seventh lens, an eighth lens and a ninth lens. The first, second and third lens are with negative refractive power. The fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh lens are with refractive power. The eighth lens is a biconvex lens with positive refractive power. The ninth lens is a biconvex lens with positive refractive power. The first lens, the second lens and the third lens satisfy: −26
US09696519B1

The present disclosure provides an imaging optical lens assembly, including, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens element with negative refractive power having an object-side surface being concave in a paraxial region, a second lens element with positive refractive power, a third lens element with negative refractive power, a fourth lens element with positive refractive power, and a fifth lens element with negative refractive power having an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region and at least one convex shape in an off-axial region on the image-side surface, wherein the imaging optical lens assembly has a total of five lens elements.
US09696518B2

A device for adjustably positioning an optical component includes a holding unit, which is which at least partly composed of a magnetostrictive material, and a mechanism for generating a magnetic field having a predetermined directional and amplitude distribution in the region of the holding unit. The holding unit has, in a predefined direction, an expansion which can be varied by a specific absolute value by the effect of the magnetic field.
US09696517B2

The present invention discloses a device and a method for inserting and positioning a target within a free electron laser, particle accelerator, or other such device that generates or utilizes a beam of energy or particles. The system includes a three-point registration mechanism that insures angular and translational accuracy and repeatability of positioning upon multiple insertions within the same structure.
US09696515B2

An electromagnetic driving module includes an upper housing, a lower housing, a circuit board, a base, a wiring assembly, and a magnetic element. The upper housing is connected to the lower housing. The circuit board is fixed on the upper housing. The base is disposed in a space defined by the upper housing and the lower housing. The wiring assembly is disposed on the base. The magnetic element corresponds to the wiring assembly and is disposed on the upper housing.
US09696511B2

An optical termination enclosure (100) defines ruggedized adapters at output ports (132); a cable entry port (105) through which an input cable can enter the enclosure; and a sealing arrangement (150) disposed at the cable entry port (105) to seal around the input cable. The sealing arrangement (150) includes a gasket block arrangement (151) defining at least a first cable aperture (108) sized to receive an optical cable; and a retention arrangement (160) to activate the gasket block arrangement (151). The retention arrangement (160) includes a wedge-shaped body (161) and a gel-type sealing member (180).
US09696509B2

An armored cable termination/fiber-optic seal which connects a fiber optic cable—the fiber optic cable including one or more armor wires and one or more cable tubes—to a pressure housing, the armored cable termination/fiber-optic seal including: an armored termination which locks the one or more armor wires in a conical cavity; sealing paths which block water from traveling in the interstitial space between the one or more armor wires and the one or more cable tubes into the pressure housing; and fiber feed-through tubes which block water from traveling in the interior of the one or more cable tubes into the pressure housing.
US09696503B2

A multi-channel transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) with an off-center fiber in an optical coupling is disclosed, and can provide passive compensation for beam displacement introduced by optical isolators. The optical coupling receptacle can include an optical isolator configured to receive a focused light beam from a focus lens within the TOSA. The optical coupling receptacle may be offset such that a center line of the focused light beam entering the optical isolator is offset from a center line of a fiber within optical coupling receptacle. Thus the optical isolator receives the focused light beam from the focus lens and introduces beam displacement such that an optical signal is launched generally along a center line of the fiber. Thus the expected beam displacement introduced by the optical isolator is eliminated or otherwise mitigated by the offset between a center line of the fiber and a center position of the focus lens.
US09696502B2

An expanded beam (EB) optical connector. In some embodiments, the EB optical connector includes: a rigid, hollow, straight contact tube having a centerline axis; and a collimator assembly having an optical axis and comprising an optical fiber and a collimating lens, wherein the centerline axis of the contact tube is at least substantially aligned with the optical axis such that collimated light produced by the lens from light exiting the fiber travels though the contact tube and the loss of light caused by misalignment of the axes is not more than 2 dB.
US09696495B2

An optical tap includes a support with a first port facing a first ferrule supporting a first fiber along a first axis. A beamsplitter is connected to the support and intersected by the first axis. A second port is fastened to the support and facing a second ferrule supporting a second fiber along a second axis that intersects the beamsplitter. A third port is fastened to the support and facing a third ferrule supporting a third fiber along a third axis that intersects the beamsplitter, wherein the beamsplitter splits a first light signal from the first port to sends first and second portions of the first signal to the second and third ports, respectively. When the beamsplitter may optionally be configured as a polarizing element and include elements configured to rotate relative to each other to change a ratio of the first and second portions. The optical tap may optionally include a light intensity controlling device located in an optical path between the beamsplitter and at least one of the second or third ferrules. Optionally, a first collimating lens is configured to expand a first light beam that is substantially aligned with the first axis, and a second collimating lens is located between the beamsplitter and the second port, and configured to contract the second portion of the expanded first light beam to the second port.
US09696483B2

Disclosed are a backlight unit and a liquid crystal display device including the same to stably fix a light guide plate. The backlight unit includes a guide disposed between a cover bottom, on which a light guide plate is mounted, and the light guide plate, the guide having a plurality of projections in an area in which the guide contacts the light guide plate.
US09696474B2

A polarizer includes a base substrate, a polarizing layer disposed on the base substrate and including a plurality of first linear extensions spaced apart from each other, and an ultraviolet (UV)-blocking layer including a plurality of second linear extensions spaced apart from each other and crossing the first linear extensions. The polarizer may block an external UV light.
US09696471B2

An integrated swept wavelength optical source uses a filtered ASE signal with an optical amplifier and tracking filter. This source comprises a micro optical bench, a source for generating broadband light, a first tunable Fabry Perot filter, installed on the bench, for spectrally filtering the broadband light from the broadband source to generate a narrowband tunable signal, an amplifier, installed on the bench, for amplifying the tunable signal, and a second tunable Fabry Perot filter, installed on the bench, for spectrally filtering the amplified tunable signal from the amplifier. A self-tracking arrangement is also possible where a single tunable filter both generates the narrowband signal and spectrally filters the amplified signal. In some examples, two-stage amplification is provided. The use of a single bench implementation yields a low cost high performance system. For example, polarization control between components is no longer necessary.
US09696469B2

A multilayer diffractive optical element includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first resin layer having a first diffraction grating pattern and interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a second resin layer having a second diffraction grating pattern and interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first resin layer includes a first region provided at a peripheral portion adjacent to a portion of the first diffraction grating pattern. The first resin layer includes a second region provided at a peripheral portion adjacent to the first region.
US09696460B2

The invention relates to nanoparticles having a core that is fully or partially formed by at least one UV-absorbing organic compound in crystallized form and coated with an outer layer formed by at least one hydrophilic polymer, said UV-absorbing organic compound(s) and hydrophilic polymer(s) being associated in a weight ratio of organic compound(s) to hydrophilic polymer(s) varying between 0.2 and 0.4.
US09696458B2

According to the present invention, a method and a device for determining a physical quantity at a plurality of locations are provided. The method according to the invention comprises approaching the plurality of locations in a first predetermined direction, wherein at each location of the plurality of locations a first measured value of the physical quantity is measured, approaching the plurality of locations in a second predetermined direction substantially opposite to the first predetermined direction, wherein at each location of the plurality of locations a second measured value of the physical quantity is measured, and establishing a determination value for the physical quantity at a respective location of the plurality of locations based on the first and second measured values of the physical quantity which have been measured at the respective location.
US09696454B1

A method of identifying barite in a subterranean annulus that surrounds a wellbore, where the method includes detecting gamma rays in the wellbore that are generated from the annulus, obtaining a count rate of the detected gamma rays, comparing the count rate with reference data, and determining the presence of barite in the wellbore based on the comparison. The count rate can be a ratio of counts of detected gamma rays obtained from spaced apart receivers on a downhole tool, or a ratio of detected inelastic and capture gamma rays. The reference data is obtained by using a simulation algorithm.
US09696453B2

A method for predicting at least one property of a geological formation may include generating mapping function values relating a plurality of reference elemental compositions to corresponding reference properties thereof based upon at least one non-linear mapping function. The method may further include determining a sample elemental composition of at least one sample associated with the geological formation and performing, using a processor, an interpolation to map the sample elemental composition to at least one sample property based upon the mapping function values and the at least one non-linear function.
US09696444B2

Systems, computer readable media, and program code to provide for filtering noise and/or restoring attenuated spectral components in acoustic signals, are provided. An exemplary embodiment of a system is configured for dynamically filtering each of a plurality of raw FFT data samples of a record to remove or attenuate background noise contained therein to thereby produce a corresponding plurality of cleaned FFT data samples. The sample-specific background noise is removed or attenuated by a record-specific dynamic filter to produce the corresponding cleaned FFT data samples. The system can also perform the operations of restoring the attenuated high-frequency components of the cleaned data samples through application of a record-specific Restoring Processor at least partially defined by a portion of the cleaned data samples and a Gain Function to thereby produce cleaned and restored data samples, and applying an inverse transformation to convert the cleaned and restored data samples into cleaned and restored data samples in time domain data.
US09696427B2

Embodiments for a depth sensing camera with a wide field of view are disclosed. In one example, a depth sensing camera comprises an illumination light projection subsystem, an image detection subsystem configured to acquire image data having a wide angle field of view, a logic subsystem configured to execute instructions, and a data-holding subsystem comprising stored instructions executable by the logic subsystem to control projection of illumination light and to determine depth values from image data acquired via the image sensor. The image detection subsystem comprises an image sensor and one or more lenses.
US09696424B2

An imaging sensor device is configured to illuminate a viewing field using an array of focused light spots spaced across the viewing field rather than uniformly illuminating the viewing field, thereby reducing the amount of illumination energy required to produce a given intensity of light reflected from the spots. In some embodiments, the imaging sensor device can project an array of focused light spots at two different intensities or brightness levels, such that high intensity and low intensity light spots are interlaced across the viewing field. This ensures that both relatively dark and relatively bright or reflective objects can be reliably detected within the viewing field. The intensities of the light spots can be modulated based on measured conditions of the viewing field, including but not limited to the measured ambient light or a determined dynamic range of reflectivity of objects within the viewing field.
US09696421B2

A handheld through-wall sensing system comprising a transmitter/receiving operating at wireless data or cellular transmission frequencies. The system is operated in a monostatic radar mode with transmission occurring on frequency fo and reception on a predetermined bandwidth centered on fo. The system may be operated on a pulsed or pseudo “half duplex” mode and have a transmit/receive pattern that is a function of the desired minimum stand-off distance.
US09696418B2

A spatially-distributed architecture (SDA) of antennas transmits a set of uniquely coded signals. A first receiver having a known position in a coordinate system defined by the SDA receives reflected versions of the uniquely coded signals. A first processor receives the reflected versions of the uniquely coded signals and identifies a position of a non-cooperative object in the coordinate system. A platform having a second receiver receives non-reflected versions of the uniquely coded signals. The platform determines a position of the platform in the coordinate system. In an example, the platform uses a self-determined position and a position of the non-cooperative object communicated from the SDA to navigate or guide the platform relative to the non-cooperative object. In another example, the platform uses a self-determined position and information from an alternative signal source in a second coordinate system to guide the platform after a coordinate conversion.
US09696414B2

A candidate companion screen device is located by a primary display device as being in the same room as the primary device using sonic signaling, and in response ancillary content related to content being shown on the primary display device is provided to the companion screen device. The ancillary content may be provided from the Internet based on information in the content being presented on the primary display device by, e.g., providing a link to a website to the companion device.
US09696410B1

Provided are an apparatus for minimizing occurrence of an error in measuring an altitude, and a method thereof. A jamming suppression apparatus of an altitude measuring sensor includes a signal unit configured to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal to the outside or receive an RF signal from the outside, and a processing unit configured to determine whether jamming has occurred on the basis of a noise signal received from the signal unit, and suppress jamming by performing at least one of a plurality of jamming suppression algorithms sequentially or simultaneously on the basis of a current altitude when jamming has occurred according to the determination result.
US09696402B2

Provided is a probe card inspection apparatus including: a substrate; a first insulating layer which covers the substrate; and a first detection unit which is formed on the first insulating layer and detects physical defects of a probe of a probe card. The first detection unit includes: a ground detection unit including a first conductive pattern which defines a plurality of openings which expose a portion of the first insulating layer and detect defects of a ground probe of the probe card and; and a signal and power detection unit including a second conductive pattern which defines a plurality of openings which expose another portion of the first insulating layer and detect defects of a signal and power supply probe of the probe card.
US09696400B2

A method and a pulse sequence optimization device to optimize a pulse sequence for a magnetic resonance system, wherein the pulse sequence includes at least one refocusing pulse, one slice selection gradient pulse, and one gradient spoiler pulse. The pulse duration of the refocusing pulse is shortened, and the pulse duration of the slice selection gradient pulse is adapted to the shortened pulse duration of the refocusing pulse. The amplitude of the slice selection gradient pulse is increased so that the same slice thickness is selected as before the shortening of the pulse duration of the refocusing pulse. The pulse shape of the gradient spoiler pulse is adapted without changing a total spoiler moment, and an optimally shortened pulse duration of the refocusing pulse is achieved when, with the adaptation of the pulse shape of the gradient spoiler pulse, the maximum amplitude of the gradient spoiler pulse equals the amplitude of the slice selection gradient pulse, and an edge steepness of the gradient spoiler pulse is minimized.
US09696399B2

In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for image acquisition using a magnetic resonance sequence in which k-space corresponding to the imaging area is scanned, a first region of k-space, which does not include the center of k-space, is scanned radially along a number of spokes emanating from the k-space center, and at least two phase coding gradients are completely ramped up before the excitation pulse. A second central region of k-space, which remains without the first region, is scanned in a Cartesian manner. For contrast increase a pre-pulse is provided before a predetermined number of individual measurements. The number of spokes is selected so a measurement point nearest to the k-space center is measured at a predetermined point in time after the pre-pulse, which is optimal for signal-to-noise ratio and/or contrast.
US09696398B2

Provided is a magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography (MRI-PET) system. The MRI-PET system includes a PET unit and a radiofrequency (RF) coil disposed within a gradient coil assembly.
US09696397B2

Detection and recognition of taggant substances having predefined zero external field magnetic resonance signatures. An object comprising taggant substance(s) is irradiated with a sequence of specific excitation pulses of electromagnetic radiation within a predetermined time and frequency scanning pattern, responsive nuclear spin echo signals are received from the object with a predetermined time and frequency acquisition pattern and data indicative thereof is generated. The scanning and acquisition patterns used permit successive transmission of pulses of multiple frequencies using a two-pulse spin-echo excitation technique, or a steady state-spin echo excitation technique, and successive acquisition of multiple nuclear spin echo response signals, within a time slot between two successive excitation pulses of a specific excitation frequency. The generated data is correlated with reference data corresponding to predetermined taggant substance(s) and one or more taggant substances are identified based on the determined correlation.
US09696396B2

A method (10) for acquiring magnetic resonance data from a sample (50) to be analyzed through a fixed geometry configuration coil suitable for transmitting radiofrequency signals ‘suitable for exciting said sample and/or detecting magnetic resonance signals from the sample (50) is described. The coil (100) comprises a plurality of current elements (20,21,22) and exhibits a frequency response comprising a plurality of resonant modes (M1, M2, M3) each associable to a respective resonant frequency (f1,f2,f3) depending on electrical features of the current elements (20,21,22), the current elements (20,21,22) comprising at least one current element having electrical features that may be regulated based on a respective control signal (S_CV0, S_CV1, S_CV2). The method provides for synthesizing the control signal such as to obtain magnetic resonance data from a same sample for a given first resonant frequency of interest sequentially using resonance modes having different spatial field distributions.
US09696388B2

A magnetic sensing apparatus and a magnetic sensing method thereof are provided. The magnetic sensing apparatus includes a reference magnetic field (MF) generating unit, a MF sensing unit, a signal processing unit, a calibration unit and a frequency generating unit. The MF sensing unit senses an external MF and a reference MF to provide a MF sensing signal. The signal processing unit receives and transfers the MF sensing signal into an output signal. The calibration unit calibrates the output signal according to the MF sensing signal. The frequency generating unit provides an operating frequency. The reference MF generating unit provides the reference MF according to the operating frequency, and the MF sensing unit senses the external MF and the reference MF according to the operating frequency.
US09696385B2

An apparatus for detecting the state of a checkable storage battery in a vehicle having at least two vehicle onboard power supply systems of different operating voltages is provided. The vehicle onboard power supply systems are coupled by a DC/DC converter, which converts a first DC voltage of a first vehicle onboard power supply system into a second DC voltage of the storage battery in the second vehicle onboard power supply system. The vehicle onboard power supply systems have a control device that includes a test signal module configured to supply a test signal via the DC/DC converter to the checkable storage battery, a measured value detection module configured to measure the reaction values of the checkable storage battery, and an evaluation module configured to detect the state of the storage battery from the measured reaction values.
US09696383B2

A battery monitoring system includes a plurality of battery monitoring devices connected to a battery formed by connecting a plurality of battery cell groups in series, and monitor a state of the battery for the respective battery cell groups, each of the plurality of battery cell groups being of one or a plurality of battery cells connected in series, and a controller that performs wireless communication with the plurality of battery monitoring devices. First identification information portions which are different from each other are set in the plurality of battery monitoring devices in advance, and second identification information corresponding to an order of potentials of the battery cell groups in the battery, to which the battery monitoring devices are connected, is assigned to each of the plurality of battery monitoring devices. The controller stores a relationship between the first and second identification information for each battery monitoring device.
US09696381B2

In a method for testing a bar winding of a rotor of a rotating electrical machine, a rotor temperature is detected by a thermal radiation sensor, which is arranged in a stator of the rotating electrical machine. A thermal radiation sensor is used with a resolution suitable for the thermal detection of individual bars of the bar winding. The rotor is rotated at a speed that is lower than a limit frequency of the thermal radiation sensor divided by the number of bars of the bar winding, and the thermal radiation of the rotor is detected by the thermal radiation sensor. The thermal radiation sensor is sampled at a sampling frequency that is higher than the speed of the rotor multiplied by the number of bars and the sampled values of the thermal radiation sensor are evaluated.
US09696370B2

Provided is a probe station system which can measure thermal distribution and thermographic images. More particularly, a probe station is provided which can detect an electrical characteristics change according to the supply of heat to an element, for example a thermoelectric element to measure the characteristics of the element. The probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element includes: a chamber, a base, a platform, a probe unit, a heat source, and an infrared image detection unit and the thermographic image and the voltage signal of the element are synchronized in real time.
US09696369B2

A wafer test apparatus includes a probe station comprising a probe card that contacts a wafer positioned on a chuck during a wafer test. A test head is disposed on the probe card and tests electrical characteristics of a semiconductor chip positioned on the wafer. A probe card horizontality adjustment unit is positioned between the test head and the probe card and adjusts horizontality of the probe card during the wafer test.
US09696366B2

A terminal testing device provides an adapter customized to a port of a connector being tested so that force applied to the adapter identifies loose and fixed terminals in the connector. The adapter includes springs and push pins that correspond in number to the number of terminals being tested and has a face plate that corresponds to the type of connector being tested. The push pins provide force against the terminal end. Specifically, the device seats the adapter and connector to align both and permit force to be in line with terminal ends. The force applied to the terminal ends is uniform and controlled by means of the adapter and is obtained by a single driving means.
US09696362B2

A clamp meter configured to receive a removable and rechargeable battery pack. The clamp meter includes a main body having a first axis, a handle, a clamp, a trigger, and a display. The handle has a second axis and includes a first recess configured to receive the battery pack. The first recess includes at least first and second electrical terminals which are exposed when the battery pack is not inserted into the first recess. The second axis forms an oblique angle with the first axis, and the battery pack is inserted into the first recess along the second axis. The clamp is coupled to the main body, aligned with the first axis, and operable to measure an electrical characteristic of a conductor based on an induced current. The trigger is operable to selectively open and close the clamp, and the display configured to display an indication of the electrical characteristic.
US09696352B2

