US09933963B1
Systems and methods presented herein provide for open block handling of an SSD. In one embodiment, an SSD includes a buffer, and an MLC flash device. The SSD also includes a controller operable to write data in the buffer based on an Input/Output (I/O) request (e.g., from a host), to begin copying the data from the buffer to a block of the MLC flash device, to copy a portion of the data associated with open word lines of the block to another location in the buffer after a power cycle, and to update a lookup table for the copied portion of the data with the other location so that the copied portion of the data can be accessed via a subsequent I/O request.
US09933953B1
A technique for managing copy sessions in a data storage system supports active and inactive copy-session states and reclaims memory for inactive copy sessions to reduce their memory footprints. When a copy session transitions from the active state to the inactive state, the copy session persists certain copy-progress data in non-volatile storage and frees structures in memory previously storing that copy-progress data. The inactive copy session continues to run but performs no copying and consumes less memory. When the copy session later transitions back to the active state, the copy session reads the copy-progress data back into memory and resumes copying.
US09933945B1
Techniques for shrinking a filesystem backed by a volume identify slices in the volume to be evacuated in order to reach a target size, identify a target endpoint in the volume, and evacuate identified slices to available locations prior to the target endpoint. The same data is typically not moved from slice to slice multiple times.
US09933941B2
A memory system includes a nonvolatile memory including a plurality of blocks as data erase units, a measuring unit which measures an erase time at which data of each block is erased, and a block controller which writes data supplied from at least an exterior into a first block which is set in a free state and whose erase time is oldest.
US09933935B2
An electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface automatically crops a video content item in an editing mode of a video application; displays an automatically cropped area of the video content item on the display in the editing mode of the video application; and, while displaying the cropped area of the video content item on the display in the editing mode of the video application: detects a gesture on the touch-sensitive surface; and, in response to detecting the gesture on the touch-sensitive surface: overrides automatic cropping of the video content item by modifying the cropped area of the video content item in accordance with the gesture; and displays the modified cropped area of the video content item on the display.
US09933933B2
A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to provide wireless communication; a touch screen configured to display an execution screen; and a controller configured to receive a touch input to one end of the touch screen that continuously moves in a direction toward the other end of the touch screen, and display a control screen among any one of first and second control screens based on a point to which the touch input is applied.
US09933920B2
Embodiments are provided for enabling a user to control multiple media playback systems with a single mobile device. The mobile device may connect with a first or second media playback system based on receiving a first or second household identifier (HHID), respectively. If the mobile device receives both the first and second HHIDs, the mobile device may connect with either the first or second media playback system based on a priority of the two systems. If neither the first nor second HHIDs are received by the mobile device, a user may be prompted to add a third media playback system if the mobile device receives a third HHID. The user interface of the mobile device may receive an input to connect the mobile device to the third media playback system, and a connection may be established between the mobile device and the third media playback system.
US09933918B2
A first component of a graph-based program specification includes an output control port. A second component includes an input control port and an input data port. A third component includes an output data port. The output control port is connected to the input control port, and the output data port is connected to the input data port. The first component includes control code that when executed causes the output control port to provide, to the input control port, at least one of suppression information or invocation information. The second component includes control code that when executed causes a computing system configured by the graph-based program specification to begin processing data received at the input data port in response to the invocation information if no suppression information is received at the input control port before the invocation information is received at the input control port.
US09933917B2
A system may include an interface, a memory, and one or more processors. The system receives data in a hierarchical nature from a memory and displays data associated with a parent. The system receives an instruction to display data associated with a child and receives the data associated with the child from the memory. The system replaces the data associated with the parent with the data associated with the child. The system also displays the data associated with a child.
US09933914B2
An approach is provided for associating applications, such as widgets, with content and actions. The approach specifies a hierarchy of content and/or actions to be presented and/or executed by a first widget based on state information of a second widget. This hierarchy is stored in an association framework for retrieval by active widgets.
US09933909B2
A method and system for distinguishing between sources of simultaneous touch events on a touch sensitive device with row conductors and column conductors, the path of each of the row conductors crossing the path of each of the column conductors. Orthogonal signals are simultaneously transmitted on a respective one of the rows. Each column is processed to determine strength of each of the orthogonal signals present thereon. Simultaneous touch locations are associated with a discrete source based on the presence of body-transmitted cross-talk therebetween, as reflected by the determined signal strength corresponding to the touch locations. Alternatively or additionally, a user-coupled signal generator generating another orthogonal signal provides a user-unique signal to the receivers. The signal strength of the user-unique signal is used to associate one or more touch locations with the user coupled to the user-coupled signal generator.
US09933905B2
A touch-control display panel includes a touch-control electrode including a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrode overlapping with the first electrodes in insulation, a plurality of cascaded first touch-control units selectively connected with the first electrodes, and a plurality of touch-control lines selectively connected with the second electrode. The first electrodes are stripe-shaped electrodes divided into a plurality of first electrode groups, each first electrode group including n first electrodes, with n being an integer and n≥2. The first electrodes in a first electrode group are connected to a same first touch-control unit, and each of the plurality of first touch-control units respectively transmits first touch-control signals to its corresponding first electrode group. The second electrodes are arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, and each row of the second electrodes overlapping at least one first electrode with insulation.
US09933899B2
Disclosed are a capacitive touch structure, an in-cell touch panel, a display device and a scanning method thereof. The capacitive touch structure includes: a plurality of self-capacitance electrodes (10) disposed in a same layer and located in at least two regions contained in the layer surface where self-capacitance electrodes (10) are located; region electrodes (20) located in each of the regions and disposed in the same layer with the self-capacitance electrodes (10); first wires connected with the self-capacitance electrodes (10), wherein there is at least a plurality of first wires (41) that satisfy the following conditions: one of the first wire (41) is connected with at least two of the self-capacitance electrodes (10) located in different regions respectively; second wires connected with the region electrodes (20), wherein the region electrodes in respective regions are electrically connected with different second wires; and a touch sensing chip connected with the first wires (41) and the second wires.
US09933897B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the technical field of touch control display, and an array substrate and a touch control display device are provided. The array substrate includes a plurality of touch emitting lines and a plurality of touch sensing lines arranged perpendicular to each other and isolated from each other, each of the touch emitting lines and each of the touch sensing lines form a touch sensing capacitor. The touch sensing can be realized by sensing a variation in the capacitance value of the touch sensing capacitor when touch occurs. Meanwhile, the projection of each of the touch emitting lines or each of the touch sensing lines on the substrate falls into the projection of gate lines or data lines on the substrate, thus the aperture ratio of the touch control display device is increased.
US09933893B2
A method for driving an information processing device which is adaptable to a wider variety of input methods is provided. The coordinates of an operating body at a starting point in the XYZ space and the coordinates of the operating body at an ending point in the XYZ space after a certain period of time are obtained, and the Z coordinate at the ending point and the movement distance on the X-Y plane in the certain period of time are calculated. Then, a signal is output only in the case where both the distance from an operating surface to the operating body in the vertical direction and the movement distance in the horizontal direction exceed the respective threshold values. In this manner, input operation can be performed by a three-dimensional motion, which includes movement of the operating body in the vertical direction as well as in the horizontal direction.
US09933888B2
A multimodal sensor includes first conductive electrodes that are arranged in parallel with one another, being spaced from one another by a certain distance, an insulating layer that is formed on the first conductive electrodes, second conductive electrodes that are formed on the insulating layer, crossing the first conductive electrodes, and are arranged in parallel with one another, being spaced from one another, and a controller that applies voltages to the first and second conductive electrodes. The controller detects capacitance formed between the first and second conductive electrodes, and senses an external temperature, intensity of a pressure or a position, to which a pressure is applied, in response to a variation of the capacitance.
US09933883B2
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal capable of predicting a future touch movement based on a previous touch movement, and applying the future touch movement onto a screen, and a touch coordinate predicting method thereof. Each touch coordinate with respect to a touch movement detected on an application screen is displayed. A change of previous touch coordinates is checked at a time point when a touch coordinate is displayed. A touch coordinate predictive value is calculated based on previous touch coordinates, and then the calculated touch coordinate predictive value is applied onto a current touch coordinate. Under such configuration, a response time, which occurs between a finger's movement and an actual character movement (or a drawing output) due to touch input lag, can be reduced.
US09933882B2
The embodiments described herein thus provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input devices. Specifically, the devices, systems and methods provide the ability to accurately determine user input using multiple different sensing regimes. The different sensing regimes can be used to facilitate accurate position determination of objects both at the surface and away from the surface. For example, the different sensing regimes can be used to determine position information for both ungloved and gloved fingers. In one embodiment the first sensing regime uses a first duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing and a first duty cycle of transcapacitive sensing. The second sensing regime uses a second duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing and a second duty cycle of transcapacitive sensing, where the second duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing is greater than the first duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing.
