US09778945B2

Systems and methods for providing mode-dependent virtual machine (VM) function code. An example method may comprise: detecting, by a hypervisor executing by a processing device of a host computer system, a transition to a first execution mode by a guest operating system (OS) executing on the host computer system, wherein the first execution mode is characterized by at least one of: a first physical address size or a first general purpose register size; and responsive to the detecting, enabling a virtual machine (VM) function to be executed by the guest OS in the first execution mode.
US09778944B1

A device may receive an indication to perform a reboot associated with a network service provided via a first virtual machine (VM) of the device and a first container of the device. The device may create a second VM with a boot mode enabled and a second container with the boot mode enabled. The boot mode, while enabled on the second VM, may prevent the second VM from communicating with the first container. The boot mode, while enabled on the second container, may prevent the second container from communicating with the first VM. The device may shut down the first container. The device may disable, after shutting down the first container, the boot mode on the second VM. The device may disable the boot mode on the second container. The device may cause the network service to be provided by the second container and the second VM.
US09778931B2

One or more metrics indicative of velocity attributes associated with development and deployment of an application program are obtained. The one or more velocity metrics are stored in an application run-time environment in association with the application program and one or more data sets output by the application program. A valuation is computed for the one or more data sets based on the one or more velocity metrics.
US09778924B2

The embodiments herein relate to creating solutions for a platform and, more particularly, to enabling a user to create an API (Application Programming Interface) for a platform and enabling at least one other user to use a created API for his platform. Embodiments herein disclose a system which complies with component-based and service-oriented concepts of API architecture, and by providing next generation tools and libraries for open-standards based multi-channel application development by automated generation of APIs and interactive consumption of the APIs via one single portal.
US09778923B2

A method and system for promoting software code from a source database instance to a target database instance distributed amongst a plurality of networked servers is described. Software code migration information pertaining to software objects associated with the software code, the source database instance, and the target database instance is analyzed to determine whether errors associated with migrating the software code exceeds a predefined acceptance threshold. Such code migration information is further analyzed to determine whether migrating the software code from the source database instance to the target database instance will result in unacceptable data loss including disassociation, deletion, or change to data, or result in unacceptable non-data criteria before, during, or after the software code is migrated.
US09778914B2

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method is disclosed in which a software development log whose entries describe potential features for a future release of a first software program is accessed to obtain a text description of a feature from an entry. The text description is decomposed using a predefined n-gram decomposition technique to produce a first set of n-grams. The method includes determining whether a second software program includes the feature. The determining includes comparing the first set of n-grams to a second set of n-grams which describe the second software program, and calculating a similarity metric based on the comparing that indicates an extent to which matches for the n-grams in the first set are present in the second set. The software development log is updated based on the determining.
US09778909B2

Methods, apparatus, instructions and logic are disclosed providing double rounded combined floating-point multiply and add functionality as scalar or vector SIMD instructions or as fused micro-operations. Embodiments include detecting floating-point (FP) multiplication operations and subsequent FP operations specifying as source operands results of the FP multiplications. The FP multiplications and the subsequent FP operations are encoded as combined FP operations including rounding of the results of FP multiplication followed by the subsequent FP operations. The encoding of said combined FP operations may be stored and executed as part of an executable thread portion using fused-multiply-add hardware that includes overflow detection for the product of FP multipliers, first and second FP adders to add third operand addend mantissas and the products of the FP multipliers with different rounding inputs based on overflow, or no overflow, in the products of the FP multiplier. Final results are selected respectively using overflow detection.
US09778908B2

A microprocessor splits a fused multiply-accumulate operation of the form A*B+C into first and second multiply-accumulate sub-operations to be performed by a multiplier and an adder. The first sub-operation at least multiplies A and B, and conditionally also accumulates C to the partial products of A and B to generate an unrounded nonredundant sum. The unrounded nonredundant sum is stored in memory shared by the multiplier and adder for an indefinite time period, enabling the multiplier and adder to perform other operations unrelated to the multiply-accumulate operation. The second sub-operation conditionally accumulates C to the unrounded nonredundant sum if C is not already incorporated into the value, and then generates a final rounded result.
US09778903B2

Apparatuses and methods for a timing domain transfer circuit are disclosed. Disclosed embodiments may be configured to receive an event from one timing domain, output the event to another timing domain, and further configured to mark the event as transferred. An example method includes receiving an Event In based in a first timing domain at a first latch and receiving an intermediate event from the first latch by a second latch. The event is transferred to a second timing domain by the second latch and the first latch is reset based on feedback.
US09778902B2

Software Digital Front End (SoftDFE) signal processing techniques are provided. One or more digital front end (DFE) functions are performed on a signal in software by executing one or more specialized instructions on a processor to perform the one or more digital front end (DFE) functions on the signal, wherein the processor has an instruction set comprised of one or more of linear and non-linear instructions. A block of samples comprised of a plurality of data samples is optionally formed and the digital front end (DFE) functions are performed on the block of samples. The specialized instructions can include a vector convolution function, a complex exponential function, an xk function, a vector compare instruction, a vector max( ) instruction, a vector multiplication instruction, a vector addition instruction, a vector sqrt( ) instruction, a vector 1/x instruction, and a user-defined non-linear instruction.
US09778896B2

An example method includes detecting a connection between a dock interface of a first zone player and a portable device, the dock interface providing communication between the portable device and a second zone player, wherein the second zone player is part of a first set of zones in a playback network that does not include the first zone player; responsive to the detection, transmitting data to cause the second zone player to modify parameter(s) of the second zone player according to a zone scene; responsive to the detection, determining that the portable device was playing a media item; and causing, via the dock interface, playback of the media item from the portable device by the first zone player and the second zone player while the second zone player is in the second set of zones.
US09778895B2

According to some embodiments of the present invention, there may be provided one or more remote display viewing units functionally associated with one or more computational devices. A remote display viewing unit (RDVU) may include a screen and/or other form of displaying component (e.g. retinal projection mechanism) adapted to present to a user a portion and/or complete display of an associated computing device display/screen, Graphic User Interface (GUI), and/or any other graphically rendered data relating to the device. According to further embodiments, a RDVU may include shading components adapted to prevent and/or mitigate exterior lighting/sunshine interference with viewing the remote screen and/or displaying component. For example, the RDVU may include a visor type component.
US09778889B2

A method performed by a print service provider (PSP) for printing, including: (a) obtaining from a network a print job issued by a mobile device and specifying a printer feature; (b) obtaining a first location on a planned route of a user of the mobile device; (c) determining a first printer having the printer feature and located within a predetermined distance of the first location; (d) sending a notification identifying the first printer to the mobile device; (e) determining if a deviation from the planned route exists; (f) if the deviation exists, repeating the steps (b) through (e) for a revised route; and (g) if the deviation does not exist: receiving a confirmation for the first printer; and sending the print job to the first printer in response to the confirmation. The first printer generates a hardcopy document from the print job using the printer feature.
US09778880B2

A memory control circuit unit, a memory storage device and a data transmitting method are provided. The memory storage device coupled to a first host system includes a reset pin. The memory control circuit unit of the memory storage device includes a pulse pattern detector. The reset pin is coupled to a second host system and is configured to receive a first pulse signal from the second host system. The pulse pattern detector is coupled to the reset pin, and is configured to determine whether the first pulse signal is conformed to a first predetermined serial pulse pattern or not. If the first pulse signal is conformed to the first predetermined serial pulse pattern, the memory control circuit unit is configured to disable a reset function of the memory storage device.
US09778871B1

Systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for method for reducing memory subsystem power. In an exemplary method, a system resource manager provides memory performance requirements for a plurality of memory clients to a double data rate (DDR) subsystem. The DDR subsystem and the system resource manager reside on a system on chip (SoC) electrically coupled to a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). A cache hit rate is determined of each of the plurality of memory clients associated with a system cache residing on the DDR subsystem. The DDR subsystem controls a DDR clock frequency based on the memory performance requirements received from the system resource manager and the cache hit rates of the plurality of memory clients.
US09778869B2

Management of storage used by pageable guests of a computing environment is facilitated. A query instruction is provided that details information regarding the storage location indicated in the query. It specifies whether the storage location, if protected, is protected by host-level protection or guest-level protection.
US09778865B1

A hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) provides one or more HCI units, each HCI unit including a pair of physical computing servers coupled to shared, nonvolatile storage. The shared, nonvolatile storage of each HCI unit is dedicated to that pair of physical computing servers and provides redundant storage of application data. Each of the pair of physical computing servers runs a set of application instances and an IO (Input/Output) stack. The application instances receive client requests over a network and generate IO requests specifying reads and writes of application data. The IO stack processes the IO requests to effect the specified reads and writes in the shared non-volatile storage.
US09778858B1

A method and apparatus for handling SGLs for out of order systems is disclosed. The method involves generating multiple Child IOs from an original IO, each Child IO being at the granularity of a storage side memory; generating separate SG lists for each Child IO; and processing each Child IO independently of other Child IOs and in order with each Child IO for data transfer. As each Child IO is generated at the granularity of the storage side memory, the Child IOs can be processed independently of each other and in-order within each Child IO. Thus, an out-of order IO transfer is transformed into an in-order IO transfer.
US09778851B2

A method of operating a nonvolatile memory system including a memory device having a plurality of memory blocks includes selecting a source block among the plurality of memory blocks in the nonvolatile memory system, and performing a reclaim operation for the source block based on the number of program and erase cycles which have been performed on the source block.
US09778847B2

Techniques for surfacing host-side flash storage capacity to a plurality of VMs running on a host system are provided. In one embodiment, the host system creates, for each VM in the plurality of VMs, a flash storage space allocation in a flash storage device that is locally attached to the host system. The host system then causes the flash storage space allocation to be readable and writable by the VM as a virtual flash memory device.
US09778837B2

Some embodiments of the invention provide a mobile device that restricts access to its applications. The mobile device, displays, on the device's touch screen display, a lock screen page for accessing the device in a primary access mode or a secondary access mode. The primary access mode provides access to several of the device's applications, and the secondary access mode provides access to a limited set of the applications. The mobile device receives a touch input on the lock screen page to access the device in the secondary access mode. The mobile device unlocks the device to the secondary access mode by allowing access to the set of applications and restricting access to the remaining applications in the plurality of applications.
US09778833B2

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and software for enhancing document productivity. In at least one implementation, an attempt to add a data connection in a document is identified. In response to identifying the attempt to add the data connection in the document, at least one other document is identified as relevant to the attempt. A suggestion may be surfaced in a user interface that identifies at least a portion of the one other documents.
US09778832B2

A method for providing a graphical user interface on a display of a device includes: displaying a photograph image on the display of the device; receiving a touch input made on the display; superimposedly displaying a plurality of control guides at a location corresponding to the touch input over the displayed photograph image in response to the touch input; receiving a drag input corresponding to one of the plurality of control guides displayed on the display; adjusting a display characteristic of the photograph image corresponding to the one of the plurality of control guides, in response to the drag input; and displaying the photograph image having the adjusted display characteristic on the display, wherein the display characteristic is a magnification of the photograph image.
US09778828B2

The present disclosure includes, among other things, systems, methods and program products for presenting object properties by receiving selection of a component of a model presented in a graphical user interface (GUI) of a computer aided design tool, the GUI including an interactive display element having an arrangement of property fields related to the selected component, determining property values associated with the property fields based on the selected component, and providing the determined property values in corresponding property fields of the interactive display element for presentation in the GUI in conjunction with the model, such that responsive to receiving selection of a different component of the model, the property fields are updated with property values corresponding to the different component.
US09778824B1

Virtual bookmarks can be set in digital content to enable a user to quickly locate a portion of interest. A user can provide an input to enter into an overview mode wherein multiple pages of content are displayed concurrently. The user can navigate through the pages, and when a bookmarked page is caused to no longer appear on the display an overlay element such as a thumbnail of the page can be positioned near the edge of the display, representing the current relative location of the page in the overview. A user can select one of the displayed pages to view, or can select the bookmark overlay element to return to the current page. A user can perform an action to cause the bookmarked page to be updated, or can perform various actions to cause multiple bookmarks to be created with respect to the content.
US09778819B2

A system and method for generating and providing user interfaces for interacting with a stream of content are disclosed. A system having one or more processors and a memory is configured to perform operations including receiving a stream of content including one or more content items; selecting a content item; determining a tile type for providing the content item based upon an attribute of the content item; populating tile components for the tile type using the content item; organizing content tiles in a dynamic grid using the attribute of the content items; and providing the dynamic grid of content tiles for display.
US09778817B2

Various embodiments are provided for enabling tagging of image files based on tagging or commenting on images on a social networking site. The tagging or commenting on an image on the social networking site is detected by the system. The social network tag or comment is analyzed to determine a textual tag to be assigned to image files corresponding to the social network images that have been tagged or commented on. In some implementations semantic analysis of text component of the social network tags or comments is performed. In some implementations the textual tags are then propagated to other image files associated with the user.
US09778813B2

A method performed on a device includes receiving, from a user, a finger-touch-initiated request for access to a layer of a multi-layer application on the device, the multi-layer application having a plurality of user interface layers. The method may also include identifying a finger of the user used to provide the finger-touch-initiated request, the finger associated with one of the layers of the multi-layer application. The layer associated with the identified finger of the user may be operated on. Each finger of the user can be associated with a different layer of the multi-layer application. Fingerprints can be used to differentiate each finger and/or to identify the user by fingerprint recognition techniques. Fingerprints can be used to vary the access parameters of a layer of the application and/or to provide security levels for accessing the layers of the multi-layer application.
US09778811B2

Provided is a mobile terminal including: a display unit on which screen information is output; a translation function unit that translates a translation-source information portion of the screen information that is output to the display unit; and a controller that outputs translation-target information into which the translation-source information portion is translated using the translation function unit, on a translation window, in which in a state where the screen information is output on the display unit, the translation window is positioned in one region of the display unit.
US09778809B2

In a coordinate detection apparatus, a resistance-film is formed on a substrate made of an insulating material. A common electrode applies a voltage to the resistance-film, the common electrode extending along a plurality of a resistance-film removal areas formed by removing portions of the resistance-film. A voltage application part applies the voltage to the common electrode. The voltage is applied from the voltage application part to the resistance-film through the common electrode to generate a potential distribution in the resistance-film. A coordinate position of a contact position at which the resistance-film is contacted is detected by detecting a potential of the resistance-film at the contact position.
US09778807B2

Techniques for identifying and discriminating between different types of contacts to a multi-touch touch-screen device are described. Illustrative contact types include fingertips, thumbs, palms and cheeks. By way of example, thumb contacts may be distinguished from fingertip contacts using a patch eccentricity parameter. In addition, by non-linearly deemphasizing pixels in a touch-surface image, a reliable means of distinguishing between large objects (e.g., palms) from smaller objects (e.g., fingertips, thumbs and a stylus) is described.
US09778806B2

Provided is a touch detection device, including: a determining unit configured to determine a region of a conductive object based on measurement of a self-capacitance of each of a plurality of electrodes arranged to intersect with each other; and a detecting unit configured to detect the conductive object based on measurement of a mutual capacitance of, among the plurality of electrodes, an electrode corresponding to the region of the conductive object determined by the determining unit, without measuring a mutual capacitance of an electrode outside of the region of the conductive object determined by the determining unit.
US09778797B2

A touch screen driving apparatus includes: a touch screen configured to include Tx (transmitting) lines, Rx (receiving) lines crossing the Tx lines, and sensor nodes formed intersections of the Tx lines and the Rx lines; a Tx driver configured to apply driving pulses to the Tx lines in such a manner of that mutually phase-inverted driving pulses are applied to the Tx lines adjacent to each other; first and second Rx drivers each configured to sample sensor node voltage received through the Rx lines, which are coupled with the Tx lines, and convert the sampled voltages into digital data; and a touch controller configured to control the Tx driver and the first and second Rx drivers. The first and second Rx drivers divide the Rx lines and each sample the sensor node voltages through the divided Rx lines, and the Rx line positioned at a boundary between the first and second drivers is commonly connected to the first and second Rx drivers.
US09778792B2

An information handling system handling system display corrects touch inputs by determining a viewing angle of an end user who makes a touch input and then applying the viewing angle to determine error introduced to the end user's perception of a displayed image. Active correction initiated by a touch of an end user and based on a sensed position, such as by a three dimensional camera, provides more exact positional inputs for touchscreen display devices that are viewed at increased viewing angles, such as horizontally-disposed desktop displays.
US09778791B2

In general, embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for a touch display panel and a touch display device including a touch display panel. The touch display panel includes: a substrate, and a common electrode layer located on the substrate. The common electrode layer includes multiple touch electrodes insulated from each other. Each of the touch electrodes is electrically connected to a driving circuit via one touch lead. The touch electrodes and the touch leads are located in the same layer. A part of the touch electrodes are divided into multiple sub-electrodes by touch leads adjacent to the divided touch electrodes. The sub-electrodes of each of the touch electrodes are electrically connected to each other via at least one bridge which is located in a different layer from the touch electrode, to reduce parasitic capacitances between the touch leads and the touch electrodes and alleviate an influence from the parasitic capacitances on touch performance.
US09778787B2

A touch display device including multiple data lines, multiple scan lines and a substrate is provided. The data lines and the scan lines are formed on the substrate. The touch display device includes multiple pixel elements arranged in the form of a pixel array and coupled to the corresponding data lines and the corresponding scan lines and multiple touch sensor electrodes arranged in the form of a sensor array. The touch display device further includes a touch gate pad formed on the substrate and multiple first switch transistors. Each first switch transistors includes a first end, a second end and a control end. The first end is coupled to one of the touch sensor electrodes in a first column of the touch sensor electrodes, and a touch display driver. The second end is coupled to a first test pad. The control end is coupled to the touch gate pad.
US09778782B2

A single-layer projected capacitive touch panel has a glass cover, a touch sensing circuit layer, an insulating ink layer, a conductive wire layer, an insulator layer, a conductive glue layer and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) board. The touch sensing circuit layer, the insulating ink layer, the conductive wire layer, the insulator layer and the conductive glue layer are mounted on a circuit surface of the glass cover in sequence. The insulating ink layer covers the touch sensing circuit layer and has multiple through slots. Each through slot is filled with an electric conductor. The FPC is fastened on the conductive wire layer by a conductive glue laver.
US09778771B2

An electronic device with a touch-sensitive surface, a display, and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts, detects a contact, determines a location and intensity of the contact on the touch-sensitive surface, and displays a response, the response being based at least in part on an input-output mapping of intensity to response at the contact location. The input-output mapping including a first input-output relationship between intensity and response over a first range of intensity values, a second input-output relationship between intensity and response over a second range of intensity values, and a transitional intensity value where the first range of intensity values meets or overlaps the second range of intensity values. At the transitional intensity value, the first input-output relationship has a first rate of change, the second input-output relationship has a second rate of change, and the first rate is substantially the same as the second rate.
US09778769B2

A driving method for a touch screen is disclosed. The touch screen includes a display panel, a touch panel, and a control circuit. Each of a plurality of display cycles includes at least two first time sequences and at least two second time sequences. The method includes, during each of the first time sequences, generating a plurality of scanning control signals for a display scanning line driving circuit, and, in response to the scanning control signals, delivering a plurality of scanning signals to different display scanning lines. The method also includes, during each of the second time sequences, generating a plurality of scanning control signals for the touch scanning line driving circuit, and, in response to the scanning control signals for the touch scanning line driving circuit, sequentially delivering scanning signals to all of the touch scanning lines of the touch panel.
US09778751B2

Systems and methods are described for gesture-based control using three-dimensional information extracted over an extended depth of field. The system comprises a plurality of optical detectors coupled to at least one processor. The optical detectors image a body. At least two optical detectors of the plurality of optical detectors comprise wavefront coding cameras. The processor automatically detects a gesture of the body, wherein the gesture comprises an instantaneous state of the body. The detecting comprises aggregating gesture data of the gesture at an instant in time. The gesture data includes focus-resolved data of the body within a depth of field of the imaging system. The processor translates the gesture to a gesture signal, and uses the gesture signal to control a component coupled to the processor.
US09778744B2

A system that generates haptic effects on a haptically-enabled device determines an orientation of the haptically-enabled device and obtains one or more haptic effect channels. The system then assigns each of the haptic effect channels to a haptic output device on the haptically-enabled device based on the orientation.
US09778741B2

A method for providing a three dimensional (3D) drawing experience. The method includes capturing a 3D image of a participant and then processing this image to key the participant's image from a background. The keyed participant's image is mixed with a 3D background image such as frames or scenes from a 3D movie, and the mixed 3D image is projected on a projection screen. For example, left and right eye images may be projected from a pair of projectors with polarization films over the lenses, and the projection screen may be a polarization-maintaining surface such as a silver screen. The user moves a drawing instrument in space in front of the projection screen, and spatial tracking performed to generate a locus of 3D positions. These 3D positions are used to create a 3D drawing image that is projected with the 3D background and participant images in real time.
US09778738B2

Disclosed is an operation display system, including: an operation display device including a display unit to display an operation window; an operating unit to receive an operation to the operation window; and a display control unit to change the operation window in accordance with the operation received by using the operating unit; an air operation detecting unit to detect an air operation performed by one user in air apart from the display unit; a virtual operation window creating unit to create a virtual operation window in which the operation window is changed in accordance with the air operation; and an AR display unit to show the one user an augmented reality space in which the virtual operation window is synthesized with a real space, wherein the display control unit does not change the operation window displayed on the display unit, in accordance with the air operation.
US09778727B2

An ambient light sensor that is operable in high gain mode and low gain mode is provided. The high gain mode may help provide satisfactory sensitivity at low light levels but may generate saturated output levels in bright ambient lighting conditions. Low gain mode may therefore be switched into use when bright ambient lighting conditions are detected. The ambient light sensor may be placed in high gain mode by default. An auto-gain switch controller may detect whether the ambient light reading is saturated during as given period of time. In response to determining that the ambient light reading is saturated for a programmable number of consecutive time periods, the auto-gain switch controller may reset and switch the ambient light sensor to the low gain mode. The gain state may optionally be embedded into the ambient light sensor output.
US09778723B2

According to one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a memory device having a device identification, The apparatus further includes a low power wake circuit configured to receive a low power wake signal and an identification information, and further configured to initiate a transition of the memory device from a low power state to an active state responsive to an active low power wake signal and the wake identification information matching the device identifier.
US09778717B2

A busway system enables multiple interchangeable power support redundancies to be provided to electrical loads. The busway system includes multiple busways extending through an aisle space, where some busways carry power from separate primary power sources, and one or more busways carry power from a secondary power source. Busways are coupled to loads to provide power support directly to the loads, indirectly via devices that distribute power to the loads via branch circuits, etc. The power support redundancy provided to a load is established based at least in part upon which busways are coupled to the load, and power support redundancies can be changed by changing the couplings of particular busways with the loads. The busways can extend through the aisle space in a staggered configuration to enable load balancing between busways by restricting loads in certain regions of the aisle space to coupling with certain busways and not others.
US09778712B2

The invention provides a method of integrating a server using alternating current power (AC server) into a server system using direct current power (DC server system) and an alternative junction device therefor. The integrating method includes: providing an AC server having a plug-in power supply unit; providing an alternative junction device for replacing the plug-in power supply unit; extracting the plug-in power supply unit from the AC server; plugging the alternative junction device into the AC server; and coupling the alternative junction device to a direct current power supply unit of a DC server system. The alternative junction device includes: a shell to be installed into a containing slot of an AC server; an output coupled to a DC input of a processor of the AC server when the shell is installed into the containing slot; and an input coupled to a DC power supply unit of a DC server system.
US09778711B2

A control device is provided. A first counting unit counts and generates a first output signal. When a counting value of the first counting unit is equal to a first pre-determined value, the first output signal is at a first level. When the counting value of the first counting unit is not equal to the first pre-determined value, the first output signal is at a second level. A second counting unit counts and generates a second output signal. When a counting value of the second counting unit is equal to a second pre-determined value, the second output signal is at the second level. When the counting value of the second counting unit is not equal to the second pre-determined value, the second output signal is at the first level. A determination unit generates a reset signal according to the levels of the first and second output signals.
US09778701B2

An information handling system is disclosed. The information handling system may include a chassis and a storage resource assembly. The storage resource assembly may include a bezel coupled to the chassis by a first connector, the bezel configured to couple to a storage resource by a second connector and a shock isolation cap configured to couple to the storage resource, the shock isolation cap comprising a proximal end proximate to the bezel and a distal end opposite the proximal end.
US09778700B2

A sheath, or an encapsulated sheath, within tablet computers, smart phones, and similar electronic devices, or with enclosures for such electronic devices that would enable the seamless latching and unlatching of electronic pens of various sizes and thicknesses to such devices, or enclosures to such devices, through the pens' integrated flexible clips.
US09778696B1

An electronic device may include a display assembly that is adhered to a cover sheet and the cover sheet is elastically bonded to a frame with a compressive and elastic bonding component. Inside the device, the display assembly is spaced apart from the frame, which allows the display assembly to bend or move. The compressive and elastic bonding component has two strong adhesive layers and a low modulus layer that dissipates stress of the display assembly via the cover sheet, such that the compressive and elastic bonding component permits the cover sheet to bend.
US09778694B2

In some examples, a docking system includes a base, a deck having an upper surface to contact a computing device resting upon the deck, wherein the deck includes apertures therethrough, and projections extending upwardly from a surface of the base. The docking system further includes resilient bias elements to bias the deck at a raised position at which the upper surface of the deck extends at or above a height of each of the projections, where the deck is linearly movable from the raised position to a lowered position at which the projections extend through the apertures, the deck being linearly movable without being pivotably coupled to the base.
US09778690B2

An aesthetically pleasing docking station that is able to accommodate electronic devices with and without cases. An actuator within the docking station allows the connector plug of the docking station to retract a variable amount such that little or no gap exists between the electronic device and the surface of the docking station. Other embodiments enable the top surface of the housing to translate vertically such that little or no gap exists between the electronic device and surface of the docking station.
US09778685B2

An electronic device having a housing structure that is configured to receive at least one glass cover is disclosed. The glass cover serves to cover a display assembly provided within the electronic device. The glass cover can be secured to the housing structure so as to facilitate providing a narrow border between an active display area and an outer edge of the housing structure. The enclosure for the electronic device can be thin yet be sufficiently strong to be suitable for use in electronic devices, such as portable electronic devices.
US09778682B2

A display apparatus includes a first base plate, a second base plate coupled to the first base plate to allow the second base plate to be rotated on the basis of a rotation axis between the first base plate and the second base plate, a moving plate coupled to the second base plate and configured to slide along a first direction with respect to the second base plate, a pop-up plate configured to move along a second direction corresponding to a thickness direction of the second base plate on the second base plate in accordance with a movement of the moving plate, and a display panel including a first portion coupled to the first base plate and a second portion coupled to the moving plate.
US09778680B2

An electronic device is provided for solving a technical problem existed in the prior art that an electronic device is incapable of supporting itself independently. The electronic device includes a first component including a display unit, where the display unit is arranged on a first surface of the first component; and a second component including a connecting member and a supporter, where the second component is arranged at a first side portion of the first component. The supporter is movable with respect to the first component via the connecting member, and when the supporter moves to a first relative position with respect to the first component, the supporter may be used to support the first component.
US09778675B2

A foot pedal for a medical device for placement on a working surface of a medical operatory includes a housing defining a reference plane; a cord having a first end coupled to the housing and a second end configured to be coupled to the medical device; and an actuator coupled to the housing and configured to be actuated by a user to provide a control function to the medical device, wherein the housing includes a self-leveling mechanism for urging the placement of the foot pedal on the working surface in an upright orientation. The self-leveling mechanism may include an engagement tab extending from the housing and configured to be the first aspect of the foot pedal to contact the working surface. The self-leveling mechanism may additionally or alternatively include a cord guide configured to pitch or cant the housing in a preferential direction.
US09778671B2

An integrated regulator, in particular a voltage regulator, for a personal protection arrangement in a vehicle, includes a regulating element that converts an input signal into an output signal having a defined value, and a control application circuit that applies control to the regulating element to generate the output signal having the defined value. The control application circuit outputs the output signal via the regulating element with at least two different selectable values as a function of a specifying signal, such that for selection of the value of the output signal, a configuration circuit receives at least one configuration signal and, as a function of a configuration ascertained in the context of evaluation, selects one of at least two different specifying signals and applies it to the control application circuit to output the output signal having the selected value.
US09778660B2

Methods, devices, and systems of various embodiments are disclosed for operating a UAV having insufficient power to operate normally. Various embodiments include determining whether an emergency-recovery state of a battery of the UAV has been reached while the UAV is flying. An emergency recovery mode may be activated in response to determining that the emergency-recovery state has been reached. The emergency recovery mode may switch the rotors from drawing energy from the battery to generate propulsion to harvesting energy from airflow that is used to recharge a battery of the UAV. A braking mode may be activated in response to determining that a braking altitude has been reached. The braking mode may switch the rotors from energy harvesting to drawing energy from the battery to generate propulsion in order to reduce a descent rate of the UAV.
US09778658B2

A method and apparatus for associating a person with a portion of transportation network information based on vehicle operating information are described. The information includes a plurality of destinations. First vehicle operating information for a vehicle is identified, which information includes a first plurality of vehicle operations occurring during a first plurality of time windows. First values for a plurality of features are extracted from the first plurality of vehicle operations. A portion of the vehicle transportation network is associated with an owner/operator of the vehicle based on the first values. For consecutive time windows thereafter, second values for the features are extracted from second vehicle operating information for the vehicle that includes a second plurality of vehicle operations occurring during the consecutive time windows. Based on changes, a determination can be made as to whether an identity of the person associated with the vehicle has changed over time.
US09778655B2

An aircraft is provided and includes a frame, drive elements configured to drive movements of the frame and a computer configured to receive mission planning and manual commands and to control operations of the drive elements to operate in a safe mode in which mission commands are accepted but manual commands are refused, a manual mode in which mission commands are refused but manual commands are accepted and an enroute mode. The computer is further configured to only allow mode transitions between the safe and manual modes and between the safe and enroute modes.
US09778652B2

A system and method for capturing automation data from an automated system uses a multi-array populated by an automation controller with automation data including timing data defined by a controller clock. The multi-array includes at least one member corresponding to a sensor sensing a state of the member and a plurality of member-defined data elements, which may correspond to a start time and end time of the member state. Automation data is captured from the controller multi-array by a computing device in communication with the controller including a first data table corresponding with the controller multi-array for efficient collection of the automation data from the controller memory, and a second data table for associating each data element with its defining member and storing the associated data in a historical database which may be used for analysis of cycle time data of a member, device or operation of the automated system.
US09778651B2