A switching device is controlled by a microprocessor to selectively configure the circuit between a current measurement mode and a calibration mode. When the switch is set to the “on” state, the circuit acts as a normal prior art circuit, with the output Vout being read by the microprocessor to determine the current to the load. However, when the switch is set to the “off” state, a small value resistor (which may be roughly three orders of magnitude greater than Rshunt) connects the inputs of the measuring circuit so that the circuit can generate an output Vout corresponding to the zero load current. By connecting the V+ and V− inputs together with a low resistance resistor, the no-load condition Vdiff=V+−V−≈0 applies. In this state, the no-load offset can be determined by measuring the output voltage of the circuit without turning off the load.
US09696347B2

The test system provides an array of test probes having a cross beam. The probes pass through a first or upper probe guide retainer which has a plurality of slot sized to receive the probes in a way that they cannot rotate. The probes are biased upwardly through the retainer by an elastomeric block having a similar array of slots. The elastomer is then capped at its bottom by a second or lower retainer with like slots to form a sandwich with the elastomer therebetween. The bottom ends of the probes are group by probe height. A plurality of flex circuits at the different heights engage bottom probe ends at their respective height levels and take continue the circuits to a probe card where test signals originate.
US09696344B2

The present invention relates to a test socket which allows for ease of alignment, and more particularly, to a test socket that is interposed between a device to be inspected and an inspection apparatus so as to electrically connect terminals of the device to be inspected and pads of the inspection apparatus, the test socket including: an alignment member that has a plurality of through-holes formed at points corresponding to the terminals of the device to be inspected or the pads of the inspection apparatus and is attached to the inspection apparatus such that the through-holes are located at the pads of the inspection apparatus; and an elastic conductive sheet including conductive parts that are disposed at the points corresponding to the terminals of the device to be inspected and include a plurality of conductive particles that are distributed in an insulating elastic material, insulating support parts that support the conductive parts and disconnect an electrical connection between adjacent conductive parts, and protruding conductive parts that protrude downward from the conductive parts and are inserted into the plurality of through-holes of the alignment member, wherein when the protruding conductive parts are inserted into the through-holes of the alignment member, the elastic conductive sheet is aligned in the the alignment member.
US09696343B2

An asset management system comprising an asset management server connected to a plurality of distributed HF sensitive measurement devices each having at least one inseparable asset tag being located outside a high frequency shield which shields an internal circuitry of the measurement device from external high frequency signals and being configured to provide asset data of the respective measurement device to be processed by the asset management server.
US09696339B2

A three-axis accelerometer to provide measurement of acceleration in three axes, comprising a substrate, a suspending mass block suspended in the substrate, a group of Y direction displacement sensors, a group of Z direction displacement sensors and a group of X direction displacement sensors; wherein the Y direction displacement sensors, the Z direction displacement sensors and the X direction displacement sensors are respectively arranged adjacent to the mass block; the mass block and the displacement sensors respectively comprise a plurality of metal layers and a dielectric layer between two metal layers. In the mass block, regions corresponding to the Y, Z and X direction displacement sensors respectively comprise at least two metal layers connected by a via. The Y, Z and X groups displacement sensors respectively comprise at least two metal layers connected by a via.
US09696337B2

A portable proximity device and method of operation thereof. The method for proximity detection implemented on a portable device can include determining an initial perturbation data, a tracking point data, and a stable position data with a physical sensor of the portable device. The initial perturbation data can include previous state data and current state data. The tracking point data can include one or more track data. An action to be performed can be determined, by a processor within the portable device, based on the initial perturbation data, the tracking point data, and the stable position data. The portable proximity device can include a physical sensor and a processor configured to perform these steps.
US09696332B2

A liquid handling system that is configured to receive an interchangeable pipetting head that is selected from a plurality of interchangeable pipetting heads for automated liquid handling flexibility and scalability. The system includes a housing and at least one pipetting head disposed within that housing for aspirating and dispensing a liquid. A locking mechanism interchangeably receives the at least one pipetting head and includes an adaptor plate and a support block. The adaptor plate is operably coupled to the housing and the support block is operably coupled to the at least one pipetting head. The support block is then, in turn, is configured to be operably coupled to the adaptor plate.
US09696331B2

The device uses a dispensing probe; a dispensing probe drive mechanism having at least one rotation drive shaft as a horizontal drive mechanism for the dispensing probe, a positioning member with a portion, which is contacted by the dispensing probe during positioning, is formed in a circular shape; a contact detection mechanism for detecting contact between the dispensing probe and the positioning member, and a control unit. The control unit drive-controls only one drive shaft into contact with the circular portion of the positioning member, and then drive-controls only one drive shaft other than the previously drive-controlled shaft into contact with the circular portion of the positioning member, and then calculates position information on a center point at a desired position where the dispensing probe is to be positioned, on the basis of position information on each point at which the contact has been detected, or the like.
US09696322B2

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for monitoring, diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of treatment regimens in subjects suffering from or suspected of having a renal injury. In particular, the invention relates to using a measured urine concentration of one or more of TIMP2 and IGFBP7 in combination with one or more of a measured serum creatinine and a measured urine output, which results are correlated to the renal status of the subject, and can be used for diagnosis, prognosis, risk stratification, staging, monitoring, categorizing and determination of further diagnosis and treatment regimens in subjects suffering or at risk of suffering from an injury to renal function, reduced renal function, and/or acute renal failure.
US09696320B2

An object of the present invention is to develop and provide a lung cancer differential marker with which lung cancer can be diagnosed conveniently and highly sensitively without depending only on increase or decrease in protein expression level between cancer patients and healthy persons. Another object of the present invention is to develop and provide a glycan marker capable of distinguishing histological types of lung cancer. Of serum glycoproteins, glycopeptide and glycoprotein groups whose glycan structures were altered specifically in lung cancer cell culture supernatants were identified, and they are provided as lung cancer differential markers.
US09696318B2

The present invention provides a hydrophilic film that causes a liquid to diffuse rapidly in a single direction. The hydrophilic film comprises a substrate having a texture of parallel sunken and raised patterns, and a hydrophilic coat comprising a coat of silicon dioxide particles. The present invention also provides a method for preparing the hydrophilic film. The method comprises: preparing an aqueous dispersion of silicon dioxide particles, wherein the average size of the silicon dioxide particles is 1 to 60 nm, and the concentration of the silicon dioxide particles is 0.05% to 15% by weight; coating the aqueous dispersion of silicon dioxide particles on a substrate, wherein the substrate has a texture of parallel sunken and raised patterns; and drying the substrate coated with the aqueous dispersion of silicon dioxide particles.
US09696317B2

Novel Mn2+-doped quantum dots are provided. These Mn2+-doped quantum dots exhibit excellent temperature sensitivity in both organic solvents and water-based solutions. Methods of preparing the Mn2+-doped quantum dots are provided. The Mn2+-doped quantum dots may be prepared via a stepwise procedure using air-stable and inexpensive chemicals. The use of air-stable chemicals can significantly reduce the cost of synthesis, chemical storage, and the risk associated with handling flammable chemicals. Methods of temperature sensing using Mn2+-doped quantum dots are provided. The stepwise procedure provides the ability to tune the temperature-sensing properties to satisfy specific needs for temperature sensing applications. Water solubility may be achieved by passivating the Mn2+-doped quantum dots, allowing the Mn2+-doped quantum dots to probe the fluctuations of local temperature in biological environments.
US09696307B2

Methods and compositions for determining whether a subject is at risk for PML, including subjects being treated with immunosuppressants, by determining whether the subject harbors a JCV variant with reduced binding for sialic acid relative to a normal JCV, are presented. Furthermore, combinations of JCV-VP1 sequence variations that are associated with PML and that can be used as a basis of an assay for identifying subjects susceptible to PML, subjects with PML (e.g., early stage PML), or subjects at risk of developing PML in response to an immunosuppressive treatment are provided.
US09696297B2

Provided herein are methods and compositions useful in treating neurological disorders.
US09696294B2

A breath alcohol testing device has a removable tamper-resistant sampling chamber assembly that provides a disposable interface between the test subject and the alcohol sensor, other sensors and electronics of the testing device. Hydrophobic membranes prevent bodily fluids and other liquids from entering the alcohol sensor and other sensitive components of the testing device. A set of chambers with one-way valves direct the gas flow within the sample chamber assembly to ensure the breath sample delivered to the alcohol sensor is not diluted by the subject inhaling, and is a deep-lung breath sample.
US09696293B2

Systems and methods for the determination of the aggregation rate of red blood cells. More specifically, the subject technology is used to determine the aggregation rate of red blood cells, and other parameters related to these, such as viscosity, deformability, elasticity, density, in the field of in vitro medical analyses, using optical systems after or during vibration for red blood cell disruption and redistribution. Once the detected light variation stops decreasing (e.g., a minimum is reached), complete disruption is accomplished for evaluation of the blood sample.
US09696280B2

This invention concerns a device and a method for inspecting aluminum cables with a steel core (ASCRs), installed in energized electrical energy lines, which use the ECT (Eddy Current Testing) technique for evaluating the remaining thickness of the zinc layer which covers the steel wires of the cables inspected, where the readings of the tension of the detection solenoid and the current of the excitation solenoid are taken as the current of the conductor reaches zero, the electrical parameters of the conductor are corrected for the average temperature during the inspection and the signal from the detection solenoid is filtered through a hybrid circuit which is designed to increase the sensitivity of the measurement.
US09696278B2

A portable rapid detection device for heavy metal ions includes a card electrode and a thin-layer flow cell, wherein a three-electrode system of the card electrode is inserted in a micro-channel of the thin-layer flow cell; and heavy metal ions are detected by using an anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV), a solution to be detected flows by the surface of a working electrode in the micro-channel, and heavy metals are enriched and stripped on the surface thereof.
US09696272B2

Systems and methods are provided that may be implemented to improve accuracy of relative humidity (RH) determination from dielectric sensing material-based RH sensors, e.g., by decreasing shift and drift effects and compensating for dielectric material aging to improve RH sensor accuracy. The disclosed systems and methods may be implemented to improve RH sensing accuracy by correcting humidity-sensitive electrical parameters (e.g., capacitance, effective resistance, etc.) based on other other measured sensor electrical operating characteristics (e.g., such as real time sensor circuit phase angle) and/or selection of sensor electrical parameters (e.g., such as optimized operating frequency) that are employed for sensing changes in dielectric constant of a dielectric material-based RH sensor.
US09696271B2

A sensor, especially a conductive conductivity sensor, to determine a measurand, especially the conductivity, of a medium, including: a process interface shaped as a hollow cylinder and made of a metal, with the process interface having at least two internal segments; a mainly cylinder-shaped sensor element that is mainly made of a ceramic, with a first section to introduce the sensor element into the process interface and a second section with which the sensor element protrudes from the process interface. The first section of the sensor element has at least two segments, wherein the respective first segment of the process interface and the sensor element are designed as a press fit, and the respective second segment of the process interface and the sensor element create a gap and a method to manufacture such a sensor.
US09696268B2

One embodiment relates to a method for automated review of defects detected in a defective die on the target substrate. The method includes: performing an automated review of the defects using an secondary electron microscope (SEM) so as to obtain electron-beam images of the defects; performing an automated classification of the defects into types based on morphology of the defects as determined from the electron-beam images; selecting defects of a specific type for automated energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) review; and performing the automated EDX review on the defects of the specific type. In addition, automated techniques are disclosed for obtaining an accurate reference so as to improve the usefulness of the EDX results. Furthermore, an automated method of classifying the defects based on the EDX results is disclosed which provides a final pareto that combines both morphological and elemental information. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
US09696257B2

Disclosed is an automated method and apparatus for automatically setting a drop delay period by detecting calibration particles in a waste stream. The drop delay is incremented over a series of drop delays and the number of calibration particles in the waste stream is detected for each drop delay. The drop delay is selected which has the least number of calibration particles in the waste stream.
US09696247B2

It has surprisingly been discovered that it is possible to stabilize biomolecules such as RNA, DNA and proteins in biological samples such as cells, tissues, biopsies and blood using deep eutectic solvents (DES). It has also been discovered that DES mixtures can be used to fix and preserve cell morphology in biological samples such as tissue blocks, cancer biopsies and whole blood. This invention describes methods to stabilize and preserve biomolecules, whole cells, tissues, blood and biological samples using DES mixtures.
US09696246B2

A sensor system (100) includes a reader (150) with a sensor unit (155, 156) and an accommodation Space (151) for an exchangeable cartridge (110). The cartridge (110) is held in the accommodation space (151) by at least one contact element (111) which has an increased thermal resistance and/or a contact area of reduced size. Thus a more homogenous temperature distribution can be achieved within the cartridge (110), reducing distortions which might adversely affect optical measurements.
US09696238B2

Systems and methods for the manufacture and use of artificial ice shapes for aircraft certification, including methods of manufacturing artificial ice shapes, artificial ice component systems for attachment to aircraft, methods of flight testing aircraft having artificial ice sections attached thereto, and artificial ice testing systems.
US09696220B2

A malfunction diagnosis apparatus includes: a first temperature detector; a second temperature detector that is placed in a different location from where the first temperature detector is placed; a difference value calculation device calculates a difference value between a detection value from the first temperature detector and a detection value from the second temperature detector; a mapping device carries out mapping of the difference value and calculates a correction value using the frequency of the difference value; a malfunction diagnosis device diagnoses whether or not there is a malfunction in the first temperature detector and the second temperature detector; and a recovery device calculates, as a detection value of the first or second temperature detector judged to be malfunctioning, a value by adding the correction value to a detection value from the first or second temperature detector judged not to be malfunctioning.
US09696219B2

A method for calibrating a measuring device in a mobile terminal includes: during a first calibration period, measuring first and second values at the first and second temperature sensors, respectively; during a second calibration period, measuring energy consumption values of the mobile terminal; generating first maximum, first minimum, and first temperature values from the first measured values; generating second maximum, second minimum, and second temperature values from the second measured values; generating a third maximum value from the measured energy consumption values; and storing the first and second temperature values for the calibration if the difference between the first maximum and minimum values and the difference between the second maximum and minimum values are smaller than a threshold value, and the third maximum value is smaller than a further threshold value.
US09696200B2

A system with a machine and a lighting device. The machine includes an image capture device and a machine vision processing system configured to detect a characteristic of a subject in a space for an operation of the machine. The lighting device includes a first light source for generating light to illuminate the space, and a second light source for generating light of a particular wavelength to support detection of the characteristic of the subject via the machine vision processing system. The light of the particular wavelength is output at a sufficient intensity reasonably expected to produce a particular emission from the subject detectable via the image capture device different from an emission produced by exposure of the subject to the light for illumination of the space. The first and second light sources are integrated into the lighting device.
US09696198B2

A system and method for monitoring underground drilling in which vibration is monitored by creating a model of the drill string using finite element techniques or finite difference techniques and (i) predicting vibration by inputting real time values of operating parameters into the model, and then adjusting the model to agree with measured vibration data, (ii) predicting the weight on bit and drill string and mud motor speeds at which resonance will occur, as well as when stick-slip will occur, so that the operator can avoid operating regimes that will result in high vibration, (iii) determining vibration and torque levels along the length of the drill string based on the measured vibration and torque at one or more locations, (iv) determining the remaining life of critical components of the drill string based on the history of the vibration to which the components have been subjected, and (v) determining the optimum drilling parameters that will avoid excessive vibration of the drill string.
US09696188B2

A magnetic flowmeter comprises a pipe section for process flow, a coil for generating a magnetic field across the pipe section, a current source for energizing the coil to generate the magnetic field at a coil drive frequency, and electrodes for sensing voltage induced across the process flow by the magnetic field. A processor calculates a function of the sensed voltage and generates a flow output based on the function. The processor adjusts an operating parameter of the flowmeter, such as electrode voltage sampling period, the coil drive frequency, or a phase shift, as a function of a sensed electrode-to-electrode or electrode-to-ground complex impedance.
US09696187B2

A device is disclosed for measuring total pressure of a fluid flow comprises a tubular member having an inlet chamber with an inlet opening at a first end of the tubular member. The tubular member also comprises an outlet chamber having an outlet opening at a second end of the tubular member. The inlet opening has a diameter transverse to the longitudinal axis and the outlet opening has a second diameter transverse to the longitudinal axis. The ratio of the first diameter to the second diameter is from 3:1 to 10:1. The tubular member also includes a transitional chamber between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber. Total pressure can be measured in the inlet chamber.
US09696186B2

A position detecting sensor is mounted in a sensor attachment groove that opens on a side surface of an actuator and extends in an axial direction of the actuator. The position detecting sensor includes a housing that houses a sensor main body, and a guide member inserted into the sensor attachment groove. The guide member is of a shape such that, when the guide member is inserted into the sensor attachment groove, the guide member is required to be rotated in one direction around an axis parallel with the axis of the actuator and then rotated in a direction opposite to the one direction. After the guide member has been inserted into the sensor attachment groove, attachment thereof to the sensor attachment groove is completed by application of a fastener.
US09696176B2

A trip gauge for a vehicle information display may convey vehicle trip information and vehicle range information graphically to assist drivers in qualitatively visualizing and determining whether they can successfully make it to their destination before an on-board energy source is depleted. The trip gauge may include indicators corresponding to the relative locations of the vehicle, the destination, and a projected zero charge location associated with the vehicle's range or distance to empty value. Moreover, the positions of the indicators relative to one another may indicate whether the excess energy is available for the vehicle to reach the destination or whether the energy available is insufficient. Accordingly, drivers may be either reassured that they are expected to reach their destination successfully or warned if they are not so the drivers can modify their driving behavior or change their destination.
US09696162B2

A harvest route generator system generates a harvest route for a harvesting machine. The harvest route generator system has a route generator that receives lodged crop information, from a sensor system, indicative of a characteristic of a lodged crop in a field and generates a harvesting route through the field for the harvesting machine, based on the lodged crop information. The harvest route generator system also has a communication component that communicates the harvesting route through the field to the harvesting machine.
US09696160B2

A method and apparatus for determining routes vehicles (4, 6), the method comprising: measuring positions of a first vehicle and a second vehicle (6); providing a specification of a region (12) having a fixed position in relation to the first vehicle (4); using the measurements and the region specification, determining a first route for the first vehicle (4) and a second route for the second vehicle (6). Determining the routes comprises: constructing a graph (34) within a joint state space (X) of the vehicles (4, 6); identifying, within the graph (34), a path from a first vertex to a second vertex, the first vertex corresponding to the measured positions of the vehicles (4, 6), and the second vertex corresponding to the second vehicle (6) being at least partially located within the region (12); and, using the identified path, determining the first and second routes.
US09696156B2

An vibrating gyro device includes a base, drive vibrating arms extending from one end of the base, and detection vibrating arms extending from the other end of the base that faces away from the one end, and an adjustment film is provided on each of the drive vibrating arms in an area close to the base.
US09696155B2

Method and system for automatically detecting and checking the use of parking places of a parking arrangement, which is provided with a parking network and a central computer, the parking places being each provided with an electronic parking sensor module, which has an identification code and a vehicle sensor for detecting vehicles in the respective parking places, wherein use is made of electronic license devices, carried along with the vehicles and each having a unique identification number and motion sensor means, which can determine at what time a vehicle comes to a standstill, and wherein information about said time together with the identification number is transmitted to the central computer, which can compare said time with times at which the parking places become occupied, to determine in which parking place the vehicle is parked.
US09696149B1

An automatic seam detection machine is disclosed herein, including a conveying device and a seam detection device. The conveying device includes a feeding station, provided with a feed valve. When a sample can is conveyed to the feeding station, the feed valve opens and the sample can arrives at the detecting station of the seam detection device through the feed valve. Since more sample cans can be placed in the conveying device, operators can place batches of sample cans in the conveying device in one time; and the sample cans can be automatically conveyed to the feeding station by the conveying device, then conveyed to the seam detection device for detection automatically by opening the feed valve. Compared with prior arts, this invention can achieve automatic feeding, so as to facilitate the batch detection, with high degree of automation.
US09696132B2