US09933874B2
The present disclosure provides an integrated touch control display panel. The integrated touch control display panel includes a display region and a peripheral circuit region located on at least one side of the display region. The display region includes a plurality of stripe shaped touch control electrodes that extend in a first direction and are sequentially arranged in a second direction which intersects with the first direction. Defining a width of a gap between the peripheral circuit region and a closest stripe shaped touch control electrode in the second direction as a first width, and defining a width of a gap between any two adjacent stripe shaped touch control electrodes as a second width, the first width is greater than the second width.
US09933860B2
The present invention relates to an alphabet input system comprising: a plurality of representative keys for inputting matched first letters of the alphabet; and a combination key for generating combination letters of the alphabet that are excluded from the first letters and that are input by a combination with one of the plurality of representative keys, wherein each combination letter is pictographically derived from the shape of the first letter matched respectively to the plurality of representative keys and from a combination symbol of the combination key having a “reverse J” shape. Accordingly, the alphabet can be input more quickly and accurately by combining intuitive and consistent pictographic symbols in a miniaturised input device.
US09933858B2
The present invention discloses a keyboard and a key layout method. When an operator holds the keyboard with both hands, thumbs of a left and right hands cannot touch a middle position of the keyboard, the keyboard has at least three rows of keys and more than five keys arranged in each row, and widths of all the keys arranged on a middle line of the keyboard are all greater than a width exceeding a touchable range of the thumbs of both hands in a keyboard width; widths of a left side key and a right side key arranged closest to the middle line of the keyboard are greater than a half of the width exceeding the touchable range of the thumbs of both hands in the keyboard width. All the keys in the keyboard are respectively located at positions touched by the left and right thumbs.
US09933846B2
An electronic system includes: a control unit configured to: detect a motion applied to a device with a display in a mode; select another mode of the display based on the device motion; and a user interface, coupled to the control unit, configured to apply a screen motion to the another mode of the display.
US09933836B2
A method for adjusting a frequency of a processor is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the method includes inhibiting one or more processor cores from exiting an idle state. The method further includes determining a number of processor cores requesting exit from the idle state and a number of non-idle processor cores. The method also includes selecting a maximum frequency for the inhibited and non-idle processor cores based on the number of inhibited processor cores requesting exit from the idle state and the number of non-idle processor cores. The method includes setting the maximum frequency for both the inhibited and the non-idle processor cores, and then uninhibiting the processor cores requesting exit from the idle state.
US09933835B2
An integrated circuit is provided with interface circuitry used to provide an interface between functional circuitry of the integrated circuit and components external to the integrated circuit. The interface circuitry includes a plurality of interface cells having interface components configured to operate from a first power supply. Each interface cell incorporates a power supply line section extending across its width and configured to cooperate with power supply line sections of other interface cells to provide a power supply line structure shared by the plurality of interface cells, for provision of the first power supply to the interface components. Each power supply line section includes a first supply line portion and a second supply line portion, the first supply line portion being sized to support a current carrying constraint of the interface circuitry, while the second supply line portion is sized insufficiently to support that current carrying constraint. Instead, each interface cell is arranged within the interface circuitry such that the second supply line portion is connected to a current carrying structure external to that interface cell, such that the second supply line portion in combination with the connected current carrying structure is sized sufficiently to support the current carrying constraint. Such an approach enables a reduction in the area required for the power supply line structure, hence enabling a reduction in the size of the interface circuitry, and accordingly a corresponding reduction in the required size of the integrated circuit.
US09933828B2
Controlling power consumption of a voltage regulator in a computer system that includes computer memory and the voltage regulator is configured to provide regulated source voltage to the computer memory includes: receiving, by a voltage regulator controller, memory margin statistics of the computer memory, the memory margin statistics including data describing operational tolerance of the computer memory to source voltage signal variations; and adjusting, by the voltage regulator controller, one or more operating characteristics of the voltage regulator in dependence upon the memory margin statistics.
US09933812B2
A novel display panel that is highly convenient or reliable, a novel input/output device that is highly convenient or reliable, or a novel data processor that is highly convenient or reliable is provided. The display panel includes a selection signal line, a first signal line and a second signal line that cross the selection signal line, a first pixel electrically connected to the selection signal line and the first signal line, a second pixel electrically connected to the selection signal line and the second signal line, a first terminal electrically connected to the first signal line, and a second terminal electrically connected to the second signal line.
US09933808B2
A reaction force pedal device provided with pedal members operated by a driver, a motor which applies a reaction force to the pedal members through an arm member which is always connected to the pedal members, and a clutch arranged between the motor and the arm member. When the pedal members are displaced, the clutch is temporarily released.
US09933806B2
A semiconductor device which controls output of a plurality of voltages is provided. A power supply control circuit which drives the semiconductor device includes a reference voltage generating circuit and a stabilized power supply circuit. The stabilized power supply circuit has a function of outputting a voltage input from a sample-and-hold circuit and amplified by the amplifier circuit. A control circuit has a function of setting an output voltage of the power supply control circuit. The sample-and-hold circuit in the stabilized power supply circuit includes a transistor whose on/off state is controlled. In such a configuration, a voltage set by the control circuit can be held and output.
US09933800B1
A linear voltage regulator and associated integrated circuit and method are disclosed. The linear voltage regulator is operable within a plurality of predefined operational modes, and comprises a pass element configured to generate an output voltage based on a received input voltage. The linear voltage regulator further comprises an error amplifier comprising an output node coupled with a control node of the pass element. The error amplifier is configured to generate a control signal at the output node based on the output voltage and a reference voltage. The linear voltage regulator further comprises a frequency compensation circuit configured to selectively apply an impedance to the output node based on which of the predefined operational modes is selected.
US09933795B2
A cooler includes an estimator. The estimator is configured to estimate a coolant temperature from a measurement value of the temperature sensor. The estimator is configured to determine a difference by subtracting an immediately preceding measurement value from a current measurement value, determine a correction value from the difference, and output an estimated value of the coolant temperature. The estimated value is obtained by adding the correction value to the current measurement value. The correction value is obtained by multiplying a gain by the difference. The gain is determined from a time constant, the gain is determined according to a flow rate of the coolant. The time constant is obtained when a transfer function of heat transferred from the coolant to the temperature sensor is modeled as a first order lag system.
US09933793B1
An air pressure regulator includes an air input stage, an air output stage, and a transfer stage. The air input stage, air output stage, and transfer stage arranged substantially in-line, end to end along a longitudinal axis. The air input stage is attached to the transfer stage with first fasteners that simultaneously engage with the transfer stage and pressure fit a first pressure step-down piston against an input stage backpressure assembly, and the air output stage is attached to the transfer stage with second fasteners that simultaneously engage with the transfer stage and pressure fit the second pressure step-down piston against an output stage backpressure assembly.
US09933791B2
A pumping system and method for blending hydraulic fracturing fluids includes a liquid additive holding tank having an outlet at a bottom of the holding tank, a first sensor at a first location in the holding tank adjacent a lower portion of the holding tank, and a second sensor at a second location in the holding tank above the first location. The pumping system further includes a liquid additive pump to deliver fluid gravity fed from the outlet of the holding tank, a chemical transfer pump to pump fluid into the holding tank in response to receiving a first signal that a fluid level of the holding tank is below the first sensor and cease to pump fluid into the holding tank in response to receiving a second signal from the second sensor indicating the fluid level is above the second sensor.
US09933784B1
An autonomous vehicle may include a stuck condition detection component and a communications component. The stuck-detection component may be configured to detect a condition in which the autonomous vehicle is impeded from navigating according to a first trajectory. The communications component may send an assistance signal to an assistance center and receive a response to the assistance signal. The assistance signal may include sensor information from the autonomous vehicle. The assistance center may include a communications component and a trajectory specification component. The communications component may receive the assistance signal and send a corresponding response. The trajectory specification component may specify a second trajectory for the autonomous vehicle and generate the corresponding response that includes a representation of the second trajectory. The second trajectory may be based on the first trajectory and may ignore an object that obstructs the first trajectory.
US09933777B2
A method and a non-transient computer readable medium for sorting orders to be run on a multi-section slitter/scorer at a corrugator dry end includes collecting specifications of orders in current, prior, and/or subsequent paper group queues. Run times and slit/score head recovery times for orders in the current paper group queue are calculated using the specifications. Those orders for which recovery time exceeds run time are flagged as short orders. For a given short order, pairs of preceding and following orders that would require recovery times less than the short order's run time are determined and flagged as potential bracketing pairs. The current paper group queue is searched to determine if a bracketing pair can be formed from its orders, and if so, the orders in the current paper group queue are reorganized such that the orders in the bracketing pair immediately precede and follow the given short order.