A system (100) for cutting work product (104) into portions (P) and unloading the portions includes a conveyance system (102) for carrying the workpieces and portions, as well as a scanner (110) for scanning the work products. A cutter system (120) composed of cutter assemblies (122) carried by carrier systems (124) may be arranged in an array or series along the conveyance system for cutting, trimming, and portioning the work products (104) into end pieces (P) of desired sizes or other physical parameters. An unloading system (130) composed of one or more unloading assemblies/units/apparatus (132) are carried by the same carrier systems (124) used to carry the cutter assemblies (122) to pick up the portioned pieces (P) and either move them to a different location or replace the portioned workpieces back onto the conveyance system after the trim of the workpiece has been removed.
US09778643B2

For machine procedure simulation, a method synchronizes a plurality of equipment procedures to a mobile device. The method receives a first equipment reference code for a first equipment instance at the mobile device. The method retrieves a first equipment procedure of the plurality of equipment procedures that is indexed to the first equipment reference code at the mobile device, the first equipment procedure including a machine simulation for the first equipment instance. The method receives a procedure step that includes a lockout decision indicating that the first equipment procedure requires a lockout of the first equipment instance. The procedure step is directed to the machine simulation. The method displays a simulated result for an operator simulation that shows a simulated operator interacting with the machine simulation in response to the procedure step lockout decision.
US09778637B2

A facility control system comprises a selection processing portion that selects, based on a manual operation and when an abnormal condition occurs in a first-layer computer that executes a first-layer program which issues an apparatus operating command to an apparatus controller, whether to cause a second-layer computer to execute the first-layer program that had been executed by the first-layer computer, and a substitute command output processing portion which outputs a substitute command in accordance with selection information selected by the selection processing portion. The second-layer computer executes the first-layer program that had been executed by the first-layer computer in which the abnormal condition occurred based on a substitute command outputted by the substitute command output processing portion.
US09778632B2

A method of determining an operation of at least one of a plurality of generators in a power generation system. The method includes identifying a system parameter that is related to operation of the power generation system; and determining which of the plurality of generators to operate to minimize fuel consumption of the power generation system based on the system parameter. Other methods include identifying a system parameter that is related to operation of the power generation system; and determining which of the plurality of generators to operate by optimizing an operating variable of the power generation system based on the system parameter.
US09778630B2

A control device includes a task execution unit; a storage unit which stores a variable in a program, which is capable of being referenced and updated; and a collection unit which collects a variable when a task is executed. The storage unit stores reference data corresponding to the variable. A plurality of tasks include: an update task which is capable of updating and referencing the variable; and a reference task which is capable of referencing the reference data. The collection unit collects the reference data when the plurality of tasks are executed.
US09778628B2

A method and system for optimizing a human supervised cyber-physical system determines a state of the human operator based on data from multiple psycho physiological sensors, determines a state of each of multiple cyber-physical systems in the human supervised cyber-physical system based on data provided by the cyber-physical systems, and fuses the state of the human operator and the state of each of the plurality of cyber-physical systems into a single state of the human supervised cyber-physical system. The single state is then used to generate recommendations for optimizing a user interface and to generate high level control signals for the cyber-physical systems.
US09778619B2

A timepiece sub-assembly including a mobile timepiece element including first and second annular and opposite peripheral surfaces of revolution about a same pivot axis, and a device for guiding pivoting about a theoretical axis of a timepiece mechanism. The first surface is magnetically or electrically charged, and the device includes at least three first surfaces regularly arranged around the theoretical axis, oppositely magnetically or respectively electrically charged to the first surface to repulse it at a first interface. In a watch, the second surface is magnetically or electrically charged, and the device includes at least three second surfaces regularly arranged around the theoretical axis, oppositely magnetically or electrically charged to the second surface to repulse it at a second interface.
US09778615B2

A process cartridge and an image forming apparatus are provided. The process cartridge is detachably mountable in an apparatus body of the image forming apparatus, and includes a plurality of photosensitive drums, a first outer side plate which is provided on one side of the photosensitive drums in an axial direction of the photosensitive drum, a second outer side plate which is provided on the other side of the photosensitive drums in the axial direction, and opposes the first outer side plate with the photosensitive drums interposed therebetween, and a plurality of input parts which are provided on ends of the photosensitive drums at the one side, respectively. An end face of each of the input parts being provided inward with respect to the outer surface of the first outer side plate.
US09778609B2

An image forming device includes: a paper feeding unit configured to feed continuous form paper; an image forming unit configured to form an image on the continuous form paper; a fixing unit configured to fix the image formed on the continuous form paper; a measuring unit configured to measure a temperature of the fixing unit; and a control unit configured to control an operation of each of the paper feeding unit, the image forming unit, and the fixing unit, wherein when detecting a trouble with which feeding of the continuous form paper is suspended, the control unit performs determination processing of determining whether to prompt a user to execute removal of a part of the continuous form paper, which part is influenced by heat from the fixing unit, according to the temperature of the fixing unit which temperature is measured by the measuring unit in the detection of the trouble.
US09778599B2

An intermediate transfer unit includes an intermediate transfer belt, a plurality of transfer rollers, a pair of sidewalls, and a plurality of leg portions. The plurality of the leg portions abut on a predetermined installation surface when the intermediate transfer unit is detached from an apparatus main body. At least three of the leg portions are located at a lower end portion of the pair of the sidewalls. At least one sidewall of the pair of the sidewalls includes a shaft portion protruding in a first direction. At least one leg portion among the plurality of the leg portions is a movable leg turnable about the shaft portion. The movable leg has a changeable posture between a first posture and a second posture. The first posture supports the intermediate transfer unit detached from the apparatus main body. The second posture is turned about the shaft portion from the first posture.
US09778598B2

Provided is a magnetic carrier, including: a ferrite core particle; and a coating resin, in which: the coating resin has a surface resin layer and a resin composition in the stated order from a surface side thereof; the resin composition contains a resin, and an inorganic particle or carbon black that is subjected to a hydrophilic treatment; the surface resin layer contains a resin, is free of the inorganic particle or the carbon black, and has a thickness of from 0.01 μm or more to 4.00 μm or less; and a moisture percentage change between a moisture percentage when the magnetic carrier is left to stand under an environment of 30° C. and 80% RH for 24 hours, and a moisture percentage when the magnetic carrier is left to stand under an environment of 23° C. and 5% RH for 24 hours after the standing is 0.030 mass % or less.
US09778595B2

A cartridge unit to discharge toner via a toner outlet and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus are provided. The cartridge unit includes a shutter unit movable between an opening position in which the toner outlet is opened and a closing position in which the toner outlet is closed in a first direction, and a lever unit movable in a second direction across the first direction, and connected to the shutter unit such that the shutter unit moves in the first direction when the lever unit moves in the second direction.
US09778583B2

A toner having compatibility between transfer properties and cleaning properties is provided. A toner wherein a fine particle A containing a primary particle having a number average particle diameter (D1) of 80 nm or more and 400 nm or less is present on the surface of a toner particle at a coverage ratio of 5 to 40%, a fixing rate of 30 to 90% by mass, and a variation coefficient of 0.1 to 0.5 in a region of 0.5 πμm2.
US09778582B2

An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes an undercoat layer that includes metal oxide particles and a compound having at least three hydroxyl groups and a carbonyl or dicarbonyl group.
US09778581B2

An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a hole transporting layer containing a polyester resin having a structural unit expressed by formula (1) as a hole transporting substance.
US09778579B2

A stage assembly (10) that includes (i) a stage (14) that retains a device (26); (ii) a reaction assembly (18) that is spaced apart from the stage (14); (iii) a stage mover (16) that moves the stage (14), the stage mover (16) including a magnet array (38) that is coupled to the stage (14) and a conductor array (36) that is coupled to the reaction assembly (18); (iv) a temperature adjuster (20); and (v) a control system (22) that selectively controls the temperature adjuster (20). The conductor array (36) includes a set of first zone conductor units (250), and a set of second zone conductor units (252). The temperature adjuster (20) independently adjusts the temperature of the set of first zone conductor units (250), and the set of second zone conductor units (252).
US09778576B2

An illumination optical unit for microlithography illuminates an object field with illumination light. The unit includes a first facet mirror that has a plurality of first facets, and a second facet mirror that has a plurality of second facets. The unit has facet pairs which include respectively a facet of the first facet mirror and a facet of the second facet mirror which predefine a plurality of illumination channels for illuminating the object field. At least some of the illumination channels have in each case an assigned polarization element for predefining an individual polarization state of the illumination light guided in the respective illumination channel.
US09778574B2

An apparatus comprising at least one sealing aperture (40) comprising a hollow part (41), having an inner surface (42), extending at an interface between different zones (50;60) of the apparatus; and a member (43) positioned in the hollow part configured to substantially transmit EUV radiation and to substantially filter non-EUV radiation at the interface; wherein the inner surface of the hollow part has a surface treatment configured to increase absorption of the non-EUV radiation that is transferred by the member to the hollow part.
US09778569B2

A positive photosensitive resin composition according to the present invention contains at least (A) a polysiloxane compound having at least a structural unit of the general formula (1), (B) a photoacid generator or quinone diazide compound and (C) a solvent [(RX)bR1mSiOn/2]  (1) where RX represents the following group; R1 each represents a hydrogen atom, C1-C3 alkyl group, phenyl group, hydroxy group, C1-C3 alkoxy group or C1-C3 fluoroalkyl group; b represents an integer of 1 to 3; m represents an integer of 0 to 2; n represents an integer of 1 to 3; and b, m and n satisfy b+m+n=4, where X each represents a hydrogen atom or acid labile group; and a represents an integer of 1 to 5. It is possible by the use of this positive photosensitive resin composition to provide a film with high resistance and heat-resistant transparency and provide an electronic component with such a film.
US09778554B2

A laser light source (300), a wavelength conversion light source, a light combining light source, and a projection system. The laser light source comprises a laser element array, a focusing optical element (33), a collimation optical element (34), an integrator rod (36) for receiving and homogenizing a secondary laser beam array (382), an angular distribution control element (35) disposed on the light path between the laser element array and the integrator rod (36) for enlarging the divergence angle of the laser beam array (382) in the direction of the short axis of the light distribution, such that the rate between the divergence angle of each of the secondary laser beam that enters the integrator rod (36) in the direction of the short axis of the light distribution and the divergence angle in the direction of the long axis is greater than or equal to 0.7.
US09778547B1

The present invention provides a mobile phone stabilizer, comprising a fixing device for mobile phone, an angle adjusting device and a two-hand control device, wherein the angle adjusting device comprises an X-axis adjusting mechanism, a Y-axis adjusting mechanism and a Z-axis adjusting mechanism which are orthogonally arranged in three-dimensional space; wherein the Z-axis adjusting mechanism has a connecting end fixedly connected with the two-hand control device and has an output end rotatablely connected with a connecting end of the Y-axis adjusting mechanism, the Y-axis adjusting mechanism has an output end rotatablely connected with a connecting end of the X-axis adjusting mechanism, the X-axis adjusting mechanism has an output end rotatablely connected with the fixing device for mobile phone. The mobile phone stabilizer of the present invention has a simple structure and can effectively improve the shooting stability of the mobile phone.
US09778545B2

The lens drive device is equipped with a first supporting body that holds the lens and is movable in the direction of the optical axis, a second supporting body that holds the first supporting body, a fixed body that holds the second supporting body in a manner enabling movement in directions that are roughly orthogonal to the optical axis direction, a first drive mechanism for driving the first supporting body, a second drive mechanism for driving the second supporting body in a first direction, and a third drive mechanism for driving the second supporting body in a second direction. The first supporting body is supported by the second supporting body by means of first supporting members (8, 9), which are formed from an elastic material; and the second supporting body is supported by the fixed body by means of second supporting members, which are formed from an elastic material.
US09778540B2

The present invention is based on a two-dimensional photonic crystal in which are inserted, in a controlled manner, defects that originate the waveguides and the resonant cavity that integrate the device. Its main function is to provide the control of the passage of an electromagnetic signal over a communications channel, blocking (state off) or allowing (state on) the passage of the signal. It also has the function of changing the propagation direction of an electromagnetic signal by an angle of 60 degrees, offering greater flexibility in the design of integrated optical systems. The operating principle of the device is associated with the excitation of dipole modes in the resonant cavity, which is based on a magneto-optical material. When the switch is under the influence of an external DC magnetic field H0, a rotating dipole mode excited in the cavity allows the passage of the input signal to the output (state on), whereas without the application of H0, a stationary dipole mode excited in the cavity, with the nodes aligned to the output waveguide, prevents the passage of the input signal to the output (state off).
US09778539B2

Provided is an optical waveguide element including a first interactive part, a first EO substrate line, a second interactive part, and a second EO substrate line. A relay substrate unit includes a first relay substrate line, a second relay substrate line, and a loss adjusting part. The loss adjusting part is provided to the relay substrate line in a combination in which an electrical loss is low so that an electrical loss in a combination of the first EO substrate line and the first relay substrate line, and an electrical loss in a combination of the second EO substrate line and the second relay substrate line become approximately the same as each other.
US09778527B2

An array substrate and a method for detecting the array substrate are disclosed. The array substrate comprises a display area and a detecting area. In a first detecting mode, a first to a sixth detecting circuits are divided into three groups, and a first detecting signal is successively provided to these three groups of detecting circuits, so that a circuit defect possibly existing in a charge line and a share line that are located in each row of subarea can be detected. In a second detecting mode, the first to the sixth detecting circuits are divided into two groups, and a second detecting signal is provided to the two groups of detecting circuits successively, so that a circuit defect possible existing in the charge line and the share line that are located in adjacent rows of subareas can be detected.
US09778525B2

A display device is disclosed. In one aspect, the display device includes a plurality of pixels each including first and second switching elements connected to a first gate line and a data line. Each pixel also includes a first memory capacitor connected to the first switching element and a capacitance voltage line, a second memory capacitor connected to the second switching element and the capacitance voltage line, and a third switching element and a fourth switching element each connected to a second gate line and a reference voltage line. Each pixel further includes a fifth switching element connected to a third gate line and the first memory capacitor, a sixth switching element connected to the third gate line and the second memory capacitor, a first subpixel electrode connected to the third and fifth switching elements, and a second subpixel electrode connected to the fourth and sixth switching element.
US09778524B2

A liquid crystal display includes a plurality of data lines and a plurality of gate lines disposed on a substrate in horizontal and vertical directions, respectively, pixel electrodes formed at intersecting regions of the data lines and the gate lines, a plurality of erasing signal lines disposed parallel to the gate lines, first thin film transistors, each including a first source electrode connected to one data line, a first gate electrode connected to one gate line, and a first drain electrode connected to one pixel electrode, and second thin film transistors, each including a second drain electrode connected to the pixel electrode, a second gate electrode connected to the erasing signal line, and a second source electrode connected to a predetermined potential.
US09778521B2

A display apparatus includes pixels. Each pixel includes a first pixel electrode, a second pixel electrode, a black matrix, a shielding electrode, and first and second sub-shielding electrodes. The first pixel electrode is disposed in a first pixel area. The second pixel electrode is disposed in a second pixel area. The black matrix is disposed in a predetermined area of a first boundary area between the first pixel area and the second pixel area. The shielding electrode is disposed between first pixel areas and between second pixel areas, which are arranged in a first direction, and extends in a second direction crossing the first direction. The first and second sub-shielding electrodes branch from the shielding electrode along the first direction and are spaced apart from each other in the first boundary area while the black matrix is disposed therebetween.
US09778520B2

In a liquid crystal display device, a common electrode is formed on an organic passivation film, an interlayer insulating film is formed on the common electrode, a pixel electrode with a slit is formed on the interlayer insulating film, and a through hole is formed in the organic passivation film and the interlayer insulating film, so that the pixel electrode is connected to a source electrode of a TFT through the through hole. Further, the taper angle around the upper base of the through hole is smaller than the taper angle around the lower base. Thus, the alignment film material can easily flow into the through hole when the diameter of the through hole is reduced to connect the pixel and source electrodes, preventing display defects such as uneven brightness due to the absence of the alignment film or due to the alignment film irregularity around the through hole.
US09778517B2

An array substrate includes a substrate, a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines intersecting the gate lines and insulated from the gate lines. The intersections of the gate lines and data lines define a plurality of pixel units, each of the pixel units comprise a first electrode and a second electrode laminated, with the second electrode having at least one branch electrode, and the first electrode having at least one first slit disposed between the pixel units and extending in a direction of the data lines. In the array substrate, the display panel and the display device, the electrode under the black matrix is removed by hollowing out to reduce the electric field strength under the black matrix.
US09778501B2

A second substrate has detection electrodes of a touch panel, each of pixels has a pixel electrode and a counter electrode, the counter electrode is divided into a plurality of blocks, the counter electrodes of the respective divided blocks are commonly provided for the respective pixels of the plurality of display lines in series, and the counter electrodes also serve as scanning electrodes of the touch panel, and a counter electrode selector circuit that selects the counter electrodes. The counter electrode selector circuit includes an address decoder circuit that selects the counter electrodes of the respective blocks for a given period, and a selector circuit that applies a touch panel scanning voltage to the counter electrode of the block selected by the address decoder circuit, and applies a counter voltage to the counter electrodes of the blocks not selected by the address decoder circuit.
US09778500B2

An electro-optic display comprises, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer; a layer of a solid electro-optic material; and a backplane (162) bearing a plurality of pixel electrodes, a peripheral portion of the backplane extending outwardly beyond the layer of solid electro-optic material and bearing a plurality of radiation generating means (166) and a plurality of radiation detecting means (168), the radiation generating means and radiation detecting means together being arranged to act as a touch screen.
US09778499B2

A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate having a pixel electrode and a common electrode provided thereon; a second substrate formed of a resin material; a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; an optical film facing the liquid crystal layer with the second substrate being provided between the optical film and the liquid crystal layer; and a conductive layer facing the second substrate; wherein the optical film is provided between the conductive layer and the second substrate.
US09778496B2

The present invention is based on a two-dimensional photonic crystal in which defects are inserted in a controlled manner, has the main function of division of the power of an input signal, excited in one of its six waveguides, among other three waveguides (output ones), while keeping isolation of the input port by means of two other waveguides. The operating principle of the device is based on the alignment of a dipole mode excited in the resonant cavity, in such a way that the nodes of this mode are oriented in the direction of two waveguides, so that these waveguides are not excited. Due to this alignment, each of the three output waveguides receive about one third of the power of input signal. The orientation of dipole mode is controlled by the applied DC magnetic field and the physical and geometrical parameters of the resonator.
US09778490B2

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to a transparent material to provide protection to a person's eyes from harmful wavelengths of the light spectrum, overall visual comfort, or improved vision such as color enhancement, target recognition and other functions, while selectively transmitting more of certain wavelengths of the light spectrum that have a therapeutic benefit such as healing or general mood modifier. The transparent material may be a lens or a shield which is disposed in front of the wearer's eyes.
US09778489B2

A spectacle lens is disclosed. The disclosed lens provides a vision correcting area for the correction of a wearer's refractive error. The viewing correction area provides correction for non-conventional refractive error to provide at least a part of the wearer's vision correction. The lens has a prescription based on a wave front analysis of the wearer's eye and the lens can further be modified to fit within an eyeglass frame.
US09778486B2

A spectacle lens capable of obtaining a good vision without feeling of discomfort, even being fitted into a frame having a large front angle, and a method of creating the shape data of the spectacle lens having dioptric power to be fitted into a frame having a lens front angle. The method corrects the shape data of a lens back surface so that the prismatic effect undergone via the lens of initial lens shape by a plurality of rays passing through a rotation center of the eye in a case where a lens front angle is provided is identical or close to the prismatic effect undergone via the lens of initial lens shape by the plurality of rays passing through the rotation center of the eye in a case where no lens front angle is provided.
US09778481B2

A lens drive apparatus includes an image stabilizer portion moves an auto-focusing lens driving portion in first and second directions orthogonal to an optical axis and perpendicular to each other, and the image stabilizer portion includes a fixed member disposed apart from the auto-focusing lens driving portion in a direction of the optical axis, a plurality of suspension wires each comprising an end fixed to the fixed member at an outer region thereof, a narrowing portion that is disposed between the fixed member and the auto-focusing lens driving portion and that narrows part of a gap between the fixed member and the auto-focusing lens driving portion, and a damper compound that is disposed at the narrowed part of the gap between the fixed member and the auto-focusing lens driving portion and that suppress undesired resonance in the direction of the optical axis of the auto-focusing lens driving portion.
US09778474B2

A display panel includes a plurality of display elements arranged in a matrix manner, a first transparent substrate including a plurality of signal input parts at a circumferential part of the first transparent substrate and a wiring connecting the signal input parts and the display elements formed on the first transparent substrate, and a second transparent substrate including a rectangular light shielding layer shielding light among the display elements and shielding light at an outside of a display region including the display elements, wherein markers for indicating positions with respect to the display elements are located in at least two parts of a circumferential edge of the first transparent substrate, and each of the markers has a crossing part crossing any one of rims at a circumferential edge of the light shielding layer.
US09778471B2

A method and a device for producing multi-view images optical films used therein are disclosed. The method and device use an optical film 2, comprising a superlens array 3 with between 0.5 to 225 superlenses per inch, formed by two arrays of positive microlenses which are fixed relative to one another. In order to produce a multi-view image 1 between a viewer 11 and the optical film 2, an array 10 of elemental images is arranged between the focal plane 9 of the superlenses 3 and the optical film 2.
US09778462B2

The invention relates to an aseismatic reflection sheet device, which includes a reflection sheet, a weight support element, an angle fixed adjustment module, a base plate and at least a sliding module. By the composition of above structure, one side of the weight support element is fixed on a vehicle windshield and the weight of the aseismatic reflection sheet device is mostly supported by the part of the weight support element, so that the reflection sheet does not be affected by shocking of the vehicle dashboard, to thereby provide support to the reflection sheet and the vertical and horizontal angle may be easily adjusted.
US09778454B2

A light adjusting apparatus including a drive section provided with an axial magnet, a coil core member and a coil, a first substrate provided an opening and a first cut-out portion, a second substrate provided with an opening and a second cut-out portion, located at a predetermined distance from the first substrate, an incident light adjusting section to which the axial magnet is joined, and an axial magnet support member provided with a distance keeping portion that keeps a distance between the coil core member and the axial magnet to within a certain range and a dropout prevention portion that prevents dropout of the axial magnet from the first cut-out portion, the axial magnet support member being fixed to the coil core member, in which the incident light adjusting section is rotated by the drive section for adjusting the incident light.
US09778453B2

A modular mounting system for a night vision device includes one or more night vision monoculars, each night vision monocular having an imaging tube, a housing, and a first mounting shoe at a first position on the housing. A power supply has a first fastener thereon. A helmet mount at a first location on a helmet has a second fastener thereon. A power supply interface is located at a second location on the helmet and a second mounting shoe is provided on the power supply interface. The first mounting shoe is interchangeably and removably attachable to the first fastener and the second fastener, and, the first fastener interchangeably and removably attachable to the first mounting shoe and the second mounting shoe. In a further aspect, a firearm rail interface is provided to allow the night vision monocular to alternatively be positioned on a firearm accessory rail.
US09778452B2

A sighting device, including an optical element having a concave reflection surface and an aiming light source and forming in a visual field frame, comprises a main-body housing section that houses the optical element and the aiming light source and has an opening on an upper surface side, a cover member that covers the upper surface side of the main-body housing section, and a link mechanism that couples the main-body housing section and the cover member and moves the cover member with respect to the main-body housing section. The cover member is moved by the link mechanism between a closed position where the cover member covers the opening of the main-body housing section and an open position where the cover member is disposed in a position separated from the opening of the main-body housing section and forms an optical path of the aiming light.
US09778444B1

An optical assembly for a point action camera with a wide field of view includes multiple lens elements configured to provide a field of view in excess of 150 degrees. One or more lens elements has an aspheric surface. The optical assembly exhibits a low longitudinal astigmatism of approximately 0.3 mm or less.
US09778437B2

A lens driving device includes: a lens frame; a supporting unit that supports the lens frame in driving directions; a driving unit that drives the lens frame in one or both of a direction of an optical axis and a direction intersecting the optical axis; and a sensor that is mounted on the supporting unit and detects a position of the lens frame. The supporting unit includes: a circuit that is connectable to the sensor and integral with the supporting unit; and a recess that receives the sensor. The circuit has terminals exposed to a space inside the recess.
US09778429B2

Apparatus comprising: a heat sink, the heat sink comprising: a body formed out of a heat-transmissive material; at least one channel extending through the body, the at least one channel having an inlet port and an outlet port; at least one opening extending through the body, the at least one opening being configured to receive an optical module therein; at least one securement element mounted to the body for releasably securing an optical module within the at least one opening; and at least one alignment element mounted to the body for ensuring appropriate alignment of an optical module received in the at least one opening.
US09778422B2

A fiber optic adapter is disclosed. The fiber optic adapter includes a main body configured to receive a first fiber optic connector through a first end and a second fiber optic connector through a second end for mating with the first fiber optic connector. The adapter includes a ferrule alignment structure located within an axial cavity of the main body, the ferrule alignment structure including a sleeve mount and a ferrule sleeve, the sleeve mount including an axial bore and at least one latching hook extending from a center portion of the sleeve mount toward the first end of the main body and at least one latching hook extending from the center portion toward the second end of the main body, the latching hooks configured to flex for releasably latching the first and second fiber optic connectors to the fiber optic adapter. The sleeve mount and the main body of the fiber optic adapter are unitarily molded as a single piece and the ferrule sleeve is separately placed within the axial bore of the sleeve mount.
US09778414B2

A head-mounted display (HMD) including an electronic display. The electronic display is configured to output image light. The electronic display includes a display panel including a surface configured to emit image light, and a fiber optic taper. The fiber optic taper includes a mounting surface and a display surface. The mounting surface is formed to, and affixed to, the surface of the display panel to receive the image light from the display panel. The display surface has a shape configured to output the image light corrected for optical distortion in the image light received from the cylindrically curved display panel. The HMD includes an optics block configured to optically direct the corrected image light to an exit pupil of the HMD corresponding to a location of an eye of a user of the HMD.
US09778412B2

A snap-fit for fixing optical films is disclosed. The optical film includes at least one ear hook arranged above a border of a plastic frame. The plastic frame is assembled with a back frame so as to fix a light guiding plate within the back frame. The snap-fit includes a press portion and a connection portion extending from a first side of the press portion. The connection portion and the press portion cooperatively form an angle with a predetermined degree. The press portion presses the ear hook of the optical films on the border of the plastic frame. The connection portion clasps with the hook of the sidewall. By adopting the snap-fit, not only the narrow bezel design can be achieved, but also the optical film can be stably fixed. A backlight module with the above snap-fit and the liquid crystal display are also disclosed.
US09778407B2

A light guide having a first major surface, a second major surface, an input edge and an opposing edge, where at least one of the first major surface and the second major surface includes a plurality of multiplets. Each multiplet includes two or more extraction features having an indented geometry.
US09778401B2

An optical element in which light with a large principal ray input angle is gradually input from a center to a peripheral portion, a thickness gradually increases from the center to the peripheral portion, and 1
US09778393B2

A method and system for estimating density of material surrounding a borehole in mineral exploration, the method including inserting a tool into a drilling rod located within a borehole, the tool having a gamma radiation source and at least one sensor; raising the tool within the drilling rod; receiving gamma count readings at the at least one sensor; sending the gamma count readings to a computing device; and removing effects of the drilling rod from the gamma count readings at the computing device to calculate a density of material surrounding the borehole.
US09778392B2

A 3Helium gas counter comprising polyethylene slabs, a rectangular gas tube within the polyethylene slabs, and a mixture of 3Helium and Xenon. A 3Helium gas counter comprising polyethylene slabs, a rectangular gas tube within the polyethylene slabs, and a mixture of 3Helium and Krypton. A method of making a 3Helium gas counter comprising providing polyethylene slabs, placing a rectangular gas tube within the polyethylene slabs, and depositing a mixture of 3Helium and Xenon into the rectangular gas tube.
US09778388B1

The methods and devices described herein provide a sensor array positioning system that may allow a user to program a series of sensor array locations, depths and orientations into a control center, which therein commands an unmanned surface or submarine vehicle which positions a sensor array. The devices comprise of an unmanned vehicle using less than about 20 Watts of power, a tow cables, a flexible sensor array comprising one or more sensors, one or more floats and one or more weights.
US09778378B2

A detector configuration that combines a plurality of elongated semiconductor photo-multiplier sensor strips coupled to a scintillator crystal block with a differential readout that will enhance the time resolution. This is permitted due to a reduction of electronic noise due to reduced cross talk and noise in the ground. In addition, the dead area is minimized and thus the efficiency of the photodetector is enhanced.
US09778377B2

A Transmission Charged-Particle Microscope comprises a source of charged particles which are then directed by an illuminator onto a specimen supported by a specimen holder. Charged particles transmitted through the specimen may undergo energy loss with a distribution of losses providing information about the specimen. A dispersing device disperses the transmitted charged particles into an energy-resolved array of spectral sub-beams distributed along a dispersion direction. The dispersed charged particles are detected by a detector comprising an assembly of sub-detectors arranged along said dispersion direction, whereby different sub-detectors are adjustable to have different detection sensitivities.
US09778373B2

The present invention generally relates to a radiation sensor for use particularly in, but by no means exclusively, in measuring radiation dose in photon or electron fields such as for radiation medicine, including radiotherapy and radiation based diagnosis. According to the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor radiation detector comprising a radiation sensitive detector element arranged such that it forms a continuous radiation sensitive portion having surfaces oriented in at least two non-parallel directions.
US09778372B2

Methods and apparatuses for position determination and other operations. In one embodiment of the present invention, a mobile station uses wireless signals from a plurality of wireless networks (e.g., with different air interfaces and/or operated by different service providers) for position determination (e.g., for data communication, for obtaining time and/or frequency information, for range measurement, for sector or altitude estimation). In one embodiment of the present invention, mobile stations are used to harvest statistical data about wireless access points (e.g., the locations of mobile stations that have received signals from the wireless access points, such as from cellular base stations, wireless local area network access points, repeaters for positioning signals or other wireless communication transmitters) and to derive location information (e.g., position and coverage area of the wireless access points) for the wireless networks from the collected statistical data.
US09778368B2

A multiband antenna apparatus for high-precision GNSS positioning is proposed. The multiband antenna apparatus comprises a first antenna configured for reception of GNSS signals in a first multiband of electromagnetic spectrum, a second multiband antenna configured for reception of GNSS signals in a second multiband of electromagnetic spectrum, and an antenna phase reference point configured to represent an integrated electric phase data. The antenna phase reference point is related to a physical reference point of the antenna apparatus.
US09778365B2

A system and method of determining a pointing vector using two GPS antennas and a single GPS receiver is disclosed. Two stationary GPS antennas, with a separation preferably less than half of a wavelength (˜100 mm) may use a single receiver to determine the pointing vector of the system. Incorporation of a three axis angular rate measurement allows pointing determination during system rotation. Incorporation of three axis gyroscope system allows pointing determination while in motion. The system provides the ability to sense multipath and jamming. Also the system can potentially eliminate the impact and certainly alert the user that the measurement may not be reliable.
US09778357B2