A system for swept source optical coherence tomography, the system including a light source emitting multiplexed wavelength-swept radiation over a total wavelength range, the light source including N wavelength-swept vertical cavity lasers (VCL) emitting N tunable VCL outputs having N wavelength trajectories, a combiner for combining the N tunable VCL optical outputs into a common optical path to create the multiplexed wavelength-swept radiation, a splitter for splitting the multiplexed wavelength-swept radiation to a sample and a reference path, an optical detector for detecting an interference signal created by an optical interference between a reflection from the sample and light traversing the reference path, and a signal processing system which uses the interference signal to construct an image of the sample, wherein at least one of the N wavelength trajectories differs from another of the N wavelength trajectories with respect to at least one parameter.
US09696130B1

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for garment property determination are disclosed. One or more movable portions of a mannequin are adjusted, thereby causing the mannequin to change from a first size to a second size. Signals are received from one or more sensors of the mannequin, and pressure readings applied to at least one location on an exterior surface of the mannequin are determined from the signals. Data that correlates at least a first pressure reading with the first size of the mannequin and that correlates at least a second pressure reading with the second size of the mannequin are stored.
US09696128B2

A fixed-length measurement accessory includes a rigid body fixed to a base supporting a magnet for magnetically coupling the accessory to a host tool. An opposite end of the rigid body provides a visual marker for alignment with an end of a workpiece. A variable-length accessory includes telescoping rigid bodies joined by a coupler. One end of one rigid body is joined to a base supporting a magnet for magnetically coupling the accessory to the host tool. The coupler houses a friction member creating light friction resisting adjustment of a combined length of the rigid bodies. An opposite end of the other rigid body provides a visual marker for alignment with an end of the workpiece. Markings are provided on at least one of the rigid bodies for indicating a combined length of the rigid bodies at multiple relative positions.
US09696127B2

The present disclosure relates to method and system for detecting improvised explosive devices or the like. According to the present disclosure, the method is of the image-correlation type and involves continuously delivering current images representative of said path followed by a vehicle, in replacing some of said current images with pre-recorded earlier images taken at the same point, and in displaying said current images and said replacement earlier images in succession in order to detect said explosive devices.
US09696125B2

A device includes a thermal trigger having a firing pin, where the thermal trigger is configured to move the firing pin in response to an elevated temperature. The device also includes an out-of-line lockout device configured to disarm the thermal trigger in response to acceleration of the lockout device. The lockout device is configured to move a first lockout ball into a notch of the firing pin to disarm the thermal trigger. The lockout device could include an inertial mass configured to move the first lockout ball into the notch of the firing pin and a first spring configured to bias the inertial mass in an initial position. The lockout device could also include a second lockout ball configured to move into a position that prevents the inertial mass from returning to the initial position or a dampener configured to slow movement of the inertial mass.
US09696122B2

A light weight pre-stressed antiballistic article including a monolith ceramic plate/tile bonded to a thin lightweight thermal expansion material with an adhesive, characterized, in that the thermal expansion material has a thermal expansion coefficient at least 50% higher than the ceramic plate/tile, and the thermal expansion material is bonded to either the front face, back face or both faces of the ceramic plate/tile at a bonding temperature of between 50° C. and 250° C. with adhesive and subsequently cooled, whereby upon cooling, the bonded thermal expansion material contracts to a greater extent than the ceramic plate/tile, exerting compression stress on the ceramic plate/tile.
US09696118B2

Implementations of a rear sight block for AK-type rifles are provided. In some implementations, the rear sight block may be drop-in-compatible with most AK-type rifles and performs several functions (e.g., providing a guide hole for the piston of an AK-type rifles operating system) associated with prior art rear sight blocks found on AK-type rifles. In some implementations, the rear sight block disclosed herein comprises an optic mounting interface having an integral rear sight notch therein, and at least one accessory mounting interface. In some implementations, the optic mounting interface places an optical gun sight secured thereto in line with the iron sights of the host AK-type rifle. In some implementations, the accessory mounting interface may be used to position a flashlight, laser, and/or other firearm accessory on the left (or right) side of the rear sight block.
US09696111B2

A mounting system includes a rail system. The rail system can include a plurality of powered rails and at least one control rail. The rail system can be disposed on a firearm, extending along the barrel toward a front of the firearm. The front or forward direction of the firearm extends from the trigger toward the distal end of the barrel. The rail system can extend along the barrel forward of the trigger, stock, and firearm handle.
US09696110B2

A firearm support brace has an attachment facility operable to removably connect securely to the mounting portion, an arm extending downwardly and rearwardly from the mounting portion, an extension extending from the arm and having an end away from the arm, and a saddle element connected to the end of the extension, such that the firearm is stabilized by positioning the saddle against the upper arm of a user adjacent to the elbow of the user while the barrel is aligned for sighting by the user. The attachment facility may include a first clamp portion connected to the arm, and a second portion removably connected to the first clamp portion. The attachment facility may define a cylindrical aperture. The attachment facility may be rotatable with respect to the firearm about a rotation axis parallel to a barrel axis defined by the barrel.
US09696086B2

A system and method for producing liquefied natural gas are provided. The method may include compressing a process stream containing natural gas in a compression assembly to produce a compressed process stream. The method may also include removing non-hydrocarbons from the compressed process stream in a separator, and cooling the compressed process stream with a cooling assembly to thereby produce a cooled, compressed process stream containing natural gas in a supercritical state. The method may further include expanding a first portion and a second portion of the natural gas from the cooled, compressed process stream in a first expansion element and a second expansion element to generate a first refrigeration stream and a second refrigeration stream, respectively. The method may further include cooling the natural gas in the cooled, compressed process stream to a supercritical state with the first and second refrigeration streams to thereby produce the liquefied natural gas.
US09696084B1

A refrigerator appliance having a cabinet defining a food storage chamber, a first door, a second door rotatably mounted to the outer surface of the first door, a light, a switch in operative communication with the light, and an actuator. The switch and actuator are configured to turn the light on when the first door is in the open position, to turn the light on when the second door is in the open position, and to turn the light off when both the first door and the second door are in the respective closed positions.
US09696083B2

Disclosed herein is a refrigerator which has an improved structure to increase insulating properties. The refrigerator includes a body including an inner casing and an outer casing, a storage compartment formed in the inner casing, an insulator provided between the inner casing and the outer casing to insulate the storage compartment, and a frame unit which is disposed between the adjacent insulators to ensure stiffness of the body and includes at least one coupling surface coupled with at least one of the inner casing and the outer casing.
US09696076B2

A method of controlling a fan of a vapor compression system is disclosed. The vapor compression system includes a compressor, a heat rejecting heat exchanger, e.g. in the form of a gas cooler or a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator arranged in a refrigerant circuit. The fan is arranged to provide a secondary fluid flow across the heat rejecting heat exchanger, e.g. in the form of an air flow. The method allows the electrical energy consumption of the fan to be reduced without risking instability of the vapor compression system.
US09696072B2

A method of operating a refrigerant service system to charge an air conditioning circuit includes pre-charging a predetermined pre-charge quantity of refrigerant into the air conditioning circuit, determining an average temperature in the air conditioning circuit based upon a pressure in the air conditioning circuit after pre-charging the air conditioning circuit, determining a charge compensation value based upon the determined average temperature in the air conditioning circuit, and charging the air conditioning circuit with a quantity of refrigerant based upon the charge compensation value.
US09696070B2

A flow rate regulation valve is used for a refrigeration cycle device for air conditioning. The flow rate regulation valve is constituted by: an inlet flow rate control valve connected to the inlet side of an inside evaporator and functioning in the refrigeration cycle device as an expansion valve for depressurizing and expanding a refrigerant flowing into the inside evaporator; and an outlet flow rate adjustment valve connected to the outlet side of the inside evaporator and functioning as an evaporation pressure adjustment valve for adjusting evaporation pressure in the inside evaporator to a predetermined target pressure at which frost is not formed. The flow rate regulation valve is characterized in that, when the opening of one of the inlet flow rate control valve and the outlet flow rate adjustment valve increases, the flow rate regulation valve displaces so that the opening of the other decreases.
US09696066B1

A bi-fuel refrigeration system and method of retrofitting a refrigeration system for the same. The system includes an engine in energy supplying relation to a refrigeration unit, said engine running off a constant predetermined amount of gaseous fuel and a variable amount of distillate fuel. An electronic control unit generates control signals to dictate the ratio of gaseous to distillate fuel is used by the engine. An actuator is structured to provide isochronous control of the system, and is accordingly disposed in flow adjusting relation to the distillate fuel intake to variably adjust the amount of distillate fuel injected into the engine. The method of retrofitting includes at least inserting a gaseous fuel supply and mixer into the air supply line, inserting an electronic control unit for isochronous control of the system, and inserting an actuator for isochronous control of the amount of distillate fuel used in the system.
US09696065B2

We describe a refrigeration pill for an adiabatic solid-state magnetocaloric or electrocaloric refrigerator, the pill having longitudinal and transverse axes, said pill comprising: a housing divided along said longitudinal axis into first and second housing parts; wherein each of said housing parts comprises a thermally conducting metal skeleton within the respective said housing part; and wherein regions within said housing between elements of said skeleton comprise magnetocaloric or electrocaloric material. We also describe methods of manufacturing the pill, and various solid state refrigeration systems, and related apparatus.
US09696061B2

The present subject matter provides a heat pump water heater appliance with a mounting assembly for coupling a compressor to a plate within a casing of the heat pump water heater appliance. The mounting assembly includes a post that extends through a foot of the compressor and a fastener that extends through the bracket and the plate into the post in order to secure the bracket and the post together. An attachment mechanism secures the post and the foot of the compressor together.
US09696055B1

Controller technology, in which data specifying a user preference relating to an environmental parameter for a property is received. Based on data collected by a monitoring system, a location of one or more users within the property is identified. Environmental condition data for the property is accessed, the environmental condition data including environmental condition data for the location of the users within the property and other unoccupied locations within the property. The environmental condition data for the property is analyzed with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property. Based on the analysis of the environmental condition data for the property with respect to the preference relating to the environmental parameter for the property, a setting for at least one component of an HVAC system is determined. The at least one component of the HVAC system is controlled according to the determined setting.
US09696040B2

A cooking appliance comprises a cabinet and a cooking unit provided in the cabinet and configured to perform cooking of food using a heat source. The cooking appliance also includes a display device configured to display cooking information for the cooking unit. The display device includes a display module configured to irradiate light of a first color to display information for a user and a circuit board arranged at a rear of the display module and configured to control the display module and supply power to the display module. The display device also includes a color conversion filter arranged at a front of the display module and configured to convert the light of the first color irradiated from the display module to light of a second color. The cooking appliance converts the color of light irradiated from the display module to a desired color by using the color conversion filter.
US09696035B2

A method for making shaped cooling holes in a substrate by pulsing and stopping a laser while moving the laser or substrate. The method produces shaped cooling holes with a bore angled relative to an exit surface of the combustor liner. One end of the bore is an inlet formed in an inlet surface of the combustor liner. The other end of the bore is an outlet formed in the exit surface of the combustor liner. The outlet has a shaped portion that expands in only one dimension.
US09696031B2

According to embodiments, a co-fired or multiple fuel combustion system is configured to apply an electric field to a combustion region corresponding to a second fuel that normally suffers from poor combustion and/or high sooting. Application of an AC voltage to the combustion region was found to increase the extent of combustion and significantly reduce soot evolved from the second fuel.
US09696026B1

A combination fan and light unit comprises a housing surrounding a coaxial fan disposed such that air impelled by the fan passes through the housing and is directed as desired by orienting the housing or by diffusers disposed across the air path. Disposed above and/or below the housing, a light optionally enclosed within a globe coupled to the housing also provides illumination from the fan light unit. Fan light units may be arrayed in various configurations, including single or multiple sconce arrays supported on walls, one or more pendant fan lights suspended from ceilings, satellite fan lights arrayed around a central body at the ends of radial arms to form a fan chandelier or in many other configurations to achieve both aesthetic lighting and directed air flow. The fan lights preferably have separate controls, and multiple units in a collective array such as a fan chandelier may be individually or collectively controllable. The fan light units may include heater strips to warm the air and filters to clean the air as it passes through the air handler.
US09696023B2

An electric connecting member and an LED lamp using the electric connecting member are provided. The electric connecting member is used for the electric connection between a light source substrate and a driving board of the LED lamp, and comprises an input terminal and an output terminal. The LED lamp comprises the driving board and the light source substrate. The output terminal is provided on the driving board of the LED lamp. The input terminal is disposed upon the light source substrate and is electrically connected to the light source substrate. The output terminal comprises two contacts, and one end of each of the two contacts is electrically connected to the driving board respectively. The input terminal comprises two connection heads which are respectively provided corresponding to the two contacts. One end of each of the two connection heads is electrically connected to the light source substrate respectively.
US09696017B2

A lighting system includes a bag that has an outer wall and the outer wall has an inside surface. A lighting unit is removably attached to the bag and the lighting unit is positioned on the inside surface of the outer wall. The lighting unit is selectively actuatable to emit light downwardly in the bag with respect to the lighting unit and laterally in the bag with respect to the lighting unit. Thus, the lighting unit illuminates an interior of the bag thereby facilitating contents of the bag to be found in darkness.
US09696006B2

A lens has a first, second and third optical region. The first, second and third optical region are arranged in sequential order. Space angle defined between each first, second and third optical region, and an optical axis of the lens are different from each other. An LED light module, which has an LED chip and the lens is also provided. The light emitted from the LED chip passes the reflecting surface and refractive surface and radiates from a top of the lens.
US09695997B1

A flameless candle molded into a jar is described. The jar is designed with an open bottom and is tooled for engagement with an electronic insert having batteries, control circuitry and at least one LED light. A candle is then formed in the jar with the electronic insert by molding a candle shell along the sidewalls of the jar. The candle shell is formed such that the sidewalls extend above the LED light of the electronic insert to allow the LED light to illuminate at a position below the sidewalls. The wax or waxen shell is formed only along the sidewalls, creating a hollow region above the electronic insert. Once the wax on the sidewalls sets, wax is then poured in the hollow regions above the electronic insert to a position just below or above the LED light.
US09695986B2

A valve for pressurized fluid, with or without incorporated pressure-reducing valve, comprising a body accommodating a fluid circuit having an upstream end designed to be placed in communication with a reserve of pressurized fluid and a downstream end designed to be placed in communication with a using device, the circuit comprising an isolation valve element in order to selectively close off the circuit, the valve element being controlled by a lever mounted so as to pivot on the body between a rest position in which the isolation valve element is held in a position of closing the circuit and an active position in which the lever moves the isolation valve element into a position of opening the circuit , wherein the lever comprises at least one opening, wherein the valve comprises a functional abutment mounted on the body and wherein only in the rest position the opening accommodates within it a portion of the functional abutment mounted on the body.
US09695982B2

A method and system for reducing the risk of a moving machine colliding with an object involves a receiving antenna attached to the machine receiving an RF signal transmitted by a transmitting antenna attached to the object and energized by a power source. A processor operatively connected to the receiving antenna carries out a computer-implemented process under the direction of a set of program instructions stored in the memory component to determine the machine-object distance based on the strength of the RF signal at the receiving antenna. If the machine-object distance is less than a specified minimum safe distance, then the processor takes a preventative action such as actuating a sensory alarm, actuating a means for slowing the machine, or actuating an acoustic location device to more accurately determine the machine-object distance. The processor may also take a preventative action based on a state variable encoded in the RF signal.
US09695979B2

A method includes providing a bearing housing configured to house a bearing, the bearing housing enclosing a free volume for receiving lubricant, providing a quantity of the lubricant in the free volume, and providing a sensor configured to measure at least one parameter affecting a degradation rate at which the lubricant will degrade and to produce at least one output signal indicative of the measured at least one parameter. The method also includes providing a pump for pumping lubricant into the bearing housing, providing a controller configured to receive the at least one output signal from the sensor and configured to control the pump based the received at least one output signal, and controlling the pump based on a function of the received at least one output signal.
US09695966B2

A quick connect fluid conduit connector includes male and female connector components that releasably engage with each other to fluidically connect two fluid conduits. The female connector component defines a receptacle for receiving a distal end of the male connector component, and a latch in the female connector component is configured to engage with a latch catch groove on the male connector component to reliably secure these components together in a sealed coupling. The latch is a unitary piece having a large release button integrally formed with multiple spring arms, thereby simplifying assembly of the fluid conduit connector and providing redundancy against failure modes. In addition, the female connector component may also include a lock mechanism engaged with the latch for providing additional protection against unintentional disconnection of the male and female connector components.
US09695963B2

A tube-fitting-assembly ferrule apparatus and method to secure connections between tubing sections against high pressure, vibration, pulsation, and hammering, by providing a tube-fitting-assembly ferrule which elastically deforms in use, securing the primary circumferential point seal with a shock-absorbing and shape-retaining force.
US09695962B2

A textile sleeve constructed in accordance with one aspect of the invention provides fire protection to an oil or fuel fluid conveying conduit and meets the AS1055 Class A protection requirements at a zero flow rate and the AS1055 Class B protection requirements at a zero flow rate. The textile sleeve includes a single tubular textile wall formed from at least one of the group consisting of basalt, silica, ceramic and fiberglass yarn. The wall has an outer surface and an inner surface bounding a cavity sized for receipt of the fluid conveying conduit. A coating of silicone rubber is adhered to the outer surface of the wall, and a flame retardant additive is mixed with the silicone rubber to form a coating composition. The flame retardant additive is selected from the group consisting of at least one of zinc borate, magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide.
US09695946B2

A valve (100) including a housing (101) has a fluid inlet (102) and a fluid outlet (205). The valve (100) includes a vibrating element (206) adapted to vibrate when energized. The valve (100) also includes an amplifying plate (207) that is coupled to the vibrating element (106). The amplifying plate (207) includes a fluid passage (208). The fluid passage (208) provides fluid communication between the fluid inlet (102) and the fluid outlet (205). The valve (100) also includes a sealing ball (209) located between the fluid inlet (102) and the amplifying plate (207). The sealing ball (209) is adapted to seal the fluid passage (208).
US09695945B2

A fine control gas valve is disclosed. The valve has a tee having first and second tee runs co-axially aligned on a longitudinal axis, and a tee branch oriented non-parallel to the longitudinal axis. A rotatable hand operator member cooperates with a threaded member and a sleeve to enable a valve to be adjustably positioned within the tee. Indicia on the valve may be used to help a user understand how a fluid flow through the valve will be affected by adjustments made by the rotatable hand operator member.
US09695944B2

An improved mechanical face seal is provided which includes a pair of relatively rotatable seal rings having opposing seal faces. At least one of the seal faces and preferably the silicon carbide seal ring includes a tantalum coating over the seal face. The coating is formed such that the exposed seal face surface is formed of tantalum with a preferred thickness, and the substrate is the silicon carbide seal ring material. Between the silicon carbide substrate and exposed tantalum coating layer, an intermediate transformation layer of tantalum carbide is formed to enhance bonding of the substrate and coating layer. Preferably, the tantalum carbide layer is formed during the coating process wherein the tantalum is applied by chemical vapor deposition and the tantalum reacts with the silicon carbide to form the tantalum carbide at the interface between the tantalum coating layer and the seal ring substrate.
US09695941B2