US09933773B2
A monitoring device for a programmable controller includes: a display portion configured to display, on a display, a step that is being executed by the programmable controller among a plurality of steps in such a manner that the step can be distinguished from the other steps; a receiving portion configured to receive selection of a step serving as an initial point of reactivation in a case where a facility stops during a continuous operation by the programmable controller; and a change instruction generation portion configured to generate an instruction to the programmable controller so as to cause the programmable controller to restart execution of control processes from the step received by the receiving portion at the time of the reactivation.
US09933771B2
A machine tool includes two independent sequence programs that monitor status of safety signals and first and second CPUs that respectively activate the sequence programs. By a configuration in which the second CPU executes monitoring processing at different execution cycles predetermined for the sequence programs, CPU loads in monitoring of status of safety signals are reduced.
US09933764B2
A rotating shaft device, an electronic device and a control method thereof are provided according to the present application. The rotating shaft device includes a driving component and a rotating component. The driving component is configured to receive a control signal, and adjust a torsion force of the rotating component based on the control signal. In the case that the rotating shaft device is applied on the electronic device, various control signals may be provided to control the driving component to adjust a torsion force of the rotating component by the controller, such that the torsion force of the electronic device in a folding or unfolding process is smaller than the torsion force of the electronic device in a state being maintained, which solves the issue of poor user experience resulted from being difficult to fold or unfold and inconvenient to operate.
US09933747B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a casing, a first process cartridge including a first photosensitive drum and a first drum-cleaning unit configured to collect waste toner on the first photosensitive drum, a second process cartridge including a second photosensitive drum and a second drum-cleaning unit configured to collect waste toner on the second photosensitive drum, a cartridge-supporting body movable between an internal position inside the casing and an external position outside of the casing, a conveying unit conveying the waste toner collected by the first and second drum-cleaning units, and a waste toner cartridge accommodating the conveyed waste toner. The casing includes a first positioning plate receiving one end portion of the first and second process cartridges, and a second positioning plate receiving another end portion of the first and second process cartridges. The conveying unit is disposed between the first positioning plate and the second positioning plate.
US09933746B2
An elastic deformation rate of a photoconductor, an additive amount of inorganic fine particles, and a rotary member are set to satisfy a relation of 0.6≤(D/(A×B/C))/(1+E/20)≤0.82, where A is a thickness of fibers of a brush, B is a bristle density of the fibers of the brush, C is a length of the fibers of the brush, D is an elastic deformation rate obtained from a hardness test conducted using a Vickers diamond pyramid indenter at a temperature of 23° C. and a humidity of 50%, and E is the additive amount of the inorganic fine particles relative to 100 parts by mass of toner particles.
US09933745B2
A solid lubricant containing a fatty acid metal salt and a polyethylene having an acid value is prepared. The solid lubricant is disposed so as to be applied on a surface of an image bearing member of an image forming apparatus in electrophotography, and a lubricant layer is formed on the surface of the image bearing member with the solid lubricant.
US09933742B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a conveying portion configured to convey a continuous recording medium in a first conveying direction or in a second conveying direction opposite to the first conveying direction; an image forming portion configured to form a toner image on the continuous recording medium at a transfer nip; a fixing portion provided on a lower stream side of the image forming portion in the first conveying direction and configured to heat and fix the toner image formed on the continuous recording medium, at a fixing nip; a retaining portion provided between the transfer nip and the fixing nip in the first conveying direction and configured to retain a part of the continuous recording medium; and a control portion configured to control the conveying portion to convey a passed portion that has passed through the fixing nip and control the retaining portion to retain the passed portion.
US09933735B2
A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a belt guide, a pressuring member, a heat source and an excessive temperature rise preventing device. The guide contacts with the inside of the belt to assist the belt's rotation track. The heat source is located across the belt to the pressuring member to induction-heat the belt. The preventing device has first and second lead wires connected at one and another end sides in an axial direction of the belt and prevents excessive temperature rise of the guide in noncontact. The first lead wire is extended to one end side and pulled out from the inside to the outside via one end side in the belt. The second lead wire is extended to another end side, curved toward one end side, extended to one end side and pulled out from the inside to the outside via one end side in the belt.
US09933727B2
A toner container includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. An inlet port is formed on the housing and in fluid communication with the reservoir for receiving toner. A first shutter member and a second shutter member is positioned about the inlet port and are each pivotable between a closed position and an open position. When the first and second shutter members are in the closed positions, respective free ends thereof seal against each other and respective first face portions of the first and second shutter members seal against a perimeter of the inlet port such that the first and second shutter members block the inlet port. When the first and second shutter members are in the open positions, the first and second shutter members are pivoted away from the inlet port unblocking the inlet port. The first and second shutter members are biased toward the closed positions.
US09933718B2
A part material for printing three-dimensional parts with an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, the part material including a composition having a copolymer (including acrylonitrile units, butadiene units, and aromatic units), a charge control agent, and a heat absorber. The part material is provided in a powder form having a controlled particle size, and is configured for use in the electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system having a layer transfusion assembly for printing the three-dimensional parts in a layer-by-layer manner.
US09933702B2
A processing fluid can be discharged according to a discharge type for a process involved, without a discharge defect. A substrate processing apparatus includes a nozzle and a pipeline. The nozzle is configured to discharge the processing fluid toward a substrate, and the processing fluid is supplied to the nozzle through the pipeline. The pipeline has a three-layer structure having a first layer, a second layer and a third layer in this sequence from an inner side thereof. Further, a leading end portion of the first layer and a leading end portion of the third layer are bonded to the nozzle, and the leading end portion of the first layer is located at a position which is not protruded more than a leading end portion of the second layer with respect to a discharging direction of the processing fluid.
US09933697B2
A projection subsystem for a high contrast projection system is described including three digital micro-mirror devices (MMD) and three prism assemblies and a crossed dichroic prism assembly, the prism assemblies having dual TIR prisms.
US09933664B2
A display panel and an encapsulation method thereof, and a liquid crystal display device are provided. The display panel comprises an array substrate and a color filter substrate, the array substrate and the color filter substrate are connected together via a sealant component, the array substrate comprises a display region and a peripheral region surrounding the display region, the sealant component comprises insulating sealant and conductive sealant and is disposed in the peripheral region of the array substrate, a gate electrode driving GOA circuit is disposed in the peripheral region of the array substrate, and the gate electrode driving GOA circuit and the conductive sealant are not located on the same side of the peripheral region of the display region.
US09933648B2
A wide viewing film and a TFT-LCD having the same. The wide viewing film includes: a prism layer, and a substrate layer. Wherein, the prism layer is fixed on the substrate layer, and a light emitting surface of the prism layer is contacted with a light incident surface of the substrate layer. Besides, each of the prism layer and the substrate layer is made of a transparent material, multiple quadrangular pyramid-shaped protrusions are disposed separately on the light incident surface of the prism layer, and the light incident surface of the prism layer between adjacent quadrangular pyramid-shaped protrusions is a planar surface. The TFT-LCD includes a first polarizing film, a liquid crystal panel, a color filter, a second polarizing film and a wide viewing film disposed along a light propagation direction. Wherein, the light incident surface of the prism layer faces a light emitting surface of the second polarizing film.
US09933646B2
Detection electrode wirings formed by an ITO film have a high resistance and the detection capability thereof is degraded with the increase of the size and/or resolution. A manufacturing method of a display device includes: (a) arranging liquid crystal between an array substrate and a counter substrate; (b) forming a metal layer and a low-reflection layer on the counter substrate after the step (a); (c) applying an overcoat film onto the metal layer and the low-reflection layer; and (d) curing the overcoat film to form a protection layer. The step (d) cures the overcoat film with light and heat.
US09933645B2
An array substrate, a display panel, a display device and a manufacturing method thereof. The array substrate includes: a substrate; a plurality of thin film transistors spaced apart from each other and disposed in an array on the substrate; a first passivation layer on the plurality of thin film transistors; and a plurality of touch signal lines and a pixel electrode layer on the first passivation layer, where the pixel electrode layer includes a plurality of pixel electrodes spaced apart from each other and disposed in an array, and is disposed in the same layer as the touch signal lines and electrically insulated from the touch signal lines.
US09933644B2
A display module for a multi-display device includes an array substrate, connectors disposed on the array substrate and configured to transmit signals for driving the array substrate, a printed circuit board (PCB) electrically connected to the connectors and configured to transmit signals to the connectors, and connecting members that extend through the array substrate and configured to electrically connect the connectors and the PCB.
US09933643B2
A curved display device comprising a display panel having a display surface on which a plurality of pixel units are disposed. The display surface includes a first bending line, which extends in a first direction, and a second bending line, which extends in a second direction that crosses the first direction at a right angle, and is bent along each of the first bending line and the second bending line.