A method of collecting data using a polarimetric phased array antenna is described. The method includes directing electromagnetic signals to selected panels of an array of panels so as to transmit a dual H and V polarized electromagnetic beam (1) having the same beam width in all azimuth directions and (2) maintaining cross-polarization isolation via orthogonal dual-polarizations in all beam pointing directions. The panels include antennas having a horizontally (H) polarized array element and a vertically (V) polarized array element arranged to form two orthogonally polarized horizontal and vertical radiating fields which together form the dual H and V polarized electromagnetic beam. The array of panels is arranged so as to form a substantially cylindrical configuration on a support system. Reflection signals sensed by the selected panels formed by scattering of said dual H and V polarized electromagnetic beam are received and have a reflection frequency spectrum.
US09778353B2

A handheld device, an object positioning method thereof and a computer-readable recording medium are provided. The handheld device includes a radar sensor, an image sensor and a control unit. The radar sensor emits a detection wave, and receives a reflected wave generated by an object by reflecting the detection wave. Each object generates one of the reflected waves. The image sensor captures an image. The image includes a subset of the objects. The control unit extracts a waveform signature of each reflected wave, recognizes the waveform signature in a time domain and a frequency domain to determine a first type of each object, obtains a first position of the object according to the reflected wave, obtains a second type and a second position of each object according to the first image, and performs object mapping to combine or compare the first position and the second position of the object.
US09778345B2

Methods, systems, and computer program products for determining transit routes through crowd-sourcing, for determining an estimated time of arrival (ETA) of a vehicle of the transit route at a given location, and for providing predictive reminders to a user for catching a vehicle of the transit route. A server receives signal source information about wireless signal sources detected by user devices, including information about a first wireless signal source detected by some devices. The server determines that the first wireless signal source is moving. The server determines that the first wireless signal source is associated with a public transit route upon determining that the signal source information satisfies one or more selection criteria. The server stores information associating the first wireless signal source with the public transit route as transit movement data corresponding to the public transit route.
US09778344B2

A system and method of measuring the distance and determining the coordinate position of one or more target transceivers relative to a set of anchor transceivers with known locations is provided. The position of the target transceiver is determined by using a time-of-flight (TOF) initialization signal generated by the master anchor transceiver, a TOF response transmission generated by the target transceiver, calculation of the distances between the target transceiver and each anchor transceiver, and transmission of a TOF distance report by the master anchor transceiver. The system and method of the present invention permit the accurate locating of a target transceiver that is located “outside the box.”
US09778339B2

In a method and a pulse sequence optimization device to determine a pulse sequence for a magnetic resonance system, a determination of a time interval in a pulse sequence that is to be optimized with regard to a gradient curve initially takes place, the pulse sequence including a number of radio-frequency pulses and a number of gradient pulses that are to be chronologically coordinated, under determination of the following boundary conditions for the gradient curve: length of the time interval, target integral of the gradient curve over the time interval, start value of the gradient curve at the beginning of the time interval, end value of the gradient curve at the end of the time interval. A gradient curve is then defined according to a function that is linear per segment by addition of a first linear function that connects the start value and the end value and a second function that is linear per segment that assumes a function value of “zero” at the beginning and end of the time interval, and that is defined so that the sum of the integral of the first linear function and of the integral of the second function corresponds to the target integral.
US09778319B2

The embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for determining the health status of a sensed switch. In general, the embodiments described herein determine a measure of a health status of the sensed switch by comparing a voltage on the sensed switch, ascertaining a first comparator state under one test condition and ascertaining a second comparator state under a second test condition. The first comparator state and the second comparator state are and then compared to determine the measure of the health status of the sensed switch.
US09778316B2

Disclosed herein are exemplary embodiments of a so-called “X-press” test response compactor. Certain embodiments of the disclosed compactor comprise an overdrive section and scan chain selection logic. Certain embodiments of the disclosed technology offer compaction ratios on the order of 1000×. Exemplary embodiments of the disclosed compactor can maintain about the same coverage and about the same diagnostic resolution as that of conventional scan-based test scenarios. Some embodiments of a scan chain selection scheme can significantly reduce or entirely eliminate unknown states occurring in test responses that enter the compactor. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of on-chip comparator circuits and methods for generating control circuitry for masking selection circuits.
US09778308B2

Examples disclose a computing system comprising a host device with a connection socket to support multiple types of cables by detecting a first key position and a second key position for determination of the type of cable. Further, the computing system comprises a switching circuit to determine a logic state of each of the key positions. Additionally, the switching circuit is to deliver power associated with the type of cable based on the logic states of the key positions.
US09778306B1

Methods for accelerated soiling testing of PV modules is described herein. The methods accurately reproduce soiling characteristics across various environmental conditions and can be performed in a laboratory environment under short testing times. A method described herein comprises the steps of forming a soiling mixture, depositing the soiling mixture on a surface portion of a PV module, exposing the PV module surface portion to simulated environmental conditions and determining an extent of recovery of the PV module surface portion.
US09778304B2

A circuit assembly is provided for producing a test voltage for testing a test object, comprising two high voltage sources for producing a positive and negative high voltage of variable amplitude at respective outputs thereof and a high voltage switch assembly, which is arranged between the outputs of the two high voltage sources and the test object and which can be switched suitably in order to successively charge and discharge the test object, wherein furthermore a closed-loop controller is provided, which measures the present test voltage on the test object and acts on the high-voltage switch assembly in order to charge and discharge the test object in a defined manner in dependence on the measured test voltage.
US09778298B2

An apparatus for frequency measurement (1ODMTM) which provides precise and accurate measurement of a single input tone frequency and/or multiple separable input tone frequencies. Tone separability can be achieved by proper selection of the parameter N, the sample length of the DFT/FFT.
US09778293B1

Systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring a voltage received by a data storage device. A connection cable or data storage device may include a power monitoring module monitor the voltage received by the data storage device. The power monitoring module may provide an indication of whether voltage received by the data storage device is within a range of voltages.
US09778291B2

A selector circuit selects either a class upper-limit voltage or a class lower-limit voltage as a reference voltage of a comparator. A control logic controls the selector circuit, and generates a count-up signal or a count-down signal in accordance with the output of the comparator. An up/down counter counts up upon reception of the count-up signal from the control logic, and counts down upon reception of the count-down signal. A digital-analog converter outputs the class upper-limit voltage and the class lower-limit voltage in accordance with a digital value that is outputted by the up/down counter. A timer circuit is configured to be reset by the count-up signal from the control logic to the up/down counter.
US09778290B2

A branch current monitor that includes reconfiguration.
US09778286B2

A network of sensors is associated with a power distribution network. Sensors are positioned at each connecting line in the vicinity of each node of the power distribution network. The sensors regularly report the following measured data to the central processing unit: a geographical position of each sensor, direction of the energy flow relative to the nearest node; and value of RMS current synchronously measured over the entire network and averaged over chosen averaging period. The central processing unit includes an arrangement for receiving the measured data and using this data for constructing and updating a graph and a state of the power distribution network.
US09778284B2

A testing device and method of a quantum battery by a semiconductor probe capable of evaluating electric characteristics of a charge layer in the middle of a production process of the quantum battery without damaging the charge layer. On semiconductor probe constituted by stacking electrode and metal oxide semiconductor on support body, and probe charge layer is formed of the same material as that of quantum battery and irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Forming probe charge layer of same material as that of quantum battery on semiconductor probe enables evaluation without damaging charge layer of the quantum battery. Testing device and method are provided which measure the charge/discharge characteristics of a charge layer in the middle of producing the quantum battery by a voltmeter and a constant current source or a discharge resistor by using the semiconductor probe including the probe charge layer.
US09778281B1

Assessing and removing jitter from tachometer signals enhances the performance of condition monitoring systems where accurate tachometer signals are needed. A system as disclosed herein can be designed and configured to have a low order of operations, so as to allow for implementation on low cost microcontrollers, which can be important for bused, distributed monitoring systems in which the tachometer zero crossing data is collected at a tachometer sensor and then broadcast to other remote sensors needing that information for vibration or other advanced analysis. Moreover, for monolithic architecture systems (e.g., a centralized processing and control architecture), the low order of operation and small software code base allows the system to be a simple/low cost addition to existing monitoring systems.
US09778280B2

Systems and methods for segmenting a period of time into identification of locations of a user who performs activities are described. One of the methods includes detecting activity of a monitoring device worn by the user. The activity includes an amount of movement of the monitoring device. The activity is performed for a period of time. The method further includes obtaining geo-location data for the monitoring device and storing, during the period of time, the detected activity and corresponding geo-location data. The method also includes analyzing the detected activity and the corresponding geo-location data to identify one or more events. Each event is associated with a group of activity data and one or more of the groups of activity data is associated with an identifier, which is obtained using the geo-location data.
US09778270B2

Newly identified mammalian taste-cell-specific G Protein-Coupled Receptors and the genes encoding said receptors are described. Specifically, T2R taste G Protein-Coupled Receptors that are believed to be involved in bitter taste sensation, and the genes encoding the same, are described, along with methods for isolating such genes and for isolating and expressing such receptors. Methods for representing taste perception of a particular tastant in a mammal are also described, as are methods for generating a novel molecules or combinations of molecules that elicit a predetermined taste perception in a mammal, and methods for simulating one or more tastes.
US09778267B2

The invention provides methods for identifying modulators of ion channels without the use of recombinant cell lines over-expressing the ion channel proteins or the use of detection labels.
US09778266B2

Disclosed is a new and emerging serotype of Streptococcus pneumoniae designated serotype 6C, and assays and monoclonal antibodies useful in identifying same. Also disclosed is a novel pneumococcal polysaccharide with the repeating unit {2) glucose 1 (1→3) glucose 2 (1→3) rhamnose (1→3) ribitol (5→phosphate}. This new serotype may be included in pneumococcal vaccines.
US09778264B2

Markers useful for the identification, characterization and, optionally, the enrichment or isolation of tumorigenic cells or cell subpopulations are disclosed.
US09778259B2

The present invention concerns an in vitro method for diagnosing invasive candidiasis (IC) in a subject which comprises detecting the presence of a Candida glycan and detecting the presence of antibody directed against a protein selected from the group consisting of fructose bisphosphate aldolase (Fba1), enolase 1 (Eno1), heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), hyphal wall protein (Hwp1), and mannoprotein 65 (Mp65) in a blood, plasma or serum sample of the subject. The invention also relates to a method of determining a suitable treatment regimen for a patient and to a kit for implanting the methods described herein.
US09778256B2

A biochip substrate which is free from cross-contamination due to spot spreading or contact with spots adjacent to each other, and a biochip using the same. A biochip substrate on which multiple valleys for immobilizing biological substances are formed so as to prevent cross-contamination due to spot spreading or contact with spots adjacent to each other, and a biochip using the same are provided. Moreover, it is found out that a desired binding in a target molecule contained in a test sample occurs at a detectable level in a solution system even in the case where a valley have such a small capacity as 1 nL to 10 nL.
US09778252B2

The present disclosure provides methods and/or kits for detecting an analyte in a sample. Some embodiments provide a method for detecting a non-nucleic acid analyte in a sample using a solid substrate comprising a bound immobilisation agent and an antibody capture agent and a detectable agent, which can bind to the analyte. The antibody capture agent comprises, at a plurality of sites, a ligand for the immobilisation agent. A complex between the analyte, the antibody capture agent and a detectable agent is formed and immobilised on the solid substrate by binding between the immobilisation agent and the ligand. In some embodiments, the ligand and the immobilisation agent are a binding pair comprising a peptide tag and an anti-peptide tag antibody.
US09778246B2

Methods for determining the amount of vitamin D compounds in a sample are provided. The methods can employ LC-MS/MS techniques and optionally the use of deuterated internal standards. Methods for diagnosing vitamin D deficiencies are also provided.
US09778244B2

A composition for recyclate verification is produced by adding a predetermined quantity of one or more verification compounds to a base resin. Each of the verification compounds is thermally stable over a range of temperatures that includes the maximum processing temperature of the base resin but is less than the degradation temperature of the base resin. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic material provided for verification as a recyclate is analyzed to detect the presence (and, optionally, the loading level) of one or more verification compounds associated with the base resin of the thermoplastic material. In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for recyclate verification is performed using a computer program product. In some embodiments, a thermoplastic material verified as a recyclate is heated to drive off the verification compound(s), then a known quantity of the verification compound(s) is added to the recyclate, which is then blended with virgin base resin material.
US09778243B2

The present invention relates to improved methods for measuring the renewable bio-source carbon content and renewable bio-content in renewable bioplastic resins produced in manufacturing plants. In particular, the present invention relates to measuring the renewable bio-source carbon content in renewable bioplastic resins produced during a production run by correlating measured δ13C values are measured by iTOC-CRDS and CM-CRDS with actual renewable bio-source carbon content measurements (AMS or LSC 14C) via a linear regression.
US09778237B2

Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer-readable mediums for determining combustion properties of wellhead gas. A methane concentration of a gas mixture is measured. A non-methane hydrocarbon concentration of the gas mixture is measured. An inert concentration of the gas mixture is calculated. A first surrogate for the non-methane hydrocarbon concentration is selected, where the first surrogate is selected as propane if the methane concentration is greater than a first threshold, and where the first surrogate is selected as pentane if the methane concentration is less than or equal to the first threshold. A methane number of the gas mixture is determined, where the methane number is based on the methane concentration, the first surrogate, and the inert concentration.
US09778232B2

A cylindrical column body (101) holds a filler. A pair of end caps (105, 106) covers both ends of the column body (101) and has a flow hole for a carrier liquid (111, 112) arranged in the center thereof. An end surface on the side of a large diameter portion (113a, 114a) of a pair of columnar joint members (113, 114) contacts an end surface of the pair of end caps (105, 106) and also has a communication hole (115, 116) arranged in the center thereof. A sealing member (117, 118) is arranged on a contact surface between the end cap (105, 106) and the joint member (113, 114). A bottomed cylindrical case (121) accommodates the pair of end caps (105, 106) and a large diameter portion of the pair of joint members (113, 114) in an engaged state. A cover member (124) is detachably installed on a side of an opening of the case (121).
US09778231B2

A through-transmission ultrasonic (TTU) inspection system for ultrasonic inspection of a part, such as an aircraft component. The TTU inspection system may include a first end effector and/or a second end effector. The first end effector may be positioned on a first surface of the part and the second end effector may be positioned on a second surface of the part, opposite the first surface. The first and/or second end effector may also include an acoustic coupling medium encircled by a plurality of pins independently movable toward and away from a housing of the first and/or second end effector, such that the pins may follow local part contours along the first surface at all times, while retaining the acoustic coupling medium between the first surface and a transducer in the housing of the first and/or second end effector.
US09778225B2

A device includes an excitation coil, a detector coil, and a processing circuit. The excitation coil is aligned about a volume. The excitation coil is configured to carry a first and second biasing current and generate a magnetic field in the volume. The detector coil is configured to generate an electrical signal based on a detected field within the volume. The detected field is based on the magnetic field. The processing circuit is configured to generate data based on the electrical signal.
US09778224B2

An ionization device includes a first electrode comprising a conductive member coated with a dielectric layer. The ionization device also includes a spine extending adjacent to and at least partially along the first electrode. The ionization device further includes a second electrode comprising conductive segments disposed adjacent the first electrode. Each one of the conductive segments contacts the spine at a respective contact location. The dielectric layer of the first electrode separates the conductive member of the first electrode from the spine and the second electrode. The ionization device is configured to create plasma generating locations corresponding to respective crossings of the first electrode and the second electrode.
US09778223B2

A separation module operates to fractionate or separate an analyte into fractions according to pI, i.e., pI bands, utilizing capillary isoelectric focusing (“CIEF”) within a first microchannel. The fractions are stacked to form plugs, the number of which is determined by a number of parallel second microchannels integrally connected to the first microchannel, into which the fractions are directed according to the buffer characteristics found in each of the individual microchannels. Within the microchannels the plugs are separated into proteins according to a different chemical property, i.e., “m/z,” utilizing capillary electrophoresis (“CE”).
US09778220B2

An electrochemical gas sensor (10) with a housing (11), with an electrolyte reservoir (12) and with a plurality of electrodes (31, 32, 33). The electrodes (31, 32, 33) include at least one working electrode (31), one counterelectrode (32) and one reference electrode (33). The electrolyte reservoir (12) is filled with a liquid electrolyte (60). All of the electrodes (31, 32, 33) are arranged at or on a common electrode carrier (20).
US09778216B2

A hygrometer and dew-point instrument is provided that is structurally simple while reducing the workload during maintenance. The hygrometer measures relative humidity of a measurement space, and has a main body that encapsulates a working fluid therein and causes a heat-pipe phenomenon. The main body is disposed across the measurement space and an external space spaced from the measurement space by a heat-insulating part and has a temperature lower than the measurement space. A first temperature deriving part derives the temperature of the main body in a section where the working fluid evaporates. A space temperature detecting unit detects the temperature of the measurement space. A computation unit calculate relative humidity of the measurement space based on the temperature of the main body derived by the first temperature deriving part and the temperature of the measurement space detected by the space temperature detecting unit.
US09778215B2

The present invention discloses a combination of two existing approaches for mineral analysis and makes use of the Similarity Metric Invention, that allows mineral definitions to be described in theoretical compositional terms, meaning that users are not required to find examples of each mineral, or adjust rules. This system allows untrained operators to use it, as opposed to previous systems, which required extensive training and expertise.
US09778207B2

Methods and systems for integrated multi-pass reticle inspection are provided. One method for inspecting a reticle includes acquiring at least first, second, and third images for the reticle. The first image is a substantially high resolution image of light transmitted by the reticle. The second image is a substantially high resolution image of light reflected from the reticle. The third image is an image of light transmitted by the reticle that is acquired with a substantially low numerical aperture. The method also includes detecting defects on the reticle using at least the first, second, and third images for the reticle in combination.
US09778200B2

A method is provided for a portable computing device to read a reaction area on a test strip, which is located in a peripheral device placed over an image sensor and a light source of the portable computing device. Light is provided with the light source, which the peripheral device directs to the reaction area. An image including the reaction area is captured with the image sensor. An analyte characteristic is determined based on a color of the captured reaction area in the image.
US09778195B2

The present disclosure concerns a method and detector (10) for detecting an analyte (1) in a sample volume (2), such as nitrosamine in an amine solvent. The method comprises measuring a resonance Raman spectrum (I1) with a first light beam (PI) matching an electronic transition of the analyte (1). The detection of the analyte is enhanced by measuring an off-resonance Raman spectrum (12) using a second light beam (P2) that is shifted in wavelength at least 10 nm away from the electronic resonance. The resonance Raman signal (S1) of the analyte (1) is isolated from the background (Q1, Q2) by a difference analysis between the resonance and off-resonance Raman spectra (I1, I2). The method and detector (10) can be employed for detecting nitrosamine in a carbon capture process or plant (20) that employs an amine solvent.
US09778192B2

An object carrier, a system and a method is disclosed for the back light inspection of transparent or semitransparent objects. The carrier has a carrier base layer with photo luminescent properties which carries the transparent or semitransparent object on top of the layer. The transparent or semitransparent object could be a wafer and the object carrier could be a wafer chuck. At least one light source being arranged above the object carrier such that excitation light emitted from the at least one light source is directed through the transparent or semitransparent object to the layer with photo luminescent properties. The light returned from the layer with photo luminescent properties is collected by an objective and registered by a sensor.
US09778186B2

An electron beam detection apparatus includes a first aperture element including a first set of apertures. The apparatus includes a second aperture element including a second set of apertures. The second set of apertures is arranged in a pattern corresponding with the pattern of the first plurality of apertures. The detection apparatus includes an electron-photon conversion element configured to receive electrons of the electron beam transmitted through the first and second aperture elements. The electron-photon conversion element is configured to generate photons in response to the received electrons. The detection apparatus includes an optical assembly including one or more optical elements. The detection apparatus includes a detector assembly. The optical elements of the optical assembly are configured to direct the generated photons from the electron-photon conversion system to the detector assembly.
US09778180B2

Provided are turbidometers and fluorometers having a unique form-factor to accommodate a number of optical components in a confined geometry. This provides the ability to compensate for change in light intensity from an optical source even in a closed-loop manner. The ability to package reference and signal detectors, along with a relatively large diameter LED light source in a confined geometry is particularly suited for applications requiring small-diameter sensors, such as multi-parameter sonde devices having a total diameter that is in the sub-two inch range.
US09778178B2

A blood cell analyzer comprises a flow cell configured to flow a measurement specimen containing blood cells, a first light source configured to emit light having a first wavelength, a second light source configured to emit light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, a first light receiving portion configured to receive first scattered light obtained by irradiating the blood cells passing through the flow cell with light from the first light source, a second light receiving portion configured to receive second scattered light obtained by irradiating the blood cells passing through the flow cell with light from the second light source, and a control section configured to discriminate at least red blood cells from the blood cells contained in the measurement specimen based on detection signals output from the first light receiving portion and the second light receiving portion, respectively.
US09778172B2

A light source and a method for its use in an optical sensor are provided, the light source including a resistively heated element. The light source includes a power circuit configured to provide a pulse width modulated voltage to the resistively heated element, the pulse width modulated voltage including: a duty cycle with a first voltage; and a pulse period including a period with a second voltage, wherein: the duty cycle, the first voltage, and the pulse period are selected so that the resistively heated element is heated to a first temperature; and the first temperature is selected to emit black body radiation in a continuum spectral range. Also provided is an optical sensor for determining a chemical composition including a light source as above.
US09778167B2

A fluid analyzer includes an optical source and detector defining a beam path of an optical beam, and a fluid flow cell on the beam path defining an interrogation region in a fluid channel in which the optical beam interacts with fluids. One or more flow-control devices conduct a particle in a fluid through the fluid channel. A motion system moves the interrogation region relative to the fluid channel in response to a motion signal, and a controller (1) generates the motion signal having a time-varying characteristic, (2) samples an output signal from the optical detector at respective intervals of the motion signal during which the interrogation region contains and does not contain the particle, and (3) determines from output signal samples a measurement value indicative of an optically measured characteristic of the particle.
US09778164B2

Microfluidic devices, systems and techniques in connection with particle sorting in liquid, including cytometry devices and techniques and applications in chemical or biological testing and diagnostic measurements.
US09778163B2

Systems and methods for analyzing blood samples, and more specifically for performing a nucleated red blood cell (nRBC) analysis. The systems and methods screen a blood sample by means of fluorescence staining and a fluorescence triggering strategy, to identify nuclei-containing particles within the blood sample. As such, interference from unlysed red blood cells (RBCs) and fragments of lysed RBCs is substantially eliminated. The systems and methods also enable development of relatively milder reagent(s), suitable for assays of samples containing fragile white blood cells (WBCs). In one embodiment, the systems and methods include: (a) staining a blood sample with an exclusive cell membrane permeable fluorescent dye; (b) using a fluorescence trigger to screen the blood sample for nuclei-containing particles; and (c) using measurements of light scatter and fluorescence emission to distinguish nRBCs from WBCs.
US09778161B2

A set of 10 or more standards containing a defined number of particles from 1000 to 1,000,000 wherein the defined number of particles is within a degree of error of 10% or less between each standard of the set.
US09778159B2

A system for investigating rheological properties of grease, the system including grease sample preparation arrangement for preparing a grease sample with a predetermined quantity of grease, at least two sample holder plates for holding the grease sample by sandwiching the grease sample between the sample holder plates, wherein at least one of the sample holder plates is transparent, and a loading system for generating a predetermined force acting on the grease sample sandwiched between the sample holder plates by pressing on the sample holder plates such that a spot formed by the grease sample on the sample holder plates is expanded. The loading system can include at least one transparent portion enabling a continuous observation of the expansion of the spot while the predetermined force is acting on the grease sample.
US09778158B2

Provide in one embodiment is an apparatus, comprising an indentor wherein a tip thereof is configured to engage a sample surface, a surface-referencing device configured to establish the position of the indentor relative to the sample surface, a drive mechanism configured to move the indentor along the sample surface to form a scratch, and a measurement device configured to measure at least one of (i) a pile-up height of sample material removed from the scratch and (ii) a width of the scratch.
US09778148B2

In order to remove dust attached to a filter member 40 to surely clean the filter member 40, an analysis apparatus 100 includes: a sample containing part 10 that contains a sample; the filter member 40 through which gas produced from the sample heated in the sample containing part 10 passes; and a gas flow path L1 adapted to lead the gas having passed through the filter member 40 to an analyzer. In addition, the filter member 40 is formed in a tubular shape, and in one end part of the filter member 40, a gas lead-out port 40a connecting to the gas flow path L1 is formed. Further, it is configured that the gas passes through a side wall part 42 of the filter member 40 from outside to inside, and flows from the gas lead-out port 40a to the gas flow path L1.
US09778131B2

A method and assembly for acquiring pressure data. A pressure sensor is applied to a target surface on an individual. A calibrator and a processing element are in communication with the pressure sensor. Processing element receives pressure data and provides an integrated pressure value over a measurement time period. The integrated pressure value is compared to an alert value and to a change condition value. Where an alert value is exceeded, an alert is transmitted to an output device for display. Where a change condition value is exceeded, a measurement parameter of the pressure sensor is changed, or the calibrator is applied to the pressure sensor to recalibrate the pressure sensor to a recalibrated pressure range.
US09778128B2

A pressure sensor is provided, which includes a pressure detector that has a pressure receiving surface in contact with a liquid, and detects a pressure of the liquid to a pressure receiving section, and a housing having a housing inner wall that demarcates a liquid chamber, wherein the housing inner wall is provided with an inflow hole, and an outflow hole, at least a part of a connecting portion, which is connected to the pressure receiving surface, of the housing inner wall is formed as an inner wall of the outflow hole, and the housing inner wall at the portion formed as the inner wall of the outflow hole protrudes more outward of the liquid chamber than the other connecting portion adjacent to the portion formed as the inner wall of the outflow hole.
US09778123B2

A position indicator includes a capacitor having a capacitance that changes in correspondence to a force applied to one end part of a housing. The capacitor is configured by a pressure detecting chip that includes a first electrode and a second electrode disposed opposite to the first electrode with a predetermined distance defined therebetween to have capacitance Cv formed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The capacitance Cv changes when the force applied to the one end part of the housing is transmitted to the first electrode to thereby change a relationship (e.g., the distance) between the two electrodes. A pressure transmitting member having predetermined elasticity is disposed on the first electrode such that the force applied to the one end part of the housing is transmitted to the first electrode of the semiconductor element via the pressure transmitting member.
US09778118B2

A bolt sensor assembly provides a body adapted for insertion into a hole in a component, the body having a first end and a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The first end includes an attachment means for attachment of the bolt sensor assembly to the component, and the second end mounts a sensor element, such as a strain gauge element. The sensor element is movable with respect to the body in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the body and the sensor element is constrained against rotation about the longitudinal axis with respect to the body.
US09778115B2

Systems and methods for detecting a deposit in a vessel with a sensing cable including an optical fiber sensor array aligned with a heating element disposed in the vessel. An excitation source is configured to propagate at least one heat pulse through the heating element along at least a portion of the sensing cable to affect an exchange of thermal energy between the heating element and media exposed to the sensing cable. An optical signal interrogator is adapted to receive a signal from a plurality of sensor locations and configured to measure, a temperature profile corresponding to the heat pulse at the sensor locations. A control unit is configured to detect a deposit by determining one or more properties of the one or more media exposed to the sensing cable at each of the plurality of sensor locations based on the temperature profile corresponding thereto.
US09778113B2

Techniques for hyperspectral imaging, including a device for hyperspectral imaging including at least one tunable interferometer including a thin layer of material disposed between two or more broadband mirrors. Electrodes placed on either side of the tunable interferometer can be coupled to a voltage control circuit, and upon application of a voltage across the tunable interferometer, the distance between the mirrors can be modulated by physically altering the dimensions of the thin layer of material, which can uniformly load the broadband mirrors. Physically altering the dimensions of the thin layer of material can include one or more of deformation of a soft material, piezostrictrive actuation of a piezostrictrive material, or electrostrictive actuation of an electrostrictive material.
US09778110B1

Described self-referencing cavity enhanced spectroscopy (SRCES) systems and methods are tailored to acquiring spectra in a middle regime, in which signals are lower than optimal for conventional absorption spectroscopy, and absorption is higher than optimal for cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS). Longitudinal mode resonance spectral peaks are analyzed individually to extract intensity ratios (e.g. maximum to minimum) and/or curve-fitting parameters, obviating the need to measure or precisely control the input light intensity.
US09778108B2

A metrology system includes an optical frequency separation apparatus in the path of the pulsed light beam and configured to interact with the pulsed light beam and output a plurality of spatial components that correspond to the spectral components of the pulsed light beam; a plurality of sensing regions that receive and sense the output spatial components; and a control system connected to an output of each sensing region. The control system is configured to: measure, for each sensing region output, a property of the output spatial components from the optical frequency separation apparatus for one or more pulses; analyze the measured properties including averaging the measured properties to calculate an estimate of the spectral feature of the pulsed light beam; and determine whether the estimated spectral feature of the pulsed light beam is within an acceptable range of values of spectral features.
US09778102B2

A method for adjusting an ambient light sensor includes: acquiring a color temperature of light received by the ambient light sensor; and adjusting an output light intensity of the ambient light sensor according to the color temperature to enable output light intensities of the ambient light sensor to be consistent under received light with different color temperatures. The ambient light sensor includes: an acquiring device, configured to acquire a color temperature of light received by the ambient light sensor; and an adjuster, configured to adjust an output light intensity of the ambient light sensor according to the color temperature acquired by the acquiring device to enable output light intensities of the ambient light sensor to be consistent under received light with different color temperatures.
US09778100B2

An embodiment of a flame detector coverage verification system includes an optical source for generating a light beam, and a control unit configured to point the beam in a direction generally co-aligned with an optical center line of the flame detector and through a range of movement about the direction to visually demarcate an area that falls within the flame detector's field of view. In one embodiment, the control unit includes a movable mirror to deflect the laser beam. The system may include an indicator device configured to determine and visually indicate a pan direction of the detector optical center line with respect to a defined direction, and a declination indicator configured to determine and visually display the tilt angle (angle of declination) of the detector optical center line with respect to a ground plane.
US09778096B2

A method of measuring characteristics of a crystal unit, includes: driving a crystal unit having a cover transmitting light, a crystal substrate, a first excitation electrode disposed on a first surface of the crystal substrate facing the cover, and a second excitation electrode disposed on a second surface of the crystal substrate opposite to the first surface; irradiating light to the first excitation electrode through the cover in the driving state of the crystal unit; and measuring vibration characteristics of the crystal unit based on reflected light obtained from the irradiated light.
US09778090B2