The present invention relates to a mechanical seal arrangement, comprising a rotating slide ring and a stationary slide ring, which define a sealing gap between them, and a delivery device for delivering a fluid, wherein the delivery device comprises a sleeve-like basic body with first through-openings and second through-openings, wherein the delivery device rotates jointly with the rotating slide ring, wherein the first through-openings each have a first entry region on an outer periphery of the sleeve-like basic body and a first exit region on an inner periphery of the sleeve-like basic body, and wherein the second through-openings each have a second entry region on the inner periphery of the sleeve-like basic body and a second exit region on the outer periphery of the sleeve-like basic body.
US09695940B2

A circumferential shaft seal segment includes a radial outer face, a radially inner face, a first axial face extending from the radial outer face to the radial inner face and a second axial face axially spaced from the first axial face and extending from the radially outer face to the radially inner face. The seal has a bleed slot in the radially inner face extending from the first axial face toward the second axial face, and there are first and second recesses in the radially inner face in communication with the bleed slot that extend from circumferentially opposite sides of the bleed slot.
US09695938B2

To provide a scheme that, when making a prediction in multilayer coding, takes into account the quality of the image in each layer and can adaptively determine in want manner to refer to the image of which layer. Provided is an image processing device provided with a prediction control unit that, on the basis of an indicator dependent on the image quality of a first layer image and a second layer image, sets the weighting when including a first layer pixel and a second layer pixel for predicting a pixel in the second layer that is encoded or decoded referring to the first layer.
US09695934B2

In a nozzle and a nozzle assembly, for use in a pressure vessel, stress analysis is used to determine areas of stress concentration. The nozzle is configured to reduce these stress concentrations.
US09695933B2

An automatic transmission control device with which it is occurrence of meshing failure at the time of engaging an engagement clutch may be prevented while suppressing prolonged time for completing the engagement. Disclosed is an automatic transmission control device comprising: an automatic transmission that is provided in the drive system of a vehicle and that includes, as an coupling element, an engagement clutch which undergoes meshing/engagement at the time of coupling; and a transmission controller that performs transmission control of the automatic transmission. The engagement clutch includes: a clutch gear connected to a transmission input shaft; and a clutch hub connected to a transmission output shaft and capable of meshing with the clutch gear. At the time of shifting at which the engagement clutch is engaged, the transmission controller sets a target differential rotation speed for generating a predetermined differential rotation between the input rotation speed and the output rotation speed in the engagement clutch when the clutch gear and the clutch hub mesh with each other.
US09695929B2

A speed change device includes a power transfer shaft, a tubular shaft member, and a planetary gear mechanism that has a carrier. An in-shaft oil passage is formed in the power transfer shaft. A radially inner portion of the carrier and the tubular shaft member are splined to each other. An inside opening portion of a guide oil passage is formed in a non-spline portion of the radially inner portion. A target race member of a thrust bearing is disposed so as to abut against the carrier. The radially innermost position of the non-spline portion is on the radially outer side of the radially outermost position of a spline engagement portion. An oil receiving portion is formed by the tubular shaft member, the non-spline portion, and the target race member.
US09695925B2

A method of manufacturing a bar member including a pipe and metal members includes: forming a core member including a metal ring having an outer peripheral face subjected to face roughening and a mandrel; winding glass fibers around the outer peripheral face; winding a carbon fiber prepreg around the core member; forming the pipe externally fitted and fixed to the outer peripheral face by baking and curing the carbon fiber prepreg; pulling the mandrel out of the pipe; and screwing together the metal members and the metal ring.
US09695921B1

A torque converter including an axis of rotation; a cover arranged to receive torque; an impeller including an impeller shell non-rotatably connected to the cover; a turbine in fluid communication with the impeller, the turbine having a turbine shell; a core ring; and, at least one blade connected to the impeller shell or the turbine shell, each blade including: a respective first edge; a respective tab: extending from the respective first edge and through the core ring; and, fixing each blade to the core ring; and, a respective first extension: extending from the respective first edge in a first circumferential direction; and, in contact with the core ring. A method of fabricating an impeller or a turbine for a torque converter using a fixture and the at least one blade described above.
US09695918B2

It is an object of the present invention to provide a gap expanding method of a ball screw for preventing an increase in torque relative to an electric motor due to a protruding bulge caused by generation of a scar on the traveling side of the screw shaft of the ball screw, and to provide a control rod drive mechanism incorporating the gap expanded ball screw. In a ball screw disposed in a control rod drive mechanism, the ball screw has a screw shaft and a ball nut engaged with the screw shaft via travelling balls, and the balls are each configured to have a diameter smaller than that of the existing ball, thereby expanding a gap between a ball traveling side of the screw shaft and the ball and a gap between the ball and a ball traveling side of the ball nut.
US09695913B2

A family of transmission gearing arrangements produces nine forward and one reverse speed ratio by selective engagement of various combinations of three clutches or brakes. Each transmission gearing arrangement includes a front shiftable gearing arrangement configured to establish a variety of speed ratios between an intermediate shaft and an input shaft. These speed ratios include a reverse speed ratio, a zero speed ratio, two underdrive ratios, and a direct ratio. Each transmission also includes a rear shiftable gearing arrangement configured to selectively establish particular speed relationships among the input shaft, the intermediate shaft, and an output shaft.
US09695895B2

A brake band (2) is in a first material suitable for the braking action and has at least one extension (8) for coupling to a bell (3), suitable for coupling the disc (1) to a hub of a vehicle; said coupling extension being a single piece with said brake band and forming a geometric coupling with said bell to transmit the braking action; said geometric coupling being obtained by fusion preferably of the bell on the brake band, said bell being in a second material, the first and second material having a different melting point; said geometric coupling having, circumferentially spaced, first teeth, that axially extend to be tightly received in first axial seats (11) of the bell; wherein said geometric coupling has circumferentially spaced eighth teeth of the band that radially extend circumferentially offset with respect to said first axial teeth (10) and are suitable for being tightly received in eighth radial seats (13) present in the bell.
US09695894B2

A caliper disc brake of a vehicle, in particular of a commercial vehicle, a brake disc, a brake caliper, a brake support plate, a force transmission element, such as, for example, a pad support and/or a pressure plate, which is guided and supported in a well of the brake caliper or of the brake anchor plate, a holding-down spring (32) for holding down the force transmission element, and a holding-down device (36). The holding-down device is held by a holding device, pretensions the holding-down spring radially against the force transmission element and pretensions the holding-down spring tangentially in the direction of rotation against the force transmission element during forwards travel. The holding-down spring has two identical spring legs that enclose an angle of more than 95° with the base in the relaxed state and an angle of less than 85° with the respectively adjacent spring leg.
US09695891B2

Disclosed is a disk damping core for a disk brake assembly comprising at least two disk leaves comprising mating sloped contact surfaces configured to provide additional energy damping.
US09695889B2

An intermesh engagement device includes an intermesh engagement mechanism, a moving member, an actuator configured to apply a thrust to a moving member in an engaging direction, a transmission spring configured to transmit the thrust of the actuator from the moving member to a sleeve, a return spring, a stopper, and an electronic control unit configured to control the actuator. The electronic control unit is configured to execute first control for setting the thrust of the actuator to a thrust in a first region, and, when a halfway stopped state has occurred through the first control, execute second control for setting a thrust larger than the thrust in the first control. The first region is a range in which the thrust is larger than an urging force of the return spring and is smaller than the sum of the urging force of the return spring and a maximum urging force of the transmission spring.
US09695879B2

A guide mechanism for a connecting component guides a second connecting component when connecting a first connecting component and the second connecting component to each other. The guide mechanism includes a guide member and an urging member. The urging member urges the guide member and continues to contract until the second connecting component reaches a connection complete position. The guide member includes rotational shafts, inner guide pieces, and outer guide pieces. The rotational shafts are provided on both sides of the second connecting component. The inner guide pieces are rotated about the rotational shafts from first initial positions to first regulating positions. The outer guide pieces are rotated about the rotational shafts from second initial positions to second regulating positions such that the rotation of the outer guide pieces is coupled with the rotation of the inner guide pieces.
US09695878B2

A plug-in constant velocity (CV) joint is assembled to a powertrain component using a power tool. The CV joint and powertrain component connect via a splined shaft coupling with a snap ring interlock. External bi-directional thrust features on the joint and component engage first and second arms of the power tool after the splined shaft coupling is partially inserted by hand. The arms are relatively movable along a longitudinal direction, and an actuator selectively applies a compression force to the bi-directional thrust features adapted to fully insert the splined shaft coupling and engage the snap ring interlock. The power tool monitors the compression force to detect the full insertion. The actuator automatically applies a predetermined expansion force to the bi-directional thrust features to verify engagement of the snap ring interlock, wherein the predetermined expansion force is less than a force sufficient to disengage the snap ring interlock.
US09695873B2

A bearing comprising (a) an inner ring, (b) an outer ring, and (c) a bearing liner disposed therebetween, wherein the bearing liner comprises a resin and the bearing liner has at least one of: (a) a flexural modulus of from 20 to 35 GPa and (b) a flexural strength of from 500 to 700 MPa.
US09695850B2

A watertight clip may include a watertight clip main body and a packing. The watertight clip main body has a stabilizer, a pillar extending from the stabilizer, engagement legs formed in the pillar, and a packing retainer member. When the pillar is inserted into an attaching hole formed in a plate-shaped subject member, the subject member is positioned between the engagement legs and the stabilizer, so that an attached member connected to the stabilizer can be attached to the subject member. The packing is previously attached to the pillar. The packing is interleaved between the subject member and the stabilizer. The packing retainer member is configured to prevent the packing from separating from the pillar.
US09695846B2

Apparatus for providing mechanical feedback of a position of an actuator to a controller in a high vibration environment. The apparatus includes a member that contacts a cam surface of the actuator such that movement of the actuator and cam surface causes the member to move. The apparatus also includes a spring that exerts a force on the member toward the cam surface to maintain contact between the member and the cam surface. The apparatus also includes a damper that dampens motion of the member, thereby eliminating resonant movement of the spring and member caused by vibrations.
US09695842B2

A hydraulic cylinder causes a work implement to be lowered due to the exhaust of hydraulic fluid from a first chamber and the supply of hydraulic fluid to a second chamber. A hydraulic fluid flowpath has a first flowpath and a second flowpath. The first flowpath connects a first pump port and the first chamber. The second flowpath connects a second pump port and the second chamber. The hydraulic fluid flowpath configures a closed circuit between a hydraulic pump and the hydraulic cylinder. A bleed-off flowpath branches off from the first flowpath. A portion of hydraulic fluid exhausted from the first chamber when lowering the work implement flows into the bleed-off flowpath.
US09695839B1

An apparatus and method for cleaning containers using water within the container and a submersible pump exhibiting a nozzle. Air may be injected into the pumped water to increase its pressure as it exists the nozzle.
US09695833B2

A rotational speed control system includes a fan controller and a fan controlling circuit. The fan controlling circuit is coupled to the fan controller. The fan controlling circuit can receive a rotational speed control signal and output a fan driving signal to the fan controller. The fan driving signal is a regulated high level voltage signal. The fan controller can adjust rotational speed of the fan according to the driving signal.
US09695832B2

An integrated circuit for controlling operation of a motor of a fan assembly. The fan assembly includes a housing and a fan. The motor is in the housing. The housing is void of sensors. The motor is configured to rotate the fan. The integrated circuit includes a detection module and a first control module. The detection module is separate from the fan assembly. The detection module is configured to detect a voltage induced in a first coil of the motor or a back electromotive force received from the first coil of the motor. The first control module is configured to receive a control signal from a second control module and control the operation of the fan based on (a) the control signal, and (b) the voltage induced in the first coil of the motor or the back electromotive force. The second control module is separate from the integrated circuit.
US09695831B2

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving one or more surge value parameters, selecting a first value from a selected parameter of the one of the parameters, determining a moving average, determining a rate of change, identifying a first phase of a surge cycle based on determining that the rate of change exceeds a threshold rate change, memorializing the first value, the moving average value, and a first time index, receiving a second value of the selected parameter, identifying a second phase of the surge cycle, receiving a third value of the selected parameter, identifying a third phase of the surge cycle, and providing an indication that one or more compressor surge cycles have occurred.
US09695822B2

A turbocharger is provided herein. The turbocharger includes a housing and an adjustable core at least partially circumferentially surrounded by the housing, the adjustable core having a turbine rotor coupled to a compressor rotor via a shaft. The turbocharger further includes an adjustment mechanism coupled to the adjustable core configured to adjust an axial position of the housing relative to the adjustable core in response to adjustment commands.
US09695819B2

A rotary compressor (100) includes a closed casing (1), a cylinder (15), a piston (28), a lower bearing member (7), a vane (33), a suction port, a discharge port (41), and a partition member (10). The partition member (10) is attached to a second principal surface (7a) of the lower bearing member (7) located on the opposite side to the cylinder (15) so as to form a refrigerant discharge space (52) serving as a flow path of a refrigerant discharged from a discharge chamber through the discharge port (41). The refrigerant discharge space (52) is limited so that a region where the refrigerant discharge space (52) is not present is formed on the same side as the suction port with respect to a first reference plane, and in that region, the second principal surface (7a) of the lower bearing member (7) is in contact with an oil in an oil reservoir (22) directly or via the partition member (10).
US09695818B2

A compressor (100) has a compressor main body (60) formed so that one stroke cycle is performed in a compression room (43) which is partitioned by a rotor (50), cylinder (40), side blocks (20, 30), and vanes (58) during one revolution of the rotor (50). A cyclone block (70) separates a refrigerant oil (R) from refrigerant gas (G), wherein a second discharge section (46) which discharge the refrigerant gas (G) when the pressure inside the compression room (43) reaches the discharge pressure before the compression room (43) faces a first discharge section (45) is formed, and a communicating path (39) which connects a discharge chamber (45a) in the first discharge section (45) and a discharge chamber (46a) in the second discharge section (46) is formed on the upper stream side from the cyclone block (70).
US09695816B2

A fluid detection apparatus and a fluid detection method are provided. The fluid detection apparatus includes a plurality of capacitive detection units and a sensing circuit. The capacitive detection units are sequentially arranged along a detection direction, wherein each of the capacitive detection units generates an impedance variation in response to the submergence of the fluid and accordingly generates a corresponding fluid detection signal. The sensing circuit is coupled to the capacitive detection units so as to receive the fluid detection signals and send a first status indication signal indicating a spread circumstance of the fluid along the detection direction according to the fluid detection signals.
US09695813B2

A peristaltic pump comprises a tube to transport a material in a transport direction and a conveying screw, which is configured to cause a transport of the material by causing a successive squeezing of the tube along the transport direction.
US09695801B1

A wind turbine having at least two blades mounted to a blade retainer and a load shaft connected to the blade retainer, such that movement of the blades due to wind causes rotation of the load shaft. The wind turbine includes a frame assembly surrounding the turbine assembly. The frame assembly includes a plurality of vanes to direct wind inside the frame assembly and towards the blades of the turbine assembly. The vanes have a half circle shaped leading edge pointing to an outside perimeter of the frame assembly. The half circle leading edge has two ends and the vanes have a side extending from each of the ends of the half circle that come together to form a trailing edge.
US09695799B2

A blade comprises a first blade surface, a second blade surface forming the reverse surface of the first blade surface, a primary wind receptor protruding from the front end of the first blade surface in a direction away from the second blade surface and with the back surface formed in a curved shape concave toward the front side in a forward direction, a front edge connected to the front end of the primary wind receptor and the front end of the second blade surface and formed in a curved shape convex toward the forward direction, and a back edge connected to the back end of the first blade surface and the back end of the second blade surface and formed in an acute angle facing the back side of the forward direction.
US09695796B1

The present invention is a kinetic inshore wave energy conversion (WEC) device which uses the force of the wave to convert ocean water to pressurized water to eventually push on the blades of a turbine on shore to generate electrical energy. The WEC structure is affixed to a pipe reef structure with these pipes filled with water, submerged in the ocean and anchored to the ocean floor by a multiplicity of anchors. The dedicated pipes can run from any distance and extend all the way up to and underneath the shoreline and into a structure on shore which retains the turbine to convert the head pressure of the sea water to energy.
US09695795B2

Various aspects of the technology provide for reducing noise and vibration in a pressure exchanger for high pressure fluid handling equipment such as a desalination system, by disposing grooves between a seal surface and a port. The groove reduces a hammer effect in moving high pressure fluid to a low pressure port and moving low pressure fluid to a high pressure port. Reduction in the hammer effect, in addition to reducing noise, reduces vibration that can cause deterioration of high pressure fluid handling equipment.
US09695778B2

One embodiment includes a pivot thrust reverser comprising a first tandem pivot door subassembly comprising an inner panel and outer panel connected. A second tandem pivot door subassembly is included comprising an inner panel and outer panel connected. Also included are a first actuator located on a first side of an attachment location to pivot the first tandem pivot door subassembly, a second actuator located on a second side of the attachment location to pivot the second tandem pivot door subassembly, and a third actuator located substantially radially opposite the attachment location to pivot both the first tandem pivot door subassembly and the second tandem pivot door subassembly. The first tandem pivot door is configured to be pivoted from stowed to deployed by the first actuator and the third actuator, and the second tandem pivot door is configured to be pivoted from stowed to deployed by the second actuator and the third actuator.
US09695774B2

A cylinder head of an internal combustion engine may include an opening and a sensor sleeve. The opening may extend through the cylinder head. The sensor sleeve may be shrink fitted in the opening. The sensor sleeve may be configured to receive a sensor. The sensor may be mounted within the sensor sleeve through a mounting mechanism.
US09695773B2

A method and a system for improving operation of an automatically started engine are described. In one example, slip of a disconnect clutch is adjusted to limit an amount of engine torque transferred to vehicle wheels. The method and system adjust disconnect clutch slip in response to transmission input shaft speed and/or engine combustion events.
US09695769B2

An air flow rate adjusting apparatus adjusts an output of an air flow meter based on a dimension of a gap between a back surface of a sensor chip and a bottom surface of a recess of a support plate.
US09695768B2

A method for the fuel consumption reduction and/or power increase of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle is disclosed. A crank angle of a crankshaft is detected at which out of a cylinder the exhaust gases of a cylinder can be representatively measured on a lambda probe. The exhaust gas flow is measured on the lambda probe. A signal of the lambda probe is scanned at the time of the detection of the crank angle. A value indicated the detected angle and/or the scanned signal is sent to a computer. The value is corrected with the help of an exhaust gas pressure or exhaust gas back pressure model stored in the computer. An effective combustion lambda of the cylinder is calculated based on the sent values and a global lambda value stored in the computer and used to the control of the internal combustion engine.
US09695764B1

A marine drive system includes an engine, a fuel system that provides at least two different fuels to the engine, and a fuel selection means for selecting a fuel type. A control unit accesses a set of fuel-specific operating parameters based on the selected fuel type and controls the engine based on the set of fuel-specific operating parameters.
US09695757B2

The invention relates to a method for improving the efficiency of a combustion engine. The method comprises measuring a quantity of a primary fuel supplied to the combustion engine. Determining an operating state of the combustion engine. Selecting a fuel mapping profile based on an operating state of the combustion engine and determining from the fuel mapping profile an amount of a secondary fuel to be injected as a fraction of the measured quantity of the primary fuel.
US09695753B2

An operator-controllable valve opens or closes an idle air bypass passage in a motorcycle, allowing an operator astride the motorcycle to set an idle position manually. A handle permits a first adjustment by the operator without use of a screwdriver or other hand tool. An additional interface enables a wider range of adjustment using a hand tool. Both interfaces vary depth of an air mixture screw of the valve within an idle air bypass passage of a throttle body. Dual cylindrical members of the valve rotate relative to one another and relative to a base of the valve, each cylindrical member driven by one of the interfaces. Locking the cylindrical members together such that both rotate in tandem upon the operator moving the handle is accomplished by either tightening the handle or tightening a nut coupling the handle to the valve. A handlebar adjustment lever may couple with the handle.
US09695752B2