US09933641B2
The present disclosure provides a connector disengagement apparatus and an inspection system for a liquid crystal display module. The connector disengagement apparatus comprises a first member, a second member, a third member, a rotation axle and a stiffener carrying a part of a connector, one end of the first member being connected to one end of the second member, the other end of the first member being arranged towards the stiffener, the other end of the second member being connected to the third member, wherein the second member is rotatable about the rotation axle. The connector disengagement apparatus acts on the stiffener in a down-to-up direction to lift the stiffener to interrupt efficiently the connection of the connector. In the disengagement process, the pins of the connector will not be damaged as the force of the disengagement apparatus is not directly applied onto the connector.
US09933633B1
Contact lenses include three or four annular spherical or aspherical optical zones for improved bifocal vision with reduced glare and blurriness in which the boundaries of certain of the distance and near power zones are established in relationship to the user's pupil size at differing illuminations. A device to measure pupil size at varying illuminations to assist in making the improved contact lenses is also disclosed.
US09933630B2
A screwless eyeglass frame, including a rim support, a temple support and a pivoting clip. The rim support includes a first end face and an engagement slot recessed inwardly from the first end face. The temple support includes a second end face, two extending walls extended outwardly from two corresponding sides of the second end face, respectively, and a shaft rod provided between the two extending walls. The pivoting clip includes a C-shaped buckle with resilience, two connecting legs connected with two ends of the C-shaped buckle, respectively, and an opening located between the two connecting legs. In this case, the C-shaped buckle is allowed for pivotally connecting to the shaft rod. The two connecting legs are tenoned into the engagement slot, and the temple support is capable of rotating with respect to the rim support around the shaft rod and the C-shaped buckle.
US09933616B2
An apparatus for angular positioning of a mirror includes a motor that rotates a mirror, a detector that detects a rotational angle of the mirror, and a controller. The controller supplies current to the motor so that the rotational angle of the mirror reaches a target angle, estimates, based on a model representing a relation between a value of current to be supplied to the motor and an angle of inclination of the mirror, the angle of inclination of the mirror to which current is supplied, and if the estimated angle exceeds a predetermined tolerance, adjusts the supply of current to the motor so that the angle of inclination of the mirror falls within the predetermined tolerance.
US09933615B2
An electro-optic device includes an interconnection board provided with an internal terminal, and a chip mounted on the interconnection board, and the chip is provided with a mirror, a drive element, and a chip-side terminal electrically connected to the drive element. The interconnection board includes a first surface on which an internal terminal is disposed, a second surface located on an opposite side to the first surface, a third surface connecting the first surface and the second surface to each other, and a fourth surface located on an opposite side to the third surface. The interconnection board is provided with a metal member exposed on the first surface and the second surface, and through holes (a first through hole and a second through hole) extending from the third surface to the fourth surface and having contact with the metal member.
US09933606B2
A surgical microscope comprises microscopy optics, a camera, a display system and a controller comprising a data memory storing object data of at least one surgical tool. The microscopy optics are variable optics for changing an imaging scale of an imaging of a field of view onto the camera. The controller is configured to process the camera images and to identify the at least one tool in the camera images by object recognition using the object data of the at least one tool and the set imaging scale.
US09933598B2
An imaging lens includes, in order from the object side to the image side: a first lens having a negative refractive power and a concave surface toward the image side; a positive second lens having a negative refractive power; a third lens having a positive refractive power and a convex surface toward the image side; a fourth lens having a convex surface toward the image side; a fifth lens having a positive refractive power and a convex surface toward the image side; and a sixth lens having a negative refractive power and a concave surface toward the object side. Predetermined conditional formulae related to first lens, the second lens, and the third lens are satisfied.
US09933586B1
An optical fiber adapter according to the present disclosure includes a main body, a first shutter member, a second shutter member and an inner housing. The first shutter member includes a first base portion, a first shutter plate, a first supporting portion and a first connecting portion. The second shutter member includes a second base portion, a second shutter plate, a second supporting portion and a second connecting portion. The first base portion is positioned on the first wall of the main body. The first connecting portion connects the first base portion. The first supporting portion extends from the first connecting portion. The first shutter plate connects the first supporting portion and extends toward the third wall of the main body. The second base portion is positioned on the third wall of the main body. The second connecting portion connects the second base portion. The second supporting portion extends from the second connecting portion. The second shutter plate connects the second supporting portion and extends toward the first wall of the main body. The inner housing is positioned within the main body through the first opening.
US09933580B2
An optical fiber penetration is disposed in a sleeve provided through a partition wall that separates a first space and a second space. The optical fiber penetration includes a first optical fiber cable and a second optical fiber cable each having a thin tube formed of metal and an optical fiber strand inserted in the thin tube, a cylindrical body that is formed of metal and is disposed in an axial direction of the sleeve, an interior of which includes the first optical fiber cable on a side of the first space and the second optical fiber cable on a side of the second space, an internal connector configured to connect the first optical fiber cable with the second optical fiber cable in the interior of the cylindrical body, and a first lid and a second lid configured to close one end and the other end of the cylindrical body.
US09933574B1
The disclosed embodiments relate to a system for assembling an optical connector. During the assembly process, the system first fabricates the optical connector, wherein the optical connector is precut and includes a fiber coupler for connecting to an external optical fiber. Next, the system bonds the optical connector to a photonic chip, wherein the photonic chip includes an optical coupler, which is coupled to one or more optical components within the photonic chip. Finally, after the optical connector is bonded to the photonic chip, the system uses a laser to write a coupling waveguide in the optical connector, wherein the coupling waveguide is routed through the optical connector to connect the optical coupler in the photonic chip with the fiber coupler for connecting to the external optical fiber.
US09933571B2
A method for cleaving one or more optical fiber(s) at an angle to the optic axis is provided and includes clamping the optical fiber(s) with its coating stripped to expose its distal end. An axial force and/or a bending force is applied to the optical fiber to create internal stresses in the fiber. A sharp blade is provided in an orientation such the blade edge is perpendicular to the optical fiber. The blade is further orientated such that a plane bisecting the blade angle formed between two polished surfaces of the blade is slanted relative to the longitudinal axis of the fiber. The at least one optical fiber is scratched with the sharp blade to create a non-perpendicular cleave having a controlled shape in the region of the scratch. A method of splicing the fibers and a tool for cleaving the fibers are also provided.
US09933564B2
Disclosed are back light module and display device. The back light module comprises a light source, a back plate, a light guide plate and a positioning member. The back plate is formed with a frame for receiving the light guide plate; the light source is provided on an inside surface of a side panel of the back plate and oppositely to a light incident surface of the light guide plate. The positioning member is provided at both ends of the back plate on a side where the light source is formed and interposed between the light incident surface of light guide plate and the light source. The back light module herein ensures that the gap between the light incident surface of light guide plate and the light source has fixed value, thereby improving evenness of display images of display device.
US09933552B2
An optical element includes a conductive fixed reflection film, a movable reflection film that faces the fixed reflection film, a transmissive second insulating film which is provided on a side of the fixed reflection film opposite to the movable reflection film, and a light receiving unit which is provided on a side of the second insulating film opposite to the fixed reflection film and within a light receiving region where the fixed reflection film, the movable reflection film, and the second insulating film overlap each other in an element plan view when seen from film thickness directions of the fixed reflection film and the movable reflection film, and which receives light emitted from the fixed reflection film.
US09933546B2
An embodiment of an apparatus for estimating a parameter includes a light source configured to emit an optical signal, and an interferometer including a first reflector assembly having at least one reflective surface and a second reflector assembly having a plurality of individual reflective surfaces facing the at least one reflective surface. At least one of the first reflective assembly and the second reflector assembly is moveable in response to a stimulus, the plurality of individual reflective surfaces disposed at a fixed location relative to each other, each individual reflective surface defining a different optical cavity length relative to the first reflector assembly.
US09933542B2
A drill bit for measuring the electromagnetic propagation resistivity of a subterranean formation is disclosed. The drill bit includes a shank portion and a cutting portion with a raised face. The drill bit includes a transmitter element and a receiver element disposed on the raised face. The transmitter element propagates electromagnetic waves into a subterranean formation with a frequency of at least one gigahertz. The receiver element is positioned relative to the transmitter element at a pre-determined distance, with the predetermined distance is based, at least in part, on the frequency of the electromagnetic wave.
US09933538B2
A method and system for enhancing the signal quality of received signals generated by acoustic tools by factoring in feedbacks from the rig operations in an adaptive optimization process. The system may include a transmitter driver circuit and transmitters which can implement signal transmission at selected power, mode and waveforms. The selected power, mode and transmit waveforms may further be generated in the system by making optimal calculations based on realtime information from the downhole data regarding the formation and borehole characteristics.
US09933537B2
A method and apparatus for handling of sensor capsules and their inner components during deployment and retrieval of a seismic cable into the sea by a vessel where the seismic cable includes seismic node casings to contain the sensor capsules when the seismic cable is in the sea. The method includes the following steps: withdrawing a sensor capsule from a sensor capsule storage; withdrawing a battery unit from a battery unit storage; withdrawing a control unit from a docking station; combining the control unit and battery unit into a control/battery unit; inserting the control/battery unit into the sensor capsule and closing the sensor capsule; and loading the sensor capsule into a seismic node casing.