The invention relates to a sensor for determining a filling level of a liquid fellable into a container, having a light transmitter for transmitting at least one light pulse; having a receiver for receiving at least one reflected back light pulse, wherein the light pulse is at least partly reflect able at a liquid surface; having a control and evaluation unit for controlling the sensor and for evaluating the received back light pulse; and having a coupling and decoupling unit for coupling the light pulse into a liquid jet which can be introduced into the container and for decoupling the back light pulse to the receiver, wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured for determining a time difference between a transmission of the light pulse and a reception of the back light pulse to calculate a distance between the coupling and decoupling unit and the liquid surface.
US09778088B2

The sensor device serves for detecting the absence or presence of a liquid (1) at the outlet (10a) of a feed line (10) through which there can be fed a feed substance which, when exiting from the outlet, has a pressure (p) in the feed line which has a course over time with a first characteristic in the absence of the liquid and has a course over time with a second characteristic in the presence of the liquid. The sensor device includes a sensing instrument (20-23) for sensing the pressure fluctuations in the feed line (10) and evaluator (30) which is designed to assign the sensed pressure fluctuations to the first or second characteristic and to generate a corresponding signal which indicates whether the liquid (1) is absent or present at the feed line outlet (10a).
US09778081B2

A paddle wheel flow meter designed for measuring the flow rate of a viscous or debris-laden fluid with fewer parts, higher durability and simplicity of servicing. The flow meter includes a housing including a flow bore and an insert body with an integral rotor shaft. The insert body is removably insertable into the housing. A rotor includes rotor blades and is attached to the rotor shaft so as to be at least partially located in the flow bore such that flow of the fluid causes the rotor to rotate. A sensor unit generates a signal indicative of the rotational rate of the rotor, which can be used to determine the flow rate of the fluid.
US09778080B2

Useful and meaningful machine characteristic information may be derived through analysis of oversampled digital data collected using dynamic signal analyzers, such as vibration analyzers. Such data have generally been discarded in prior art systems. In addition to peak values and decimated values, other oversampled values are used that are associated with characteristics of the machine being monitored and the sensors and circuits that gather the data. This provides more useful information than has previously been derived from oversampled data within a sampling interval.
US09778073B2

A position sensor includes a first transmission coil, a second transmission coil having a different shape from the first transmission coil, a receiver coil for receiving electromagnetic waves transmitted from the first and second transmission coils, a transmission waveform generator that inputs first and second input waves to the first and second transmission coils having frequencies identical to each other and having phases different from each other, and a position detector that detects a position of a target provided movably with respect to the first transmission coil, the second transmission coil, and the receiver coil based on a first output signal obtained from the receiver coil in response to the first and second input waves input from the transmission waveform generator to the first and second transmission coils, respectively. The position detector is configured to detect the position of the target based on values obtained by sampling the first output signal obtained from the receiver coil at least two times at a sampling period different from an integer multiple of a half of a period of the first input wave and the second input wave. This position sensor can simplify circuitry.
US09778072B1

An absolute electromagnetic position encoder comprises a readhead and an absolute scale. The readhead comprises a spatially modulated signal coupling configuration and a readhead processor. The absolute scale comprises a passive signal pattern, an active signal pattern and a timing and activation circuit connected to the active signal pattern. During a first signal generating cycle, the readhead processor is configured to provide first cycle spatially periodic signals and the timing and activation circuit is configured to receive and store energy. During a second signal generating cycle, the timing and activation circuit is configured to drive the active signal pattern and the readhead processor is configured to provide at least one corresponding second cycle signal. The readhead processor is configured to determine an absolute position of the readhead relative to the absolute scale based on at least the second cycle signal and the first cycle spatially periodic signals.
US09778070B2

A sensor device includes: at least one magnetic field generator having an end face line, the at least one magnetic field generator being configured to determine an angle of rotation by use of at least one sensor unit; and the at least one sensor unit configured to detect a magnetic flux density representative of the angle of rotation about an axis of rotation, which axis of rotation lies in a magnet plane of the at least one magnetic field generator and runs perpendicularly to the end face line. The magnetic field generator is formed as a dipole magnet with a north pole and a south pole. A pole separation plane separates the north pole and south pole.
US09778068B2

Poorly matched electrical power systems (e.g., those with a poor power factor and crosstalk interference) that create a high transient demand for power result in unnecessarily high power bills. High transient demand for power may be decreased, and power bills thereby reduced, by placing an energy storage element near the entity's power input, thereby reducing crosstalk. The energy storage element may comprise a plurality of de-tuned capacitors. A reactive element may be placed in series with the energy storage element to repress high-frequency harmonics and to reduce electrical noise. The energy storage element and/or the reactive element may be configurable. A control module may reconfigure the system responsive to measurements obtained at the entity and/or user commands received over a network or at the module itself.
US09778046B2

A vehicle trajectory calculation method is provided. In the vehicle trajectory calculation method, a travel trajectory of a vehicle in a travel route is calculated based on a GPS signal received at predetermined time intervals with a GPS receiver of the vehicle during traveling. When there is an unmeasurable section where the travel trajectory cannot be normally calculated based on the GPS signal, the travel trajectory in the unmeasurable section is calculating by performing an interpolation based on the calculated travel trajectories in sections anterior to and posterior to the unmeasurable section.
US09778044B2

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for mapping irregular features. In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method may include obtaining tracking data that has dead reckoning tracking data for a tracked subject along a path and performing shape correction on the tracking data to provide a first estimate of the path.
US09778043B1

Microchip assemblies, such as self-contained, aided, INS microchip assemblies configured for being coupled with a circuit board or another electrical component. In some embodiments, two inertial navigation sensors may be provided, along with a receiver configured to receive an external signal comprising location data or another aiding sensor, such as a barometric pressure sensor, magnetometer, or WIFI receiver. The assembly may further comprise a processor configured to receive inertial parameter data from inertial navigation sensors and location data from the receiver, and may be configured to process the inertial parameter data and location data to output inertial navigation information.
US09778039B2

A microsystem includes a base layer formed from an electrical insulating material. The base layer has an inner surface defining a cavity and an external surface opposed to the inner surface, and in direct communication with an environment. A cap layer and a microelectromechanical (MEMS) device layer are formed from electrical insulating material or an other electrical insulating material. The cap has an inner surface defining a cavity, and an external surface opposed to the inner surface, and in direct communication with the environment. A MEMS device on/in the MEMS device layer is disposed between the base and the cap. Respective adjacent portions of the base, the cap and the device substrate are bonded to define an enclosed space. The enclosed space at least partially includes the base cavity or the cap cavity. At least a portion of a MEMS device on the device layer is in the enclosed space.
US09778038B2

A micromechanical sensor comprising a substrate (5) and at least one mass (6) which is situated on the substrate (5) and which moves relative to the substrate (5) is used to detect motions of the sensor due to an acceleration force and/or Coriolis force which occur(s). The mass (6) and the substrate (5) and/or two masses (5, 7) which move toward one another are connected by at least one bending spring device (6). The bending spring device (6) has a spring bar (9) and a meander (10), provided thereon, having a circle of curvature (K1; K6; K8; K9; K11) whose midpoint (MP1; MP6; MP8; MP9; MP11) and radius of curvature (r1; r6; r8; r9; r11) are inside the meander (10). For reducing stresses that occur, in addition to the radius of curvature (r1; r6; r8; r9; r11) having the inner midpoint (MP1; MP6; MP8; MP9; MP11), the meander (10) has at least one further radius of curvature (r2; r3; r4; r5; r7; r10) having a midpoint (MP2; MP3; MP4; MP5; MP7; MP10) outside the meander (10). The at least one further radius of curvature (r2; r3; r4; r5; r7; r10) is situated between the meander (10) and the spring bar (9).
US09778034B2

Through its unique trapezoidal shape and strategically placed vials, the combination level and right angle measuring tool requires only one user to not only quickly verify if a long object is horizontal or vertical but also to easily determine if the angle of the intersection of two long objects is 90 degrees. To obtain the right angle measurement, the combination level and right angle measuring tool employs the 3-4-5 rule (an application of the Pythagorean Theorem, where a2+b2=c2) in its design, eliminating the need for lasers or movable parts.
US09778031B2

The present invention provides a method of measuring the placement of material forming a blow-molded plastic container after the container is released from a mold of a blow molder having a plurality of molds, wherein each plastic container comprises a continuous sidewall and a base, the method comprising the steps of: detecting with an infrared camera infrared light emitted from the container after the container is released from a mold; converting the detected infrared light into corresponding electrical signals; transmitting the electrical signals to a microprocessor; comparing in the microprocessor the electrical signals with stored data regarding desired material distribution forming the plastic container; and producing output information regarding the placement of material forming the container.
US09778029B2

A self-position calculating apparatus includes: a light projector configured to project a patterned light beam onto a road surface around a vehicle; an image capturing unit configured to capture and obtain an image of the road surface around the vehicle covering an area of the projected patterned light beam; an orientation angle calculator configured to calculate an orientation angle of the vehicle relative to the road surface from; a feature point detector configured to detect multiple feature points on the road surface; an orientation change amount calculator configured to calculate an amount of change in the orientation of the vehicle; and a self-position calculator configured to calculate a current position and a current orientation angle of the vehicle. The light projector selectively projects the patterned light beam onto a specific patterned light beam-projected region out of the multiple patterned light beam-projected regions.
US09778024B2

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a target material thickness measuring apparatus including: a support; and a plurality of distance measuring units mounted on the support and arranged in a first direction, the plurality of distance measuring units being configured to respectively measure thicknesses of portions of a target material at a plurality of positions in the first direction. A plurality of thickness values of different portions of the target material along a straight line can be obtained at one time, for example, by performing a single measurement of thicknesses of the portions of the target material at the plurality of positions by means of the plurality of distance measuring units, thereby improving measurement efficiency.
US09778020B2

Efficient interferometer designs for optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems are presented. One example interferometer design includes two polarization dependent beamsplitters and a non-polarization dependent combiner. The first polarization dependent beamsplitter transmits light in a first polarization state to a sample arm of the OCT system and transmits light in a second polarization state different from the first polarization state to a reference arm of the system. The second polarization dependent beamsplitter transmits light returning from a sample to the non-polarization dependent combiner. The combiner combines light returned from the sample and the light that has passed through the reference arm, which is then detected at a detector. Another example interferometer design includes free space optics comprising a non-reciprocal beamsplitting element in a beam path from a light source to a sample. The non-reciprocal beamsplitting element is implemented using a combination of a polarization dependent beamsplitter and a polarization manipulator.
US09778019B2

A differential polarization interferometer is provided. An interferometer performs direct measurement of phase shift of a light wave passed under an arbitrary angle through a sample composed of a transparent substrate holding a thin deposited test film, for metamaterial testing. An example apparatus has a laser source and a first polarizer, and two optically connected arms. A first arm creates orthogonally polarized components of a single output beam for a broadband non-polarizing beam splitter. A second arm has a controllable phase retarder to introduce a phase shift into one polarization component of the reflected single output beam, and a second polarizer to equalize and mix the polarization components of the reflected single output beam. This transforms the reflected single output beam into a beam resulting from interference of polarization components of the reflected single output beam. A photodetector transforms an intensity of the beam into an electric signal for output.
US09778013B2

An apparatus for measuring a bending angle between two portions of a workpiece in a bending machine includes at least a motion sensor unit provided with a gyroscope sensor, a processing unit connected with the gyroscope sensor and a coupling device for connecting the motion sensor unit with a portion of the workpiece to be bent. During a bending operation of the workpiece the gyroscope sensor measures at least one angular velocity and a related rotation angle of the portion according to an axis and the processing unit receives data from the gyroscope sensor regarding the rotation angle in order to calculate the bending angle as a function of the rotation angle.
US09778006B1

An explosive device contains a water-reactive material that ignites upon exposure to water. The water-reactive material ignites a water-activated fuse that has a predetermined burn rate and length. The predetermined burn rate and length allows the device to sink to a desired depth before exploding. Hence, the device explodes after a desired period of time and/or at a desired depth. Defense against underwater swimmers is an advantageous feature of embodiments of the disclosure. The device can use a forty millimeter (40 mm) form factor, which permits launch of the device from convention grenade launchers.
US09777990B2

A reticle unit equipped with an optical apparatus such as a riflescope includes: red and green light sources radiating red light and green light; a disc-like shaped reticle substrate that has a diffraction grating formed at substantially the center of a surface having substantially circular shape; and red and green mirror members converge light radiated from the red and green light sources, make incidence on the reticle substrate from corresponding side surface portions of the reticle substrate to illuminate the diffraction grating so as to emit first order diffracted light reflected and diffracted by the diffraction grating along a normal direction of the diffraction grating.
US09777983B2

An integrated grip and rail adapter for a handgun includes two side panels having both grip sections that are adapted to form at least portions of the handgun grip and receiver sections that are adapted to extend from the grip sections along the receiver frame of the handgun beyond a trigger guard and beneath a barrel of the handgun. A mounting rail for mounting accessories beneath the barrel of the handgun is formed in the two receiver sections.
US09777980B2

A firearm has a frame, a barrel assembly and a slide assembly which holds a recoil assembly. The slide and recoil assemblies are located above the barrel so that the barrel is situated between the topmost part of the frame and the bottom of the slide assembly. The barrel assembly includes a housing which is covered by the slide assembly and secures one side of the recoil assembly. The barrel assembly can be removably connected to the frame through front and rear mounts that may be secured using removable pins. The barrel assembly can modularly connect with the frame and slide assembly so that different caliber barrels can be interchanged with each other using the same frame and slide assembly. The firearm is operated by the firing system which includes the trigger assembly and linear striker assembly.
US09777976B2

Spent cartridges router means in a configuration of a four bars or four bar linkage mechanism for routing spent cartridges ejected from a chain fed automatic weapon towards means for gathering cartridges that is installable as an ad-on and independent (stand alone) mechanism on a weapon station of the type that comprises a base assembly that is rotatable for traverse motion, a cradle assembly that is located on the base assembly and linked with it in axial (pivotally) manner and chain fed automatic weapon that is affixable on the cradle assembly in a manner that it will be rotatable for elevation and lowering around the cradle's axis.
US09777972B2

A heat sink for the primary part of a linear motor includes a coil system having at least one coil that is to be energized when the motor is in operation, the heat sink being provided for accommodating the coil system of the primary part and forming at least one duct, through which a coolant is flowing during the operation of the heat sink, and at least one intake as well as at least one outlet for the coolant. The heat sink is arranged as an integrally formed component, which has an interface for connecting an object to be moved with the aid of the primary part, the interface having a contact surface via which the object to be moved is able to be brought into contact with the heat sink, and which is arranged and provided for cooling both the coil system of the primary part and the contact surface, such that coolant supplied to the heat sink through an intake is used for cooling the coil system and the contact surface.
US09777970B2

A plate fin heat exchanger is configured to receive hot flow from a hot source and cool flow from a cool source. The plate fin heat exchanger includes a plurality of plates arranged in parallel to define a plurality of flow passages there between, and a set of closure bars arranged at a first side of the plurality of plates to seal a first set of the flow passages against ingress of the hot flow, thereby directing the hot flow into a second set of the flow passages. Each respective closure bar includes an inner core formed of a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and an outer cladding arranged about the inner core, the outer cladding formed of a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The first coefficient of thermal expansion is less than the second coefficient of thermal expansion.
US09777948B2

A solar power system can include an array of solar modules. The system can include a rail and a solar module positioned at an outer end of the array. The solar module can have a frame around a periphery of the solar module. The frame can include a flange along an edge of the solar module that is disposed at the outer end of the array. The flange can project inwardly from the frame underneath the solar module. A clamp assembly can be disposed underneath the solar module and can mechanically secure the solar module to the rail. The clamp assembly can include a clamp body and a base. The clamp body and the base can cooperate to clamp the flange between the clamp body and the rail.
US09777943B2

A drainage device with a low-noise drainage shell for air-conditioning equipment is disclosed to include a housing, a motor, a radiating fan, a drainage shell, and a drainage blade. The motor is mounted in the housing. The radiating fan is mounted in the housing above the motor. The drainage shell mounted in the housing and has a drainage partition block extended from an inside wall thereof to divide the inside space of the drainage shell into an accommodation trough and a drainage trough in communication with each other. The drainage partition block has a backwardly upwardly tilted sloping surface. Thus, the sloping surfaces of the drainage partition block can guide the drain water smoothly to the drainpipe to reduce the water resistance, thereby significantly reducing the level of water drain noise.
US09777941B2

A damper assembly in a heat recovery ventilator, comprising a rotor, a bearing, drive means, and sealing means. The rotor rotates about an axis of rotation and includes a pair of end walls in spaced-apart relation to define a substantially open periphery. The rotor also includes an air-deflecting member connected between the end walls. The bearing is associated with one of the end walls and is located at the axis of rotation, to support rotation of the rotor. The drive means rotates the rotor about the axis of rotation and positions the air-deflecting member in first and second orientations. The sealing means is in slide contact engagement with the rotor and seals between the rotor and a surrounding damper compartment of the ventilator. The sealing means isolates the exhaust airstream from the supply airstream in the damper compartment while the air-deflecting member is in the first or the second orientation.
US09777934B2

A panel filter includes a first media layer constructed from a first material that is permeable to air and impermeable to particulates of a targeted size or type, a support grid, and a second media layer constructed from a second material that is permeable to air. The second media layer is adhesively coupled to the first media layer without a mechanical seal. When the first media layer and second media layer are coupled, the support grid is retained between the first media layer and the second media layer.
US09777933B2

The present invention generally discloses desiccant dehumidifiers control systems. In particular, the present invention relates to solid desiccant dehumidifiers which use a rotor (commonly called a wheel) to dehumidify a process airstream. The invention provides a novel apparatus for control of desiccant dehumidifiers and to an improved method of control of such dehumidifiers, and also to dehumidifiers provided with such control systems.
US09777920B2

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, an oxygen carrying material may include a primary active mass, a primary support material, and a secondary support material. The oxygen carrying material may include about 20% to about 70% by weight of the primary active mass, the primary active mass including a composition having a metal or metal oxide selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mo, Mn, Sn, Ru, Rh, and combinations thereof. The oxygen carrying material may include about 5% to about 70% by weight of a primary support material. The oxygen carrying material may include about 1% to about 35% by mass of a secondary support material.
US09777916B2

A light source module includes at least one light source and a body supporting the light source. The body includes a heat sink supporting the light source on a top surface thereof for absorbing heat from the light source and dissipating the heat to the outside, an electrically insulating layer provided on at least one surface of the heat sink, and a conductive layer provided on the insulating layer, the conductive layer being at least provided in a path region through which electric current is applied to the light source. The conductive layer includes light source connection parts supplying the electric current to the light source, and a light source mounting part disposed between the light source connection parts. One portion of the light source connection part is divided into at least two portions to be connected to each other. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain effects such as rapid fabrication processes, inexpensive fabrication cost, facilitation of mass production, improvement of product yield, and optimization of a conductive material.
US09777909B2

A security light system for a fence includes a security light having a light module with an LED, a hat overlying the LED for reflecting light, a junction box having an interior compartment containing an LED driver for controlling operation of the LED, the junction box including a front end having a front opening and a rear end opposite the front end, and a front cover plate covering the front opening. The security light includes an extension tube having an upper end secured to the light module and a lower end secured to the junction box, a clamp assembly for securing the junction box to a fence post, and an offset bracket positioned between a rear end of the junction box and the fence post for spacing the junction box from the fence post which, in turn, spaces the hat from the fence post.
US09777908B1

Embodiments herein are directed to a lighting fixture for insertion into a strut channel member. In an installed position, a light source supported by the housing of the lighting fixture is disposed at least partially within an interior volume of the strut channel member. The lighting fixture can be attached to the strut channel member by the lips of the strut channel member. When the lighting fixture is installed in the channel member, light from the light source emanates in a direction out of the channel member through the slot in the channel member. The lighting fixture may be snapped or slid into or out of place in the channel member.
US09777905B2

A reflective sheet includes a bottom portion; a plurality of inclined portions disposed at an incline from a periphery of the bottom portion; and a fold disposed in a predetermined position on the reflective sheet at a predetermined position in a direction orthogonal to a surface of the bottom portion.
US09777900B2

A hybrid lighting system is disclosed in which light emitting diodes (LEDs) provide input light when illumination with solar light is unavailable. Light from LEDs are propagated through an optical fiber, which delivers the light to a point of illumination. The disclosed system reduces the amount of electricity and electric conduit for light in areas using hybrid lighting systems.
US09777890B2

A lighting module (150) and a method (100) of manufacturing a lighting module, wherein the method comprises the steps of providing a heat sink material (120) in a fluid state and providing a light-source assembly (110) comprising a plurality of light sources (111) being electrically connected to a carrier (112), wherein each of the light sources has a light-emitting surface (113). The method further comprises the steps of embedding (130) the light-source assembly into the heat sink material such that the carrier and a part of each of the light sources are covered by the heat sink material while the light-emitting surface of each of the light sources is uncovered by the heat sink material, and solidifying (140) the heat sink material.
US09777888B2

A pressure vessel includes a polymeric liner defining a fluid containment cavity and having an opening defining a port aperture extending between an inner surface and an outer surface of the polymeric liner and a rigid ring element is embedded within the polymeric liner and surrounding the port aperture. A metallic port element is disposed on the outer surface of the polymeric liner and fixed to the rigid ring element. A fiber composite material is disposed about the outer surface of the polymeric liner.
US09777885B2

A support device is configured to receive an electronic device. The support device includes a base, a holder rotatably mounted to the base, a semi-gear engaged with the holder, an eccentric gear including an shaft inserted into the holder, a wheel module selectively to drive one of the semi-gear and the eccentric gear to rotate, and a rotating module fixed to the wheel module; when the rotating module is rotated in a first direction, the wheel module drives the semi-gear to rotate, so as to make the holder to move up and down with respect to the base; when the rotating module is rotated in a second direction reversed to the first direction, the wheel module drive the eccentric gear to rotate, so as to drive the holder to rotate with respect to the base to adjust an angle between the holder and the base.
US09777880B2

Disclosed is an absorber system for absorbing pressure shocks and fluid volume shocks in a fluid system. In particular, the absorber system includes a housing with a joint for insertion within a fluid system, wherein the housing interior is in fluid communication with fluid in the fluid system. As such, when a pressure and/or fluid volume shock is developed within the fluid system, fluid is forced into the housing via the joint. A membrane is disposed within the housing in such a way that the fluid impacts the membrane which, in response, flexes to absorb and control the pressure and/or fluid volume shock within the fluid system. The absorber system, thus, controls pressure and/or fluid volume shock within a system and can prevent water hammer and other problems which can result from the development of pressure and/or fluid volume shock.
US09777879B2

A pulsation damper is disposed within a fluid volume defined by a fluid volume wall such that the pulsation damper is exposed to pressure pulsations within the fluid volume. The pulsation damper includes a pulsation damper first half having a first damper wall which is flexible in response to the pressure pulsations; a pulsation damper second half having a second damper wall which is flexible in response to the pressure pulsations; and a damping volume defined between the pulsation damper first half and the pulsation damper second half such that the damping volume is fluidly segregated from the fluid volume. One of the pulsation damper first half and the pulsation damper second half defines a spacing member which maintains separation between the fluid volume wall and one of the first damper wall and the second damper wall.
US09777876B2

The connector comprises a housing having a connection hole where a pipe with a flange is inserted, a retainer having a latching portion that retains the pipe by being arranged at a location facing the connection hole and engaged with the flange, and a checker that is supported by the housing at the retaining position and is movable from the retaining position to the connection confirmation position when the pipe is inserted into the connection hole up to the normal connection position. The checker is configured to release the engagement between the latching portion and the flange, when at the connection confirmation position, by having the retainer that is engaged with the flange of the pipe at the normal connection position pushed to expand the distance of the retainer so that the pipe can be pulled out from the connection hole.
US09777868B2

The invention relates to a compressed-air device for controlling valves comprising, in a longitudinal direction, a first vane-type rotary cylinder (1) having a front face (2) as well as a back face (4), said front face (2) being provided with a rotatable head (3), and a second vane-type rotary cylinder (10) having a front face (11) and a back face, said first (1) and second (10) cylinders each being supplied with compressed air by means of a compressed air valve connected to two ports (7, 8; 14, 15) on each of said first and second cylinders.
US09777863B2

A control valve for discharging a liquid refrigerant in a control chamber at the time of start-up of a variable capacity compressor has a movable a center post for increasing the area of a passage for discharging the liquid refrigerant when discharging the liquid refrigerant.
US09777862B2

A force actuated modulating control valve such as a direct acting solenoid valve or pilot actuated bellows valve with a knife edge seat so that the metering location on the seat is at the very outer diameter. In one embodiment, a portion of the valve seat outside of the metering edge is removed to substantially the outside diameter to reduce contact with high velocity fluid flow. In certain embodiments, a flow shield may be positioned just outside of the metering edge of the seat to prevent the high velocity fluid from circulating toward parts of the spool assembly. In some embodiments, the flow shield may be fixed to the body of the instrument so all fluid forces are transmitted to the body. Embodiments of the force actuated modulating control valve may be employed in a mass flow controller for controlling fluid flow.
US09777859B2

A sealing device which is used as part of an injector in a reductant delivery unit (RDU), where the RDU is part of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system for injecting diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) into an exhaust system, used for controlling exhaust emissions. This invention improves the purging efficiency of the RDU, in addition to improving the sealing performance of the unit by reducing the fluid volume to be evacuated from the injector, and provides an additional sealing barrier to reduce the sealing load of the existing sealing elements. An additional sealing device having a ring seal and a stopper element (also referred to as a “plug”) is pressed into the upper valve body of the injector, which results in a reduced fluid volume that is left behind after a purging event, due to the reduced initial volume at the beginning of the purge.
US09777858B2

The seal made between two surfaces is enhanced by forming a coating, such as a self-assembled monolayer of a functionalized fluorinated macromolecule, on one or both of the surfaces.
US09777855B2

A mounting assembly is provided for coupling a monitoring device to a valve assembly for relieving vacuum and over pressure conditions in a storage container. The valve assembly includes a body including a first port adapted to be in fluid communication with the storage container and a first valve seat disposed in the body, and a first control assembly including a first valve stem and a first closure element coupled to the first valve stem, the first closure member being movable relative to the first valve seat in response to changes in pressure in the container. The mounting assembly includes a mounting bracket adapted to be coupled to a portion of the body and a mounting tube configured to be slidably coupled to the mounting bracket. The mounting tube is adapted to receive the monitoring device, which is configured to obtain data indicative of the operation of the valve assembly.
US09777844B2

A valve, in particular a pilot-operated proportional directional poppet valve, has a valve housing (7) with a fluid inlet (21) and a fluid outlet (23). The fluid stream between the fluid inlet (21) and the fluid outlet (23) is adjustable by a main piston (27). A pilot valve chamber (37) provided on a rear face (29) of the main piston (27) has a pilot valve closing member (33) movable by an actuating device (69). By closing member (33) the fluid stream between the pilot valve chamber (37) and the fluid outlet (23) can be adjusted. An inlet aperture (3) is arranged between the fluid inlet (21) and the pilot valve chamber (37). A maximum volumetric flow controller (5) is in the main piston (27) in an outflow between the pilot valve chamber (37) and the fluid outlet (23).
US09777834B2

A booster device for a hydraulic circuit comprising a high-pressure circuit (12) and a low-pressure circuit (16) connected to a system generating the high pressure and to receivers, said booster device maintaining a minimum pressure in the low-pressure part, characterized in that it comprises a hydraulic motor (30) of which the inlet is connected to the high-pressure circuit (12) and the outlet to the low-pressure circuit (16), which drives a booster pump (20) sucking the fluid from a reservoir (24), in order to discharge it into this low-pressure circuit.
US09777831B2

A method for operating an automatic transmission is provided. The method includes initiating a synchronization of a positive shifting element of the automatic transmission while the automatic transmission is operating at less than a threshold output speed. The method also includes closing a first non-positive shifting element of the automatic transmission and positioning a second non-positive shifting element of the automatic transmission at an engaged configuration of the second non-positive shifting element during the synchronization of the first positive shifting element in order to synchronize the first positive shifting element.
US09777823B2

A gear device for electric motor 1 which is combined with an electric motor installed in a vehicle, wherein a breather pathway 8 is provided in a gear box 2 where a row of gears for transmitting force of the electric motor is contained, the breather pathway connecting between an inside and outside of the gear box 2, and in the breather pathway 8, a closing valve system 10 is provided to close the breather pathway 8 when an outer pressure of the gear box 2 is lower in comparison to an inner pressure of the gear box 2 exceeding an acceptable range.
US09777815B2

A front wheel drive or rear wheel drive continuously variable transmission is provided having an input shaft, an output shaft, a continuously variable tilting ball planetary variator, a compound planetary gearset assembly having first, second, third, and fourth rotating elements, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The compound planetary gearset assembly has a simple single pinion gearset and a compound double pinion gearset, having fixedly connected planetary carriers and fixedly connected ring gears, creating a joint planetary gear carrier and joint ring gear. The outer planetary gears engage the ring gear which drives the output shaft. Selective torque transmitting devices include clutches and braking clutches.
US09777814B2

A three mode continuously variable transmission (CVT) for a motor vehicle includes an optional speed change device connected to a pulley and a belt assembly or other continuously variable unit. The pulley and belt assembly is also connected to a planetary gear set arrangement. The planetary gear set arrangement generally includes two planetary gear sets, two brakes and two clutches. The planetary gear set arrangement is connected to a final drive unit. Engagement of the clutches and brakes provides three modes of operation to the CVT.
US09777812B2

An actuator includes a housing assembly, an actuator shaft, an actuation member, and an anti-rotation rod. The actuator shaft is rotationally mounted in the housing assembly, is adapted to receive a drive torque, and is configured, upon receipt of the drive torque, to rotate. The actuation member is mounted on the actuator shaft, and is configured to translate in response to rotation of the actuator shaft. The anti-rotation rod is coupled to the actuator housing and extends therefrom. The anti-rotation is rod configured to at least selectively engage, and thereby prevent rotation of, the actuation member.
US09777805B1

The present disclosure provides a planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle having advantages of improving power delivery performance and fuel economy by achieving at least ten forward speed stages and one reverse speed stage. The planetary gear train may include: first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets disposed on the same axis; an input shaft; an output shaft; eight rotation shafts connected to at least one of rotation elements of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets; four clutches and two brakes that are control elements; and a transmission housing. Torque input from the input shaft is changed by cooperation of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets, and the changed torque is output through the output shaft.
US09777800B2

Synchronizer ring made of deep-drawable sheet metal. The ring includes a ring-shaped sheet metal body having a conical section arranged between a wall and a hub surface. One or more radially outwardly projecting guide elements are defined by radially outwardly projecting tapered indentations integrally formed with the ring-shaped sheet metal body. The wall is located at a largest conical diameter side of the ring-shaped sheet metal body and extends substantially perpendicular to a ring body axis. Gear teeth are arranged on a radially outer end of the wall. The one or more guide elements are configured to provide centering guidance relative to a hollow cylindrical surface of a synchronizer ring hub.
US09777795B2