A system method of reducing engine induced aircraft cabin resonance in an aircraft includes sensing a parameter representative of current aircraft flight conditions, and sensing a parameter representative of current engine operating conditions of at least one of a first turbofan gas turbine engines or a second turbofan gas turbine engine. In a control system, the parameter representative of current aircraft flight conditions and the parameter representative of current engine operating conditions are processed to supply a variable inlet guide vane (VIGV) offset value. The VIGV offset value is applied to a VIGV reference command associated with one of the first or second turbofan gas turbine engine, to thereby cause the VIGVs of one of the first or second turbofan gas turbine engine to move to a more closed position.
US09695747B2

A vehicle engine speed display device is provided with an engine speed detection unit which detects an engine speed, an engine speed display unit which displays an engine speed, and a display control unit which controls the engine speed display unit on the basis of the detected engine speed. The display control unit determines whether a phase of a gear shift operation is an inertia phase when gear shift control of an automatic transmission is executed, and sets display responsiveness of a tachometer with respect to the detected engine speed higher than display responsiveness to be set when the phase is not the inertia phase, when the phase of the gear shift operation is determined to be the inertia phase.
US09695729B2

Internal combustion diesel engine systems and methods of operation are disclosed that include a diesel engine, an exhaust gas recirculation system, a wastegated turbocharger, an exhaust throttle, and a vanadia selective catalytic reduction catalyst downstream of the exhaust throttle.
US09695725B2

A compact Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system comprising a gas flow inlet system, a vaporizer module and an SCR reactor is described. The inlet flow system is configured to provide heat to the vaporizer module, to mix reductant with the exhaust gas and to provide an approximately uniform flow of the exhaust gas through the catalyst. The vaporizer module is configured to vaporize reductant from a solution of a reductant or a precursor of a reductant and to transfer the vaporized reductant into the gas flow inlet system, where it is mixed with exhaust gas. The SCR reactor contains and SCR catalyst is in fluid communication with the inlet flow system and the vaporizer module.
US09695724B2

A honeycomb catalyst body includes a tubular honeycomb base material having porous partition walls to define and form a plurality of cells extending as through channels of a fluid from one end surface from which the fluid flows in to the other end surface from which the fluid flows out, and a catalyst loaded onto the partition walls. In the honeycomb base material, at least one slit which is open in a side surface of the honeycomb base material is formed, and a width of the slit is from 1.0 to 10.0 mm.
US09695722B2

An exhaust after-treatment system includes an exhaust treatment component, a tank for holding an exhaust treatment fluid, and an exhaust treatment fluid dosing system. The dosing system includes a fluid distributor providing exhaust treatment fluid under pressure to a plurality of dosing modules that dose exhaust treatment fluid into the exhaust stream and a return for returning unused exhaust treatment fluid to the tank. A valve is positioned between the fluid distributor and the return and is configured to allow a flow of exhaust treatment fluid from the return to the fluid distributor before being returned to the tank during a purge operation. A controller is configured to open the valve and allow communication between the return and the fluid distributor during the purge operation such that unused exhaust treatment fluid drains during the purge operation.
US09695720B2

In a continuous regeneration type exhaust gas post-processing apparatus equipped with an oxidation catalyst (DOC) and a diesel particulate filter (DPF), reliably removing particulate matter (PM) deposited to the DOC for maintaining the activity performance of DOC. The present invention relates to a method of forcibly regenerating a continuous regeneration type exhaust gas post-processing apparatus installed in an engine-driven generator equipped with a generator body driven by a diesel engine. When the engine is in a predetermined light load running state during forced regeneration in which intake gas to the engine is restricted to increase a temperature of exhaust gas, a heater actuated with electricity generated by the generator body switches ON in order to increase a load on the engine and thus a DOC inlet temperature of the exhaust gas post-processing apparatus to a burning temperature of PM deposited in the DOC or more.
US09695717B2

A control device for an engine includes a variable valve timing mechanism. The control device performs learning a holding control amount of a hydraulic valve when actual valve timing is held at a fixed timing in each of spring and non-spring regions, and an updating. The updating includes updating the control amount for the non-spring region whenever the control amount for the spring region learned drops below the control amount for the non-spring region to satisfy a relationship with the control amount for the non-spring region being less than or equal to the control amount for the spring region, and/or updating the control amount for the spring region whenever the control amount for the non-spring region learned exceeds the control amount for the spring region to satisfy a relationship with the control amount for the spring region being greater than or equal to the control amount for the non-spring region.
US09695713B2

Disclosed are a system for damping vibrations of a gas turbine exhaust and a method to damp vibrations of a gas turbine exhaust. The system includes a turbine exhaust cylinder connected to a turbine exhaust manifold establishing a fluid flow path, the fluid flow path including an inner and an outer flow path. A damping blanket damps the vibrations and is coupled to a surface of the inner flow path via a constraining layer clamped by a plurality of studs.
US09695706B2

Embodiments of the present invention may include a variable nozzle turbocharger having a variable nozzle mechanism. The variable nozzle mechanism has a unison ring and a drive arm. The unison ring adjusts a degree of opening of variable nozzles having nozzle vanes through rotation of the unison ring. The unison ring has a first fit-engagement groove. The first fit-engagement groove has a closing side surface of a concave arcuate shape and an opening side surface of a convex arcuate shape facing the closing side surface with a fixed groove width therebetween. A drive arm has a first fit-engagement portion engaged with the first fit-engagement groove so that the first fit-engagement portion is rotatable and movable in the radial direction of the unison ring. The first fit-engagement portion has a closing side contact surface of a convex arcuate shape that is able to contact the closing side surface.
US09695703B2

A compressor rotor for a turbomachine including a shaft and at least two disks mounted on the shaft to hold a single set of vanes that are rotatably mobile about the rotational axis of the shaft, at least one first disk being mounted in a mobile manner on the shaft to be able to generate an angular gap in relation to the second disk and to trigger a rotation of the vanes about the radial axis of same, at least one of the two disks being shaped to receive at least one mechanism for attaching the vanes, the connection between the disk and the attaching mechanism enabling a rotation of the attaching mechanism about a radial axis, and connection is a ball-jointed connection that is tangentially and axially mobile.
US09695701B2

The present application relates to a bladed stator of a turbomachine compressor, configured to straighten an annular stream of the turbomachine. The stator includes at least one annular wall configured to define the annular stream, a row of blades extending radially from the annular wall and means of pressurizing in communication with the annular stream. The means of pressurizing are configured to pressurize a chamber which is separated from a lubrication housing by a labyrinth seal. The means of pressurizing comprise at least one passage extending through the thickness of the annular wall and connecting with the annular stream. The means of pressurizing further includes at least one scoop in communication with the passage and the annular stream. The scoop is open upstream so as to capture the dynamic pressure of the annular stream.
US09695699B2

A securing plate assortment including multiple different securing plates, the securing plates having different geometric codings. A turbine and method is also disclosed.
US09695697B2

A method of fabricating a near-net shape erosion shield, a method of forming a shielded article, and a near-net shape erosion shield are provided. The method of fabricating a near-net shape erosion shield includes providing a base, positioning an energy source relative to the base, and depositing at least one wear resistant material over the base with an energy beam from the energy source. The at least one wear resistant material deposited on the base forms the near-net shape erosion shield configured to be positioned on a turbine component. The method of forming a shielded article includes removing the base from the near-net shape erosion shield, and securing the near-net shape erosion shield to a turbine component. The near-net shape erosion shield includes a near-net shape erosion-resistant portion configured to be positioned on a turbine component.
US09695690B2

A support comprising an outer casing having a main axis, the outer casing comprising a first casing part and a second casing part, the first casing part being at least partially receivable within the second casing part to enable relative movement therebetween in the axial direction, the casing parts having a cavity therein at least one of which has a core that includes a compressible medium, the support further including a pressure responsive system configured so that under the influence of pressure it can cause the relative displacement or movement between the first and second casing parts.
US09695682B2

A method and system for generating an ionized fluid, injecting the ionized fluid into fissures in a subterranean formation, pressurizing the ionized fluid, whereby the crystalline structure of a portion of the shale deposits located at the fissures are changed into suspended particles, whereby the depressurization of the ionized fluid forces the suspended particles out of the fissures, increasing the flow of hydrocarbons from those fissures.
US09695670B2

A slurry mixing system calculates a density of a slurry using measured pressure differential and based on a bulk velocity of the slurry. Slurry from mixing of dry blend and mix fluid enters a one or more tanks having agitators. A pump then pumps the slurry from the tank(s) to the well, and a portion of the slurry is recirculating back to a mixer. From the recirculated path, a direct slurry weight sensor measures a pressure differential of the slurry between two vertical measurement points of a known volume. The sensor can measure a velocity of the recirculated slurry, or the recirculated slurry can be maintained at a velocity. Based on these measures, the controller calculates a density of the slurry, monitors a ratio of the dry blend and the mix fluid, and adjusts the ratio based on the calculated density of the slurry if there is a discrepancy.
US09695663B2

A tool for retaining an activator ring of a hanger within a wellhead assembly during a fluid pumping process includes an annular fluid pumping sub body having an end selectively coupled with a supply of fluids and a distal end selectively coupled with the hanger. An outer ring assembly circumscribes and rotates relative to the fluid pumping sub body. A retainer ring circumscribes the fluid pumping sub body and selectively abuts the activator ring. A plurality of biasing assemblies that are selectively compressible are located between the outer ring assembly and the retainer ring, so that when the fluid pumping sub body is coupled with the hanger, an axial lockdown force is maintained on the activator ring by the biasing assemblies during the fluid pumping process.
US09695659B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to tools actuated by pipe swell. A downhole assembly for a wellbore may be provided. The downhole assembly can include a first sleeve and a second sleeve. The first sleeve can expand from a first position to a second position in response to a first pressure applied to the first sleeve. The first sleeve can contract to the first position in response to a cessation of the first pressure. The second sleeve can be positioned adjacent to the first sleeve to define a swell chamber. The swell chamber can actuate a downhole tool by a pressure stored in the swell chamber by the expansion of the first sleeve.
US09695658B2

A pulling tool for latching onto an object, such as a plug, downhole in a wellbore includes a base element extending in a longitudinal direction from a proximal end for being connected to a wireline tool to a distal end adapted to engage the object, and a latching mechanism encircling the base element and being movable in the longitudinal direction between a deactivated position and an activated position, having a piston sleeve, a key element for latching onto the downhole object, the key element being slidably received inside the piston sleeve and extending from an end of the piston sleeve towards the distal end of the base element, and a piston spring forcing the piston sleeve in the longitudinal direction towards the proximal end of the base element.
US09695657B2

An assembly and method of latching an upper completion mandrel to a lower completion receptacle that is located downhole to prevent or limit movement between the mandrel and the receptacle. The method includes lowering the mandrel having a latch assembly carried by the mandrel to a first position relative to the receptacle, raising the mandrel to position the latch assembly in a second position relative to the receptacle, and lowering the mandrel to position the latch assembly in a third position relative to the receptacle to limit upward and downward movement of the mandrel relative to the receptacle.
US09695656B2

A downhole shifting tool (100) for shifting a downhole component (46) comprises a body with a positioning arrangement (108) provided on the body for engaging or interacting with a downhole component to provide alignment of the shifting tool with said component. The tool further includes a connecting member (110) provided on the body and being moveable to selectively engage a connection profile of the downhole component.
US09695653B2

A method of conversion of a water-based mud to a gel-based LCM quickly to control lost circulation in a lost circulation zone in a wellbore during continuous drilling with a drilling mud, the drilling mud comprises a volcanic ash, water, a de-foamer, a pH buffer, and a polymer. The method comprises the steps of entering the lost circulation zone, determining a lost circulation volumetric flow rate, metering a first amount of a binder into the drilling mud to create a binder containing mud, pumping the binder containing drilling mud into the wellbore, and suspending metering of the first amount of the binder to the drilling mud after a pre-defined regulating period of time effective to permit the binder containing drilling mud to create a gel-based LCM operable to alter the lost circulation zone.
US09695649B2

An interlock pipe joint includes a first and second tubular member. In some embodiments, an interrupted thread box and pin make up the interlock pipe joint. In other embodiments, a stepped interrupted thread box and pin make up the interlock pipe joint. In other embodiments, a twist-lock box and pin make up the interlock pipe joint. In some embodiments, an external or internal bushing is provided. In a method of operation, the first tubular member is inserted into the second tubular member by an axial insertion followed by a rotation to lock the pipe joint.
US09695646B2

A wireline coupler that connects a first data wireline to a second data wireline comprises: a first housing that is attached to the first data wireline, wherein the first housing comprises an electromagnet; a second housing that is attached to the second data wireline, wherein the second housing comprises a metal; wherein the electromagnet forms a magnetic field when electrical data flows in the first wireline, and wherein the magnetic field attracts the metal of the second housing and causes the first housing to connect with the second housing, such that first data wireline is operationally connected with the second data wireline.
US09695645B2

An electrical connector assembly positionable in a wellbore includes an upper longitudinal member having an electrical conductor disposed therein; a lower longitudinal member having an electrical conductor disposed therein; a telescoping electrically conductive assembly; and an electrical contact member disposed around and movably contacting the electrical conductor of the lower longitudinal member and movably contacting an inner surface of the upper longitudinal member. The assembly further includes an outer housing including a telescoping portion.
US09695644B2

Systems and methods for a smart riser handling tool are disclosed. The riser handling tool may be movable to manipulate an equipment asset, such as a riser component. The riser handling tool may include one or more sensors for measuring one or more properties associated with the equipment asset, and a communication system coupled to the one or more sensors to communicate data indicative of the one or more measured properties to an operator monitoring system. In some embodiments, the riser handling tool may include an electronic identification reader for identifying the equipment asset, and the communication system may be coupled to the electronic identification reader to communicate data indicative of the equipment asset identification to the operator monitoring system.
US09695634B2

The present invention relates to a control system for automatic calibration of a blinds system installed in a room, comprising: a controller (1, 8, 9) having a memory, a clock and a processor, an occupancy sensor (2, 7), an interior light sensor (3, 7), an exterior light sensor (4). The control system is characterized in that the control system is arranged to run an automated calibration of the blinds system when the exterior light sensor indicates an outside light level above a predetermined threshold, the occupancy sensor indicates that no person is present in the room, and a predetermined time has passed since the last calibration. The invention further relates to a method for automatic calibration of a blinds system installed in a room using a control system comprising a controller (1, 8, 9) having a memory, a clock and a processor, an occupancy sensor (2, 7), an interior light sensor (3, 7), an exterior light sensor (4), the method comprising the step of: running an automated calibration of the blinds system when the exterior light sensor (4) indicates an outside light level above a predetermined threshold, the occupancy sensor (2, 7) indicates that no person is present in the room, and a predetermined time has passed since the last calibration.
US09695631B2

A built-in blind assembly includes light-transmissive first and second outer panels, a blind unit, a frame unit, a top rail unit, and a cord-driving unit. The first and second outer panels face each other. The blind unit is disposed between the first and second outer panels. The frame unit includes a top frame disposed above the blind unit. The top rail unit includes a top rail seat that is connected to the top frame and that defines a top accommodating cavity having an open side adjacent to the second outer panel, and a top cover that is removably connected to the top rail seat. The cord-driving unit is disposed in the top accommodating cavity, is coupled to the blind unit, and is operable to control operation of the blind unit.
US09695628B2

A vacuum insulated glass (VIG) assembly is provided with a protective ring surrounding a portion of a glass pump-out tube extending beyond an outer surface of one of the glass substrates that form the vacuum insulated glass assembly. The vacuum insulated glass assembly may further include a laminated glass substrate in which a hole is formed to accommodate the protective ring and/or pump-out tube portion, wherein the protective ring protects the glass pump-out tube from damage during a lamination process. In addition, a cap may be provided over the laminated substrate to cover the hole in the laminated substrate and further cover the protective ring and sealed pump-out tube.
US09695626B2

Provided is a door for a refrigerator. The door includes an outer door manufactured by pressing and deforming a metal sheet. The outer door includes a first surface, second to fifth surfaces extending from the first surface, and a plurality of flanges extending from the second to fifth surfaces. The first to fifth surfaces are integrated with each other and defined based on the pressing and deforming of the metal sheet. A door liner is coupled to surfaces of the plurality of flanges of the outer door, and an insulation material is disposed in a space defined between the door liner and the outer door.
US09695616B2

An intelligent door lock system includes a drive shaft of a lock device and a circuit coupled to an engine with a memory. A vibration/tapping sensing device is configured to be coupled to the lock device to lock or unlock the door. A device converts energy into mechanical energy coupled to the drive shaft.
US09695615B2

A combination lock is provided, the combination lock having a rotary latch configured for rotation between a locked position and an unlocked position, the rotary latch rotating in a first plane; and a bolt configured for movement between a first position and a second position along a second plane the second plane being oriented at a different location than the first plane, the bolt engaging the rotary latch in the first position such that rotation of the rotary latch from the locked position to the unlocked position is prevented.
US09695597B2

A board assembly for mounting to one or more support structures of a ceiling, deck, floor, or wall. The board assembly includes a board and a mounting member. The board has a length along a longitudinal direction, and first and second side channels that extend lengthwise along the board. The mounting member has first and second flanges biased inwardly toward one another. The first and second flanges are configured to be received inside the first and second side channels, respectively, of the board and to press inwardly on the board to limit movement and warping by the board. A plurality of the board assemblies may be included in a kit. Such a kit may also include a plurality of clip members configured to removably couple the board assemblies to the support structure(s). The mounting member may be constructed from aluminum or an aluminum alloy.
US09695593B2

Leaks in a roof membrane are detected by applying a grid of electrically conductive shielding elements on the upper surface separating the membrane into a plurality of zones and generating a potential difference between the elements and a conductive component such as the roof deck or a layer at the deck. In each zone a respective one of a plurality of sensor conductors is mounted separate from the shielding elements and an electrical potential difference is applied between the sensor and the conductive component such that, in the presence of a leak located within the zone, current flows between the sensor conductor and the conductive component through moisture at the leak for detection of the current or resistance indicative of a leak.
US09695591B2

A beam is an H-shaped steel having flange parts above and under a web part. A through hole is formed on web part to let pipes and the like pass through. A ring beam reinforcing metallic material is disposed through hole. A beam reinforcing metallic material is disposed along the upper and lower flange parts at positions away from the through hole. The beam reinforcing metallic material on the front surface of the web part (opposite side of a flange of the ring beam reinforcing metallic material). The beam reinforcing metallic material in a direction in which a counter-flange surface of the beam reinforcing metallic material faces the flange part. A contacting surface is in contact with web part and is fixed to the web part with a welded section. At this time, the welded section is formed up to the height to which an angle varying part is covered.
US09695589B2

A concrete wall pre fabrication for the easy assembly of walls for residential and commercial buildings. More specifically, there is an apparatus and method for enabling the outer form of a concrete wall to be more precisely assembled off site and then transported to the work site and assembled the wall in the proper place with appropriate rebar before filling the forms with cement or concrete material as disclosed in the specification and drawings of the invention and the related claims. Additionally, there is a need for a form spacer that efficiently attaches between the form walls with a more precise use of glue and stronger attachment to the form walls.
US09695582B2

A drainage fitting (1) for a cistern, including a valve body (2) with a sealing element (4), which cooperates with a valve seat (3), and a float (5), wherein the valve body (2) is movable with the sealing element (4) from the valve seat (3) along a movement axis (B) from a rest position into a flushing position and from the flushing position into the rest position. Furthermore the drainage fitting comprises a full and a part volume control unit which onto the valve body.
US09695576B2

A wear assembly for a loader bucket. The wear assembly includes a first side plate coupled to the side wall and a second side plate spaced apart from the first side plate, coupled to the side wall. The wear assembly includes a top plate disposed on the first side plate and the second side plate. Further, the top plate has a first end disposed proximal to the side wall and a second end distal from the side wall. The wear assembly includes a shroud member disposed adjacent to the second end of the top plate and coupled to the first side plate. The wear assembly also includes a wear plate disposed adjacent to the first end of the top plate in front of the shroud member. The wear plate is detachably coupled to an upper surface of the top plate.
US09695575B2