US09933534B2
A method and sensor device for recording seismic data. The sensor device includes a top section and a bottom section removably attached to the top section through a connecting plug. The bottom section holds a coupling material that is released into ground upon the bottom section impacting the ground.
US09933533B2
The presently disclosed seismic acquisition technique employs a receiver array and a processing methodology that are designed to attenuate the naturally occurring seismic background noise recorded along with the seismic data during the acquisition. The approach leverages the knowledge that naturally occurring seismic background noise moves with a slower phase velocity than the seismic signals used for imaging and inversion and, in some embodiments, may arrive from particular preferred directions. The disclosed technique comprises two steps: 1) determining from the naturally occurring seismic background noise in the preliminary seismic data a range of phase velocities and amplitudes that contain primarily noise and the degree to which that noise needs to be attenuated, and 2) designing an acquisition and processing method to attenuate that noise relative to the desired signal.
US09933530B2
According to an embodiment, a photon detector includes a photoelectric converter, a voltage supplier, a potential variation detector, and an adjustor. The photoelectric converter performs photoelectric conversion based on an incident photon and outputs current corresponding to number of photons. The voltage supplier supplies a voltage to the photoelectric converter. The potential variation detector detects potential variation of a cathode of the photoelectric converter. The adjustor adjusts a potential of an anode of the photoelectric converter based on the potential variation detected by the potential variation detector so that variation in a potential difference between the cathode and the anode of the photoelectric converter is reduced, and outputs current from the photoelectric converter to the outside.
US09933524B2
Method and apparatuses involving satellite position signals are disclosed. Based on data indicating a usage environment, parameters, for example acquisition parameters or calculation parameters, are adapted.
US09933513B2
Disclosed herein are various embodiments of an adaptive ladar receiver and associated method whereby the active pixels in a photodetector array used for reception of ladar pulse returns can be adaptively controlled based at least in part on where the ladar pulses were targeted. Additional embodiments disclose improved imaging optics for use by the receiver and further adaptive control techniques for selecting which pixels of the photodetector array are used for sensing incident light.
US09933498B2
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and apparatus for measuring radio frequency output for the same
An apparatus for measuring radio frequency output for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a directional coupler, a signal controller and a converter. The directional coupler is variable in degree of coupling, and configured to attenuate a radio frequency signal which is generated in a radio frequency signal generator and amplified in a radio frequency power amplifier. The signal controller is configured to control the degree of coupling of the directional coupler. The converter is configured to perform a digital conversion of the radio frequency signal from the directional coupler so as to output a digital signal.
US09933497B2
In a method for determining excitation profiles from excitation pulses in a magnetic resonance, a homogeneous phantom is placed within the measurement volume of the magnetic resonance apparatus, at least one measurement data set of the phantom is acquired by operating the apparatus with a test pulse sequence composed of one excitation pulse, of which the excitation profile is to be determined, and a test gradient that is already activated on at full strength while the excitation pulse (A) is irradiated. The intensity profile of at least one acquired measurement data set in the direction in which the test gradient was switched on is determined in a processor, and the excitation profile of the excitation pulse is determined from the calculated intensity profile. The determined excitation profile is saved.
US09933493B2
A battery management system for a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells connected in series is provided. The battery management system includes a first switching unit coupled to an anode of a first battery cell of the battery pack, having a first P-type transistor coupled to the anode of the first battery cell, a first resistor coupled between the anode of the first battery cell and a gate of the first P-type transistor, and a current mirror coupled to the gate of the first P-type transistor and the first resistor, draining a first mirror current from the first resistor in response to a control signal, so as to turn on the first P-type transistor. The system further includes a detection circuit coupled to the first switching unit.
US09933488B2
Systems and methods for managing open circuit voltage checks of energy storage modules in an energy storage system. Embodiments of the present invention provide a controller of an energy storage system configured to schedule open circuit voltage checks for the energy storage modules, determine if conditions of an energy storage module, and of the overall energy storage system, are favorable for performing an open circuit voltage check, and defer an open circuit voltage check if at least one condition is not favorable. The controller is further configured to abandon an open circuit voltage check in progress if one or more conditions of the overall energy storage system changes in a manner that is unfavorable for continuing with the open circuit voltage check.
US09933487B2
A system and method for detecting, localizing and quantifying stator winding faults in AC electrical machines is disclosed. A diagnostic system configured to detect a stator winding fault in an AC electrical machine includes a processor programmed to receive measurements of three-phase voltages and currents provided to the AC electrical machine from voltage and current sensors associated with the electrical distribution circuit, compute positive, negative and zero sequence components of voltage and current from the three-phase voltages and currents, and calculate a fault severity index (FSI) based on at least a portion of the positive, negative and zero sequence components of voltage and current, wherein calculating the FSI further comprises identifying a voltage gain in one or more phases of the AC electrical machine due to a stator winding fault and localizing the stator winding fault to one or more phases in the AC electrical machine.
US09933486B2
A test pattern generation apparatus includes an input unit, an output unit, and a pattern generating unit configured to, when a source code based on a system description language is created through the input unit, store an execution file created from the source code, generate a test pattern from the execution file according to an external command for testing a semiconductor apparatus as a DUT, and output the generated test pattern through the output unit.
US09933479B2
The present invention includes an interface apparatus for semiconductor testing. The interface apparatus comprises a housing substrate and two product substrates. The first product substrate has a first micro-scale conductive pattern and is situated within a first opening of the housing substrate. The second product substrate has a second micro-scale conductive pattern and is situated within a second opening of the housing substrate. The first and the second micro-scale conductive patterns are aligned to a conductive semiconductor wafer pattern using a continuous translucent media having targets corresponding to the conductive semiconductor wafer pattern.
US09933478B2
A probe card includes a probe; and a probe card substrate which includes a first member and a second member, the first member having a first surface provided with the probe and the second member having a second surface surrounding the first surface, wherein a direction of the first surface is different from a direction of the second surface.
US09933466B2
An apparatus and method are provided for detecting a resonant frequency giving rise to an impedance peak in a power delivery network used to provide a supply voltage. The apparatus includes resonant frequency detection circuitry that comprises test frequency control circuitry and a loading circuit. The test frequency control circuitry is arranged to generate control signals to indicate a sequence of test frequencies. A loading circuit is controlled by the control signals and operates from the supply voltage. In particular, in response to each test frequency indicated by the control signals, the loading circuit draws a duty-cycled current load through the power delivery network at that test frequency. Operation of the loading circuit produces a measurable property whose value varies in dependence on the supply voltage, thus enabling the resonant frequency to be determined from a variation in the value of that measurable property.
US09933463B2
The present invention relates to current measurement apparatus. The current measurement apparatus comprises first and second measurement devices with each of the first and second measurement devices being operative to measure current in a respective one of a live conductor and a neutral conductor substantially simultaneously. The current measurement apparatus is operative to make plural different determinations in dependence on the substantially simultaneous current measurements.
US09933441B2
Error may be introduced into an analysis by both the biosensor system used to perform the analysis and by errors in the output signal measured by the measurement device of the biosensor. For a reference sample, system error may be determined through the determination of relative error. However, during an analysis of a test sample with the measurement device of the biosensor system, true relative error cannot be known. A pseudo-reference concentration determined during the analysis may be used as a substitute for true relative error. The closer the analysis-determined pseudo-reference analyte concentration is to the reference analyte concentration of the test sample, the more accurate and/or precise the analyte concentration determined by the measurement device using an anchor parameter during compensation. The present invention provides an improvement in the accuracy and/or precision of the analysis determined pseudo-reference concentration through progressive approximation.
US09933439B2
Embodiments of the invention provide method and devices for predicting the likelihood of acute appendicitis without invasive exploratory medical procedures. Several protein biomarkers: leucine-rich α-2-glycoprotein (LRG); S100-A8 (calgranulin); α-1-acid glycoprotein 1 (ORM); plasminogen (PLG); mannan-binding lectin serine protease 2 (MASP2); zinc-α-2-glycoprotein (AZGP1); Apolipoprotein D (ApoD); and α-1-antichymotrypsin (SERPINA3); are increased in the urine of patients with appendicitis. The method and devices comprise detecting the levels of these biomarkers and comparing with reference levels found in healthy individuals.
US09933437B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for detection schemes for ascertaining pregnancy status of an animal. The compositions and methods employ interferon-tau (IFNT) and/or antibodies specific for IFNT. Methods of the present invention detect the presence of IFNT in samples obtained from animals as an early indicator of pregnancy. Methods are provided to identify non-pregnant animals so that management decisions regarding rebreeding can be made earlier compared to existing approaches.