A transmission damper includes a first cover plate, a flange, a spring, and a shaft. The first cover plate includes a first spring window and is arranged for fixing to a sheave for a continuously variable transmission. The flange is rotatable relative to the first cover plate and includes a second spring window. The spring is disposed in the first and second spring windows. The shaft is fixed to an inner portion of the flange and arranged for connecting to an engine crankshaft. In an example embodiment, the shaft is fixed to the flange by welding. In an example embodiment, the sheave is rotatable relative to the shaft. In an example embodiment, the shaft includes an internal taper for connecting to the engine crankshaft. In an example embodiment, the flange includes a radially extending tab arranged for contacting a portion of the cover plate after a predetermined rotation.
US09777790B2

A shock absorber including a piston (3) slidably fitted in a cylinder having hydraulic oil sealed therein. A flow of hydraulic oil, induced in a passage (10) and a sub-passage (29) by sliding movement of the piston in the cylinder in response to the stroke of a piston rod, is controlled by an extension main valve (14) and a compression sub-valve (15) incorporated in the extension main valve, thereby generating a damping force. The amount of deflection of a sub-disk (30) constituting the compression sub-valve when the sub-disk is opened is limited by restricting portions (21). The sub-disk is provided with communicating holes (31) to reduce a differential pressure acting on the sub-disk when opened and also to relax the concentration of stress in the sub-disk, thereby improving the durability of the sub-disk.
US09777785B2

A wet friction material for use in a wet clutch includes a friction interfacing surface for experiencing frictional engagement with an opposed surface in the presence of a lubricant. At least a portion of the friction interfacing surface comprises fibrillated nanofibers, which define a nanofibrous web, and friction adjusting particles held by the nanofibrous web. A cured resin may adhere the fibrillated nanofibers and the friction adjusting particles to provide structural support for the friction material.
US09777777B2

A fluid path for a plug-in constant velocity joint assembly between a boot sleeve and a boot. The boot sleeve has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is disposed against and is in driving engagement with an inner race. The boot sleeve second end portion defines an inner ridge, a sleeve channel and an outer ridge. The boot has a first end portion and a second end portion. The second end portion comprises an inner seal where the inner seal comprises an inner axial groove and an outer axial groove. A fluid path is formed between the inner ridge and the boot, between inner axial groove and the sleeve, in the sleeve channel, between the outer axial groove and the sleeve and between the outer ridge and the boot.
US09777775B2

A scissor gear assembly 1 has a main gear 3 and auxiliary gear 5 concentric to the main gear and in axial direction near the main gear. Further the assembly has a planar annular spring 7 being interrupted at one place. At the interruption the spring has two ends 7A and 7B. The spring is present between both gears and is with one end 7A connected to the main gear 3 and with the other end 7B to the auxiliary gear 5, so that both gears are connected to each other in rotation direction via the spring.Each end 7A, 7B of the spring is provided with an extension 9 forming extra mass. These extensions are each provided with a slot 13. Because of these extra masses the spring torque will vary depending on the rotational speed of the gear assembly.
US09777770B2

An active part of an electrical machine includes teeth, each having a tooth base, a tooth height, open or closed grooves between the teeth, and windings introduced into the grooves. Each winding encloses at least one of the teeth. The active part has a thickness, starting from the outer surface of the respective tooth bases and extending along the teeth, that is greater than the tooth height. The active part, starting from the respective tooth base up to a limit depth, which is not more than equal the tooth height, has a first material with a first magnetic permeability and starting from the limit depth a second material with a second magnetic permeability. The first magnetic permeability is greater than the second magnetic permeability. The limit depth is essentially half as great as the tooth height.
US09777767B2

A roller bearing includes an outer raceway, an inner raceway, and a roller positioned between the outer and inner raceways. The roller bearing also includes a relief contour between the roller and at least one of the outer and inner raceways. The relief contour defines a slope along its length. The slope of the relief contour defines at least one inflection region.
US09777764B2

A transmission shaft assembly includes a carbon-fiber tube having two ends, and each end has protrusions and recesses which are located alternatively to the protrusions. Two connectors each have an outer tubular portion and an inner tubular portion extending axially therefrom. Multiple first engaging portions and multiple second engaging portions are located between the outer tubular portion and the inner tubular portion of each of the connectors. The two connectors are respectively connected to the two ends of the carbon-fiber tube. The first engaging portions are engaged with the recesses, and the second engaging portions are engaged with the protrusions. Adhesive is applied between the connectors and the carbon-fiber tube.
US09777757B2

A fixture includes a base portion and a pair of holding portions on the base portion. Each holding portion include a clamping portion for clamping an object, and a head portion on the clamping portion side opposite to the base portion side. Each head portion includes a through-hole for a fastening member for adjusting a gap between the holding portions. The rigidity of the clamping portions is smaller than the rigidity of the head portions, with respect to deformation caused by the fastening member. The distance from the base portion to end portions of the holding portions in a plane orthogonal to the axial direction of the object is determined according to the tolerance prescribed for the object. The gap when external force is not being applied by the fastening member is determined according to an allowable amount of stress to be applied to the object.
US09777740B2

A water pump includes a mechanical seal provided between a housing and a rotary shaft for preventing cooling water from leaking from a whirl chamber. The housing forms a space into which cooling water leaked from between the mechanical seal and the rotary shaft is flown and a water vent for discharging cooling water flown into the space. The housing is joined with a thermostat cover to form a reservoir communicating with the water vent. The reservoir has a drain for releasing evaporated cooling water to the air and a control wall for preventing cooling water remaining as liquid from flowing out through the drain.
US09777737B2

An assembly can include a compressor housing, an adjustable wall disposed within the compressor housing that defines an air inlet to an inducer portion of a compressor wheel, and an adjustment mechanism to adjust the wall and thereby adjust at least a diameter of the air inlet. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US09777736B2

A backflow prevention device includes a plurality of flaps that are connected pivotally to a casing of a fan. When a blade unit of the fan rotates to generate an airflow entering the casing via an airflow inlet and exiting the casing via an airflow outlet, the flaps are driven to pivot away from the blade unit to open positions, where the flaps serve as stator blades for the fan. When rotation of the blade unit is stopped, the flaps are driven by a reverse flow directed toward the airflow outlet and the blade unit to pivot toward the blade unit to closed positions, where the flaps close the airflow outlet to prevent air from entering the casing via the airflow outlet.
US09777725B2

The invention relates to a high pressure water pump and a steam powered nailing gun having the high pressure water pump. In certain embodiments, high pressure water pump includes: an upper pump body, a lower pump body, a water discharge valve, a water intake valve, a plunger, a guide sleeve, a hammering cap, an adjustment knob, and an evacuation valve. Both upper and lower pump body are connected by connecting bolts. A sealing ring is disposed between upper and lower pump body and a sealing element is disposed between the upper pump body and plunger. Plunger is sheathed in upper pump body. The hammering cap is threadedly connected to the plunger. The adjustment knob is connected to an upper end of upper pump body. The hammering cap is moveably connected to the adjustment knob through the plunger. A plunger reset spring is disposed between hammering cap and adjustment knob.
US09777723B2

A method implemented by at least one processor includes receiving a plurality of operating parameters of a pumping system, wherein the pumping system has a plurality of pump-units powered by a generator-unit. The operating parameters include a pump-unit parameter and a generator-unit parameter. The method also includes receiving reference data of the pumping system, wherein the reference data includes measurements from the pumping system representative of performance of the plurality of pump-units. The method also includes determining one or more health parameters corresponding to one or more pump-units based on the plurality of operating parameters and the reference data. The method further includes modifying one or more input parameters of the generator-unit based on the one or more health parameters for continued operation of the pumping system.
US09777721B2

A drive system for a pump includes a first housing defining an internal pressure chamber, a working fluid disposed within and charging the internal pressure chamber, a second housing having a first and second pumping chambers and an aperture through an end of the second housing, a reciprocating member slidably disposed between the first pumping chamber and the second pumping chamber, a pull housing integral with the reciprocating member and projecting through the aperture, a first sealing member disposed around a circumference of the reciprocating member, a second sealing member disposed around a circumference of the aperture, the pull housing defining a pull chamber, a pull disposed within the pull chamber, and a fluid displacement member coupled to the pull.
US09777718B2

An electrical inflator has a cylindrical shell, an electrical aeration pump, an illumination assembly, a cell base and a switch assembly. The cylindrical shell has a tube, a front cover and a rear cover. The electrical aeration pump is mounted in the tube near the front cover and has a gas outlet located in the tube. The illumination assembly is mounted in the tube towards the front cover. The cell base is mounted in the tube behind the electrical aeration pump. The cell base has at least one cell. The switch assembly is mounted in the tube and electrically connects to the cell base, the electrical aeration pump and the illumination assembly.
US09777714B2

A heat/acoustic wave conversion component includes a partition wall that defines a plurality of cells extending from a first end face to a second end face, and has a cell hydraulic diameter HD of 0.4 mm or less, an end face open frontal area of 60% or more and 93% or less, and heat capacity per unit length in the extending direction that tends to decrease with distance from the first end face. A first end portion on the first end face side that accounts for a region of 10% of a total length of the heat/acoustic wave conversion component has 1.1 times or more the heat capacity of that of a second end portion on the second end face side that accounts for a region of 10% of the total length.
US09777712B2

The invention relates to a device for converting wind energy into electrical energy. The device is comprised of four legs. One of the legs of the frame has an external recess for mounting on a roof ridge. The frame has a horizontally positioned rotor with a hub and at least two vanes and a generator functionally coupled to the rotor arranged in a central area of the opening formed by the frame. The axis of rotation of the rotor is perpendicular to a plane extending through the legs of the frame.
US09777708B2

A method of controlling a wind turbine comprising blades attached to a rotor hub for rotation in a rotor plane and a control system for individually pitching the blades relative to the hub. The method comprises dividing the rotor plane into a number of sectors, determining the individual sectors for each blade during the rotation by means of an azimuth angle sensor, and obtaining blade sensor data from a blade sensor on an individual blade relating to a sector, and comparing the obtained data with data relating to the same sector and representing blade sensor data on other blades. When an event is detected in a given sector, an individual pitch contribution is determined in the sector, and the blades are then pitched according to this individual pitch contribution for that given sector at least partly during passage of the sector.
US09777707B2

A windmill for generating electricity is described, which contains several improvements that enable the blades of the windmill to be much wider than conventional electricity-generating windmill blades. The rotor containing the blades will also change direction to capture the largest amount of wind energy available. The windmill includes a “shroud” surrounding the blades, which increases the wind velocity through the blades. Support structures for the windmill are described, and also a method of using the windmill to store electricity to use later is shown. The windmill is more stable than conventional windmills. A method of using a windmill to generate electricity is also described.
US09777698B2

A vehicle propulsion system comprises at least two motors. Combustion occurs upstream of a first motor, and a second motor is downstream of said first motor. The first motor is a turbine that drives a primary propulsion element to effect propulsion and a compressor to effect compression. The second motor is an expansion device whose incoming gases arrive from said first motor. The first motor and the second motor intercommunicate energy via electrical, electromagnetic, and/or mechanical means. Pressurized gases that result from said compression, combustion, or both are rendered or wastegated for auxiliary usage such as aerial thrust, vertical takeoff and/or vertical landing, near-vertical takeoff and/or near-vertical landing, pneumatic storage for hybrid drive, pneumatic lift and/or drive for towing and/or raising another vehicle, aerial vehicle steering, aerial vehicle pitch stabilization or manipulation, aerial vehicle roll stabilization or manipulation, and/or aerial vehicle yaw stabilization or manipulation.
US09777694B2

A control device of an engine is provided. The engine is operated at a high compression ratio, a geometric compression ratio of the engine being 14:1 or higher. The control device includes a fuel injection controller for controlling a fuel injector of the engine to start a fuel injection in a latter half of a compression stroke within an engine operating range where an engine speed is below a predetermined value and an engine load is above a predetermined value, and an ignition controller for controlling an ignition plug of the engine to retard an ignition timing when a timing for the fuel injection controller to start the fuel injection is on a retarding side of a predetermined timing, the ignition timing being retarded based on a retarding amount of the fuel injection start timing from the predetermined timing.
US09777693B2

The invention relates to a method and a control device for operating an internal combustion engine of a portable work device, said method having the following method steps: a) storing a starting ignition curve for specifying an ignition time after a startup time of the internal combustion engine and an operating ignition curve for specifying the ignition time in a speed range assigned to the nominal operation of the internal combustion engine, b) reading the current engine speed, c) reading at least one time value which indicates the time that has elapsed since a reference time, wherein the reference time can relate to the startup time of the internal combustion engine, and d) determining and/or initiating a switchover process from the starting ignition curve to the operating ignition curve on the basis of the current engine speed and the time value.
US09777688B2

A bearing sleeve for a holder, which is used for fastening a fuel distributor on an add-on structure, includes a first sleeve part and a second sleeve part. The first sleeve part has a rigid sleeve body and a damping element which is integrally connected to the sleeve body of the first sleeve part. The second sleeve part has a rigid sleeve body and a damping element which is integrally connected to the sleeve body of the second sleeve part.
US09777678B2

A fuel system is provided, including a fuel tank isolation valve comprising an actuation coil and a latchable valve shaft at least partially disposed within the actuation coil. A controller may be configured to indicate a position of the valve shaft based on a measured current-voltage relationship between the first and second terminal wires during a condition in which the magnetic field generated by actuation coil current has a flux density below a threshold required to adjust a position of the latchable valve shaft. In this way, the position of the latchable valve shaft may be indicated without moving the valve shaft, and without requiring a dedicated valve position sensor.
US09777670B2

The present disclosure relates to a nacelle for a dual-flow turbojet engine includes a cold airstream having a non-constant cross-section over the periphery of the nacelle, such that at least one flap is radially offset with respect to the central axis of the turbojet engine, relative to the adjacent flaps. The system for driving the radially offset flaps is suitable for ensuring that the kinematics of the flaps are offset relative to the kinematics of the flaps mounted along the remainder of the periphery of the airstream.
US09777663B2

A method for controlling an internal combustion engine provides that the internal combustion engine is operated based on a first injection pattern in a first operating state, and based on a second injection pattern in a second operating state. At least one parameter of the injection patterns in the transition from the first to the second operating state is selected in such a way that the noise emission remains constant. In the transition to the injection pattern having greater noise, first the at least one parameter of the first injection pattern is varied, whereupon the switchover takes place. In the transition to the injection pattern having the lower noise, first the switchover is implemented, whereupon the at least one parameter of the second injection pattern is varied.
US09777662B2

A method for operating a fuel delivery device of an internal combustion engine includes switching an electromagnetic actuating device of a volume control valve so as to set a delivery volume. An intensity of an energy that is supplied to the electromagnetic actuating device for switching purposes, in particular of a current supplied to the electromagnetic actuating device and/or a level of a voltage applied to the electromagnetic actuating device, depends at least intermittently on a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine.
US09777661B2

At least an embodiment may provide a remote server that can predict overheating of an engine. A remote server may receives an engine rotational speed, an engine load factor, and a cooling-water temperature. The remote server calculates a moving average of the engine load factor during a predetermine time, and calculates a correlation between the moving average of the engine load factor and the cooling-water temperature. If the correlation during a predetermined period is in the status of a predetermined difference from the correlation up to the predetermined period, the remote server predicts occurrence of overheating in a swing working vehicle that is used by a user.
US09777659B2

A control device of an internal combustion engine calculates on the basis of the air-fuel ratio difference a correction for the estimated fuel supply amount correction for correcting the estimated fuel supply amount to make the estimated and detected air-fuel ratios correspond to each other and calculates correction values for the fuel supply difference compensation and the air amount detection difference compensation by dividing the correction value for the estimated fuel supply amount correction, using the fuel supply and air amount detection difference proportions, and performing the air-fuel ratio control, using the corrected estimated fuel supply and detected air amounts. The correction value for the estimated fuel supply amount correction is divided to the correction values for the fuel supply difference compensation and the air amount detection difference compensation such that a value equivalent to the air-fuel ratio difference becomes equal to the air-fuel ratio difference, using these correction values.
US09777656B1

A method for intelligent active engine braking using full authority active fuel management based on vehicle speed and brake pedal position. The method includes determining if the tow mode of the vehicle has been selected and enables all engine cylinders to ensure maximum engine braking capacity is available. When vehicle tow mode is not selected then the method varies engine braking capacity by disabling one or more cylinders based on the vehicle speed and brake pedal position.
US09777646B2

A method for operating an engine, comprising port injecting a first quantity of a first gaseous fuel in a cylinder cycle and direct injecting a second quantity of a secondary injectant in the cylinder cycle as a function of a desired air-to-fuel ratio (AFR), the desired AFR based on a temperature of an engine cylinder valve. The desired AFR may be outside the AFR range available during natural gas combustion alone and thus allows for cooler engine operation.
US09777644B2

A fuel metering unit including a movable element including at least one fuel passage section opening upstream towards a fuel supply conduit and opening downstream towards a conduit of use through a metering slot with a flared profile having a narrow passage section flaring as far as a wide passage section, the movable element being able to be moved with respect to a fixed element between a low flow rate position in which the metering slot is for a large part obstructed and a high flow rate position in which the metering slot is for a large part exposed, the metering slot being made in the fixed element or in the movable element and its obstruction being obtained by covering the slot with a wall of the movable element or of the fixed element.
US09777641B2

A gas turbine system includes a compressor. The compressor has a plurality of inlet guide vanes disposed at an inlet of the compressor. Furthermore, the compressor may have at least one unison ring coupled to a plurality of variable stator vanes disposed between the inlet and an outlet of the compressor. The gas turbine system includes a first actuator that may adjust a first pitch of the plurality of inlet guide vanes and a second actuator that may adjust a second pitch of the plurality of variable stator vanes. A first electric motor may drive the first actuator, while a second electric motor may drive the second actuator.
US09777634B2

A tangential on-board injector assembly for a gas turbine engine includes an annular housing including a plenum. A plurality of discrete tubes is fluidly connected to the plenum and is configured to provide a cooling fluid to the annular housing.
US09777623B2

When opening or closing an exhaust cut valve in accordance with an operation range of an engine and performing feedback control for an opening degree of a wastegate valve such that a target supercharging pressure is achieved in each of an open operation range where the exhaust cut valve is opened and a closed operation range where the exhaust cut valve is closed, a failure of the exhaust cut valve can be accurately determined. Whether or not an abnormal state occurs is determined in each range. In the abnormal state, although feedback control for closing the wastegate valve is performed, the actual supercharging pressure is lower than the target supercharging pressure, and a deviation between the actual supercharging pressure and the target supercharging pressure is maintained at not less than a predetermined value. Further, whether the exhaust cut valve is normal or in failure is determined.
US09777616B1

A dump truck includes: a vehicle body; a cooling fan disposed in front of the vehicle body in a travel direction; an engine disposed behind the cooling fan; a platform covering the cooling fan and a top of the engine; an exhaust aftertreatment device disposed behind the engine and above the platform; an opening through which an upper side of the platform communicates with a lower side thereof and provided in front of the exhaust aftertreatment device; and a duct provided to a lower surface of the platform and comprising a base-end opening connected to the opening and a leading-end opening directed to the cooling fan.
US09777615B2

The present invention is configured such that: a cylinder block includes an introducing portion provided at a first side of a cylinder row, cooling liquid being introduced through the introducing portion to a water jacket, a restrictor portion provided in a vicinity of the introducing portion and configured to restrict the cooling liquid, introduced through the introducing portion, from flowing to an intake-side portion of the water jacket, and a discharging portion provided at a middle portion of the cylinder row at an intake side, the cooling liquid being discharged from the water jacket through the discharging portion; and an exhaust-side portion of the water jacket is formed such that a passage cross-sectional area of a cylinder axis direction upper side of the exhaust-side portion is larger than the passage cross-sectional area of a cylinder axis direction lower side of the exhaust-side portion.
US09777612B2

A deposit detection device for an exhaust pump is provided, which can be easily put into operation without the burdens of, for example, installing equipment for flowing a gas, or adding or changing operation modes in apparatuses. The device is configured to include: a means for detecting motor current values a motor that rotates a rotating body; a current value storage portion that stores only motor current values that are equal to or greater than a preset value from among detected motor current values; an average value calculation portion that calculates an average value per unit time of the stored motor current values; an average value storage portion that stores the calculated average value; an approximation calculation portion that determines a linear approximation of the stored chronologically ordered average values; and a difference value calculation portion that determines a difference value between a predicted motor current value calculated by using the linear approximation and an initial motor current value at a start of use of the exhaust pump. A time when the difference value exceeds a predetermined threshold is determined as a time for maintenance of the exhaust pump.
US09777611B2

An inlet port (17A) of a first exhaust gas purifying device (16) is provided on a side opposite to an engine (8) by sandwiching an axis (O1-O1) of a cylindrical body (17) of the first exhaust gas purifying device (16). An exhaust pipe (26) connecting the engine (8) and the first exhaust gas purifying device (16) is constituted by a lateral pipe line (27) extending in a left and right direction of an upper revolving structure (3) on a front side of the first exhaust gas purifying device (16) and having a bellows pipe (28) in the middle for absorbing relative displacement between the engine (8) and the first exhaust gas purifying device (16) and a bent pipe line (29) bent having a U-shape rearward from a tip end side of the lateral pipe line (27) and connected to the inlet port (17A) of the first exhaust gas purifying device (16).
US09777602B2

A system for controlled recovery of thermal energy and conversion to mechanical energy. The system collects thermal energy from a reciprocating engine (for example, from engine jacket fluid) and may also collect further thermal energy from a natural gas compressor (for example, from compressor lubricating fluid). The collected thermal energy is used to generate secondary power by evaporating an organic propellant and using the gaseous propellant to drive an expander in production of mechanical energy. Secondary power is used to power parasitic loads, improving energy efficiency of the system. A supplementary cooler may provide additional cooling capacity without compromising system energy efficiency.
US09777596B2

A double frangible bearing support structure supports a low pressure rotor of an aircraft engine. The support structure has a first bearing assembly including a first bearing supported by a first bearing support adapted to buckle or frange when subject to a predetermined critical load resulting from an abnormal rotor imbalance. The support structure has a second bearing assembly comprising a second bearing having rolling elements disposed between inner and outer races. The outer race is connected to a second bearing support by means of frangible bolts adapted to fail when subject to a predetermined critical load resulting from radial displacements and loads of the low pressure rotor following decoupling/franging at the first bearing support.
US09777594B2

A stage (10) of stationary vanes (12) of a gas turbine engine, including: a plurality of stationary vanes disposed in an annular array (14); and an energy damping system (30) having a plurality of connection assemblies (32), each joining respective adjacent stationary vanes. A spring (34) is configured to circumferentially bias respective adjacent stationary vanes, and a damper (36) is configured to oppose relative circumferential movement between the respective adjacent stationary vanes. The connection of the overall assembly disclosed herein allows for the oscillating system to decrease its amplitude over the shortest time period no matter the conditions. This reduces wear compared to underdamped arrangements that do not decrease amplitude as quickly.
US09777587B2

A sealing device for a turbine has a sealing member provided in a gap between a rotor and a stator arranged to surround the rotor, and a fluid path provided within the stator, to introduce, into the stator, a cooling medium used to cool stationary blades extending radially inward from the stator, and to flow the cooling medium at least to an upstream side of the sealing member.
US09777572B2

A tool insertable into a wellbore for sampling formation fluids includes a body, and sample probe assemblies that project radially outward from the body and into sampling contact with the wellbore wall. Packers are provided on the outer terminal ends of the sample probe assemblies and which are urged against the wellbore wall. Actuator driven linkage assemblies selectively deploy and retract the packers from and back into the body. The sample probe assemblies are disposed at substantially the same axial location on the body, and are angularly spaced about an axis of the body. Each sample probe assembly is independently actuated, so that a discrete azimuthal portion can be sampled, and each has a dedicated sample container for storing sampled formation fluid.
US09777569B2

A running tool for deploying a tubular string into a wellbore and methods for operating a wellbrore using the running tool are disclosed. The running tool includes a tubular body and a latch for releasably connecting the tubular string to the body. The running tool further includes a lock to keep the latch engaged.
US09777561B2

An electrical submersible pump assembly has modules including a pump, a motor, and a pressure equalizer. A first adapter having threads is mounted to one of the modules. A second adapter is mounted to an adjacent one of the modules, the second adapter having a tubular body, a neck, and an external shoulder at a base of the neck. A collar is rotatably carried on the neck and in threaded engagement with the threads of the first adapter. A clamp secures around the neck between the external shoulder and the collar after the collar is fully engaged with the threads on the first adapter. A pair of flanges are mounted to and extend outward from the clamp. A motor lead locates between the flanges.
US09777553B2

An apparatus for performing a wellbore operation with a plug includes a plug seat assembly that has a plug seat having a plurality of seat segments, at least one seat segment having a plug seat rack, and each plug seat segment having an inner surface contacting the plug. The plug seat assembly also has a collet having a collet rack and a locking ratchet, the collet rack incrementally radially disengaging from the plug seat rack during relative rotation between the collet and the plug seat, and a mandrel having a mandrel rack complementary to the locking ratchet. The plug seat assembly is positioned in a wellbore and a plug radially displaces the at least one plug seat segment of the plug seat assembly.
US09777550B2

In one aspect, a degradable apparatus is disclosed, including: an inner core with a first degradation rate in a downhole environment; an outer sheath disposed around an outer extent of the inner core with a second degradation rate less than the first degradation rate in the downhole environment. In another aspect, a method of temporarily sealing a downhole zone is disclosed, including: providing an inner core with a first degradation rate in a downhole environment; providing an outer sheath disposed around an outer extent of the inner core with a second degradation rate less than the first degradation rate in the downhole environment; sealing the downhole zone with the outer sheath; exposing the outer sheath to the downhole environment; and exposing the inner core to the downhole environment.
US09777548B2

An apparatus for use in wellbore includes a device having a shape conforming member that includes a shape memory alloy that has been compressed from a first expanded shape to a second compressed shape. The apparatus further includes a device for supplying electrical energy to the shape memory alloy downhole to transform the shape memory alloy from the second shape to or near the first shape.
US09777547B1

Blowout preventers made from plastic infused with graphene, phosphorescent material, and/or other enhancing material. They include a sleeve that is inserted into a well pipe or other opening from which first fluid (such as petroleum or natural gas) is escaping, to stop it from escaping. The large end of a funnel id placed over the well pipe opening. The small end of the funnel is connected to a return pipe. A high pressure pipe (through which a second fluid flows) with a smaller diameter is inserted into the opening. The primary source of power for the apparatus is the pressure from the fluid escaping from the well pipe or other opening, which turns a turbine and propellers that push the device down into the opening to stop the fluid from escaping. If the pressure from the escaping fluid does not provide enough power itself, supplemental power may be used.
US09777546B2

A system to remove a ram packer from a ram block is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes an extraction tool having opposing jaws configured to engage a ram packer installed in a ram block. The system may also include an actuator configured to move the opposing jaws to facilitate separation of the ram packer from the ram block. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.
US09777529B2

A system and method for remotely controlling loading dock components is disclosed that includes a distribution center having at least one dock station for exchanging materials and a dock component configured to in at least two operational states. An actuator is included that is configured to change the operational state of the dock component in response to an activation signal. A mobile remote control is configured to generate the activation signal to cause the actuator to change the operational state of the dock component and at least one predefined non-activation zone is included such that changing of operational state of the dock component is inhibited when the mobile remote control is located within the at least one predefined non-activation zone.
US09777518B2

The invention relates to a collision protection device for a pivotable hatch of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one sensor for detecting an obstacle in the pivoting range of the hatch, and comprising a control unit, which is designed to output, in dependence on sensor signals of the at least one sensor, control commands for stopping an opening movement of the hatch, wherein the at least one sensor is an optical visibility sensor, which is designed for capturing an optical visibility in an environment of the sensors.
US09777516B2

A gesture-activated hood release system for a motor vehicle is provided. That system incorporates a gesture sensor, a first actuator and a second actuator. Further, the system includes a controller that is responsive to the gesture sensor to activate the first actuator and open a primary hood latch and then, after a predetermined time delay, activate the second actuator and open the secondary hood latch.
US09777507B2

A shelter including an enclosure having a plurality of interconnected side walls defining a floor space and being connected to a top wall, with at least one of the side walls or the top wall including a panel construction comprising a flame resistant insulated fabric, the flame resistant insulated fabric including a flame resistant outer layer, a flame resistant inner layer, an insulating middle layer disposed between and adhesively bonded to the flame resistant outer layer and the flame resistant inner layer. Also disclosed is a method of making a shelter including forming the flame resistant insulated fabric.
US09777502B2

A multi-level (ML) fulfillment center is designed to accommodate landing and takeoff of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), possibly in an urban setting, such as in a densely populated area. Unlike traditional fulfillment centers, the ML fulfillment centers may include many levels (i.e., stories, floors, etc.) as permitted under zoning regulations for respective areas. The fulfillment center may have one or more landing locations and one or more deployment locations to accommodate UAVs, which may delivery at least some of the items from the fulfillment center to locations associated with customers.
US09777501B2

A structure for containing cinerary urns and funerary items in general, which comprises a plurality of modular elements, such modular elements comprising: a plurality of box-like bodies, each one defining, within it, at least one niche for accommodating at least one cinerary urn and/or at least one funerary item and having a front face which is provided with at least one access opening; a plurality of elements for mutually joining such box-like bodies, which have at least one connecting portion adapted to be fixed to the front face of the box-like bodies arranged mutually adjacent; a plurality of profiled finishing elements designed to cover such joining elements at least partially; a plurality of retention bodies designed to be fixed with respect to such box-like bodies and adapted to peripherally engage closing plates, which are respectively intended for closing the openings of such box-like bodies.
US09777500B1

A utility pole is reinforced by assembling and installing a reinforcement channel assembly comprising a lower reinforcement channel driven into the ground alongside the pole, an inner splice plate supported on and against an inner surface of the lower reinforcement channel, an upper reinforcement channel supported on and against an outer surface of the inner splice plate, and an outer splice plate supported on and against respective outer surfaces of upper and lower portions of the upper and lower reinforcement channels. An outer splice plate is secured to the inner splice plate, sandwiching between them the respective upper and lower portions of the lower and upper reinforcement channels, and the upper reinforcement channel is secured to the pole.
US09777497B2

A device is disclosed comprising a rigid frame having disposed thereon at least one opening for receiving a pole of a pool brush, the device further having means for securing the device in stationary position. The opening has a perimeter defining a surface adapted for use as a fulcrum. Means for securing the device may be one or a plurality of footpads, or it may be an elongated cord connected to the frame and adapted to secure about a stationary object.
US09777492B2

A core form device including a circular plate and a plurality of bendable arms extending from the circular plate which when bent about the circular plate form the core form device.
US09777491B2