A controller includes a neutral control determination unit, a forward-reverse clutch control unit, and a commanded torque setting unit. The neutral control determination unit executes quasi-neutral control when a quasi-neutral control determination condition is satisfied. The quasi-neutral control determination condition includes cases where the forward-reverse operation member is in the neutral position. The forward-reverse clutch control unit keeps the forward-travel clutch or the reverse-travel clutch engaged during the quasi-neutral control. During quasi-neutral control, the commanded torque setting unit determines a commanded torque sent to the motor so that a neutral state is set where the output torque from the power transmission device to the travel device is kept at a prescribed value regardless of the drive power output from the engine.
US09695573B2

A system for uncovering a trench. The system comprises several subsystems, including a work machine and a frame for providing a seal with the surface to be trenched with a saw blade contained therein. The blade is supported on a hub which is slidably movable relative to the frame by operation of a linear actuator, which may be a hydraulic cylinder or the like. The vertical location of the blade within the frame is continuously adjustable to create a deeper or shallower trench. A monitoring system is provided to monitor the vertical location from an operator station.
US09695559B2

A transition slab connected at opposing ends to a deck compression slab and to an anchoring. The transition slab absorbs the expansions of the deck by means of compressing sheets of polymer, elastomer or the like, that are arranged in parallel spacing and integrated in the transition slab to be oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the road. The transition slab absorbs the contraction movements of the deck limited expansion due to the summation of crack openings in induced cracks. Crack planes are created by forms made of wood, polymer or the like arranged in parallel, spaced relation within the body of the transition slab.
US09695557B2

A line striping system comprises a chassis, wheels, a spray system, a propulsion system and a steering system. The wheels are mounted under the chassis. The spray system is mounted on the chassis. The propulsion system is mounted on the chassis to drive a wheel. The steering system is coupled to the chassis. The steering system comprises a handlebar rotatable to steer a wheel, and a speed bar pivotable to control the propulsion system.
US09695554B2

A composite railway sleeper (1; 50; 100) comprising an outer coating shell (2; 51; 101) made of composite plastic material and a shaped structural core (3; 52; 102), made of a material comprising at least concrete contained within said outer coating shell (2; 51; 510; 101), wherein said outer coating shell (2; 51; 510; 101) presents in the upper outer face (2a; 51a; 101a) two distinct and opposite groups of grooves (4; 53) suitable to receive the angular guide plates (G) belonging to pre-assembled elastic type fastening systems (64) for the connection of two respective rails (R) with said railway sleeper (1; 50; 100).
US09695550B2

The present disclosure is directed toward a process for adjusting a papermaking process for producing parent rolls of convolutely wound web material having a machine direction (MD) and a cross-machine direction (CD) coplanar and orthogonal thereto that improves the characteristics of the parent rolls of wound web material to improve downstream convertability.
US09695543B2

The laundry treating apparatus includes a door to open and close the introduction port about a first rotational or a second rotational axis which is different from first rotational axis. A first switching unit is provided in the door to allow rotation of door about the first rotational axis, and a second switching unit is provided in the door to allow rotation of the door about the second rotational axis. A lock fixes a position of at least one of the first switching unit or second switching unit when the door opens the introduction port. As can be appreciated, the mechanism used for the laundry apparatus may be applicable to other home appliances or non-home appliances where two different rotational axes may be needed to open and close a door.
US09695526B2

A support element for a compacting device for two drawing system units of a spinning machine disposed next to each other, includes a suction channel that extends inside the support element and is connected to a suction zone of suction drums via openings of suction inserts. The end faces of the suction drums are open at one end and are disposed coaxially opposite each other at a distance. The suction drums are rotatably mounted on a shaft that is attached to the support element. The support element is formed from two half shells that form the suction channel and are connected to each other by way of attachment means, wherein each of the half shells has an outwardly projecting tubular suction insert. The suction inserts are disposed coaxially opposite each other, and each suction insert has at least one bearing element that is provided with a passage and has at least one brace, by way of which the shaft is held in the radial direction.
US09695525B1

The present invention relates to a method for the continuous production of low thermal conductivity endless filament yarns with a compact, homogeneous structural morphology. The presently disclosed methods utilize safe and recyclable ionic liquids (IL) to produce carbon fiber precursors from cellulose. The fibers are produced by the carbonization of cellulose carbon fiber precursors. The precursor fiber filaments have an increased tear resistance with simultaneously sufficient elongation, a round or crenulated cross-section, and homogeneous fiber morphology. The filament yarns exhibit performance characteristics similar to those produced from traditional viscous rayon. The resulting fibers are especially suited for aerospace applications in composite materials used at the limits of high temperatures, for instance in structures found in rocket nozzles or atmospheric reentry heat shields on spacecraft.
US09695524B2

[Object] When rare earth magnets are plated, components of the rare earth magnets are dissolved in the plating solution, causing plating defects. Thus, an easy method for removing rare earth impurities has been necessary.[Means for Solution] A nickel-electroplating solution containing rare earth impurities is kept at 60° C. or higher for a predetermined period of time to precipitate rare earth impurities for separation by sedimentation or filtration. Rare earth impurities can be precipitated further efficiently by adding precipitate to the nickel-electroplating solution, or by concentrating the nickel-electroplating solution by heating.
US09695508B2

Embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus and method for lining a processing region within a chamber. In one embodiment, a modular liner assembly for a substrate processing chamber is provided. The modular liner assembly includes a first liner and a second liner, each of the first liner and second liner comprising an annular body sized to be received in a processing volume of a chamber, and at least a third liner comprising a body that extends through the first liner and the second liner, the third liner having a first end disposed in the process volume and a second end disposed outside of the chamber.
US09695496B2

The invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for avoiding surface defects, which are caused by zinc dust, on galvanized metal strip in continuous strip galvanization, in which metal strip which is to be galvanized and is heated in a continuous annealing furnace is moved through a furnace pipe in protective furnace gas and is immersed into a zinc bath, wherein the furnace pipe is provided with injection openings via which the front side and the rear side of the metal strip can be acted upon with protective furnace gas, and wherein extraction openings for extracting protective furnace gas loaded with zinc vapor are arranged adjacent to the injection openings. The apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that a multiplicity of the injection openings are configured and arranged in the furnace pipe in such a manner that the protective furnace gas streaming out of said injection openings is directed onto that surface of the metal strip which faces the respective injection opening with an angle of impact within the range of 70° to 110°, wherein the distance between the respective injection opening and at least one extraction opening assigned thereto is selected in such a manner that, at a predetermined or predeterminable flow velocity of the protective furnace gas emerging from the respective injection opening, an entraining of protective furnace gas, which occurs during movement of the metal strip, in the direction of the zinc bath is opposed.
US09695492B2

A method for producing a high purity high carbon molten chrome product from chrome and carbon bearing material, said method comprising the steps of: (a) continuously introducing chrome compacts directly into an electric melter; (b) heating and melting the chrome compacts in the electric melter at a temperature of between about 1300° C. to about 1700° C. to form high carbon molten chrome; (c) preventing oxidation of the high carbon molten chrome via minimization of the ingress of oxygen containing gas in said heating step; (d) carburizing the high carbon molten chrome to form high carbon molten metallized chrome; (e) purifying the high carbon molten metallized chrome by reducing silicon oxides to silicon and desulfurizing the high carbon molten metallized chrome to produce the high purity high carbon molten chrome product; and (f) discharging the high purity high carbon molten chrome product from the electric melter.
US09695487B2

The present invention provides a high-strength wear-resistant steel plate with Brinell hardness of ≧HB420, comprising the following chemical compositions (by weight %) C: 0.205-0.25%, Si: 0.20-1.00%, Mn: 1.0-1.5%, P≦0.015%, S≦0.010%, Al: 0.02-0.04%, Ti: 0.01-0.03%, N≦0.006%, Ca≦0.005%, and at least one of Cr≦0.70%, Ni≦0.50%, Mo≦0.30%, other compositions being Ferrum and unavoidable impurities. Also provided is a method of manufacturing the wear-resistant steel plate has remarkable TRIP effect in use, improving substantially its wear resistance, thereby meeting the high demand for wear-resistant steel plates in related industries.
US09695468B2

This disclosure provides microwell capsule array devices. The microwell capsule array devices are generally capable of performing one or more sample preparation operations. Such sample preparation operations may be used as a prelude to one more or more analysis operations. For example, a device of this disclosure can achieve physical partitioning and discrete mixing of samples with unique molecular identifiers within a single unit in preparation for various analysis operations. The device may be useful in a variety of applications and most notably nucleic-acid-based sequencing, detection and quantification of gene expression and single-cell analysis.
US09695465B2

The present invention pertains to a method for isolating nucleic acids from a sample, preferably a blood sample, comprising the following steps: a) obtaining a sample which has been stabilized by the use of at least one cationic detergent, wherein the cationic detergent has formed complexes with the nucleic acids; b) obtaining the complexes optionally together with other sample components from the stabilized sample, wherein said complexes comprise the nucleic acids to be isolated; c) resuspending the complexes and optionally adding one or more additives before, during and/or after resuspension, thereby obtaining a resuspended sample comprising at least: i) the nucleic acid to be isolated; ii) at least one chaotropic agent; and iii) at least one chelating agent; and d) isolating nucleic acids from the resuspended sample. It was found that adding a chelating agent during resuspension considerably increases the nucleic acid yield as the formation of precipitates which irreversibly adhere to the container wall is considerably reduced.
US09695464B2

The invention provides an enzymatic method for measuring the concentration of one or more analytes in the plasma portion of a blood derived sample, containing a first and a second component, where said second component interferes with the measurement of said first component. The method includes: i) diluting the sample with a reagent mixture; ii) substantially removing blood cells; iii) using a reagent which serves to temporarily prevent reaction of the second component, to generate a blocked second component; iv) causing the selective reaction of a constituent of each analyte to directly or indirectly generate detectable reaction products, where one of the analytes is the first component; v) monitoring the detectable reaction product or products; vi) relating an amount of the detectable product or products and/or a rate of formation of the detectable product or products to the concentration of each analyte, where the concentration of at least the first component is related to a corresponding detectable reaction product by means of estimating an un-measurable (fictive) endpoint. Step iii) may be carried out at any stage up to and including step iv) but before steps v) or vi). The reagent of step iii) may be applied to the sample separately or may be included in a reagent mixture during steps i) or iv). A corresponding kit is also provided.
US09695463B2

Methods for identifying a test agent as a modulator of the active DNA demethylation activity of a DNA methyltransferase are disclosed. The method comprises: a) providing a methylated DNA; b) providing the DNA methyltransferase; c) allowing the methylated DNA to react with the DNA methyltransferase for a sufficient time to perform a demethylation reaction and generate a demethylated DNA product in the presence or absence of a test agent; d) analyzing the extent of demethylation; and d) comparing the extents of the demethylation in the presence and absence of the test agent, and thereby identify the test agent as a modulator of the DNA demethylation activity of the DNA methyltransferase.
US09695459B2

The present invention provides a method for determining whether or not a test sample contains a phytopathogenic oomycete selectively from two kinds of oomycetes of a phytopathogenic oomycete and a non-phytopathogenic oomycete. The method according to the present invention comprises: (a) putting the test sample on a front surface of a cellulose film; wherein the cellulose film has a thickness of not less than 0.5 micrometers and not more than 3.7 micrometers; (b) leaving the test sample at rest for not less than 4 hours and not more than 8 hours after the step (a); (c) observing a back surface of the film after the step (b); and (d) determining that the test sample contains the phytopathogenic oomycete, if an oomycete is found on the back surface of the film in the step (c).
US09695458B2

Provided is a sample dish for detecting microbes. The sample dish includes a base having an opening extending therethrough, an outer side wall at the outer periphery of the base, and an inner side wall at the inner periphery of the base defined by the opening. The sample dish may be used in conjunction with a microbial test unit including a housing defining an internal cavity configured to contain a sample dish, the unit including a cuff extending from an outlet of the housing into the internal cavity. The cuff may be an open-ended member configured to extend through an opening of the sample dish and provide fluid communication between the internal cavity and the outlet. The microbial test unit provides the ability to test compressed gas directly input to the unit.
US09695456B2

A solution is the microorganism testing apparatus equipped with a pre-processing unit in which, if a content of microorganism testing on a specific specimen is selected or input, testing conditions of the specimen read from a storage device in which testing information specifying the testing conditions of the specimen is stored are printed on a sheet-form medium to be used for testing of the specimen, and a post-processing unit in which, if an image of the medium is read, the testing conditions printed on the medium and a type of the medium preliminarily labelled on the medium are acquired from the image to output judgment results as to whether or not the testing conditions acquired from the image, and the type of the medium are compatible.
US09695455B2

A method of producing protein nanoparticles from waste chicken feathers by enzymatic hydrolysis followed by ultrasonic treatment is disclosed. The process includes pretreatment of the chicken feathers. Then feather fibers are hydrolyzed enzymatically. The effects of enzyme concentration, hydrolysis time, and substrate concentration on particle mean size are analyzed to optimize the best condition in order to attain the smallest particles by a Box-Behnken Design. A minimum particle size is obtained by using 5 g/l feather and 3.6% enzyme with a hydrolysis time of 243 h. The hydrolyzed particles are then subjected to ultrasonic treatment to produce nanoparticles. The produced protein particles have high potential to be used in nanocomposites and adsorbents.
US09695450B2

The amino acid and nucleic acid sequences of a Δ5-desaturase enzyme and a Δ8-desaturase enzyme are disclosed. The nucleic acid sequences can be used to design recombinant DNA constructs and vectors. These vectors can then be used to transform various organisms, including for example, plants and yeast. The transformed organisms will then produce polyunsaturated fatty acids. The amino acid sequences are useful for generating enzyme-specific antibodies that are useful for identifying the desaturases.
US09695447B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a series of techniques for producing isoprene from methanol or the like. Provided is a recombinant cell prepared by introducing a gene encoding isoprene synthase, into a host cell which is a methylotroph, wherein the gene is expressed in the host cell, and the recombinant cell is capable of producing isoprene from at least one C1 compound selected from the group consisting of methane, methanol, methylamine, formic acid, formaldehyde, and formamide. Preferably, it has at least one C1 carbon assimilating pathway selected from the group consisting of a serine pathway, a ribulose monophosphate pathway, and a xylulose monophosphate pathway as a fixing pathway of formaldehyde. Also provided is a method for producing isoprene using the recombinant cell.
US09695443B2

The present invention relates to a viral vector for silencing a gene specifically in astrocytes comprising: —an astrocyte-specific viral envelope protein, —a first nucleic acid sequence encoding a transcription activator and at least one target sequence of a neuron-specific miR under the control of an astrocyte-specific promoter, and—a second nucleic acid sequence encoding a RNA for silencing the gene under the control of a promoter inducible by the transcription activator.
US09695434B2

Brassica plants producing oils with a low alpha-linolenic acid content and methods for producing such plants are described.
US09695429B2

The present invention relates to methods for producing a biological substance, comprising: (a) cultivating a fungal host cell in a medium conducive for the production of the biological substance, wherein the fungal host cell comprises a first nucleic acid sequence encoding the biological substance operably linked to a second nucleic acid sequence comprising a promoter variant selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 11, and SEQ ID NO: 12; and a subsequence thereof; and hybrid and tandem promoters thereof; and (b) isolating the biological substance from the cultivation medium. The present invention also relates to the isolated promoter variants and to constructs, vectors, and fungal host cells comprising the promoter variants operably linked to nucleic acid sequences encoding biological substances.
US09695420B2

The present invention provides a method of identifying host cell molecules which may be modulated to inhibit viral replication and method of testing antiviral compounds. In addition, the invention provides compositions, methods and medicaments for treating viral infections and/or diseases or conditions caused or contributed to by viruses.
US09695414B2

A device, method and system is provided for binding particles for the separation and/or isolation of biological materials. In particular, a container is provided including a suspension of binding particles for the isolation of biological material, inner walls forming an elongate groove at the bottom of said container, and a cover having openings and/or being penetrable for a linear arrangement of multiple pipets or pipet tips, said openings being located above and parallel to said elongate groove.
US09695404B2

Described herein are genetically-modified microorganisms for producing long-chain dicarboxylic acids and methods of using the microorganisms. The microorganisms contain a first nucleic acid encoding an Umbellularia californica lauroyl ACP-thioesterase (BTE) operably linked to a promoter or a second nucleic acid encoding a Cocos nucifera lauroyl ACP-thioesterase (FatB3) operably linked to a promoter.
US09695402B2

An isolated peptide being no longer than 20 amino acids comprising a sequence at least 95% homologous to the sequence GQLNHILGILGX1PX2QED (SEQ ID NO: 4), wherein X1 and X2 are any amino acid, the peptide being capable of preventing extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK) translocation into the nucleus.
US09695395B2

The present invention provides for the generation and maintenance of pluripotent cells by culturing the cells in the presence of an ALK5 inhibitor.
US09695393B2

One or more embodiments are described directed to a method and system for concentrating components of a fluid circulated through a cell growth chamber such as a cell growth chamber. Accordingly, embodiments include methods and systems that utilize a tangential flow filter to concentrate components of a fluid that in embodiments includes expanded cells. In embodiments, a concentrated fluid component and a concentrated cell component are generated by flowing the fluid with expanded cells across a tangential flow filter. The concentrated cell component may be recirculated to the tangential flow filter to reach some desired concentration of cells. The concentrated fluid component may be collected to utilize cellular-produced constituents in the concentrated fluid component.
US09695391B2

One aspect relates to a container for inserting into a holding device, comprising: a wall that is flexible at least in some areas, which wall is squashed, at least in some areas, in a transport condition in a direction opposite to a stretching direction; a handling unit connected to the wall, which is designed to come into engagement with a complementary handling unit of a transport device; a securing unit which in a transport condition hinders stretching of the wall of the bioreactor container along the stretching direction, wherein the container can, when the securing unit is released, be extended at least in some areas along the stretching direction, as well as a transport device, a use and a method.
US09695381B2

Methods of and devices for recovering oil and protein and increasing production yields using two centrifuges in series or a centrifuge with dual oil and protein separating functions in a dry mill are provided.
US09695377B2

The disclosed technology relates to ashless compounds exhibiting neutral pH and having sufficient polarity to act as a dispersant. The disclosed technology additionally relates to the use of the ashless compounds in engine lubricants as dispersants for preventing engine deposit without degrading seals or increasing (i.e. contributing to) corrosion.
US09695357B2

Phosphors comprising a nitride-based composition represented by the chemical formula: M(x/v)(M′aM″b)Si(c−x)AlxNd:RE, wherein: M is a divalent or trivalent metal with valence v; M′ is at least one divalent metal; M″ is at least one trivalent metal; 2a+3b+4c=3d; and RE is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Eu, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb. Furthermore, the nitride-based composition may have the general crystalline structure of M′aM″bSicNd, where Al substitutes for Si within the crystalline structure and M is located within the crystalline structure substantially at the interstitial sites.
US09695351B2

A formulation for use as a lost circulation preventive material is a cement-forming aqueous fluid comprising water, a viscoelastic surfactant (VES), a monovalent or multivalent salt, a magnesium powder, a retarder, a weighting material, and a dispersant. The formulation is used in a method of drilling into a subterranean formation that includes introducing into a wellbore passing at least partially through the subterranean formation the cement-forming aqueous fluid, and further increasing the viscosity of the aqueous fluid with the VES, where the monovalent salt is present in an amount effective to pseudo-crosslink the elongated VES micelles to further increase the viscosity of fluid. The formulation further forms a cement by reacting the magnesium powder and the water which reaction is retarded by the retarder. The water may be saline water. When the fluid density is greater than 14 pounds per gallon, a dispersant is required, such as a sulfonated copolymer.
US09695349B1