US09933405B2
Methods for evaluating one or more immature ears of maize are presented in which digital imagery and image processing are used to assess physical properties of immature maize ears that are correlated with yield and other yield-related traits. Also provided are methods for identifying leads using immature ear photometry.
US09933403B2
A method for use in an electronic device, comprising: sensing a state of the electronic device; detect whether the state satisfies a predetermined condition; detecting a concentration of a gas in response to the state satisfying the predetermined condition; and displaying an indication of the concentration of the gas.
US09933402B2
A method for determining the location of a fecal insult, includes: detecting the concentration of at least one gas indicative of feces at a plurality of locations in a defined space; and determining whether said concentration of said gas exceeds a predetermined first threshold value. The method includes: detecting the concentration of hydrogen gas at each of said locations; detecting the concentration of at least one further gas component being indicative of feces in said space; and determining that a fecal insult has occurred in a location where said detected concentration of hydrogen gas exceeds said first threshold value, provided that the detected concentration of said further gas component also exceeds a predetermined second threshold value in said location.
US09933397B2
A method is provided for assessment of quality of an adhesively-bonded lap joint, wherein the joint includes a first metal plate, a second metal plate and an adhesive therebetween. The method includes sending ultrasonic waves normally to the surface of a sample outside of the joint where the sample has a first sample metal plate with the same properties as does the first metal plate at an assessment point of the joint. Reflected waves from the sample joint as a reference waveform are recorded. Wideband ultrasonic waves are sent normally to the surface of the joint at the assessment point. Reflected waves of the ultrasonic waves from the joint are recorded. A waveform of the reflected waves from the joint and reference waveform are analyzed to determine an informative parameter. The informative parameter is compared with a threshold value to assess quality of the joint.
US09933394B2
A method is disclosed for testing for delamination of a first composite component from a second composite component a composite material. The method comprises coupling a broad-band actuator to the composite material and connecting sweeping frequencies to the broad-band actuator for vibrating the composite material. An acoustic sensor is coupled to the composite material for measuring a resonant frequency curve of the vibrating composite material. The measured resonant frequency curve of the vibrating composite material is compared with a reference resonant frequency curve. A delaminated composite material produces a change in the measured resonant frequency curve relative to the reference resonant frequency curve. The method is suitable for detecting delamination in fuel cells as well as ceramic body armor.
US09933386B2
The present invention relates a setting method for a conductive object of electrochemical test strip. In the embodiment, this manufacturing process is not complex, convenient, and has well precision, such that the cost of manufacturing an electrochemical test strip is reduced effectively, the disadvantage of past manufacturing process is improved. The present invention is highly applied and convenient, so that wide application can be expected in the future.
US09933375B2
Disclosed is a portable non-destructive testing (NDT) instrument system that transmits spectrum data measured from a test material sample to a remotely located computer for computation of the sample's atomic element composition. The atomic element composition is subsequently transmitted back to the portable instrument for display to the operator in real time. The precision and accuracy of the compositional computation is improved by the greater processing power of the high performance remote computer. The operator of the NDT instrument may choose to use the remote computer to perform part or all of the compositional computation.
US09933369B2
A reagent includes a coloring agent allowing a measured solution to develop a color transmitting a region component light for a dissolved-substance concentration measurement selected from three region component lights of red, green, and blue obtained by transmitting a light including a visible light region to the measured solution colored by addition of the reagent to the sample, and dividing a light of the visible light region of a transmitted light thereof into roughly three portions. Based on the transmitted light from the measured solution with the coloring agent added, an absorbance of the region component light for the dissolved-substance concentration measurement, and an absorbance A3 of another region component light resulted only from the coloring agent are calculated. Whether or not the reagent in a necessary quantity is added to the sample can be judged by comparing the absorbance A3 and a standard absorbance A0.
US09933364B2
A phase synchronizing pulse amplitude modulation fluorometer having an excitation light source capable of emitting a pulse of light that will induce fluorescence in an external object. A photo detector for detecting the pulse and a circuit to synchronize a pulse of light from the excitation light source with a pulse of light from an external light source.
US09933354B2
A substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectography includes a support including an upper surface; a multilayer deposited on the upper surface, with the multilayer including at least two metal layers separated from each other by an intermediate layer, the intermediate layer being selectively etchable with respect to the metal layers, the multilayer being passed through by at least one trench delimited by ends of each one of the layers of the multilayer, each end of each intermediate layer being set back with respect to the end of each metal layer adjacent to the intermediate layer in such a way that the ends of two successive metal layers form metal pins separated by a cavity; a reflective optical system arranged in each trench, with the reflective optical system being arranged to direct inside the cavities an incident light arriving according to an angle with respect to the upper surface of the support.
US09933337B2
A wireless sensor for a wheel end assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle is provided. The wheel end assembly includes a wheel hub and a hub cap mounted on the wheel hub. The sensor includes mounting means disposed in the hub cap. Sensing means are mounted on the mounting means to sense at least one condition of the vehicle. A processor is mounted on the mounting means and is electrically connected to the sensing means to process data from the sensing means. Communication means are mounted on the mounting means and are electrically connected to the processor to communicate the processed data to a user. An electrical energy storage device is mounted on the mounting means and is electrically connected to the sensing means, the processor and the communication means, enabling the sensor to be independent from the vehicle power supply. The sensor also accommodates components of a tire inflation system.
US09933336B2
The invention relates to a method for detecting a fuel leakage in the fuel distribution system between a fuel control valve and at least one burner of a gas turbine during the operation of the gas turbine. In order to detect a fuel leakage, the fuel consumption is approximated in accordance with the mechanical power of the gas turbine, the fuel amount fed to the fuel distribution system is determined, and the leakage flow is determined from the difference between the fed fuel amount and the fuel consumption. The invention further relates to a gas turbine for performing such a method.
US09933334B2
In one embodiment, a system includes an engine control system configured to control an engine. The engine control system comprises a processor configured to receive a vibration signal sensed by a knock sensor disposed in an engine, and to receive a crankshaft signal sensed by a crank angle sensor disposed in the engine, wherein the crankshaft signal is representative of an engine crank angle. The processor is further configured to monitor a valve timing by deriving a cylinder head acceleration measurement via the vibration signal received by the knock sensor, wherein the processor is configured to monitor the valve timing by deriving a valve lash based on the vibration signal, the engine crank angle, and a threshold valve lash model.
US09933327B2
A method for detecting leakage at a fluid connection for a gas turbine fuel supply system is disclosed herein. The method includes closing a flow control valve at an upstream end of the fuel supply system and pressurizing the fuel supply system with a compressed medium via a compressed medium supply to a target pressure. The target pressure is less than a pressure threshold of a check valve that is disposed downstream from the compressed medium supply and upstream from a corresponding combustor of the gas turbine. The method further includes pointing a receiver portion of an ultrasonic detection device proximate to at least one tube fitting of the fuel supply system located between the flow control valve and a combustor which is fluidly coupled to the fuel supply system. Detection of an increase in sound level and/or the sound of popping at the tube fitting is indicative of a leak at the tube fitting.
US09933323B2
A torque measurement system for measuring a torque acting on a rotatable shaft is provided. The torque measurement system includes a first housing portion having a first end adapted to be fixedly coupled to the rotatable shaft and a second end. The torque measurement system includes a second housing portion having a first end spaced apart from the second end of the first housing portion so as to define a gap between the first housing portion and the second housing portion. The second housing portion is adapted to be fixedly coupled to the rotatable shaft. The torque measurement system includes at least one sensor that observes at least one of the second end of the first housing portion, the first end of the second housing portion and the gap and generates sensor signals based on the observation. The sensor signals are indicative of a torque acting on the rotatable shaft.
US09933304B2
An active photonic device having a Darlington configuration is disclosed. The active photonic device has a collector layer over a substrate, a base layer over the collector layer, and an emitter layer over the base layer. A connector structure electrically couples an inner emitter region with an outer base region, wherein the collector layer, base layer, the emitter layer and the connector structure are substantially centered within a first region over the substrate. A feedback resistor is coupled between an inner collector region and an inner base region. At least a portion of the feedback resistor is arc-shaped and resides over a first arcuate path defined by a substantially constant first radius centered in the first region.
US09933300B2
A pixel comprises a high-response photodiode that collects photocharge, a first transfer gate that enables the charge to be transferred off the high-response photodiode, completely emptying it onto a low-response photodiode, a second transfer gate enables the charge to be transferred off the low-response photodiode, completely emptying it onto floating diffusion, a third transfer gate for anti-blooming; the floating diffusion collects the transferred charge creating a change of voltage, a means of resetting the floating diffusion. A source-follower is modulated by the voltage on floating diffusion to control bit-line voltage and column-amplifier output. In examples, photocharge is integrated onto both the high-response photodiode and onto the low-response photodiode. The column readout circuit consists of a column amplifier that uses capacitors to set the amplifier gain, three sampling capacitors used as analog memory and for correlated double sampling, and a comparator that assists in providing the final output.