Machines and system for 3D printing are disclosed. One machine includes a machine frame having a plurality of ground engaging elements to facilitate movement of the machine frame, a telescoping boom pivotably coupled to the machine frame and configured to pivot along at least a horizontal plane, a material line coupled to the boom and configured to convey a material therethrough, a printhead coupled to the boom and in fluid communication with the material line to receive the material and to dispense the material, and a controller configured to receive 3D printing information and to convert the 3D printing information into positional coordinates of the printhead, wherein the controller is to cause movement of the boom to position the printhead based at least on the position coordinates.
US09777490B2

A falsework hook for use in falsework, scaffolding, and general construction, includes a holder portion, which can be a tube portion, including a tube aperture; and a hook portion; such that the tube aperture is configured to receive a continuous threaded rod or an elongated outer end of an eye bolt. Also disclosed is a falsework fastener, including first and second falsework hooks and a falsework connector, which can include one of a rod connector, which can be a continuous threaded rod, which can be straight, curved, or bent; and a cable connector, including threaded eye bolts, connected with a cable.
US09777487B2

Floor panels are shown, which are provided with a mechanical locking system on long and short edges allowing installation with vertical snap folding that could be accomplished automatically without tools and where the short edge locking system has a tongue made in one piece with the panel.
US09777486B1

A mounting apparatus for a plurality of panels to allow non-progressive fixing of the same to a façade. The apparatus employs a base having flanges, forming a channel, that are engaged by a plate held by a fastener positioned within the channel. When operated, the fastener is forced against extension elements that depend from adjacent panels.
US09777485B2

A magnetic backsplash device facilitates placement of a decorative and easy to clean backsplash on a magnetically attractive surface. The device includes a backing having a magnetic back face wherein the backing is configured for coupling to a magnetically attractive surface. An adhesive couples each of a plurality of tiles to a front surface of the backing defining a backsplash panel configured for being displayed over the magnetically attractive surface when the backing is coupled to the magnetically attractive surface.
US09777479B2

The present invention is directed to a framing member for use in a steel framed flooring structure. The framing member has a U-shaped rectangular cross section with two parallel spaced apart flanges and a central web bridging the flanges and connected to one edge of each of the flanges. The central web has an extension on each end thereof, the extension extending beyond the flanges a distance of at least half the width of the flange.
US09777477B2

A pergola comprising a base module having a quadrangular support structure provided with vertical uprights connected to each other by at least one pair of rails and at least one transverse crossbeam connecting the pair of rails. The base module delimits a first roof surface. The pergola includes an extension module having a framework provided with at least one pair of struts. Each strut is at least partially vertically superposed on a corresponding rail, and is provided with at least one support leg that supports the overhanging framework on the side opposite the base module in the longitudinal direction. The extension module delimits a second roof surface at least partially superposed on the first. A guide structure is interposed between the struts and the rails for guiding a reciprocal longitudinal translation between the base module and the extension module, to modify the overall roof surface of the pergola.
US09777476B2

A ridge vent having a top side including a top wall with a bottom surface, a bottom side spaced apart from the top side, a side wall connecting the top side to the bottom side and an air outlet positioned in one of the top wall or the side wall. The ridge vent including a fire resistant material adjacent the bottom surface of the top wall. The ridge vent forms air flow path directing air through the vent and out of the air outlet. In a first position, the fire resistant material is not in the air flow path. In a second position, the first resistant material blocks the air flow path in response to the ridge vent being exposed to excessive heat.
US09777474B2

A vibration control wall structure, which is introducible into a wall part of a building, includes a wall frame, a vibration control wall body, and a vibration control damper for absorbing a vibration acting on a building. The vibration control wall body includes a plurality of face materials which are fixed to a frame material via a fastening member and are connected to each other in a width direction. A gap part is formed such that both side end portions of the vibration control wall body are separated from the wall frame so as to absorb displacement in an in-plane direction. The vibration acting on the building is damped by the vibration control damper having a long hole in a longitudinal width direction of the vibration control wall body. The vibration control wall body can relatively slide in the long hole in the longitudinal width direction.
US09777472B2

The present invention is directed to ceiling panels formed from a porous scrim that is coupled to an acoustical substrate using a scrim attachment system that includes an adhesive.
US09777467B1

A system for a water supply well that incorporates a vertical well with one or more horizontally drilled collectors extending therefrom. All of the horizontally drilled collectors may be constructed using horizontal directional drilling techniques with the main drilling equipment positioned on the ground surface and thereby defining a surface port for accessing the horizontal collector. The horizontal collector may be cleaned and maintained through the surface port without requiring access through the vertical well.
US09777457B2

A water service supply assembly includes a water supply line with a stop valve. A lid is supported relative to the stop valve. A first switch is adapted to detect movement of the lid and a second switch is adapted to detect if a body is moved relative to the stop valve.
US09777448B2

A crash barrier is provided. The crash barrier includes a plurality of supports, a guard rail, and connection parts which are inclined so as to mutually connect the supports and the guard rail at certain intervals, such that an impact energy-absorbing capacity can be improved by preventing impact energy from being directly applied to the supports in a direction orthogonal to the guard rail.
US09777447B1

A silt barrier support system broadly comprising a number of vertically extending posts, a number of silt barrier attachment devices, a number of end silt barrier attachment devices, and an inward silt barrier attachment device. The silt barrier attachment devices include vertical barbs for vertically retaining portions of an upper end of a geotextile fabric layer on upper portions of the posts. The end silt barrier attachment devices include horizontal barbs for laterally retaining end portions of the geotextile fabric layer on end posts. The inward silt barrier attachment device includes first and second sets of horizontal barbs for removing lateral slack from inward portions of the geotextile fabric layer.
US09777444B1

An asphalt rake includes a handle, a rake head, and a valve. The handle includes a cavity to hold a fluid, such as a release agent. The rake head has a passage in fluid communication with the outlet of the handle. The passage is in fluid connection with a support member outlet that is configured to be positioned apart from the crossbar by a gap. The valve controls fluid flowing from the cavity in the handle to the rake head. Fluid applied to tines of the rake head can prevent asphalt buildup on the rake head when smoothing or otherwise working with asphalt.
US09777439B2

A rail plate handling device is provided for removing and reinstalling rail tie plates, wherein at least one of the rails is raised from an operational position during the removal and installation process. A frame is configured for movement relative to the track; at least one tie plate gripping assembly is mounted to the frame, the assembly is configured for grasping a selected tie plate at front and rear edges between an adjacent rail raised from the operational position supported by the selected tie plate and the associated tie, pulling the selected plate away from the adjacent raised rail and away from the associated tie, retaining the selected plate in a suspended position above the track while the tie is extracted and a new tie inserted, and then replacing the suspended tie plate back upon the rail from a gage side of the rail.
US09777436B2

Compositions and methods related to new wet strength resins are provided. By using functionally-symmetrical cross-linkers and mono-functional modifiers, and separating the steps of reacting a prepolymer with the cross-linkers from the reaction of intermediate cross-linked prepolymer with epichlorohydrin, new wet strength resin products are provided having improved properties.
US09777435B2

A printing substrate comprising fibers from wooded resource that have more than 5% of fines fibers with an average length that is less than 0.1 mm; more than about 10 wt % of, at least, a polymeric substance; and between 0.1 wt % and 40 wt % of particulate inorganic substances having an average particle size between 0.1 and 2.0 m. Also disclosed herein a method for making such printing substrate and a method for producing printed images using said printing substrate.
US09777434B2

Paper strength systems including polyamine-polyamidoamine-epihalohydrin (PPAE) resin are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of forming a paper including applying a strength system comprising PPAE to cellulosic fiber, as well as the resultant paper.
US09777433B2

A shoe press belt with excellent mechanical properties, in particular a shoe press belt with excellent crack resistance and excellent resistance to land edge deficiency. The shoe press belt includes a felt-side resin layer containing a resin formed by curing a prepolymer having a terminal isocyanate group (—NCO) with a curing agent, wherein the prepolymer contains, in reacted form, a compound comprising 1,4-bis(isocyanate methyl) cyclohexane and a polycarbonate diol, and wherein the felt-side resin layer has grooves that are configured to receive water squeezed from a felt.
US09777429B2

A continuous process for production of cellulose pulp from grass-like plant feedstock for paper making. The process includes: preparing the grass-like plant feedstock by comminuting, dedusting, continuous digestion, disperging, diluting the cellulose pulp, screening and fractionation, concentration to remove black liquor, dilution with fresh water, and, optionally, pulp bleaching processes. The continuous digestion is performed in the vertical column at 70-100° C. for 40 minutes to 2 hours; average composition of thus formed digestion suspension is maintained within the following ranges: 0.9-1.5% w/w of NaOH; 0.15-0.4% w/w of NaCl or Na2SO3; and 15-18% w/w of grass-like plant feedstock; concentrations of ingredients being calculated on the weight of the liquid phase. Screening and fractionation are resulting with two fractions; one being further processed by milling, and another being further processed to final pulp with or without bleaching processes. The preferred grass-like feedstock for the process is miscanthus/Miscanthus×giganteus, Andersson/.
US09777427B2

Described is a method for cleaning fabrics, such as garments and the like, comprising the following steps: a) preparing a compartment for containing fabrics; b) preparing a quantity of cleaning fluid in fluid communication with the containment compartment; c) inserting the fabrics in the compartment and isolating the containment compartment with respect to an outside environment; d) sucking air from the compartment, in a substantially continuous manner, for adjusting the pressure in the compartment for containing the fabrics to a pressure less than the atmospheric pressure so as to allow the evaporation of the cleaning fluid and the introduction into the compartment of the cleaning fluid in the vapor phase, for cleaning the fabrics.
US09777424B2

A washing machine equipped with a detergent supply device has an improved component coupling structure capable of enhancing productivity. A washing machine includes a main body, a drum rotatably mounted in the main body, and a detergent supply device disposed at an upper portion of the main body to supply a detergent into the drum. The detergent supply device includes a housing, a detergent case to store a detergent, the detergent case being movably coupled to the housing, a water supply frame coupled to an upper portion of the housing to guide water to the detergent case, and a cover frame to sealingly cover an upper portion of the water supply frame, the cover frame including a plurality of coupling protrusions protruding from an inner peripheral surface thereof to support a bottom surface of the water supply frame.
US09777423B2

A method for treating laundry in a laundry washing machine (1; 201; 301; 401) having: a washing tub (3) external to a rotatable perforated washing drum (4) configured to receive laundry; a water supply circuit (5) to supply water into the washing tub (3); a detergent supplier (60) to supply detergent (D) into the washing tub (3); a rinse additive supplier (70) to supply at least one rinse additive (S) into the washing tub (3); a first recirculation circuit (30) suitable for withdrawing liquid from the bottom region (3a) of the washing tub (3) and for re-admitting such a liquid into the bottom region (3a) of the washing tub (3). The method has a washing phase (120) during which the laundry is washed with introduction of water and detergent (D) into the washing tub (3) and tumbled by rotation of the washing drum (4), at least one successive draining phase (125) for draining liquid from the washing tub (3) and at least one following rinsing cycle (130a, 130b, 130n; 130′n; 230a, 230b, . . . , 230n) during which the laundry is treated with the rinse additive (S). The rinsing cycle (130n; 130′n; 230n) has the steps of: introducing (140; 140′; 240) a quantity (Qs) of rinse additive (S) into the washing tub (3); introducing (140; 140′; 240) a first quantity (Q1w) of water (W) into the washing tub (3); activating (141; 141′; 241) the first recirculation circuit (30) for withdrawing liquid from the washing tub (3) and re-admitting the liquid into the washing tub (3) in such a way that the rinse additive (S) is diluted with the first quantity (Q1w) of water (W) at the bottom region (3a) of the washing tub (3); introducing (142; 142′) the diluted rinse additive into the perforated washing drum (4) in order to be absorbed by said laundry.
US09777420B2

A washing machine appliance including a cabinet, a tub positioned within the cabinet, and a basket rotatably mounted within the tub is provided. The cabinet defines an opening at a top end to allow a user to access the basket. A lid assembly is positioned over the opening of the cabinet and includes a perimeter frame, a pair of hinge brackets positioned at least partially in the perimeter frame, and a transparent panel attached directly to the hinge brackets.
US09777419B2

The present invention relates to a system for detecting washing machines removable basket, which comprises at least one washing basket (1) attached to the washing machine, at least one washing basket (2) removable from the washing machine and at least one structural component (3) attached to the washing machine. The system itself consists of at least one sensor (4) and at least one component (5) able to cause excitation in the sensor (4), wherein the sensor (4) can be physically associated to the structural component (3) attached to the washing machine and the component (5) can be physically associated with the washing basket (2) removable from the washing machine. Alternatively, the sensor (4) can be physically associated to the washing basket (2) removable from the washing machine and the component (5) may be physically associated to the structural component (3) attached to the washing machine. The subject method provides for at least one driving step of the motive source (6) and at least one checking step of the output signal of the sensor (4), the detection of the removable washing basket (2) being performed by checking the change of the output signal of the sensor (4).
US09777400B2

A method for producing a single crystal includes a step of placing a source material powder and a seed crystal within a crucible, and a step of growing a single crystal on the seed crystal. The crucible includes a peripheral wall part and a bottom part and a lid part that are connected to the peripheral wall part to close the openings of the peripheral wall part, the lid part having a holder that holds the seed crystal. The bottom part has a connection region connected to the peripheral wall part and a thick region that is thicker than the connection region and that surrounds a central axis passing through a center of gravity of orthogonal projection of the bottom part, the orthogonal projection being formed on a plane perpendicular to a growth direction of the single crystal, the central axis extending in the growth direction of the single crystal.
US09777393B2

Process for fabricating a thin single-crystalline layer n, including steps of: a) providing a support substrate n, b) placing a seed sample n, c) depositing a thin layer n so as to form an initial interface region n including a proportion of seed sample n and a proportion of thin layer n, the proportion of seed sample n decreasing from the first peripheral part n towards the second peripheral part n, e) providing an energy input to the initial interface region n contiguous to the first peripheral part n so as to liquefy a portion n of the thin layer and form a solid/liquid interface region n, and f) gradually moving the energy input away from the seed sample n so as to solidify the portion n so as to gradually move the solid/liquid interface region n.
US09777383B2

A system to prepare an antimicrobial solution by the electrolysis of brine is presented where the antimicrobial solution is a solution comprising HOCl that contains a HOCl concentration in excess of 500 ppm or more at a pH of 6 to 6.8 with a low residual salt concentration and displays a stability in excess of 60 days and can have a HOCl concentration in excess of 450 for 180 days. The system includes an electrolysis cell that is improved by a superior anode and ceramic membrane such that when employed with a DC power supply controlled by a microprocessor and a controlled brine concentration provided to the cell at ambient temperature at a controlled rate, delivers a fluid that is continuously monitored by a pH probe and an ORP probe for input to the microprocessor.
US09777378B2

Embodiments described herein relate to methods for forming flowable chemical vapor deposition (FCVD) films suitable for high aspect ratio gap fill applications. Various process flows described include ion implantation processes utilized to treat a deposited FCVD film to improve dielectric film density and material composition. Ion implantation processes, curing processes, and annealing processes may be utilized in various sequence combinations to form dielectric films having improved densities at temperatures within the thermal budget of device materials. Improved film quality characteristics include reduced film stress and reduced film shrinkage when compared to conventional FCVD film formation processes.
US09777374B2

A reactor device for chemical vapor deposition comprises a reaction chamber having a purge gas inlet. A gas discharge channel is linked to the reaction chamber via a circumferential opening in the inner wall of the chamber. The reaction chamber is arranged such that a purge gas stream flows from the purge gas inlet to the discharge channel. The inner wall of the reaction chamber comprises means for exchanging heat with the purge gas, for example, fins.
US09777371B2

A gas deposition system (1000) configured as a dual-chamber “tower” includes a frame (1140) for supporting two reaction chamber assemblies (3000), one vertically above the other. Each chamber assembly (3000) includes an outer wall assembly surrounding a hollow chamber (3070) sized to receive a single generation 4.5 (GEN 4.5) glass plate substrate through a load port. The substrate is disposed horizontally inside the hollow chamber (3070) and the chamber assembly (3000) includes removable and cleanable triangular shaped input (3150) and output (3250) plenums disposed external to the hollow chamber (3070) and configured to produce substantially horizontally directed laminar gas flow over a top surface of the substrate. Each chamber includes a cleanable and removable chamber liner assembly (6000) disposed inside the hollow chamber (3070) to contain precursor gases therein thereby preventing contamination of chamber outer walls (3010, 3020, 3030, 3040).
US09777369B2

A method of depositing a thin film on a substrate inside a vacuum chamber includes a first process that deposits a first film on the substrate, the first process including a process of supplying an active species that is obtained by changing a gas to plasma and is related to a quality of the thin film to the substrate; and a second process that deposits a second film that is the same type as that of the first film on the first film, the second process including a process of supplying the active species to the substrate so that a supply quantity of the active species per a unit film thickness is greater than a first supply quantity of the active species per the unit film thickness in the first process by adjusting a controlled parameter.
US09777351B2

The present invention discloses a method for heat treatment of hypereutectoid steel rail, including the following steps: holding the temperature of the steel rail of which temperature is above 900° C. after finish rolling, conducting a first cooling stage for the steel rail at the first cooling speed after the temperature holding to reduce the temperature of railhead surface layer of the steel rail to 700-750° C., conducting a second cooling stage for the steel rail at the second cooling speed to reduce the temperature of railhead surface layer of the steel rail to 550° C., conducting a third cooling stage for the steel rail at the third cooling speed to reduce the temperature of railhead surface layer of the steel rail to 450° C. or less, and continuing to cool the steel rail in the air. While obtaining good tensile property, the steel rail treated by the method for heat treatment provided by the present invention can effectively reduce secondary cementite and have excellent resistance to abrasion and contact fatigue. The product is particularly suitable for heavy rails.
US09777350B2

A high strength interstitial free low density steel and method for producing the steel.
US09777347B2

Disclosed herein is a process that includes: (a) providing a powder blend comprising (1) one or more hydrogenated titanium powders containing around 0.2 to around 3.4 weight % of hydrogen, and (2) one or more master alloys, comprising Al, V, or a combination thereof, (b) consolidating the powder blend by compacting the powder blend to provide a green compact, (c) heating the green compact to a temperature ranging from around 400° C. to around 900° C., thereby releasing the majority or all of the hydrogen from the hydrogenated titanium, and partially sintering the green compact without fully sintering it, to obtain a partially sintered article having a density of about 60% to about 85% of theoretical density, (d) sizing the partially sintered article at a temperature at or around room temperature to obtain an sized article having a density of about 80% to about 95% of theoretical density, (e) heating the sized article in vacuum thereby sintering the article to form a sintered dense compact having a density of 99% of theoretical density or higher.
US09777345B2

A method is provided for leaching the metals while granulating molten matte, comprising the steps of feeding a molten matte as a falling stream into a granulation chamber, spraying a liquid jet on the stream of molten matte to atomize the matte, and cooling the matte particles thus formed. The liquid jet comprises an acid solution containing water and sulfuric acid so that the acid solution starts leaching metals from the molten matte when the liquid jet contacts the molten matte. Part of product solution from granulation can be circulated to liquid jets to increase the metal content in the solution and to reduce its acid con-tent.
US09777338B2

The present invention is directed to methods for reducing cross-reactivity between species employed in multiplexed immunoassays.
US09777337B2

Provided is a method for detecting analyte in a sample, which method comprises: (a) contacting the sample with a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe; (b) performing an electrochemical impedance spectrometry (EIS) measurement on the sample; (c) determining the presence, absence, quantity and/or identity of the analyte from the EIS measurement; wherein the analyte comprises nucleic acid; and wherein the quantity of analyte in the sample when the sample is taken is substantially the same as the quantity of analyte in the sample when the sample is subjected to the EIS measurement.
US09777328B2

The present methods are exemplified by a process in which maternal blood containing fetal DNA is diluted to a nominal value of approximately 0.5 genome equivalent of DNA per reaction sample. Digital PCR is then be used to detect aneuploidy, such as the trisomy that causes Down Syndrome. Since aneuploidies do not present a mutational change in sequence, and are merely a change in the number of chromosomes, it has not been possible to detect them in a fetus without resorting to invasive techniques such as amniocentesis or chorionic villi sampling. Digital amplification allows the detection of aneuploidy using massively parallel amplification and detection methods, examining, e.g., 10,000 genome equivalents.
US09777308B2

The invention relates to a method for analyzing the effect of a gaseous medium on a biological test system using an extracellular metabolization system. The method consists of the following steps: a biological test sample is cultivated on a permeable carrier, the gaseous medium is guided over the surface of the biological test system in order to form an exposition atmosphere over the biological test system, the extracellular metabolization system is added to a conservation medium and the permeable carrier is brought into contact with a conservation medium that comprises the extracellular metabolization system below the permeable carrier, in such a manner that the extracellular metabolization system only passes through the permeable carrier and that the biological test system is not submerged by the conservation medium containing the extracellular metabolization system.
US09777300B2

The present invention provides for a system for converting CO2 and H2 to one or more biologically derived compounds. In some embodiments, the system comprises a host cell comprising one or more nucleic acids encoding genes for a recombinant surface display protein which is capable of tethering an electrocatalyst molecule, such as a cobalt(II) complex supported by tetradentate polypyridyl ligand 2-bis(2-pyridyl)(methoxy)methyl-6-pyridylpyridine (PY4), and enzymes for synthesizing a biologically derived compound, such as an alkane, alcohol, fatty acid, ester, or isoprenoid.
US09777299B2

The present invention is intended to prove a technique useful for controlling the reaction of oxidoreductase, and to provide a reaction system allowing efficient conversion from carbon dioxide to formic acid, and an efficient methanol production system including the reaction system. The reverse redox reaction is selectively promoted by carrying out the reaction catalyzed by an oxidoreductase using an artificial electron carrier. The reaction system is used for the production of methanol.
US09777298B2

The present invention provides tools and methods for producing organic acids using strains of Monascus which are tolerant to high organic acid concentrations at low pH.
US09777295B2

The document provides methods for biosynthesizing isobutene using one or more isolated enzymes such as one or more of an enoyl-CoA dehydratase, a 2-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydratase, an isovaleryl-CoA/acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and a mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase, or using recombinant host cells expressing one or more such enzymes.
US09777282B2

A microorganism of the genus Corynebacterium with an improved ability to produce L-lysine in which a septum formation initiator protein is inactivated and a method for producing L-lysine using the microorganism.
US09777280B2

The present application discloses genetically modified yeast cells comprising an active 3-HP fermentation pathway, and the use of these cells to produce 3-HP.
US09777275B2

The oligonucleotide compositions of the present invention make use of combinations of oligonucleotides. In one aspect, the invention features an oligonucleotide composition including at least 2 different oligonucleotides targeted to a target gene. This invention also provides methods of inhibiting protein synthesis in a cell and methods of identifying oligonucleotide compositions that inhibit synthesis of a protein in a cell.
US09777264B2

The present disclosure relates to immobilization of a cell using a carboxylated surface by contacting the carboxylated surface with a sample comprising the cell for a sufficient time to permit the cell to bind to the carboxylated surface. The immobilized cell may then be separated from the remainder of the sample and further manipulated to isolate, concentrate, and/or analyze the cell or a component thereof.
US09777260B2

The present invention relates to a transfer vector for inserting a gene into a genetic locus of a baculovirus sequence. The transfer vector comprises an expression cassette comprising a eukaryotic promoter operably linked to the gene and a bipartite selection cassette. The present invention also relates to methods of using the transfer vector and derived bacmids and baculoviruses.
US09777254B2

The first object of the present invention is to provide an immortalized cell line derived from a thread-sail filefish. The first object of the present invention can be solved by a cell line or a passage strain thereof derived from a living body part of a fish of the family Monacanthidae, wherein the cell line or the passage strain thereof is capable of being subcultured substantially without limitations. The second object of the present invention is to provide a pluripotent stem cell derived from a thread-sail filefish. The second object of the present invention can be solved by a cell line or a passage strain thereof derived from a living body part of a fish of the family Monacanthidae, wherein the cell line or the passage strain thereof is positive for at least a cell marker selected from a group consisting of TRA-1-60, OCT4 and SSEA-3.
US09777245B2

Metathesized triacylglycerol polyols, fractionated polyol variants thereof, and their related physical and thermal properties are disclosed.
US09777240B2

The invention provides a lubricating composition containing an aromatic compound and an oil of lubricating viscosity. The invention further relates to the use of the lubricating composition in an internal combustion engine. The invention further relates to the use of the aromatic compound as an antiwear agent.
US09777230B2

The present invention relates to inhibition of high temperature naphthenic acid corrosion occurring in hydrocarbon processing units. The invention provides an effective novel non-polymeric and non-fouling additive for inhibiting high-temperature naphthenic acid corrosion, comprising an effective corrosion-inhibiting amount of a second phosphate ester wherein said second phosphate ester is obtained by reacting a first phosphate ester with an oxirane compound selected from the group consisting of butylene oxide, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or any other oxirane compound or a combination thereof, preferably with butylene oxide, capably yielding said second phosphate ester, having a structure A or B, wherein R1 and R2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of moieties having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and R1 and R2 may be identical or different, X is H, CH3 or C2H5; and n may vary from 1 to 20, wherein said first phosphate ester is having a structure I or II, wherein R1 and R2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of moieties having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and R1 and R2 may be identical or different, said first phosphate ester being obtained as a reaction product of reaction of an alcohol with a phosphorous pentaoxide.
US09777224B2

Methods are disclosed for converting a biomass-derived product containing levulinic acid and/or gamma-valerolactone to a transportation fuel precursor product containing diesel like hydrocarbons. These methods are expected to produce fuel products at a reduced cost relative to conventional approaches.
US09777223B2

The invention relates to a process for improving efficiency of a organic food production plant, the process comprising preparing a feedstock of a raw harvested organic food base product; processing the prepared food base product, including heating; extracting the organic food material from the food base product, and leaving a residual waste product; feeding the waste product into a continuous process for converting carbonaceous material in the waste product into a liquid hydrocarbon product and extracting a liquid hydrocarbon product. The process is related to palm oil production from fresh fruit bunches.
US09777217B2

Compounds containing at least one C—C triple bond within a chain of at least 3 ring systems which have positive dielectric anisotropy, the use thereof for high-frequency components, liquid-crystalline media containing these compounds, and high-frequency components, in particular antennae, especially for the gigahertz region, containing these media. The liquid-crystalline media serve, for example, for the phase shifting of microwaves for tuneable phased-array antennae.
US09777213B2

The phosphor of the present invention comprises a crystal phase having a chemical composition represented by the following formula [2], the crystal phase having no garnet structure, and the phosphor having an emission peak in a wavelength range of 600 nm to 650 nm by being activated by at least Mn4+, A2aiiB2biiC2ciiD2diiX2xii  formula [2].
US09777212B2

The various embodiments herein provide a light emitting concrete composition and a method of synthesizing a light emitting concrete structure. The light emitting concrete composition comprises light-emitting pigments. The light emitting pigments include a titanium powder, a sulphide powder and resins, cement, sand, gravel and water. The method of synthesizing a light emitting concrete structure comprises preparing slurry. The slurry is prepared by mixing sand, gravel, cement and water. Further, a light emitting pigment mixture is prepared. The light emitting pigment mixture is prepared by mixing a titanium powder, resins and a sulphide powder. The light-emitting pigment mixture is added to the slurry. The slurry is molded by adding the slurry in molds. The molds are further kept at a temperature of 15-20° C. for at least 12-14 hours. The slurry is cured at a temperature of less than 30° C. for 24 hours.
US09777210B2

A novel inorganic fine particle reinforced foam system for an oil-gas field and preparation method thereof. The reinforced foam system comprises a gas phase and a liquid phase; the gas phase is nitrogen, carbon dioxide or the air; the liquid phase is prepared from, by mass: 0.2-0.8 wt % of a foaming agent, 0.5-2.0 wt % of novel inorganic fine particles and balance of water; the novel inorganic fine particles are fine particulate matter with diameters being smaller than or equal to 2.5 microns captured and screened from the atmosphere.
US09777206B2

Thermally conductive compositions exhibiting a thermal conductivity of 0.30 W/mK or more include a base polyolefin, a halogenated flame retardant, a non-halogenated flame retardant, and a flame retardant synergist. Cables include insulation and/or jacket layers formed of such thermally conductive compositions.
US09777198B2

The invention relates to a method for producing polyacrylate adhesive compounds with a narrow molar mass distribution by means of a radical polymerization and a subsequent increase of the molar masses by reacting with bis- or multi-dienyl compounds, in particular with α,ω-bis-dienyl compounds, in order to increase the cohesion in particular.
US09777183B2

The present invention relates to a process for preparing an aqueous dispersion of polymer encapsulated TiO2 particles, comprising a multistage polymerization steps that includes a relatively large amount of low Tg first monomers and a relatively small amount of high Tg second monomers that comprise a relatively high concentration of an acid monomer. The dispersion of encapsulated TiO2 particles shows significantly improved freeze-thaw stability as compared with prior art processes that do not include staging with the second monomers described herein.
US09777180B2

A method of forming a passivated pigment slurry includes combining a resin and a pigment to form a pigment-resin slurry, wherein the pigment includes a plurality of flakes each having a surface. After combining, the method includes mixing the pigment-resin slurry and an orthosilicate to form a coated pigment-resin slurry. The coated pigment-resin slurry includes the resin and a coated pigment including the plurality of flakes each encapsulated by a first layer formed from silica and disposed on the surface. The method further includes reacting the coated pigment-resin slurry and an organosilane compound having a hydrolysable group and an organic functional group to coat the first layer and thereby form the passivated pigment slurry. The passivated pigment slurry includes the resin and a passivated pigment including the plurality of flakes each coated with a second layer disposed on the first layer.
US09777174B2

A process for preparing a dispersion comprising the stages: i) providing a dispersion comprising a particulate solid, a liquid medium and a dispersant having cross-linkable groups and a weight averaged molecular weight of from 1,000 to 70,000; and ii) cross-linking the dispersant in the presence of the particulate solid and the liquid medium thereby preparing a dispersion of an encapsulated particulate solid, wherein the cross-linking is performed such that 0.01 to 0.5 mmoles of cross-linkable groups in the dispersant are cross-linked per g of dispersant; said process also comprising at any stage: iii) adding a metal chelating agent to the dispersion; and after stage iii) the stage of: iv) removing at least some of the metal chelating agent from the dispersion.
US09777168B2

A method is disclosed of preparing a liquid formulation for application as a deposit on a substrate. The method includes the steps of providing a liquid having a first viscosity in a non-evaporative state; and adding an amine-acid adduct to the liquid to form a mixture having a second viscosity greater than the first viscosity. The amine-acid adduct is evaporative such that the amine-acid adduct is substantially completely removed from the deposit in a functionally dry state.
US09777159B2

A pyrolysis device and process to convert a carbonaceous feedstock to a carbon solid and pyrolysis gas, and processes for refining the resulting carbon solid and pyrolysis gases. The pyrolysis process may include introducing a carbonaceous feedstock into a pyrolysis processor having a vertical rotary tray processor, heating the feedstock to a temperature above about 790° F., removing a carbon material from a bottom of the pyrolysis processor, and removing a pyrolysis gas from a top of the pyrolysis processor.
US09777154B2