A unique phase change material composition and method of maintaining pre-established environmental conditions and safeguards during the manufacturing process. A fabrication method and parameters which result in a more efficient and safe packaged phase change material. A microspherical form of Perlite is the chosen phase change material. The microspherical form of Perlite is vacuum packed in such a manner to exclude water and moisture as well as utilizing a sealing surface of sufficient width to maintain a vapor barrier at the sealed edges. Besides absorption and release of heat, the packaged phase change material may be used as a fire preventive article in residential and commercial properties.
US09695348B2

Provided is a working medium of the present invention for absorption refrigerators is a mixture that is to contact a carbon steel or a copper alloy that is a structural material of any one of the absorption refrigerators, and includes water and 1,4-dioxane, and further includes a corrosion inhibitor. The corrosion inhibitor includes one or more selected from the group consisting of respective hydroxides of any alkali metal and any alkaline earth metal, and respective oxoates. Thus, corrosion of the structural material of the absorption refrigerator can be restrained.
US09695344B2

The present disclosure relates to acrylic adhesive emulsions comprising a core-shell polymeric component comprising an inner core and an outer shell containing at least one pendent functional group; a polyfunctional component capable of reacting with at least one of the pendent functional groups on the outer shell; wherein the inner core is free of functional groups reactive with the pendent functional groups on the outer shell; and wherein the pH of the emulsion is 6.5 or less; and wherein the emulsion is a fast-setting, one part, aqueous, adhesive. Bonded articles made therefrom, and methods of bonding articles using these emulsions are also disclosed.
US09695340B2

The present invention provides a hot melt adhesive for high-speed coating and spiral coating at low temperature. The hot melt adhesive has excellent adhesion to polyethylene and nonwoven fabric, and is suitable for disposable products. The hot melt adhesive comprises: (A) a propylene homopolymer having a melting point of 100° C. or lower which is obtainable by polymerizing propylene using a metallocene catalyst; and (B) an ethylene-based copolymer.
US09695338B2

In a decorative sheet including a surface layer and an adhesion layer, the surface layer is a polyurethane layer obtained by crosslinking using a curing agent and coating and drying of a straight chain polyurethane resin having a specified molecular weight and acid value, the polyurethane resin being obtained by reaction of a diamine chain extender agent with a polyurethane prepolymer obtained by reaction of a polycarbonate diol having an alicyclic structure, an aliphatic diol having a carboxyl group, and 4,4′-cyclohexylmethandiisocyanate.
US09695337B2

The present invention provides an optical pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet in which white turbidity is not caused by humidification and durability is excellent as well. The present invention provides an optical pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet, comprising: a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer in which a moisture ratio after storage under an environment of 60° C. and 95% RH for 120 hours is 0.65 wt % or more, and a shear storage elastic modulus at 85° C. which is measured by a dynamic viscoelastic measurement is 5.0×104 to 5.0×105 Pa, wherein a peeling distance measured by the constant-load peel test is 30 mm or less when an adherend is a polyethylene terephthalate plate, and the peeling distance measured by the following constant-load peel test is 30 mm or less when the adherend is an acrylic plate.
US09695336B2

A color sampling display product is provided that includes a radiation-curable water-based coating composition applied to a substrate, and shows mechanical integrity and aesthetic appeal.
US09695332B2

A release film for producing a green sheet of the present invention includes a base material and a release agent layer provided at a side of a first surface of the base material. The release agent layer includes an ultraviolet curable compound (A) having three or more reactive groups selected from the group consisting of a (meth)acryloyl group, an alkenyl group and a maleimide group in one molecule thereof, a polyorganosiloxane (B) and an α-aminoalkylphenone based photopolymerization initiator (C). An arithmetic average roughness Ra1 of an outer surface of the release agent layer may be different than an arithmetic average roughness Ra2 of a second surface of the base material. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent pinholes and variation in partially thickness from occurring to the green sheet.
US09695322B2

A process for coating a metallic surface of a metallic substrate comprising applying, an organic, anionically, cationically or radically curable anticorrosive composition, to the metallic surface, wherein said anticorrosive composition is a dispersion or solution containing at least two components that are at least partially anionically, cationically or radically curable, wherein at least one monofunctional monomer or monofunctional oligomer is present, a photoinitiator, and first organic corrosion inhibitor.
US09695321B2

The present invention relates to a UV light reflective composition comprising a light transmissive matrix comprising a silicone resin, and UV light reflective particles comprising boron nitride, the particles being dispersed in the transmissive matrix. The light reflective particles of the UV light reflective composition has an average particle size within the range of from 0.2 to 0.7 μm. An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a highly light reflective composition, especially in the UV range.
US09695310B2

Provided are a fluororesin composition having a low electrostatic propensity, and a fluororesin molded article having a low electrostatic propensity that is configured from a fluororesin composition. A thermoplastic fluororesin composition that comprises a fluororesin, two or more kinds of vinylidene fluoride-tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene terpolymers and an ionic liquid, wherein said terpolymers include a terpolymer selected from among terpolymers containing 30-45 mol % of vinylidene fluoride and a terpolymer selected from among terpolymers containing 5-25 mol % of vinylidene fluoride; and a fluororesin molded article.
US09695306B2

A multilayer heat shrink film including a core layer having an alpha-olefin polymer and at least one skin layer having a cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), process for its preparation and uses thereof.
US09695299B1

A phosphorous-containing compound is represented by Formula (I): wherein n is an integer ranging from 1 to 4; R1 represents hydrogen or a linear or branched C1-C4 alkyl group, and a plurality of R1s are the same or different when n is larger than 1; R2 represents hydrogen, or wherein Ep is an epoxy resin moiety; or represents wherein Ar represents a linear or branched C1-C12 alkyl group or a C6-C12 aryl group; and R3 represents hydrogen or methyl.
US09695292B2

Provided among other things is method of forming texture on an outer surface of an polymer layer of an article, comprising: applying a latex of polymer particles to (a) a support element of the article or (b) a former, to form an polymer layer; applying to the polymer layer discrete particles of carbonic salt so that they embed into the outer surface and gel elastomer adjacent to the carbonic salt; removing the carbonic salt with an aqueous wash; and curing the polymer layer.
US09695280B2

The present invention provides methods, processes, and systems for the manufacture of three-dimensional articles of polymer materials using 3D printing. A syringe or an inkjet print head prints a solution of prepolymer onto a build plate. The printed prepolymer is exposed to a stimulus whereby the prepolymer is converted to the polymer. After a predetermined time, sequential layers are printed to provide the three-dimensional article. The three-dimensional article can be cured to produce the 3D article made from the final polymer.
US09695268B2

The present invention relates to chain extenders, processes for their preparation and their use in the preparation of biocompatible biodegradable polyurethanes and polyurethane ureas for biomedical applications such as stents, scaffolds for tissue engineering.The chain extenders comprise a compound of formula (I)
US09695267B2

The invention provides foam forming methods that comprise: (a) preparing a foamable system comprising at least one hydrohaloolefin; and (b) ensuring either (i) the substantial absence of long-term decomposition-inducing contact between said hydrofluoroolefin and an amine-containing catalyst; (ii) that an effective amount of surfactant is available in the system under conditions which prevent long term exposure of the surfactant to a long-term decomposition reaction environment; or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii). Related methods, foamable systems and foams are also disclosed. Preferred embodiments provide polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams and methods for the preparation thereof, including closed-celled, polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams and methods for their preparation. The preferred foams are characterized by a fine uniform cell structure and little or no foam collapse. The foams are preferably produced with a polyol premix composition which comprises a combination of a hydrohaloolefin blowing agent, a polyol, a silicone surfactant, a catalyst and is further characterized by being substantially free of added water.
US09695266B2

A wettable, high strength, ether foam, particularly suited for ink holders, that includes a prepolymer that is formed before adding it to other components in the foam formulation.
US09695265B2

A process for producing a polyacetal copolymer, the process making catalyst deactivation easy and efficient. Trioxane as a major monomer is copolymerized with one or more comonomers that are a cyclic ether and/or cyclic formal having at least one carbon-carbon bond, using a nonvolatile protonic acid as a polymerization catalyst at 100° C. or lower until the conversion reaches 50% and thereafter at a polymerization environment temperature of 115° C. to 140° C. This process includes: a crushing step in which a dry-process crusher is used to obtain a crude polyacetal copolymer crushed to such a degree that when the crude copolymer is screened with a sieve having an opening size of 11.2 mm, 90 parts by weight or more thereof passes therethrough; and a deactivation step in which a basic compound (e) is added to the crude copolymer and the mixture is melt-kneaded to thereby deactivate the polymerization catalyst.
US09695259B2

A method for purifying a reclaimed polymer, such as a polymer reclaimed from post-consumer use or post-industrial use, is disclosed. The method involves obtaining the reclaimed polymer and contacting it at an elevated temperature and pressure with a fluid solvent to produce an extracted reclaimed polymer. The extracted reclaimed polymer is dissolved in a solvent at an elevated temperature and pressure to produce a polymer solution. A polymer is then separated from the polymer solution.
US09695256B2

Disclosed is a method of preparing a modified conjugated diene-based polymer, including (a) polymerizing a conjugated diene monomer, or a conjugated diene monomer and an aromatic vinyl monomer, using the compound represented by Chemical Formula 1 in the presence of a solvent, thus obtaining an active polymer having a metal end, and (b) modifying the active polymer with the compound represented by Chemical Formula 2.
US09695254B2

The present invention describes a metallocene catalyst based on a transition metal of group 4 or 5 of the periodic table; supported on a hybrid catalytic support with aliphatic organic groups and a process for supporting metallocene on the hybrid catalytic support. The supported metallocene catalyst provides an ethylene polymer with broad or bimodal molecular weight distribution in the presence of only one metallocene complex on the support.
US09695250B2

The present disclosure relates to a bispecific single chain antibody which has a first binding domain specifically binding to human CD3, and a second binding domain specifically binding to human CEA, where the second binding domain comprises at least a part of the CDR-H3 or the complete CDR-H3 of murine monoclonal antibody A5B7, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the bispecific single chain antibody, and methods for the treatment of an epithelial tumor in a human with the pharmaceutical compositions containing the bispecific single chain antibody. Furthermore, processes for the production of the pharmaceutical compositions as well as medical/pharmaceutical uses for the specific bispecific single chain antibody molecules bearing specificities for the human CD3 antigen and the human CEA antigen are disclosed.
US09695249B2

The present disclosure relates to antibodies specific for urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). According to certain embodiments, the anti-uPA antibody specifically binds to the active form of uPA. In certain aspects, the anti-uPA antibody that specifically binds to active uPA binds specifically to the active form of human uPA (e.g., the antibody does not cross-react with active forms of uPA from non-human organisms). In certain aspects, an anti-uPA antibody of the present disclosure competes for specific binding to uPA with plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), where binding of the antibody to uPA results in internalization of a complex that includes the antibody, uPA, and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR). Also provided are antibodies that specifically bind to uPA and compete for binding to uPA with a synthetic ligand of uPA. The disclosure also provides anti-uPA antibody conjugates and compositions (e.g., pharmaceutical formulations) comprising the antibodies and/or conjugates. Methods and kits related to the anti-uPA antibodies, conjugates, or formulations including the antibodies and/or conjugates are also provided.
US09695240B2

The present invention relates to conjugates of therapeutically useful anthracyclines with carriers such as polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, proteins or peptides of natural or synthetic origin; methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical composition containing them and use thereof in treating certain mammalian tumors.
US09695235B2

The present invention provides a composition for regulating cell proliferation comprising a peptide having a partial amino acid sequence of BBF2H7 or an antibody capable of binding to the peptide. The problem has been solved by preparation of the peptide having a partial amino acid sequence of BBF2H7 which has a cell proliferation activity.
US09695234B2

This invention provides compositions and methods to treat a condition or disease without the use of exogenous targeting sequences or chemical compositions. The present invention relates to single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), proteins and polypeptides comprising the sdAbs that are directed against intracellular components that cause a condition or disease. The invention also includes nucleic acids encoding the sdAbs, proteins and polypeptides, and compositions comprising the sdAbs. The invention includes the use of the compositions, sdAbs, and nucleic acids encoding the sdAbs for prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.
US09695225B2

A peptide compound useful in the treatment of hypoglycemia is described.
US09695222B2

Immunoconjugates for impeding weight gain and treating obesity in a subject are disclosed. The immunoconjugates comprise a ghrelin mimetic polypeptide hapten, a spacer moiety comprising one of more polyethylene glycol (PEG) units, and a protein carrier moiety. Immunoconjugates optionally include a conjugation moiety for conjugating the polypeptide hapten with a linker moiety or the protein carrier moiety and a linker moiety for conjugating the conjugation moiety with the protein carrier moiety.
US09695221B2

The present invention relates generally to the field of diarrheal diseases caused by intestinal spirochaetes. Specifically, the invention relates to the prevention and/or treatment of infections with B. hyodysenteriae. In one aspect, the invention relates to a novel recombinant polypeptide, wherein said polypeptide may preferably be combined with one or more further recombinant polypeptides. In a further aspect, an immunogenic composition containing said recombinant polypeptide(s) is provided for use in a method for treating or preventing clinical signs caused by Brachyspira hyodysenteriae.
US09695220B2

Methods are described for predicting ancestral sequences for viruses or portions thereof. Also described are predicted ancestral sequences for adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid polypeptides. The disclosure also provides methods of gene transfer and methods of vaccinating subjects by administering a target antigen operably linked to the AAV capsid polypeptides.
US09695216B2

A method includes (i) adding allantoin in a supersaturating amount to a protein preparation including a desired protein and at least one endotoxin as a contaminant, (ii) removing solids after the adding step to provide a sample for further purification by void exclusion chromatography on a packed particle bed of electropositive particles in a column, the packed particle bed having an interparticle volume, (iii) applying a sample volume to the packed particle bed, wherein the electropositive particles support void exclusion chromatography, and wherein the sample volume is not greater than the interparticle volume, and (iv) eluting a purified sample including the desired protein and a reduced amount of the endotoxin. The method is optionally carried out with only the allantoin treatment or only the void exclusion chromatography.
US09695215B2

Method for producing a fibroin powder from silk products or filaments without sericin and dyes having the following phases: a) introduction of products or filaments into a very tightly-woven sealed bag with high filtering capacity to allow the treatment liquid but not the silk fibrils to exit; b) introduction of the bag into a tank with fresh and hot water with a mixer, in which soda is added to the water for a time of some hours; c) a rinsing phase of which the last is made with acetic acid in such a way as to make the fiber acceptable to the cutis as originally; d) phase of centrifugation and drying tumbler; e) tumbling phase, first opening the bags to throw away the material dried in the tumblers by pulverizing the fiber with a homogenous fragmentation in such a way as to keep the fibrils whole.
US09695211B2

Described herein are methods of syntheses of phosphorous atom-modified nucleic acids comprising chiral X-phosphonate moieties. The methods described herein provide backbone-modified nucleic acids in high diasteteomeric purity via an asymmetric reaction of an achiral molecule comprising a chemically stable H-phosphonate moiety with a nucleoside/nucleotide.
US09695200B2

Disclosed herein are heterocyclic compounds and compositions useful in the treatment of ITK mediated diseases, such as inflammation, having the structure of Formula (I): wherein R1, R2, and X are as defined in the detailed description. Methods of inhibition of ITK activity in a human or animal subject are also provided.
US09695197B2

The invention provides compounds with enhanced permeability for selectively inhibiting glycosidases, prodrugs of the compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds or prodrugs of the compounds. The invention also provides methods of treating diseases and disorders related to deficiency or overexpression of O-GlcNAcase, accumulation or deficiency of O-GlcNAc.
US09695193B2

Inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum equilibrative nucleoside transporter type 1 are identified and methods of use as anti-parasitic compounds are provided.
US09695178B2

The hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is a pathway which regulates patterning, growth and cell migration during embryonic development, but in adulthood is limited to tissue maintenance and repair. Mutational inactivation of the inhibitory pathway components leads to constitutive ligand-independent activation of the Hh signaling pathway, results in cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and medulloblastoma. Ligand-dependent activation of Hh signaling is involved in prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and some blood cancers. Therefore, inhibition of the aberrant Hh signaling represents a promising approach toward novel anticancer therapy. The present invention provides novel molecules of formula I that inhibit hedgehog pathway signaling and provides therapeutic applications for the treatment of malignancies (basal cell carcinoma, medulloblastoma, glioblastoma, non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, blood cancers, mesenchymal cancers, etc.), prevention of tumor regrowth, sensitization of radio-chemo therapies, and other diseases (inflammation, fibrosis and immune disorders) related to hedgehog signaling.
US09695175B2

Disclosed are novel nitrogen-containing, heterocyclic, c-Met inhibitor compounds, processes for their preparation and formulations thereof. The compounds are useful as therapeutical agents for the inhibition, regulation, and control of c-Met kinase signal pathway, and useful for treating in a subject a cell proliferative disorder or disorders mediated by c-Met.
US09695165B2

Described herein are inhibitors of FGFR-4, pharmaceutical compositions including such compounds, and methods of using such compounds and compositions to inhibit the activity of FGFR-4.
US09695158B2

A composition comprising a dibenzo[f,h]quinoxaline derivative in which impurities are reduced and a method of synthesizing dibenzo[f,h]quinoxaline in which impurities are reduced are provided. In addition, a light-emitting element, a light-emitting device, an electronic appliance, or a lighting device with high emission efficiency and high reliability in which dibenzo[f,h]quinoxaline is used as an EL material is provided. In the synthesis method, 2-(chloroaryl)dibenzo[f,h]quinoxaline is used as a synthetic intermediate in a synthetic pathway so that an impurity contained in a final product can be removed easily by purification by sublimation.
US09695149B2

The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), and solvates, hydrates, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein X1, X1′, X1″, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined herein, useful as FLAP modulators. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formula (I). Methods of making and using the compounds of Formula (I) are also within the scope of the invention.
US09695147B2

The present invention provides intermediates useful for the synthesis of Perampanel and processes employing said intermediates for preparing Perampanel. The invention also provides processes for making the intermediates, crystalline forms of the intermediates and the use of the crystalline forms for preparing Perampanel.
US09695142B2

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 2-substituted 4-hydroxy-4-methyltetrahydropyrans.
US09695141B2

The present invention is in the field of pharmaceuticals and chemical industries. In particular, the present invention relates to new anticancer agents based on miliusane compounds. The present invention also includes its preparation and application method for treating cancer.
US09695140B2

An object of the present invention is to provide high-purity gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) capable of preventing occurrence of reaction other than the object at the time of use, which reaction is caused due to a high acidity of GBL, and the present invention relates to a gamma-butyrolactone composition containing gamma-butyrolactone and a nitrogen-containing compound, wherein a content of the gamma-butyrolactone is 99.0% by mass or more, and a total content of the nitrogen-containing compound is 0.1 ppm by mass to 1,000 ppm by mass as converted to a nitrogen atom.
US09695135B2

The invention provides compounds of formula I: and salts thereof wherein R1-R4 have any of the meanings defined in the specification, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds or salts, and methods for their use in therapy. The compounds have useful antiviral properties.
US09695126B2

The present invention relates to pyrazole carboxamides derivatives of formula (1) wherein Y represents CR5 or N, T represents S or O, X1 and X2 represent a chlorine or a fluorine atom, and Z1 represents a substituted or non-substituted cyclopropyl; Their process of preparation, their use as fungicide, and/or anti-mycotoxin active agents, and/or insecticide, and/or nematicide, particularly in the form of fungicide compositions, and methods for the control of phytopathogenic fungi, notably of plants, using these compounds or compositions.
US09695125B2