US09933294B1
A system for a vehicle comprises a load sensor configured to sense a load on the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a load indicator where the load indicator is disposed proximate the vehicle such that the load indicator generates an output in response to the load sensed by the load sensor.
US09933289B2
An orifice plate assembly including a plurality of ring members, each having an inner facing surface including a first annular recess extending therein, and a plurality of inner annular seals, wherein a different inner annular seal of the plurality is overmolded to the first annular recess of each of the plurality of ring members to seal against a facing surface of an orifice plate captured between the plurality of ring members.
US09933286B2
A sensor comprises a sensor element configured to provide a sensor signal representing at least one measurand detected by the sensor element, an electrical circuit configured to process the sensor signal to form a data signal, a photovoltaic cell configured to provide electrical energy for the sensor element and the electrical circuit, and a housing, in which the sensor element, the electrical circuit and the photovoltaic cell are positioned, the housing including a recess in which the photovoltaic cell is positioned, and a rim surrounding the recess and protruding beyond the photovoltaic cell. A method is also provided.
US09933268B2
A digital map enhancement system and a method performed by the system are disclosed for improving accuracy of pre-stored digital map data of a digital map to be utilized by a vehicle. The system determines a current position of the vehicle, and identifies, in the pre-stored digital map data, a mapped digital landmark representing a stationary landmark predicted to be in the vicinity of the current position of the vehicle, which mapped digital landmark includes a pre-stored position of the stationary landmark. The system detects the stationary landmark by one or more sensor devices on-board the vehicle, which are adapted for observing the surroundings of the vehicle, and determines a detected position of the stationary landmark based on the current position of the vehicle and the detection of the stationary landmark. The system updates the pre-stored position of the mapped digital landmark with the detected position of the stationary landmark.
US09933267B2
Map data is managed by being divided into a geometric information data list of pieces of geometric information or a phase information data list of pieces of phase information, an attribute information data list of pieces of attribute information, and a relation information data list of pieces of relation information each indicating a relation between the geometric information or the phase information and the attribute information. The pieces of attribute information in the attribute information data list are arranged in the order corresponding to the pieces of geometric information or phase information which are feature information, and the pieces of relation information are arranged in the order corresponding to the pieces of geometric information or phase information which are feature information.
US09933261B2
A physical quantity sensor includes a vibration element that performs drive vibration, an acceleration detection chip that detects an acceleration, a semiconductor element which is electrically connected to at least one of the vibration element and the acceleration detection chip, and a package that has a storage space for storing the vibration element, the acceleration detection chip and the semiconductor element. The semiconductor element is fixed to the package, the acceleration detection chip is fixed to the package with the semiconductor element interposed therebetween, and at least a portion of the acceleration detection chip overlaps the vibration element when the package is seen in a plan view.
US09933260B2
A mobile electronic equipment includes a gyro sensor that detects an angular velocity, a first housing with the gyro sensor disposed therein, a second housing movably connected to the first housing, an angle formed between the respective housings being changed by movement of the first housing, and a control unit that calculates a change in an angle formed between the first housing and the second housing before and after the movement as a measured angle, based on output data of the gyro sensor. The control unit calculates a correction value for the output data of the gyro sensor based on the measured angle and a reference angle set in advance (see FIG. 1).
US09933258B2
There is disclosed a shoe mounted gradiometer tool. The tool includes an enclosed housing having a convex interior base and a transparent top. A ball is disposed within the enclosed housing. The ball is sized and shaped to roll on the convex interior base. There is a mounting piece connected to the enclosed housing for securing the enclosed housing to an exterior surface of a shoe. The position of the shoe mounted gradiometer tool may be adjusted by placing a fastener through a fastener-receiving hole on the mounting piece. The fastener is loosely connected to a shoe. The orientation of the housing is adjusted by pivoting the housing around the fastener-receiving hole so that a marked level position of the tool corresponds to the lowest position of the convex interior base. The mounting piece is then mounted fixedly to the shoe.
US09933257B2
A wall area estimation system generates an estimated wall area measurement of a building based on the received roof measurements (e.g., those generated by, received from or found in a three dimensional model of the roof) and a reference distance. The reference distance is a measurement indicative of a distance between a reference point on the roof and a ground surface. This reference distance may be used to determine how for down to extend the walls of the building (e.g., to a ground level) when building a three dimensional digital model of the building to aid in generating wall area measurements. The resulting wall measurements, roof measurements, measurements of areas missing from the wall used to generate a wall estimate report, or a combined roof and wall estimate report including various different identifiers indicating the different features and measurements based on the three dimensional model.
US09933251B2
A system and method for gaging the shape of a curved glass sheet includes, as components, (1) a system and method for acquiring three-dimensional surface data corresponding to the glass sheet, and (2) a system and method for receiving the acquired surface data, comparing the acquired surface to a pre-defined surface description, and developing indicia of the level of conformance of the contoured glass sheet to the pre-defined specification. The surface data acquisition system includes a conveyor for conveying the glass sheet, at least one display projecting a preselected contrasting pattern, and at least one camera. The camera(s) and display(s) are uniquely paired and are mounted in a spaced-apart relationship a known distance and angle from the surface of the glass sheet such that the camera detects the reflected image of the pattern projected on the surface of the glass sheet from its associated display.
US09933248B2
A height gauge, comprising: a sliding support moving along a vertical guide and carrying a contact feeler, and a multi-chromatic light-emitting device mounted on the sliding support. A programmable controller drives the light-emitting device based on the position of the feeler.
US09933243B2
A security apparatus is described for determining a condition of a door or window. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises a sensor for measuring an attribute that varies as a first door or window condition is achieved and as a second door or window condition is achieved, and for generating signals indicative of the attribute, and a processor coupled to the sensor for determining the first door or window condition and the second door or window condition based on the signals from the sensor.
US09933236B2
A bow sight is described herein. The bow sight includes, in an embodiment, a frame configured to be coupled to an archery bow. The frame defines or includes a track or slot which extends vertically. At least one sight pin is coupled to frame and is movable between a plurality of vertical positions. At least one biasing member is coupled to the sight pin. The biasing member maintains the sight pin in a selected position to facilitate adjustment of the sight pin.
US09933225B2
A bipod with a quick connect feature that engages with a standard rail. The bipod includes a pair legs pivotally attached at a pivot axis. A biasing mechanism is coupled to the legs that has a dead center position when the legs are in an intermediate configuration between a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration. By shifting the biasing mechanism to one side or the other, the legs are automatically deployed to either the deployed configuration or the collapsed configuration. The biasing mechanism maintains the interface with the rail when in the deployed configuration and retains the lower portions of the legs adjacent each other in the collapsed configuration.
US09933209B1
The disclosure provides a method of forming an acoustical panel base mat, including providing a green board including an alkyl ether sulfate surfactant, wherein the green board includes from about 10 to about 40 wt. % solids, and dewatering the green board slurry to form a dewatered green board, wherein the dewatering comprises supplying hot air and applying a vacuum to the green board.
US09933207B2
A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to recover ethane, ethylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The gas stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled, expanded to lower pressure, heated, and its liquid fraction is supplied as a first top feed to an absorbing means. The second stream is expanded to lower pressure and supplied as a bottom feed to the absorbing means. A distillation vapor stream from the absorbing means is combined with the vapor fraction of the first stream, then cooled by the expanded first stream to form a condensed stream that is supplied as a second top feed to the absorbing means. A distillation liquid stream from the bottom of the absorbing means is heated in a heat and mass transfer means to strip out its volatile components.
US09933206B2
An apparatus for maintaining the temperature of an article at a temperature that is below the ambient air temperature includes an enclosure having an outer wall that defines an interior chamber for holding a volume of sealed air. An insert is disposed inside of the chamber and has a body that is made of a porous graphite foam material. A vacuum pump penetrates the outer wall and fluidly connects the sealed air in the interior chamber with the ambient air outside of the enclosure. The temperatures of the insert and article is maintained at temperatures that are below the ambient air temperature when a volume of a liquid is wicked into the pores of the porous insert and the vacuum pump is activated to reduce the pressure of a volume of sealed air within the interior chamber to a pressure that is below the vapor pressure of the liquid.
US09933197B2
A product is chilled or at least partially frozen by descending against a counter-current flow of liquid nitrogen in a vertical freezer containing an immersion bath of liquid nitrogen and the chilled or at least partially frozen product is extracted from the bath. The product may optionally be a liquid, semi-solid, suspension or slurry.
US09933194B2
A CO2 refrigeration system (1) includes: a compressor (3), a gas cooler (5), a temperature sensor (17) and an electronic control system (13), the electronic control system including a processor device (15) arranged to control operation of the compressor (3) according to input signals received from the temperature sensor (17), wherein the temperature sensor (17) is positioned to read an output temperature of the gas cooler. A method for controlling a compressor (3) in a CO2 refrigeration system (1) is also disclosed.