Gels and gel-containing materials, including hydrogels, are described. A gel can be formed by blending polyacrylic acid (PAA) and a polyglycol, such as polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG) at room temperature and, in some cases, without using a catalyst. The blend material can be used to form soft or hard materials, films and particles. The blend material can be combined with vinyl monomers and polymerize to form a hydrogel. The hydrogel can have a high mechanical strength and high water absorbency.
US09777152B2

To provide a polycarbonate resin composition excellent in surface hardness and impact strength.A polycarbonate resin composition comprising at least a polycarbonate resin (a) and a polycarbonate resin (b) having structural units different from the polycarbonate resin (a), which satisfies the requirements: (i) the pencil hardness of the polycarbonate resin (a) as specified by ISO15184 is higher than the pencil hardness of the polycarbonate resin (b) as specified by ISO15184; (ii) the weight ratio of the polycarbonate resin (a) to the polycarbonate resin (b) in the polycarbonate resin is from 1:99 to 45:55; (iii) the pencil hardness of the polycarbonate resin composition as specified by ISO15184 is higher by at least two ranks than the pencil hardness of the polycarbonate resin (b) as specified by ISO15184; and (iv) the Charpy impact strength of the polycarbonate resin composition is higher than the Charpy impact strength of the polycarbonate resin (a).
US09777148B2

A biodegradable composite material or device including at least one biodegradable polymer matrix material and at least one filler component. The material or device has an initial shape and at least one evolved shape. The evolved shape is different from the initial shape. The initial shape is adapted to change towards the evolved shape. The filler component is adapted to accelerate and/or amplify the transformation from the initial shape towards the evolved shape when the external stimulus for transformation is given by physiological conditions. Also a method to control the shape transformation rate of a composite material or device.
US09777144B2

A method of production of an aqueous dispersion of hollow polymer particles including forming, on the outer layers of core polymer particle (A) on which inside shell layer (B) and intermediate shell layer (C) are formed, outside shell layer (D) obtained by using a monomer mixture (d) with a ratio of content of an acidic group-containing monomer controlled to 0.15 wt % or less and adding a base to an aqueous dispersion of the obtained polymer particle to make the pH of the aqueous dispersion 7 or more is provided.
US09777134B2

The invention relates to a powdery composition for use in the layer by layer manufacturing of three-dimensional molded bodies. The composition comprises at least one powder made of an aliphatic thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and is characterized in that the TPU powder has a melting temperature of less than 135° C. and a melting viscosity at 150° C. of at most 800 Pa·s.
US09777125B2

This invention is related to a method for producing polymer latex particle coated with silver nanoparticles. First, a polymer latex particle suspension is mixed with a silver nitrate solution in a weight ratio of 10:1 to 1:10 at 50° C. to 90° C. for 10 to 120 minutes to form a mixed solution. After the temperature of the mix solution is cooled to 50° C. to 85° C., a sodium citrate solution is added to react with the mixed solution for 10 to 240 minutes to form a polymer latex particle coated with silver nanoparticles, which has antibacterial activity.
US09777122B2

A silicone polymer is provided, modified with at least one functional group from the class of anthraquinone amide groups; anthraquinone sulfonamide groups; thioxanthone amide groups; or thioxanthone sulfone amide groups. The polymer can be combined with a hydrocarbon solvent or with supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2), and is very effective for increasing the viscosity of either medium. A process for the recovery of oil from a subterranean, oil-bearing formation is also described, using supercritical carbon dioxide modified with the functionalized silicone polymer. A process for extracting natural gas or oil from a bedrock-shale formation is also described, again using the modified silicone polymer.
US09777116B2

Methods of forming nanoporous materials are described herein that include forming a polymer network with a chemically removable portion. The chemically removable portion may be polycarbonate polymer that is removable on application of heat or exposure to a base, or a polyhexahydrotriazine (PHT) or polyhemiaminal (PHA) polymer that is removable on exposure to an acid. The method generally includes forming a reaction mixture comprising a formaldehyde, a solvent, a primary aromatic diamine, and a diamine having a primary amino group and a secondary amino group, the secondary amino group having a base-reactive substituent, and heating the reaction mixture to a temperature of between about 50 deg C. and about 150 deg C. to form a polymer. Removing any portion of the polymer results in formation of nanoscopic pores as polymer chains are decomposed, leaving pores in the polymer matrix.
US09777110B2

A polyester film has a maximum surface height on a surface A side (SRmaxA) of 1500 nm to 7000 nm, a maximum surface height on a surface B side (SRmaxB) of 5 nm or more but less than 7000 nm, the SRmaxA and the SRmaxB satisfying the following relation (1), and a strength at break at 25° C. of 200 MPa to 330 MPa in both the longitudinal direction and the width direction. SRmaxA>SRmaxB  (1)
US09777100B2

Polymer latex binders useful for preparing coating compositions containing low levels of, or which are substantially free of, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as volatile freeze-thaw additives are prepared by multistage emulsion polymerization, wherein one stage provides a copolymer having a relatively high glass transition temperature and containing an oxyalkylene-containing (meth)acrylate comonomer.
US09777098B2

The invention relates to a polyalkyl (meth) acrylate for improving lubricating oil properties, which comprises repetition units which are derived from (meth) acrylates having 6 to 22 carbon atoms in the alcohol residues, and repetition units which are derived from amine derivatives of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer. The invention further relates to methods for producing and using the present polyalkyl (meth) acrylate.
US09777096B2

The present invention pertains to: a polymerizable compound represented by a formula (I); a polymerizable composition comprising the polymerizable compound and an initiator; a polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable compound or the polymerizable composition; and an optically anisotropic article comprising the polymer. The present invention provides a polymerizable compound, a polymerizable composition, and a polymer that have a practical low melting point, exhibit excellent solubility in a general-purpose solvent, can be produced at low cost, and can produce an optical film that achieves uniform conversion of polarized light over a wide wavelength band, and also provide an optically anisotropic article.
US09777093B2

A polymer compound for a conductive polymer including one or more repeating units “a” shown by the following general formula (1), and having a weight-average molecular weight in the range of 1,000 to 500,000, wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R2 represents any of a single bond, an ester group, and a linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms and optionally containing either or both of an ether group and an ester group; R3 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms with one or more hydrogen atoms in R3 being substituted by a fluorine atom(s); “Z” represents any of a single bond, a phenylene group, a naphthylene group, an ether group, and an ester group; and “a” is a number satisfying 0
US09777088B2

Disclosed are a heat-resistant SAN resin, a method of producing the same and a heat-resistant SAN resin composition comprising the same. More specifically, disclosed are a heat-resistant SAN resin produced using ingredients comprising 52 to 78% by weight of alpha-methylstyrene, 20 to 40% by weight of a vinyl cyanide compound and 2 to 8% by weight of hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate, a method of producing the same and a heat-resistant SAN resin composition comprising the same. Advantageously, provided are a heat-resistant SAN resin with maintained heat resistance, improved polymerization conversion rate and increased weight average molecular weight, a method of producing the same, and a heat-resistant SAN resin composition containing the same with excellent chemical resistance, superior mechanical properties and good balance between properties.
US09777086B2

A polymerizable composition comprised of a mixture of a norbornene-based monomer and a metathesis polymerization catalyst which is solidified by cooling is provided. Preferably, the norbornene-based monomer has a freezing point of 20° C. or more, more preferably the metathesis polymerization catalyst is a ruthenium-carbene complex. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a polymerizable composition which is excellent in storage stability and which enables industrial production of small resin shaped articles which are excellent in stability of quality.
US09777082B2

A method for the production of hyperbranched polyacrylates includes the step of reacting acrylic inimers through controlled living polymerization in aqueous conditions. The inimers may have the formula: Wherein X is a halogen, a thiocarbonylthio or nitroxide group, and R is hydrogen, methyl, dodecyl, and groups containing mesogenin substituents, fluorocarbon substituents, siloxane substituents and oxyethylene substituents. In particular, the aqueous condition is emulsion or miniemulsion. The polymerization may be reverse ATRP, SN&RI and AGET polymerization or RAFT polymerization (with thiocarbonylthio X groups) or nitroxide mediated polyeization (with nitroxide X groups).
US09777077B2

The present invention provides an effective method for fractionating rubber particles in natural rubber latex by particle size, and effective methods for transporting or preserving rubber particles. The present invention relates to a method for fractionating rubber particles in natural rubber latex by particle size, the method including centrifuging natural rubber latex in at least four stages at forces of 800 to 3,000×g, 6,500 to 10,000×g, 17,000 to 22,000×g, and 40,000 to 60,000×g to fractionate rubber particles. The present invention also relates to methods for transporting or preserving rubber particles, the methods including the steps of adding a buffer solution and an antioxidant to natural rubber latex or rubber particles fractionated from natural rubber latex; and freezing a mixture prepared in the above step.
US09777074B2

This invention relates to novel compositions comprising regioselectively substituted cellulose esters. One aspect of the invention relates to processes for preparing regioselectively substituted cellulose esters from cellulose dissolved in ionic liquids. Another aspect of the invention relates to the utility of regioselectively substituted cellulose esters in applications such as protective and compensation films for liquid crystalline displays.
US09777053B2

Arrangements and methods are provided for obtaining information associated with an anatomical sample. For example, at least one first electro-magnetic radiation can be provided to the anatomical sample so as to generate at least one acoustic wave in the anatomical sample. At least one second electro-magnetic radiation can be produced based on the acoustic wave. At least one portion of at least one second electro-magnetic radiation can be provided so as to determine information associated with at least one portion of the anatomical sample. In addition, the information based on data associated with the second electro-magnetic radiation can be analyzed. The first electro-magnetic radiation may include at least one first magnitude and at least one first frequency. The second electro-magnetic radiation can include at least one second magnitude and at least one second frequency. The data may relate to a first difference between the first and second magnitudes and/or a second difference between the first and second frequencies. The second difference may be approximately between −100 GHz and 100 GHz, excluding zero.
US09777049B2

The invention relates to mutant forms of lysenin. The invention also relates to analyte characterization using lysenin.
US09777035B2

The present invention is directed to 4′-substituted nucleoside derivatives of Formula I and their use in the inhibition of HIV reverse transcriptase, the prophylaxis of infection by HIV, the treatment of infection by HIV, and the prophylaxis, treatment, and delay in the onset or progression of AIDS and/or ARC.
US09777032B2

One example embodiment includes inserting a chemical reagent into a process stream that contains one or more lignins to form one or more modified lignins. The formed one or more modified lignins are different than the one or more lignins in the process stream. The one or more modified lignins can be formed in the process stream before a precipitation stage and then separated from the process stream. Also, contaminates can be removed from the separated one or more modified lignins and the one or more modified lignins can be pressed and dried.
US09777028B2

The present invention relates to co-crystals, salts and crystalline forms of tenofovir alafenamide and methods for preparation, use and isolation of such compounds.
US09777017B2

The present invention provides tricyclic fused thiophene derivatives, as well as their compositions and methods of use, that modulate the activity of Janus kinase (JAK) and are useful in the treatment of diseases related to the activity of JAK including, for example, inflammatory disorders, autoimmune disorders, cancer, and other diseases.
US09777015B2

The present invention relates to a thiophene derivative of the following general formula I or an enantiomer, diastereoisomer, hydrate, solvate, tautomer, racemic mixture or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or to its use as a drug in particular intended for treating and/or preventing diabetes, its complications and/or associated pathologies, advantageously diabetes of type II and hyperglycemia.
US09777014B2

The present invention relates to 2,3,4,4a-tetrahydro-3,4,8,10-tetrahydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-9-methoxypyrano[3,2-c]isochromen-6(10bH)-one analogs of the Formula I, wherein, R, R′ and R″ are as herein described. In addition, the invention relates to methods of using compounds for treating or preventing various inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.
US09777013B2

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides new analogs of uncialamycin of formulae (I) and (II). The present disclosure also provides novel synthetic pathways to obtaining uncialamycin and analogs thereof. Additionally, the present disclosure also describes methods of use of uncialamycin and analogs thereof. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides antibody-drug conjugates comprising the compounds of formulae (I) and (II).
US09777012B2

Compounds of Formula I: and compounds of Formula II: are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising either the compound of Formula I or Formula II are disclosed. Methods of treating patients having cancer are provided by administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of one or more compounds having Formula I or Formula II to treat the patient. The compounds of Formula I or II are preferably conformationally restricted furo[2,3-d]pyrimidines having dual inhibition of microtubule assembly and receptor tyrosine kinases.
US09777007B2

The invention relates to besylate salts of the compound of formula (I): Methods of preparing the salts, and their use as medicaments, in particular for sedative or hypnotic, anxiolytic, muscle relaxant, or anticonvulsant purposes is also described.
US09777006B2

The present invention is directed to compounds encompassed by the Formula (I): pharmaceutical compositions thereof, methods for inhibiting LTA-4 hydrolase, and methods for the treatment of a disease and disorder which is ameliorated by the inhibition of LTA4h activity. Non-limiting examples of such diseases and conditions include inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and disorders.
US09776997B2

The present application relates to novel 3-aryl-substituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, to processes for preparation thereof, to the use thereof, alone or in combinations, for treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, and to the use thereof for production of medicaments for treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, especially for treatment and/or prophylaxis of cardiovascular disorders.
US09776996B2

The present invention relates to azole bicyclic heteroaryl compounds. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and methods of treating cancer by administering these compounds and pharmaceutical compositions to subjects in need thereof. The present invention also relates to the use of such compounds for research or other non-therapeutic purposes.
US09776993B2

The present invention relates to novel isoxazoline carboxamide derivatives, to processes for preparing these compounds, to compositions comprising these compounds, and to the use thereof as biologically active compounds, especially for control of harmful microorganisms in crop protection and in the protection of materials.
US09776986B2

The invention relates to oral, topical or injectable compositions for combating liver fluke parasites in mammals, comprising at least one indole derivative active agent. The invention also provides for an improved method for eradicating and controlling liver fluke parasite infections and infestations in a mammal comprising administering the compositions of the invention to the mammal in need thereof.
US09776984B2

Compound containing a pentalene unit having general formula (I) wherein R1 and R2, equal to or different from each other, are selected from: linear or branched C1-C20, preferably C2-C12, alkyl groups, saturated or unsaturated, optionally containing heteroatoms, cycloalkyl groups optionally substituted, linear or branched C1-C20, preferably C2-C12, alkoxyl groups, saturated or unsaturated, optionally substituted; or the groups R1 and R2 can be optionally bound to each other so as to form, together with the carbon atoms to which they are bound, a cycle or a polycyclic system containing from 3 to 14 carbon atoms, preferably from 4 to 6 carbon atoms, saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms such as, for example, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, silicon, phosphorous, selenium; R3 is selected from aryl groups optionally substituted, heteroaryl groups optionally substituted; n is 0 or 1; with the proviso that: when n is 0, X represents a covalent bond and Y represents a sulfur atom (S); when n is 1, X is equal to Y, and represents a CH group, or a nitrogen atom (N). Said compound containing a pentalene unit, as such or after suitable functionalization and polymerization, can be advantageously used in the construction of photovoltaic devices (or solar devices) such as, for example, photovoltaic cells (or solar cells), photovoltaic modules (or solar modules), on both rigid and flexible supports. Said compound containing a pentalene unit can also be advantageously used as a constitutive unit of luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). Furthermore, said compound containing a pentalene unit can be advantageously used as precursor of monomeric units in the preparation of semiconductor polymers.
US09776979B2

Provided herein are small molecule Epstein-Barr virus-induced G-protein coupled receptor 2 (EBI2) modulator compounds, compositions comprising the compounds, and methods of using the compounds and compositions comprising the compounds. EBI2 is a therapeutic target for the treatment of a variety of diseases or conditions. In some embodiments, EBI2 is a therapeutic target for the treatment of diseases or conditions such as, but not limited to, autoimmune diseases or conditions, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
US09776975B2

A new class of antibiotics effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is disclosed. Compounds of this class can impair cell-wall biosynthesis by binding to both the allosteric and the catalytic domains of penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2a. This class of antibiotics holds promise in reversing obsolescence of staphylococcal PBPs as important targets for antibiotics. Embodiments of the invention thus provide novel antibacterial compounds that target penicillin-binding proteins and/or other important cellular targets. Methods for inhibiting the growth and/or replication of bacteria using the compounds described herein are also provided. Various embodiments exhibit activity against gram positive bacteria, including drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus.
US09776964B2

The present invention provides a compound of the Formula (I): wherein X, R, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, and R9 are as defined herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US09776958B2

The present application relates to a sulfonate-based compound and a method for preparing the same.
US09776955B2

A method for preparing N,N′-bis(2-cyanoethyl-1,2-ethylenediamine involves using glycol ether as a catalyst for synthesis reaction in which ethylenediamine and acrylonitrile at a molar ratio of 1:1.9-2.1 are reactant that react at 20-70°C to prepare N,N′-bis(2-cyanoethyl)-1,2-ethylenediamine; the method improves the yield to 98.15-98.98%; and the used glycol ether may be filtered and recycled, thereby saving costs and reducing environmental pollution.
US09776954B2

The present invention relates to: a polymerizable compound represented by a formula (I); a polymerizable composition comprising the polymerizable compound and an initiator; a polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable compound or the polymerizable composition; and an optically anisotropic article comprising the polymer [in the formula, Y1 to Y8 are a chemical single bond, —O—, —O—C(═O)—, —C(═O)—O—, or the like; G1 and G2 are a divalent aliphatic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or the like; Z1 and Z2 are an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, or the like; A1 is a tetravalent aromatic group, or the like; A2 and A3 are a divalent alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 30 carbon atoms, or the like; A4 and A5 are a divalent aromatic group having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, or the like; Ax1 and Ax2 are an organic group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms that includes an aromatic ring, or the like; Ay1 and Ay2 are a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or the like; Q1 and Q2 are a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or the like; and m and n are 0 or 1]. According to the present invention, a polymerizable compound, a polymerizable composition, and a polymer that have a practical low melting point, exhibit excellent solubility in a general-purpose solvent, can be produced at low cost, and can produce an optical film that achieves uniform conversion of polarized light over a wide wavelength band, and also provide an optically anisotropic article.
US09776951B2

The invention relates to novel polyglycerol esters with a particular oligomer distribution of the polyglycerol present, and to their use in particular in cosmetic formulations as, for example, emulsifier.
US09776950B2

Provided is a production device including: a first reactor to form a second gas containing an ester and nitric oxide from a first gas containing carbon monoxide, a nitrite, and nitric oxide; an absorption column to separate the second gas and an absorbing solution into a condensate containing the ester and a noncondensable gas; a second reactor to introduce an alcohol, the noncondensable gas, and oxygen gas thereinto to form a third gas containing nitric oxide and a nitrite; a third reactor to form a fourth gas containing a nitrite from the noncondensable gas and a bottom liquid from the second reactor and to feed the fourth gas to the second reactor; a first measurement unit to measure the concentration of a nitrite in the first gas; and a first flow rate-adjusting unit to adjust the amount of the noncondensable gas to the third reactor based on the concentration.
US09776948B2

A process for production of dialkyl succinate from bio-succinic acid feedstock where solid bio-succinic acid is fed to a reactor to react with alkanol by autocatalytic esterification. Products from the reactor including unreacted succinic acid, mono alkyl ester, dialkyl ester, alkanol, water and impurities are sent to a reaction distillation column for esterification of succinic acid and further esterification of mono alkyl ester with upflowing alkanol. The bottoms products from the reaction distillation column including residual succinic acid, mono alkyl ester, dialkyl ester, impurities and alkanol are sent to a bottoms stream separation zone where di-alkyl ester is separated from alkanol, succinic acid, mono alkyl ester and impurities. The tops products from the reaction distillation column including alkanol, water and organic components are sent to a top stream distillation zone where alkanol is separated from water and organic components. The organic components are recycled to the reaction zone column.
US09776947B2

In a process for the production of dialkyl succinate from a feedstock comprising maleic anhydride, feed in the liquid phase is provided to a reactor operated at a temperature of at least about 150° C. The feed is contacted with hydrogen at a pressure of at least about 300 psig in the presence of an acid tolerant catalyst and an alkanol wherein at least some of the carbon carbon double bonds of the maleic anhydride are hydrogenated to form succinic acid and that the heat generated promotes esterification to dialkyl succinate in situ. A stream of dialkyl succinate is recovered from the reactor.
US09776940B2

A process for production of acrylic acid includes preparing a product gas mixture by a catalytic gas-phase oxidation of a C3 precursor; cooling and contacting the cooled product gas mixture in an absorption column having at least two cooling loops in countercurrent with an absorbent to obtain an absorbate A, containing the absorbent and absorbed acrylic acid; condensing a high boiler fraction of the product gas mixture in a first cooling loop; condensing a low boiler fraction of the product gas mixture in a second cooling loop; maintaining a temperature of the absorbate A in the second cooling loop at a value of at least 56° C.; removing an acid water stream comprising glyoxal from the absorption column at a side take-off located above the second cooling loop; and removing a stream F of absorbate A from the absorption column at a side take-off, located at a height of the absorption column between the first cooling loop and the second cooling loop.
US09776939B2

A method for cultivating Monarda fistulosa for production of thymoquinone includes planting seeds at rates between about 2.5 and about 5 pounds per acre, preferably about 4 pounds per acre. The heavy rate of planting produces plants bearing oil without weed contamination and reduces herbicide use due to production of natural herbicides by the monarda plants. Seeding and mowing the first season, and harvesting in seasons thereafter reduce costs. The method results in increased production of essential oils including thymoquinone and thymohydroquinone at levels up to about 40% or more of recovered oils, and which may be distilled from the plant.
US09776937B2

In a feed clean-up process at least two adsorbents (2, 4) are installed in front of an oligomerization reactor (3). Olefin feed is sent over one adsorbent (2) and the nitrile poisons are adsorbed so that clean feed will enter the reactor (3). Before the adsorbent (2) will be saturated, the feed (1) is sent to the other, fresh adsorbent (4). At the same time oligomerization product from the reactor (3) is used to desorb nitriles from the spent adsorbent (2).
US09776934B2

A method of producing monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons includes bringing a light feedstock oil having a 10 vol % distillation temperature of 140° C. to 205° C. and a 90 vol % distillation temperature of 300° C. or lower, which has been prepared from a feedstock oil having a 10 vol % distillation temperature of 140° C. or higher and a 90 vol % distillation temperature of 380° C. or lower, into contact with a catalyst for monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon production containing a crystalline aluminosilicate, in which a content ratio of monocyclic naphthenobenzenes in the light feedstock oil is adjusted by distillation of the feedstock oil such that the content ratio of monocyclic naphthenobenzenes in the light feedstock oil is higher than a content ratio of monocyclic naphthenobenzenes in the feedstock oil.
US09776928B2

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a carbon-based particle/copper composite material in which carbon-based particles such as graphite and copper are mixed, the method including mixing a solution of a polymer organic compound having a main chain of carbon and a copper precursor in a solvent, with a dispersion solution of carbon-based particles in a first dispersion medium to produce a mixture, adding a first reducing agent to the mixture to form composite particles in which copper (I) oxide particles are attached to the surface of the carbon-based particles, and sintering the composite particles under a non-oxidizing atmosphere. According to the preparing method, a composition material is obtained, in which carbon-based particles and copper are well mixed.
US09776923B2

A powdery composition based on silica for ceramic welding, in particular by projection, comprising from 10 to 90% of a phase of siliceous particles comprise at least 80% by weight of cristobalite and at most 15% by weight of tridymite, based on the total weight of the composition, from 90 to 10% by weight of conventional additives forming a binding phase, based on the total weight of the composition, said siliceous particles having a d50 comprised between 350 and 800 μm, preferably between 400 and 500 μm.
US09776921B2

There is provided an apparatus and process for manufacturing a brick or paver with a high content of coal ash (ranging from 60% to 100% coal ash or fly ash) so that a waste product (coal ash, and more particularly Class F coal ash) from a coal-fired power plant is incorporated into a building product (high content fly ash brick or paver). Also provided is a variable firing tray to support the dried, high content coal ash bricks/pavers as the dried products are sent through a tunnel kiln, to improve circulation around the individual bricks/pavers and thereby result in reduced firing time in the kiln.
US09776911B2

High thermal conductivity dielectric materials systems or pastes are useful on aluminum alloy substrates for LED and high power circuitry applications.
US09776910B2

Certain example embodiments relate to improved seals for glass articles. Certain example embodiments relate to a composition used for sealing an insulted glass unit. In certain example embodiments the composition includes vanadium oxide, barium oxide, zinc oxide, and at least one additional additive. For instance, another additive that is a different metal oxide or different metal chloride may be provided. In certain example embodiments, a vacuum insulated glass unit includes first and second glass substrates that are sealed together with a seal that includes the above-described composition.
US09776907B2

A method is provided that includes: forming a low-index trench region with a first density; forming an inner barrier layer comprising silica around the trench region at a second density greater than the first density; depositing silica-based soot around the first barrier layer to form an overclad region at a third density less than the second density; inserting a core cane into a trench-overclad structure; forming an outer barrier layer comprising silica in an outer portion of the overclad region at a fourth density greater than the third density; flowing a down dopant-containing gas through the trench-overclad structure to dope the trench region with the down dopant, and wherein the barrier layers mitigate diffusion of the down-dopant into the overclad region; and consolidating the trench-overclad and the core cane.
US09776901B2

Submerged combustion glass manufacturing systems include a melter having a floor, a roof, a wall structure connecting the floor and roof, and an exhaust passage through the roof. One or more submerged combustion burners are mounted in the floor and/or wall structure discharging combustion products under a level of material being melted in the melter and create turbulent conditions in the material. The melter exhausts through an exhaust structure connecting the exhaust passage with an exhaust stack. The exhaust structure includes a barrier defining an exhaust chamber having an interior surface, the exhaust chamber having a cross-sectional area greater than that of the exhaust stack but less than the melter. The barrier maintains temperature and pressure in the exhaust structure at values sufficient to substantially prevent condensation of exhaust material on the interior surface.
US09776890B1

A sanitizing system for water treatment in appliances that use or that have an associated water cycle where sanitization of the water in the water cycle is beneficial. The system comprises a controller, a biocide, and a biocide injection subsystem, wherein the controller provides a signal to the injection subsystem to release a biocide into a water reservoir contained within the appliance, and further wherein the signal provided by the controller is in response to a signal received by the controller from the appliance.
US09776884B2

The present invention provides a process for preparing a precipitated calcium carbonate product comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an aqueous suspension of precipitated calcium carbonate seeds by carbonating a suspension of Ca(OH)2 in the presence of 0.005 to 0.030 moles of Sr, in the form of Sr(OH)2, per mole of Ca(OH)2, (b) dewatering and dispersing the precipitated calcium carbonate seeds prepared in step (a) to obtain an aqueous suspension of precipitated calcium carbonate seeds having a d50 of less than or equal to 0.1 to 0.3 μm and a BET specific surface area of 10 to 30 m2/g, and (c) forming an aqueous suspension of a precipitated calcium carbonate product by carbonating a slurry of Ca(OH)2 in the presence of 0.5 to 5% by dry weight of the precipitated calcium carbonate seeds obtained in step (b), wherein the precipitated calcium carbonate seeds have a d50 that is less than the d50 of the precipitated calcium carbonate product and the precipitated calcium carbonate seeds have an aragonitic polymorph content greater than or equal to the precipitated calcium carbonate product obtained in step (c) characterized in that the dewatering of step (b) is carried out by the use of a tube press.
US09776881B2

Processes for producing beryllium fluoride salt systems containing beryllium fluoride, such as lithium beryllium fluoride salts, are disclosed herein. The processes include mixing ammonium beryllium fluoride with a lithium compound, melting the mixture to form a molten phase, purging the molten phase, and cooling the molten phase. This reduces the number of manufacturing steps needed to obtain the beryllium fluoride containing salt.
US09776880B2

The object of the disclosure is to provide a method for efficiently producing fine particles with low crystal growth of the raw material components, in particular fine particles with a plurality of raw material components in a highly complexed state and having low crystal growth, without blockage of the nozzle. The method of the disclosure for producing particles includes injecting a good solvent solution that includes a good solvent and one or more raw material components dissolved in the good solvent, with a nozzle into a precipitating poor solvent that has been heated to a temperature higher than the boiling point of the good solvent, to evaporate the good solvent solution and precipitate a plurality of particles, and running a cleansing poor solvent through the nozzle before starting and after completing injection of the good solvent solution into the precipitating poor solvent.
US09776879B2

The present invention provides a method for treating the particle surface of a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery, the method comprising (a) preparing a cathode active material having a lithium compound; (b) generating a plasma from a gas comprising at least one of a fluorine-containing gas and a phosphorus-containing gas as a part of a reactive gas; and (c) removing lithium impurities present on the particle surface of the cathode active material with the plasma. In accordance with the present invention, the amount of the lithium impurities present on the particle surface of the cathode active material can be reduced to suppress a side reaction of the lithium impurities and an electrolyte.
US09776866B2

The method for producing a perovskite metal oxynitride of the present invention, comprises: a hydrogenation step (A) of forming a perovskite oxyhydride in which an oxide ion (O2−) and a hydride ion (H−) coexist, by reducing a perovskite oxide through a reductive oxygen elimination reaction using a metal hydride; and a nitriding step (B) of forming a perovskite oxynitride containing a nitride ion (N3−) by heat-treating the perovskite oxyhydride in the presence of a nitrogen source substance at a temperature of 300° C. or higher and 600° C. or lower and exchanging the hydride ion (H−) for a nitride ion (N3−).
US09776861B1

A convectively heated steam/methane reformer having a shell and tube reforming reactor for hydrogen production. A reactor core containing the reactants is convectively heated by hot air flowing through the shell or annulus of the reactor. Heated air is supplied to the reactor through several fluid inlets on the shell side of the reformer.
US09776857B2

A method of fabricating a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) structure includes providing a first substrate structure including a bonding pad structure. The bonding pad structure has at least one recess therein. A second substrate structure is provided and bonded with the bonding pad structure of the first substrate structure.
US09776852B2

The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a CMOS-MEMS structure. The method includes etching a cavity on a first surface of a cap substrate; bonding the first surface of the cap substrate with a sensing substrate; thinning a second surface of the sensing substrate, the second surface being opposite to a third surface of the sensing substrate bonded to the cap substrate; etching the second surface of the sensing substrate; patterning a portion of the second surface of the sensing substrate to form a plurality of bonding regions; depositing an eutectic metal layer on the plurality of bonding regions; etching a portion of the sensing substrate under the cavity to form a movable element; and bonding the sensing substrate to a CMOS substrate through the eutectic metal layer.
US09776849B2