The present invention provides a method for synthesizing cationic bleach activators via a single-bath reaction, comprising steps of: separately dissolving 4-chloromethylbenoyl chloride and lactam in its respective solvent, adding an acid-binding agent to the lactam solution, next adding dropwisely 4-chloromethylbenoyl chloride solution into the lactam/acid binding-agent solution, and finally adding tertiary amine to the solution above to make a reaction solution, which is further treated with mixing and refluxing. The washed and dried final product is TBLC cationic bleach activator. The method of the present invention greatly simplifies the synthesizing process and lowers the stringency of reaction conditions for preparing cationic bleach activators (TBLC). At the same time, the present method produces TBLC cationic bleach activators with high yields, making it a suitable option for industrial production of these bleach activators.
US09695123B2

Compounds of formula (I) wherein the other substituents HetAr, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are as defined in claim 1, and their use in compositions and methods for the control and/or prevention of microbial infection, particularly fungal infection, in plants and to processes for the preparation of these compounds.
US09695118B2

The present invention relates to benzamide derivatives represented by formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US09695110B2

This disclosure describes a low temperature process for the preparation of dimethyl amines from nitriles via reductive amination. In some embodiments, the process proceeds under mild conditions with aqeuous dimethylamine and show an unexpected rate acceleration by the inclusion of an acid addition salt of the dimethylamine.
US09695109B2

A telescoping process for the preparation of 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine, a cosmetically acceptable salt thereof, or mixture thereof. The process according to the present invention is a particularly cost effective process in that it avoids sophisticated chemical steps which requires special equipment or expensive catalysts and in that it comprises a recycling step of one of the starting materials, namely 2-methoxymethylaniline.
US09695102B2

A method for the preparation of an alkali metal cinnamate powdery product, preferably potassium cinnamate or sodium cinnamate, is disclosed herein. The resulting product has novel structural properties. The powder of the present disclosure is made via spray-drying and/or spray agglomeration and has a higher flowability, is less cohesive and less dusty, has an improved dissolution rate and in particular has a very favorable organoleptic profile. The disclosure is also directed to product applications in which the novel cinnamate product of the present disclosure may be applied.
US09695098B2

A multi-reactor hydroformylation process wherein a common product-catalyst separation zone is employed.
US09695096B2

A process for the conversion of linear pentenes to propylene is disclosed. The process may include feeding hydrogen and a C5-olefin containing stream comprising linear pentenes, dienes, acetylenes, and cyclopentene to a catalytic distillation reactor system. Concurrently in the catalytic distillation reactor system, the acetylenes and dienes may be hydrogenated and the C5-olefin containing stream may be fractionated, thereby recovering an overheads fraction comprising the linear pentenes, a side draw fraction comprising the cyclopentene, and a bottoms fraction. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the overheads fraction may then be fed to a metathesis reactor for converting the linear pentenes to propylene.
US09695093B2

A hydrothermal conversion process includes a mixing step wherein an aqueous slurry of a solid feedstock material with a steam stream to produce a reaction mixture having a temperature of at least 160° C. and which is at a pressure sufficient to keep water as a subcooled liquid. The process is fast and effective, requires only simple equipment and is highly energy-efficient. The process is also readily scalable, can be operated continuously or semi-continuously and can be tailored to produce carbonized solids or liquefaction products, all of which typically have increased economic value compared with the starting materials.
US09695091B2

Aspects of the invention include compositions for fertilizing and remediating soil. Compositions according to certain embodiments include a cellulose nutrient composition, a microbial blend composition, a source of nitrogen, a source of phosphorus and exotic micronutrients. Methods for using compositions of the invention to fertilize and remediate soil and kits having one or more compositions for fertilizing and remediating soil are also described.
US09695084B2

A system and method of forming fiberglass air filtration media is disclosed which does not require the use of oil additives. A mixture of resin binder, polymer, and dry adhering agent is formed and applied to the fiberglass as it spins onto the drum. Additionally, the fiberglass filtration media density can vary such that the fiber on the air inflow is less dense than the fiber on the air outflow. After oven curing, the finished air filtration media has an improved ability to attract and hold dust and other contaminants.
US09695076B2

A method for reducing release of resistance genes during sludge anaerobic treatment includes controlling concentration of to-be-treated sludge in a concentration tank to be 12-20 g/L by sedimentation under gravity. The concentrated sludge is transferred to a supersonic pre-treatment device to proceed with supersonic pre-treatment. The supersonic pre-treatment is conducted for 5-30 minutes at a power of 0.1-0.5 kW and a frequency of 10-40 kHz. The pre-treated sludge is then transferred to an anaerobic treatment device for anaerobic treatment. The anaerobic treatment is conducted for 4-12 days at a temperature of 20-37° C. The release amount of resistance genes in the residual sludge and the supernatant liquid in the anaerobic treatment device is detected. A feedback dosage of an alkali liquid is fed into the anaerobic treatment device according to the release amount of the resistance genes, controlling a pH value to be 9.0-11.0 during the anaerobic treatment.
US09695073B2

Methods and apparatus for generation of dual biocides are provided. The electrolytic generation of chlorine as a biocide is employed for further generation of additional biocides within a single system or generator, including bromine, iodine, chlorine dioxide, fluorine, or chloramines from their respective salts and/or precursors. A single on-site generating system produces a combination of biocides for applications of use providing cost, safety and efficacy improvements. Methods of using the disinfecting biocides provide a synergistic effect through simultaneous or sequential applications.
US09695069B2

A micro-channel electrode structure includes a layer and an electrode micro-channel formed in the layer, the electrode micro-channel having an electrode micro-channel bottom forming the bottom of the electrode micro-channel and an electrode micro-channel top forming the top the electrode micro-channel. The electrode micro-channel is at least partially filled with an electrode that extends along the electrode micro-channel and extends from the electrode micro-channel bottom toward the electrode micro-channel top. A fluid micro-channel adapted to carry a fluid is formed in the layer. An electrical power source is connected to the electrode. The fluid micro-channel intersects the electrode micro-channel in the layer to form a micro-channel intersection and the electrode extends from the electrode micro-channel into the micro-channel intersection without occluding the fluid micro-channel.
US09695051B2

The invention relates to a new phase of silicon, Si24, and a method of making the same. Si24 has a quasi-direct band gap, with a direct gap value of 1.34 eV and an indirect gap value of 1.3 eV. The invention also relates to a compound of the formula Na4Si24 and a method of making the same. Na4Si24 may be used as a precursor to make Si24.
US09695049B2

An Ultra High Purity (UHP) carbon dioxide purification system and a method for purification of UHP carbon dioxide is disclosed. The purification system includes supported nickel oxide and supported palladium oxide. An upper portion of the purification system is at least partially filled with supported nickel oxide, and a lower portion of the purification system is at least partially filled with supported palladium oxide. The upper and lower portions of the purification system have a physical separation but are in fluid communication. The method includes purification or pre-purification of High Purity (HP) carbon dioxide to Ultra High Purity (UHP) levels including feeding carbon dioxide of High Purity grade or better to an Ultra High Purity carbon dioxide purification system.
US09695044B2

An apparatus for starting up and/or shutting down a plant for preparing nitric acid from ammonia and oxygenous gas may include at least one air compressor, at least one process gas cooler, at least one feed water preheater, and at least one residual gas turbine. The at least one process gas cooler and the at least one feed water preheater may include pipe coils, at least one of which is connected to a source for a heating medium such that the at least one pipe coil in the process gas cooler and/or the feed water preheater can be charged during startup and/or shutdown of the apparatus with the heating medium for heating the process gas flowing through the process gas cooler and feed water preheater. The apparatus may further include a heat exchanger downstream of the process gas cooler and/or the feed water preheater for transferring thermal energy from the heated process gas to the residual gas supplied to the residual gas turbine. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.
US09695043B2

Disclosed is a fuel unit for a gas generator such as a hydrogen gas generator that can supply gas to a gas consuming system such as a fuel cell system. The fuel unit includes a housing containing a solid fuel composition and a heat producing material. The fuel composition contains gas releasing solid material that reacts to release gas when heated. The heat producing material reacts exothermically to produce heat. A plurality of quantities of the heat producing material are in thermal communication with corresponding portions of an unsegregated quantity the fuel composition such that, following initiation of a reaction of each quantity of the heat producing material, the quantity of heat producing material will heat the corresponding portion of the unsegregated quantity of the fuel composition, and the corresponding portion of the unsegregated quantity of the fuel composition will react to release a quantity of the gas.
US09695041B2

A physical quantity sensor includes a supporting substrate, an acceleration detecting element that is mounted on the supporting substrate, and a sealing substrate that is bonded to the supporting substrate, and seals the acceleration detecting element, in which a notch portion is formed in a portion of a bonded face to the supporting substrate, in the sealing substrate, and a filling material that is configured by a material which is different from a material configuring the sealing substrate, is arranged in the notch portion.
US09695038B2

This application relates to MEMS transducer having a membrane layer (101) and at least one variable vent structure (301). The variable vent structure has a vent hole for venting fluid so as to reduce a pressure differential across the membrane layer and a moveable vent cover (302a, 302b) which, at an equilibrium position, at least partly blocks the vent hole. The vent cover is moveable from its equilibrium position in response to a pressure differential across the vent cover so as to vary the size of a flow path through the vent hole. In various embodiments the vent cover comprises at least a first flap section (302a) and a second flap section (302b), the first flap section being hingedly coupled to the side of the vent hole and the second flap section being hingedly coupled to the first flap section so as to be moveable with respect to the first flap section. In some embodiments the second flap section (302b) may be configured so that it deflects away from the first section (302a) more readily than the first section deflects away from its equilibrium position.
US09695032B2

A filling device adapted for wetting or filling a component provided with an undercut, includes a mixing head for mixing a flowable, curable, filler and an outlet tube for feeding the flowable filler to or into a filling space in the component. An adjustable deflecting unit for changing the direction of flow F of the flowable filler is provided such that the filler emerging from the outlet tube can be deflected into an intended direction of flow.
US09695028B2

A filling unit for contact or contactless filling an article is disclosed. The filling unit includes a tank comprising: a first valve, which may allow or prevent the fluidic connection between a first region of the tank and the article; a first fluidic line which extends from the tank to the article in case of contact filling; a second valve, which may allow or prevent the flow along the first fluidic line; and a control unit configured to set the first valve in a first closed configuration and the second valve in a second open configuration in case of contact filling. The filling unit further includes a second fluidic line distinct from the first fluidic line and extends from the inner volume of the article to a discharge area distinct from the tank; and a third valve, which may allow or prevent the flow along the second fluidic line.
US09695026B2

A bottle cap remover includes a main body having an access opening therein, a bottle cap prying structure fixedly secured to the main body, and a magnet secured to at least one of the bottle cap prying structure and the main body. The bottle cap prying structure has a bottle cap receiving opening therein with opposing edge portions. The bottle cap receiving opening is exposed within the access opening of the main body. A bottle cap edge engaging portion of the bottle cap prying structure is defined by a first one of the opposing edge portions of the bottle cap receiving opening. The magnet is positioned adjacent to a second one of the opposing edge portions of the bottle cap receiving opening.
US09695020B2

A wheel lifting device comprising a first portion and a second portion is disclosed. Each of the first portion and the second portion comprise a vertical member, a horizontal member, and a plurality of rotatatable devices coupled to and spaced apart laterally on the horizontal member. The horizontal member of the first portion is generally parallel to the horizontal member of the second portion and both horizontal members are generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the two vertical members.
US09695019B1

A suspension type lifting device includes a base unit, a bearing unit, a balance unit, a servo unit and a hanging unit. The base unit includes a first plate, a second plate and a third plate. The bearing unit includes a positioning piece and two forks. The balance unit is connected with the third plate of the base unit. The servo unit is connected with the first plate of the base unit. The hanging unit is mounted on the first plate of the base unit. When the servo unit detects that a foreign object is placed on the bearing unit, the servo unit calculates a value required for reaching a balance weight and transmits a power to drive the balance unit to swing leftward and rightward, so as to reach a balance state.
US09695014B2

An elevator includes a car, a counterweight, a suspension working together with the car and the counterweight, and a wheel at least partially wound around by the suspension. The suspension includes a tie beam arrangement with two tie beams and an encasing shell wherein a ratio of the width of the suspension to the height thereof is in a range between one and three. The wheel includes a flute having a flat base for guiding the suspension. When the suspension is unloaded, there is an air gap between the suspension and a guide region of the flute. The suspension is ovalized under loading to close the air gap. The shell is coated, at least in areas, on the outer surface thereof, wherein the coating optionally has a friction-reducing, friction-increasing, and/or wear-detecting effect.
US09695013B1

The present disclosure relates to a handrail or support assembly for a stairway. More particularly, this disclosure describes a slidable holder or carrier automatically movable along the length of the handrail or support assembly to lift or carry objects for a user from one end of the stairway to another. In one illustrative embodiment, the assembly may include a handrail or support attached to a wall. A trolley assembly may be placed within the handrail or support and slidable along the length the handrail or support. An arm or extension may be coupled to the trolley assembly and connected to a carrier or holder. An actuator may slide or move the trolley assembly up and down the handrail or support assembly. Through the system described above, cargo may be lifted from one level to another level automatically.
US09695010B2

With regard to the effect of a settling building, a connecting device for connecting a transmission device for transmitting information, wherein the transmission device is attached to a measurement tape for determining the position of a cab in an elevator shaft, wherein the connecting device is designed as a guide bracket for guiding and/or supporting the measurement tape, so that it at least partially surrounds the measurement tape, and wherein the guide bracket has at least one opening for reading out the marking unit, and wherein the connecting device has at least one connection contact for connecting to one of the communication lines and/or supply lines, wherein the at least one connection contact is movably supported in the connecting device.
US09695006B1

A finishing unit for applying a note onto a printed document that exits from an image forming apparatus is provided. The finishing unit, according to one embodiment, includes a note cutting unit for cutting a sheet of paper to a note of a desired size and a note pasting unit for applying the note onto the printed document that exits from the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus and method of applying a note onto a printed are also described.
US09695002B2

A sheet feeder control method for controlling a sheet feeder of an image forming apparatus includes feeding a sheet through a sheet feed path exposable to the exterior of the sheet feeder, detecting the feeding of the sheet at at least a first position on the sheet feed path, discharging the fed sheet to the exterior of the sheet feeder, detecting the discharge of the sheet at a second position downstream of the first position in a sheet feeding direction, detecting a sheet jam during the feeding and discharging of the sheet, and if the jammed sheet is detected at the second position but not at the first position, cancelling a malfunction state due to the sheet jam when the sheet stops being detected at the second position, irrespective of whether the sheet feed path is covered or exposed.
US09694997B2

A truck ramp including a first ramp element, second ramp element and pivoting structure located between the first and second ramp elements. The first ramp element is coupled to the truck at one end and at the other end, a hinge. The second ramp element is hinged at one end and at the other end interfaces with the ground or other surface. Between the first and second ramp elements is a pivoting structure comprised of a first component that is mechanically coupled to the first ramp element at the first hinged end and a second component that is mechanically coupled to the second ramp element at the hinged end. The first component and the second component are rotatable about an axis orthogonal to the first and second ramp element hinges.
US09694995B2

A spout assembly and related method of regulating the flow of particulate material. The spout assembly includes a chute, at least first and second plates, and a counterbalance mechanism. The first and second plates are positioned downstream from the chute, the lower ends of the first and second plates defining an opening with an area that is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the chute so that the material may accumulate prior to passing through the opening. The counterbalance mechanism produces a biasing force on the first and second plates toward the centerline to adjust the area of the opening, and permits the first and second plates to move outwardly away from the centerline in response to the weight of the accumulated material. The counterbalance mechanism includes at least a first separately adjustable counterbalance coupled to the first plate and a second separately adjustable counterbalance coupled to a second plate.
US09694993B2

A process for operating a settling slurry transportation pipeline is provided, comprising: determining the deposition velocity for a particular slurry being transported through the pipeline; and operating the pipeline at an operating velocity at or near the deposition velocity to form a stationary or near stationary bed of solids that will still allow the slurry to freely flow through the pipeline and not plug the pipeline.
US09694986B2

A transport device and a transport method for transporting a fragile object, in particular a semiconductor wafer, a glass panel, a solar module, etc., are provided. The transport device comprises at least two coils configured to drive the object along a predetermined movement path, and a control unit configured to control a movement of the object along the predetermined movement path. The control unit is further configured to base the control of the movement of the object on at least a third order setpoint profile. The control unit is also configured to generate the third order setpoint profile for at least two coils in a synchronized manner.
US09694980B1

A container gripper adapted for mounting on a container carrying (transport) chain of a container processing machine, the gripper body having a body portion with first and second banks of upstanding resilient, elastomeric fingers upstanding thereof, wherein the fingers of the first bank cross over the fingers of the second bank at upper portions of each finger to allow the upper ends of the fingers to contact and grip a container in a scissor-like manner.
US09694966B2

Methods, systems, and computer program products for assigning times of administration to patient medications are described. A GUI is displayed within a display associated with a pharmaceutical dispensing system. The GUI includes a one day time scale for assigning a time of administration for the medication. One or more daily times of administration for the medication are assigned in response to user input via the one day time scale. A dose of the medication is packaged in each of a respective plurality of pouches according to the assigned daily times of administration via the pharmaceutical dispensing system. The one day time scale may include a time line representative of a twenty-four hour period and one or more time indicators that are positionable by a user. The one day time scale may include a plurality of food consumption times, each selectable by a user for assigning a time of administration.
US09694964B2

A transport system for temperature sensitive materials includes a contents container and one or more thermal batteries in a stacked relationship in a thin-walled, flexible transport sleeve. The sleeve facilitates insertion and removal of the contents with respect to a thermally insulated container. The sleeve can be closed with a tamper-evident closure and may also be transparent to allow an observer to view indicia on the contents container indicating the temperature-sensitive nature of the contents.
US09694962B2

A container is formed to include and interior region and a mouth opening into the interior region. The container includes a floor, a side wall coupled to the floor to define the interior region between the floor and the side wall, and artwork on the side wall.
US09694961B2

A method of using a corner board protector including the steps of positioning a one piece, corner board locator having a connection portion, having an angled slot formed therein, and an insert portion, having a single continuous planar exterior edge with a tip, on a corner board having two angled panels. The two angled panels engage with the angled slot to retain the corner board locator at a select height along the corner board. The corner board and the corner board locator are positioned adjacent to a stack of at least two vertically consecutive containers. The tip of the single continuous planar exterior edge is slid between two of the at least two vertically consecutive containers to form a corner board protector.
US09694954B2

The invention relates to a tank filling system having a protective cap and having a pouring spout. The protective cap has an end position wherein it partially covers the pouring spout, and wherein the protective cap has an opened position wherein it is removable from the pouring spout into a removed position. The pouring spout includes at least one valve, wherein the valve has a venting position and a closed valve position. In the venting position, the valve frees at least one passage for a fluid. In the closed valve position, the valve closes the passage. In the end position of the protective cap, the valve is in the closed valve position. During the adjustment of the protective cap from the end position into the opened position, the valve is forcibly adjusted at least temporarily into the venting position.
US09694950B2

On a sealing plug (10) for sealing an opening (12) in a component (14), in particular in a vehicle body part, comprising a base body (16) which can cover the opening (12), a plurality of projecting latch elements (34) which can latch onto the rear wall of the component (14) are provided on the rear face of the base body (16). Further, a plurality of centring elements (40, 48) arranged separately from the latch elements (34) are provided on the rear face of the base body (16) and can lie resiliently flexibly against the edge (54) of the opening (12).
US09694949B2

An airtight container for storing comestibles and other articles is disclosed that includes a bottom container portion having a bottom seal section, a top container portion having a top seal section, the top seal section engaged with the bottom seal section to form a container seal at a circular interface, an opening in the top portion, the opening recessed from an outer surface of the top portion and a lid door movably secured to the top portion in which the lid door is configured to selectively engage the opening to form an access seal and in which the top container portion is configured to promote laminar flow across the top portion outer surface.
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