A fluid dispensing assembly includes a dispenser that may be attached to an air conditioning unit. A container is provided to contain a liquid clog remover. The container is removably attached to the dispenser thereby facilitating the container to be fluidly coupled to the dispenser. A hose is fluidly coupled between the dispenser and a condensation drain on the air conditioning unit such that the liquid clog remover inhibits the condensation drain from becoming clogged.
US09776846B2

A lift device includes a chassis, a lift boom, a sensor, and a controller. The chassis includes a frame, an axle pivotally coupled to the frame, and an actuator positioned to move the axle. The lift boom is rotatably coupled to the chassis and operable within a work envelope, and the sensor is positioned to monitor an orientation of the lift boom. The controller is configured to engage the actuator based on the orientation of the lift boom. Engagement of the actuator moves the axle to adjust the work envelope of the lift boom.
US09776845B2

An anchoring assembly is provided for the aerial lift platform of an aerial lift vehicle. The anchor assembly extends through the walls of a bucket liner and a bucket platform, and provides a strong anchor disposed inside of the bucket liner for use in attaching an operator harness to prevent the operator from being ejected from the bucket platform. The anchor assembly also provides dielectric protection mandated by OSHA and ANSI standards.
US09776843B2

Disclosed is a wheel based measuring system and a method for lifting a vehicle. The lifting system includes one stationary lift; a number of moveable lifts; positioning means for defining a position of a wheel axle of the vehicle; distance measuring means for determining the distance of the vehicle to a reference point; and control means for determining the distance between two vehicle axles and steering the one or more moveable lifts to the correct position.
US09776839B2

A control switch for operating a machine, the control switch including a housing that includes a gripping region for an operator, and a detecting device for detecting an operator. The control switch further includes a safety circuit for activating the control switch when an operator is detected, and deactivating the control switch when the operator is not detected. The safety circuit includes a detecting device that includes at least one sensor operable to detect in a near field an operator's hand holding the control switch in the gripping region. The detecting device includes at least one additional sensor which detects a use of the control switch.
US09776836B2

An arrangement of two rail segments, consisting of at least one mounting element disposed at each rail segment, and of at least one connector in contact with the mounting elements, by means of which the rail segments can be connected to each other at the end faces thereof, wherein each mounting element is attached to the corresponding rail segment by means of a welding seam. At least one end of the welding seam ends in a region on the rail segment outside of the mounting element.
US09776825B2

A folding roller module with combined bearing unit is disclosed. The folding roller module of the present invention comprises a folding roller and a plurality of combined bearing unit. In the present invention, a plurality of combined bearing unit are used to support the folding roller at suitable locations for enhancing the strength of the folding roller module, reducing the deformation of the folding roller, and reducing the vibration during operation.
US09776821B2

An apparatus for overlapping and stacking sheets, the apparatus has a housing defining a stacking area and a travel plane for the sheets, a conveyor for transporting the sheets through the housing in a travel direction along a travel plane, and an overlapping device in the housing upstream of the stacking area for producing an overlapping stream of the conveyed sheets. A brake in the overlapping device slows the conveyed sheets of the overlapping stream. Stacking elements include stops projecting upward in the stacking area and serving to position a stack formed by the conveyed sheets of the overlapping stream. A separate frame carrying the stacking elements in the stacking area above the travel plane or extending to above the supply travel plane is mounted in the housing of the apparatus so as to be movable horizontally downstream in the direction away from the overlapping device.
US09776797B2

Material processing apparatus (20) includes a housing (22) with a plurality of vertically stacked inverting pan conveyors (42, 44) therein. Each conveyor (42, 44) includes a plurality of conveyor pans (50) traveling between and around aligned front and rear sprocket pairs (90, 92) to define upper and lower conveyor runs (52, 54). Each pan (50) has a perforated base plate (56) presenting a pair of opposed material-supporting surfaces (58, 60). As the pans (50) traverse the sprocket pairs (90, 92), they are inverted, and material (110) carried by the upper run pans (50) is transferred to the lower run pans (50) by passage of the material around and/or between the sprocket pair (90).
US09776785B2

An aerosol dispensing system has a container assembly, an actuator assembly, and a trigger member. The container assembly has a valve assembly. The actuator assembly has an actuator housing defining a rail portion, a trigger member pivotably attached to the actuator housing, and an outlet assembly defining an outlet opening. The outlet assembly is slidably supported relative to the actuator housing by the rail portion. The trigger member engages the outlet assembly such that application of deliberate manual force on the trigger member causes pivoting movement of the trigger member relative to the actuator housing and such that pivoting movement of the trigger member relative to the actuator housing causes linear movement of the outlet assembly relative to the actuator housing. The outlet assembly engages the valve assembly such that linear movement of the outlet assembly alters the valve assembly from a closed configuration to a fully open configuration.
US09776782B2

The present invention relates to improved packages which include a rigid or semi-rigid tray having a single thermoplastic overwrap comprising a polymeric laminate surrounding the tray and having a front panel and an opposing back panel. The inventive packages also include a continuous seal circumscribing a recessed cavity of the tray which comprises a heat seal formed by heat sealing a portion of the front panel to the peripheral flange of the tray. Advantageously, when the tray is removed from the overwrap, a portion of the first film separates from the laminate and remains peelably sealed to the flange of the tray and thus, may serve as a lidding film for the container. Since the recessed cavity is still covered, the container may then be placed directly in a microwave or conventional oven to thaw and/or cook the food container within the package without first removing the lidding film.
US09776772B2

A bayonet connection structure between a container mouth portion and a cap is disclosed. The cap includes multiple slip prevention claws spaced apart from each other. One of the slip prevention claws is elastically displaceable in a radial direction. A rotation prevention projection is provided between the elastically-displaceable slip prevention claw and the other slip prevention claws. The mouth portion has a hollow cylindrical portion with an outer circumferential surface provided with multiple slip prevention claw (SPC) engagement portions for the slip prevention claws. The SPC engagement portions are as many as the slip prevention claws. Each of the SPC engagement portions has an end in a clockwise direction provided with a rotation prevention stopper. The mouth portion includes a rotation prevention rib to be got over by the rotation prevention projection of the cap when the cap is rotated.
US09776764B2

A packaging container comprises a first portion formed of a first material or material combination mainly consisting of plastic, a second portion formed of a second material or material combination mainly consisting of a fiber based packaging laminate, and a pouring opening formed in the first portion. The second portion is provided with an arrangement for separating the entire first portion from the second portion.
US09776763B2

A method of loading stacked strainers in a dispenser while minimizing strainer contamination is disclosed. The method includes providing a stack of strainers that is enclosed in a protective material to form a pod, placing the pod within a dispenser, and removing the protective material from the pod of strainers while the strainers are in the dispenser. The strainers dispensed from the thus loaded dispenser avoid being contamination during loading. The protective material may be perforated to facilitate removal from the stack, and include an extended portion to be grasped during removal from the dispenser.
US09776760B2

The disclosed retail case includes a base member and an upper member selectively attached to the base member. The base member has a bottom wall and at least two base walls extending from the bottom wall. The base walls have an outer surface and an inner surface. The upper member has a top wall and at least two upper walls extending from the top wall. The upper walls have an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface of the upper walls attaches to the inner surface of the respective base walls at an attachment portion of the upper walls that is selectively removable from the upper walls to allow the attachment portion to remain attached to the base member when the upper member is removed from the base member. The attachment portion may also associate with flap portions that are connected to form a divider.
US09776756B2

The invention relates to a system and method for forming sleeved containers. The system includes a conveyor for transporting a row of containers, a sleeving unit for arranging sleeves around containers and a heat oven for attaching the sleeve around the container by heat shrinking. The conveyed containers are provided with a sleeve and the sleeved container is transported in the oven to allow the sleeve to shrink. According to the invention, part of the sleeve is removed using a removal unit. The part is removed after heat shrinking. Removing the part allows to uncover part of the container otherwise covered by sleeve.
US09776754B2

An integrated conveyor line system for placing safety and non-safety caps onto bottles traveling on the same conveyor line. A network of sensors and RFID readers determine the location of bottles and ensure that the right cap is placed on each bottle. The processing system controlling the hardware components instructs the appropriate components to divert bottles to a reject holding queue when the system detects a bottle having the wrong type of cap.
US09776750B2

An apparatus for forming a carton containing a group of articles and a method of forming a carton. The apparatus comprises an article positioning system for positioning articles into a plurality of groups of articles and moving the groups of articles along a processing path, a blank handling apparatus for conveying a plurality of carton blanks towards the plurality of groups of articles, and a folding mechanism that is downstream of the blank handling apparatus for folding a portion of the ends of each respective carton blank downwardly around the respective group of articles.
US09776746B2

A process for wrapping a stack of goods in film, wherein a portion of film is drawn from a film supply, cut, opened by a film opening means and pulled over the stack of goods by a travelling pulling means, wherein, after being drawn off and cut, the portion of film is transported lengthwise by a film transport means to the film opening means, characterized in that the portion of film is transported from the cutting unit as far as the film opening means by being gripped by frictional engagement between at least two conveyor members pressed together and circulating endlessly in a transport direction.
US09776745B2

A method for operating a packaging device and a packaging device are provided. Guide units which are fastened to transporter of a transport unit are moved along a plurality of supply and dispensing units. The transporter is driven by a drive axle coupled to a motor and returned via a deflection axle, the motor being coupled to a control unit. The transporter and/or the deflection axle have a plurality of markings spaced at predefined intervals, and at least one travel difference or time difference between two markings is determined. The determined difference is compared to a setpoint value and the drive axle is stopped when a deviation between the setpoint value and the determined difference exceeds a threshold value.
US09776743B2

A habitation module with a gravity chamber that provides an artificial gravity environment. In one embodiment, the gravity chamber includes an inner cylindrical structure, outer wall segments that are attachable to one another to form an outer cylindrical wall, and opposing side walls having support members that are extendable. The gravity chamber has a first diameter when the support members are contracted, and has a larger second diameter when the support members are extended. The gravity chamber connects to the habitation module with rotating attachment members so that the gravity chamber rotates about an axis. The habitation module also includes an inflatable shell that encompasses the gravity chamber.
US09776739B2

A system for cryocooling an optical sensor on a satellite to a temperature below 200K with minimal vibration comprising a miniature conical rotary screw compressor comprising an inner element configured to only rotate around a first stationary axis and an outer element configured to only rotate around a second stationary axis so that both elements revolve with minimal vibration; with at least one of a) a length of at least one of the inner element and the outer element is between 10 mm and 50 mm; b) a diameter of at least one of the inner element and the outer element is between 2 mm and 25 mm; c) a compression ratio of the rotary screw compressor is between 1:2 and 1:20; and d) a shaft speed of the conical rotary screw compressor is between 6001 and 20000 revolutions per minute.
US09776738B2

A portable electronic device for assessing an affected area of an aircraft is disclosed. A reference marker having a known size is located on the aircraft. The portable electronic device includes a processor in communication with a structural database, where the structural database includes a template that defines a maximum allowable size of damage to the aircraft. The processor executes instructions for determining an actual size of the affected area based on the known size of the reference marker. The processor also executes instructions for comparing the actual size of the affected area with the maximum allowable size of damage to the aircraft. The processor further executes instructions for determining that the actual size of the affected area exceeds the maximum allowable size of damage to the aircraft.
US09776732B2

The purpose of the present invention is to provide: a structural material for structures which is capable of attaining reductions in working time and cost in production steps and of preventing an increase in weight; a fuel tank; a main wing; and an aircraft. A rib (11) as the structural material for structures is characterized by comprising a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic wherein the reinforcement comprises carbon fibers and the matrix comprises a plastic, and the surface of the carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic was coated with a low-viscosity surface-protective material (18) having conductivity imparted thereto.
US09776708B2

A method during which a current position of a pilot control is determined, an equivalent position is determined that the pilot control needs to reach following a control transition in order to avoid modifying the actuator, and at least one mismatch is determined between the equivalent position and the current position. As from a transition, a target is determined for controlling the actuator by giving a corrected value to at least one position variable in a post-transition piloting relationship, the corrected value being determined as a function of the mismatch and of the current position of the pilot control. So long as the mismatch is not zero, the value of the mismatch in the relationship is reduced in proportion to the movement of the pilot control as the pilot control comes closer to the equivalent position.
US09776705B2

A shape memory structure includes a plurality of bases directly attached to a composite structure and arranged along a first line at a first edge of the composite structure. A plurality of buckle-shaped shape memory structures are attached to corresponding ones of the plurality of bases, such that first ends of the plurality of buckle-shaped shape memory structures are raised relative to the composite structure. Second ends of the plurality of buckle-shaped shape memory structures are directly attached to the composite structure along a second line at a second edge of the composite structure, the second edge being opposite the first edge. When activated, the shape memory structure changes from a buckled shape to an original shape to cause the composite structure to assume a deployed shape; when deactivated, the shape memory structure to resumes a buckled shape and the composite structure an undeployed shape.
US09776698B2

An outboard motor includes a drive shaft extending vertically from an engine and is rotated by the engine. An upper case covers the drive shaft. A propeller shaft extends perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the drive shaft. A lower case covers the propeller shaft. A front handle is disposed forward of the drive shaft and below an engine cover. A rear handle is disposed rearward of the drive shaft and below the engine cover. The rear handle is disposed in a position lower than a position of the front handle.
US09776685B2

A front derailleur basically includes a fixed member, a movable member, a driven link and a first link. The fixing member is configured to be fixed to a bicycle frame. The movable member is movably supported with respect to the fixed member. The driven link is operatively coupled to the movable member. The first link movably connects the movable member to the fixed member, and is adjustably coupled to the driven link in a fixed position by a fixing structure to establish a fixed rest position of the movable member with respect to the fixed member.
US09776682B2

A foldable bicycle has a front assembly including a front frame member supporting a front wheel and a handlebar column. A rear assembly has a rear frame member supporting a rear wheel, a seat structure and a drive mechanism. A central joint interconnects the front and rear frame members to form an articulated main frame. The articulated main frame is pivotable about a pivot axis between an assembled state such that the front and rear wheels are coplanar in a first plane that includes a vertical axis and a longitudinal axis and a collapsed state such that the front wheel is laterally offset and adjacent to the rear wheel. The front assembly rotates towards the rear assembly about the pivot axis when the articulated main frame is pivoted from the assembled state to the collapsed state.
US09776678B2

The present disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices for providing stability to a vehicle using one or more auxiliary support members on the vehicle, such as lateral sides of the vehicle. The auxiliary support members may extend away from the vehicle body to approach and/or touch a support surface and provide stability and in some cases additional centripetal force to facilitate steering of the vehicle. The auxiliary support members may also retract towards the vehicle.
US09776676B2

A crawler mechanism includes a frame, a track including a plurality of shoes coupled together and supported for movement relative to the frame along a direction of travel, a sprocket, and a guide rail. The frame includes a first end, a second end, a first side extending between the first end and the second end and proximate a support surface, and a second side. Each shoe includes an intermediate portion having a first hardness. The sprocket drives the plurality of shoes to move along the second side of the frame. The guide rail is coupled to the second side of the frame and includes a base having an outer surface and a coating bonded to the outer surface. The coating contacts the intermediate portion of the shoes as the shoes move along the second side of the frame, and the coating defines a second hardness less than the first hardness.
US09776675B1

A wing assembly for a vehicle includes a pivotable elongate wing member. The wing member extends from a first end to a second end, and is configured to pivot relative to a pivot axis between a first position and a second position. The pivot axis extends from the first end to the second end. The wing assembly further includes a first endplate pivotably coupled to the first end and a second endplate pivotably coupled to the second end. The first endplate has a first endplate position relative to the pivot axis, and is configured to maintain the first endplate position independent of wing member position. The second endplate has a second endplate position relative to the pivot axis, and is configured to maintain the second endplate position independent of wing member position.
US09776665B2

A load path control mechanism is fixed to a frame rail and includes a coupling bracket, a spacer bracket and a frame crossmember. The frame rail defines an inner chamber therein. The frame crossmember is fixed to the frame rail. The coupling bracket is disposed in the inner chamber and is fixed to the frame rail, paralleling the frame crossmember. The coupling bracket has a first projected area on a plane normal to a lateral axis. The spacer bracket, disposed on an outboard side of the frame rail, has a second projected area on a plane normal to the lateral axis. The projected areas at least partially overlap. The spacer bracket has a deformation mode responsive to a first load under which the space bracket deflects against the first side of the frame rail which deflects against the coupling bracket.
US09776662B2

A sub-frame structure includes right and left side members extending in a vehicle front-rear direction, and a rear cross member extending in a vehicle width direction. The sub-frame structure is configured to support a vehicle power plant such as an engine through antivibration devices, and to be supported by a vehicle body frame. The right and left side members are rigidly fixed to a vehicle body frame through bolts. A first antivibration device is mounted on a front cross beam. First bushes and second bushes are provided in order to support the front cross beam in a floating manner relative to the right and left side members.
US09776659B2

A bolted trailer frame includes frame rails provided in plural sections. The plural sections are bolted together using butt joints reinforced by one or more reinforcement brackets or plates.
US09776643B2

A method is provided for estimating range per full charge (RPC) for a vehicle. The method includes a controller which may, in response to detecting presence of a predefined condition impacting vehicle energy consumption, output to an interface by a controller a RPC and indicia indicative of an extent to which the predefined condition is affecting the RPC. An electrified vehicle including one or more vehicle components, a traction battery to supply energy to the vehicle components, one or more sensors, and a controller is also provided. The one or more sensors monitor the vehicle components, traction battery, and preselected ambient conditions. The controller is configured to, in response to input from the sensors, generate output for an interface which includes a RPC and indicia indicative of an extent of impact on the RPC by each of the ambient conditions and operation of the components and battery.
US09776638B1

An autonomous vehicle includes an automated driving system configured to automatically control vehicle steering, acceleration, and braking during a drive cycle without operator intervention. The vehicle additionally includes a wireless communication system configured to communicate with a remote communication device. The vehicle further includes a controller configured to communicate vehicle characteristics data via the wireless communication system. The vehicle characteristics data include a vehicle status identifier indicating automated driving system control of the vehicle. The controller is further configured to, in response to a remote override request from a remote communication device, command the automated driving system to perform a minimal risk condition maneuver to stop the vehicle.
US09776637B2

A transmission changes gears in a MT system, an AT system, and an AMT system wherein unintended transition between an AT mode and a MT mode or between an AMT mode and a MT mode is prevented. A selector in a controller performs a mode selection control such that, when performing transition between the AT mode and the MT mode or between the AMT mode and the MT mode, the driver at least has to operate a mode switching switch while operating a clutch lever in an operation amount not smaller than a predetermined threshold.
US09776636B2

A calculation method and apparatus for calculating a starting point for acceleration/deceleration operation of a vehicle with high accuracy using more input values while at the same time keeping calculation cost and time to a minimum is disclosed herein. An ECU making up a system calculates a start point for acceleration/deceleration operation of a vehicle on the basis of traveling condition information that changes as the vehicle travels and vehicle information that changes only slightly as a result of the travel of the vehicle. As a result, if the driver maintains a throttle operator at a given opening angle or more at a point before the start point, an actuator applies a force in the direction of closing a throttle valve to the throttle operator, thereby notifying the driver that the vehicle is close to the start point.
US09776635B2

An auto stop-start equipped vehicle power management system includes a primary power source supplying energy to an electrical starter to crank a vehicle engine and a secondary power source coupled in parallel to the primary power source. The secondary power source supplies energy to electric loads during an engine auto stop-start operation. The electrical loads maintain vehicle subsystem functionality during the engine auto stop-start operation. The energy supplied to the electrical loads is current limited during the engine auto stop-start operation. A controllable switch decouples the secondary power source from the primary power source and starter motor during the engine auto stop-start operation. Operating parameters of the electrical loads are monitored during the engine auto stop-start operation. If a respective operating parameter threshold associated with the electrical loads is exceeded during the engine auto stop-start operation, then the vehicle engine is automatically restarted and the controllable switch is subsequently closed.
US09776632B2

An adaptive sensing system is configured to acquire sensor data pertaining to objects in the vicinity of a land vehicle. The adaptive sensing system may be configured to identify objects that are at least partially obscured by other objects and, in response, the adaptive sensing system may be configured to modify the configuration of one or more sensors to obtain additional information pertaining to the obscured objects. The adaptive sensing system may comprise and/or be communicatively coupled to a collision detection module, which may use the sensor data acquired by the adaptive sensing system to detect potential collisions.
US09776631B1

A system for signaling road hazards and emergency actions to nearby road users comprising a vehicle, the vehicle having at least three wheels, a vehicle control circuitry, one or more sensors, and a vehicle system controller. The vehicle control circuitry monitors data from the one or more sensors, detects hazardous situations, and controls the vehicle system controller to control the vehicle, induce a dynamic vehicle behavior, and visually signal the vehicle is performing an emergency maneuver.
US09776623B2

A four-wheel drive electric vehicle control device is provided for a four-wheel drive electric vehicle that has a motor/generator as a drive source, and an electronically controlled coupling provided on the drive power transmission path leading from the drive source to the front and rear wheels. The four-wheel drive hybrid vehicle has a 4WD control unit that outputs to the electronically controlled coupling a transmission torque command value to bring about the four-wheel drive state, in accordance with the vehicle state. The 4WD control unit has a regenerative control intervention-coordinating controller that, when regenerative control by the motor/generator has intervened during the four-wheel drive state, brings the transmission torque of the electronically controlled coupling to zero before initiating regenerative control.
US09776619B2

A driving assistance apparatus, which executes a regeneration increasing control, includes a stop position specifying unit specifying a stop position, a calculation unit calculating a predetermined position at which a speed of the vehicle reduces to a predetermined speed, a determination unit determining a start point of a deceleration distance as a notification position when a distance between an end point of the deceleration distance and the predetermined position satisfies a predetermined condition, a notification unit notifying the driver to turn off the accelerator, and a regeneration control unit starting the regeneration increasing control when the vehicle has travelled the distance that satisfies the predetermined condition from the notification position.
US09776617B2

When an engine start command is generated to an engine that is in a stopped state, engine start control for cranking the engine and starting fuel combustion after increasing the engine speed is performed. In the engine start control, one of a first start pattern in which an initial combustion speed is higher than a resonance speed of the engine, and a second start pattern in which the initial combustion speed is lower than the resonance speed of the engine is selected according to the speed ratio (gear position) of a transmission. Cranking torque in the second start pattern is lower than the cranking torque in the first start pattern.
US09776612B2

A method for checking a functional state of an automatic parking brake system having a control unit and an actuator configured to generate an electromagnetic braking force includes actuating the actuator, using the control unit, at a first frequency higher than a second frequency. The second frequency is able to cause a rotation of the actuator.
US09776604B2

An integrated brake device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a master cylinder that generates a hydraulic pressure based on the operation of a pedal, a pedal simulator that provides a pedal stepping force to the pedal based on the hydraulic pressure, a motor that is driven based on displacement of the pedal, a pump that applies a braking pressure to wheels of the vehicle based on the driving of the motor, and a gear unit that converts rotational power of the motor into a linear motion of a piston included in the pump, wherein a rotating shaft of the motor is parallel to a direction of the linear motion of the piston.
US09776572B2

A console device provided lateral to a vehicle seat on a vehicle floor, the console device includes a console box provided with a container portion having an open top and a lid provided on the console box to open and close the container portion. A clearance allowing conditioned air to flow out toward a person sitting on the seat is provided between an upper end of a lateral surface of the console box and a lateral end of the lid.
US09776567B2

A display control device includes an obtainer and a controller. The obtainer obtains a detection accuracy of an object that exists in surroundings of a movable body. When the obtainer obtains a first detection accuracy, the controller controls an image generator so as to generate a first predetermined image that shows a first graphic having a predetermined shape and divided into n regions (n is an integer greater than or equal to 2). When the obtainer obtains a second detection accuracy that is lower than the first detection accuracy, the controller controls the image generator so as to generate a second predetermined image that shows a second graphic having a predetermined shape and undivided or divided into m regions (m is an integer that is greater than or equal to 1 and that is smaller than n).
US09776555B2

A vehicular lamp includes a planar light emitting member having an organic EL light emitting portion at part of a substrate, and a reflecting member and a half mirror that are disposed so as to face each other so that light emitted from the organic EL light emitting portion is reflected repeatedly while allowing part of the light to be transmitted to the front.
US09776554B2

A light-emitting device, notably a lighting and/or signaling device for a motor vehicle, including at least one first light source intended to emit a first modulated light beam coding information; at least one second light source intended to emit a second modulated light beam coding information; a control device adapted: to determine, on receiving information to be transmitted via the light-emitting device, if a first light beam intended to be emitted by the first source should be modulated to code the information to be transmitted and/or if a second beam intended to be emitted by the second source should be modulated to code the information to be transmitted, the determination depending on information relating to the local solar illumination; as a function of the determination, to modulate the first light beam and/or the energization second light beam to code the information to be transmitted.
US09776553B2

A stepping motors includes a bracket including a first protruding line and a second protruding line formed on both sides, a stator and a rotor disposed on the bracket, a lead screw coupled with the rotor, and a moving member which moves back and forth according to a rotation of the lead screw, in which the moving member includes a first guide groove which slides on the first protruding line and a second guide groove which slides on the second protruding line, and the first guide groove and the second guide groove include first sections which have widths corresponding to the first protruding line and the second protruding line, respectively, and second sections which have greater widths than the first sections.
US09776551B2

The present invention is directed to a steering apparatus for a vehicle having a including a light element providing indication and warning light signals to the user of the vehicle. The light element can be associated with a PCB mounted to the steering wheel grip for controlling the operation of the light element.
US09776548B1

A vehicle tie down device includes a base plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the base plate defining at least two base plate bores therethrough, and a first bolt extending through a first of the base plate bores and a second bolt extending through a second of the base plate bores. The device further includes a first arm coupled to a lower end of the first bolt and a second arm coupled to a lower end of the second bolt, the arms configured to engage a T-slot, and a guide member extending from the lower surface of the base plate, the guide member disposed between the base plate bores. The device further includes a flange extending away from and substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the base plate, the flange configured to support a tow hook.
US09776543B2

A vehicle seating assembly has a seat having a lower seat and a seatback extending upwardly from the lower seat. The lower seat comprises a cushion frame assembly connected to a vehicle floor and a cushion leg jounce bracket comprising a base and a paddle connected with the cushion frame assembly. The paddle extends upwardly and forwardly to form a vertical gap between a distal end of the paddle and a forward portion of the cushion frame assembly to provide independent and resilient support for an occupant's thighs. A cushion foam assembly is disposed above and is attached to the cushion frame, a forward portion of the cushion foam assembly being supported by the paddle of the cushion leg jounce bracket.
US09776534B2

A car safety seat includes a seat body, at least one knob and at least one safety belt. The seat body has at least one slot structure. The slot structure includes a plurality of first positioning slots and a plurality of guiding slots. Each of the first positioning slots is connected with another adjacent one of the first positioning slots through one of the guiding slots. The knob is movably disposed on the seat body and has a second positioning slot. The safety belt penetrates through the second positioning slot and the corresponding first positioning slot in sequence. The knob is adapted to rotate to drive the safety belt to enter the corresponding guiding slot, and the knob is adapted to move along the slot structure to drive the safety belt to pass through the guiding slot to arrive another adjacent one of the first positioning slots.
US09776531B2

A seat cushion extension apparatus for a vehicle seat includes an extension unit slidable from a front end portion of a seat frame in a vehicle to a position disposed forwards of the front end portion of the seat frame, locking units for locking the extension unit with respect to the seat frame at a locking position, and allowing the extension unit to be slidable such that the extension unit protrudes forwards of the seat frame at a release position, and a lever for controlling the locking units between the locking position and the release position. The extension unit is supported by guide shafts to be movable forwards and rearwards in housings fixed to the seat frame. The guide shafts are locked in the housings at the locking position and are movable with respect to the seat frame at the release position.
US09776529B2

The invention relates to a method of controlling the operation of the electrical power supply to an electric motor vehicle comprising at least two energy storage modules connected in parallel, said modules being able to provide the motor with a delivered electrical power lying between a predetermined minimum power and a predetermined maximum power, noteworthy in that the method comprises the following steps: —detection (100, 110) of an operating anomaly of at least one defective module, —reduction (120, 130) of the maximum power that can be provided by the modules, —electrical disconnection (140) of each defective module, the disconnection step being implemented after the reduction of the maximum power.
US09776528B2

Electric vehicle range prediction may include identifying vehicle transportation network information representing a vehicle transportation network, identifying expected departure temporal information, identifying a route from a first location to a second location in the vehicle transportation network using the vehicle transportation network information, identifying a predicted ambient temperature based on the first location and the expected departure temporal information, identifying vehicle state information for an electric vehicle, identifying an expected efficiency value for the electric vehicle based on the predicted ambient temperature, determining an expected operational range, such that, on a condition that the electric vehicle traverses the vehicle transportation network from the first location to the second location in accordance with the expected departure temporal information and the route, the expected operational range indicates an estimated operational range from the second location, and outputting the expected operational range for presentation at a portable electronic computing and communication device.
US09776526B2

A fuel cell system to be installed on a vehicle includes a fuel cell, a secondary battery, an SOC detector that detects a temperature and a state of charge of the secondary battery, an accelerator position detector that detects an accelerator depressed amount, and a controller that controls power to be generated by the fuel cell. The controller includes: a required generation power calculator that calculates required generation power based on the accelerator depressed amount and the temperature and the state of charge of the secondary battery; and a maximum required power calculator that calculates maximum required power based on the accelerator depressed amount and the temperature and the state of charge of the secondary battery. The maximum required power includes allowable charging power correlated with a maximum value of charging power. If determining that a condition for rapid reduction in consumption power of a motor is satisfied, the controller sets the allowable charging power to zero and calculates the maximum required power. If the required generation power exceeds the maximum required power, the controller makes the fuel cell generate power responsive to the maximum required power.
US09776515B2

A control device is provided for a hydraulic braking system of a vehicle, including an actuating device which is designed for outputting, at least temporarily, at least one first control signal and at least one second control signal in at least a first operating mode, taking into account at least one sensor signal. A known hydraulic braking system may be controlled with the aid of the control signals, output by the actuating device, in such a way that during an activation of a brake actuating element, at least one blending valve of a first brake circuit which is connected to the master brake cylinder via a first changeover valve is controlled into an at least partially open state in such a way that brake fluid is displaceable into at least one storage chamber.
US09776513B2

A vehicle includes: an input device, and a controller configured to receive a signal from the input device and generate a predetermined control signal corresponding to the received signal. The input device includes: a rotation member provided with a first magnet disposed on a portion thereof; a fixation member provided with a plurality of second magnets disposed on a surface thereof; and a detection member generating a signal including information related to a relative position of the rotation member against the fixation member based on a variation of a magnetic field intensity. The second magnets have a different magnetic field intensity from each other according to a distribution position of the second magnets. The variation of magnetic field intensity is generated between the first magnet and the second magnets due to a position change of the first magnet when the rotation member is rotated.
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