US09933193B2
An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigeration cycle charged with non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture and refrigerating machine oil. A suction pipe which is a refrigerant pipe connecting between a suction port of a compressor and an accumulator has an end portion on the side of the accumulator extending into the accumulator. In addition, the suction pipe of the air-conditioning apparatus includes an oil return hole formed in a portion of the suction pipe located inside the accumulator at a position higher than a central portion of the accumulator. A controller of the air-conditioning apparatus controls an opening degree of a pressure reducing device so as to make quality of refrigerant flowing into the accumulator less than 1.
US09933192B2
An air-conditioning apparatus includes a plurality of indoor units each located inside a building and at a position that enables the indoor unit to condition air, and a relay unit installed in a space not to be air-conditioned inside the building. The relay unit and each indoor unit are connected to each other via a first heat medium pipe in which a first heat medium such as water or brine flows. The relay unit accommodates therein a first refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a plurality of first intermediate heat exchangers that exchange heat between the first heat medium and refrigerant that performs a phase shift or turns to a supercritical state during operation, a plurality of expansion devices, and a second intermediate heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and a second heat medium, which are connected via a refrigerant pipe.
US09933186B2
An absorber tube is provided that has a central metal tube, a glass cladding tube, and a glass-metal transition element. The metal tube and the glass-metal transition element are connected to each other by an expansion compensation device such that they can be displaced relative to each other in the longitudinal direction. The expansion compensation device is arranged at least partially in an annular space between the metal tube and the glass-metal transition element. In the annular space, at least one shielding device is arranged, which has a first annular disc-shaped segment arranged at an axial distance in front of the end face and covers at least the connection region of the attachment element and the inner end of the expansion compensation device.
US09933174B2
An HVAC controller, a method for operating a HVAC unit and a HVAC unit are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the HVAC controller includes: (1) a memory configured to store a unique default network address for the controller and (2) a processor configured to automatically generate the unique default network address based on a seed value that is uniquely associated with the HVAC unit.
US09933166B2
The present invention relates to an oven (101) comprising a heated cavity (102) for cooking a food (201), which comprises a three-dimensional scanning system (106) configured for acquiring information about the volume and/or shape of a food (201) positioned in the heated cavity (102).
US09933160B2
A fire starter includes a casing made from a first material a first material having a first time associated therewith that defines a length of time that the casing burns after being ignited. A second material disposed in the casing has a second time associated therewith that defines a length of time that the second material burns after being ignited. An igniter, disposed in the casing and adjacent to the second material, generates a first thermal event to ignite the second material wherein the second material combusts to define a second thermal event that ignites the first material. An actuator is coupled to the igniter and is positioned outside of the casing for activating the igniter to generate the first thermal event.
US09933159B2
Provided is an oil diffusion pump equipped with an oil vapor generator capable of eliminating the problems occurring when a heater wire is used as a heating source for an operating oil. The present invention is a vacuum pump for which an oil vapor generator (70) is arranged within a casing (51) and this oil vapor generator is operated to vaporize an operating oil (8), thereby producing oil vapor and this oil vapor is sprayed from a jet (53, 53a) to exhaust intake air. The oil vapor generator (70) is equipped with: a container (71, 72) in the interior of which oil is stored, with the lower end of the tubular member (71), which comprises a material to be heated, being closed; and induction coil (75) wrapped around the atmosphere-side perimeter of the tubular member (71) (in particular, the case inner wall (71b)) with an insulating material (73) therebetween; and a power supply means that applies a low-frequency alternating current of several tens of Hz to several hundreds of Hz to the induction coil (75). The configuration is such that the tubular member (71) itself is heated when the power supply means is operated and the low-frequency alternating current is applied to the induction coil (75), thereby vaporizing the oil within the container.
US09933150B2
A hands-free wearable lighting device is a device utilized to provide illumination to the user's surroundings while being worn. At least one multicolor light-emitting diode (LED) is positioned within an LED compartment located on a housing. A control unit, a brightness adjustment switch, and a color adjustment switch allow the user to alter the light of the at least one multicolor LED. A necklace allows the housing to be worn around the user's neck in order to provide hands-free illumination. The user may utilize the device as a handheld light by grasping the device via a finger tab. Additionally, the user may utilize a prop stand to direct the light from the at least one multicolor LED in a desired direction. The device may include a laser diode as well in order to allow the device to emit a laser in addition to regular illumination.
US09933145B2
An LED lighting device is provided, having a lamp housing and at least one LED module. The lamp housing has a lamp cover and a housing-type heat-dissipating lamp bracket that directly radiates the heat generated by the LED module. The housing-type heat-dissipating lamp bracket is entirely made of heat-dissipating material, and several radiating hole devices are set on the housing-type heat-dissipating lamp bracket. The radiating hole devices on the housing-type heat-dissipating lamp bracket and the gaps between the LED modules form a mutually-reinforcing thermal honeycomb effect, providing a heat dissipation channel with unhindered air convection. Radiating holes are set at the head and tail of the housing-type heat-dissipating lamp bracket. The radiating holes and the gaps between the modules enhance the heat-dissipating effect and enhance air convection, to improve heat dissipation from the lamp housing and provide improved heat dissipation effect for the entire lamp.
US09933128B2
A lamp apparatus for an automobile, including: first and second light sources each generating light; and a light guide fully reflecting the light generated by the first light source and the light generated by the second light source and emitting the fully reflected light forward. The light guide includes: a first guide unit with first patterns fully reflecting the light generated by the first light source forward, a second guide unit with second patterns fully reflecting the light generated by the second light source forward, and a third guide unit coupled to the first and second light sources, extending from one end of the first guide unit and one end of the second guide unit, and disposing the first guide unit and the second guide unit orthogonally to each other. The first and second patterns are formed in the third guide unit to cross each other.
US09933121B2
A method of making a LED light bulb with the Graphene filament contains steps of: A. providing a flexible substrate, wherein the flexible substrate is flexible printed circuit board (PCB); B. coating graphene-based heat dissipation ink on a back side of the flexible substrate; C. cutting the printed circuit board (PCB) on which a graphene-based heat dissipation film is coated to form plural Graphene filaments; D. fixing the plural Graphene filaments into a light bulb. The flexible substrate has copper lines formed on both sides thereof for electronic circuits and heat conduction, and LED chips are mounted on a front side of the flexible substrate. The graphene-based heat dissipation ink is coated on the back side of the flexible substrate before or after LED chips/phosphor molding and then is dried. In addition, the Graphene filaments are fixed in a bended or arched position.
US09933115B2
A flow control valve includes a housing defining a cavity therein. The housing has an input port for receiving a gas from a gas supply, and an output port for delivering the gas to a gas cylinder. The cavity defines a staging area fluidly connected to the input port, a delivery area fluidly connected to the output port, and a pressurization area fluidly connected to a feedback sensing port. The feedback sensing port is configured to receive pressurized fluid that is pressurized to a pressure level representative of a pressure level of gas delivered to the gas cylinder. The flow control valve includes a piston slidably positioned in a channel extending between the pressurization area and the delivery area. The position of the piston changes a rate of flow of gas through the flow control valve. The piston position moves in response to a pressure at the feedback sensing port.
US09933109B2
A vibration resistant, positionable equipment mount. The positionable equipment mount including a platform mount, an equipment mount, a first and second pivot clamp, and one or more bars operably coupled to the first and second pivot clamp via ratcheting elbow mounts, wherein the internal bore of the first and second pivot clamps each have an interior circumferential surface characterized by teeth configured to mesh with splines on the respective shafts of the platform and equipment mounts to form ratcheting pivots.
US09933103B1
An apparatus for sealing a leak from a tubular member has a channel member with at least one open end, a sealing member positioned in an interior of the channel member and having a channel extending therethrough, and a compression assembly having a portion extending through the channel of the sealing member. The compression assembly also has a rotatable element extending outwardly of the channel of the sealing member. The rotatable element is rotatable so as to compress or deform the sealing material within the interior of the channel member so as to seal the leak. A tape material is wrapped over the channel member so as to fix a position of the channel member over the leak.
US09933099B2
Pipe joint, which comprises at least one first pipe section (2), and a sleeve part 5, into which the butt end part of the pipe section (2) is disposed in such a way that the sleeve part (5) extends a distance on top of the pipe section (2) from the butt end of the pipe section that is inside the sleeve, and heating means (7), such as resistance wires. For forming the joint, a joint component (3) is arranged between the outer surface (16) of at least one pipe section (2) and the inside surface (15) of the sleeve part (5), which joint component is configured to form a joint with the sleeve part (5) when the joint area is warmed with the heating means (7), and that a collar (6) is arranged on the pipe section (2), which collar comprises a detent surface (10) for the joint component (3). The invention also relates to a method for forming a pipe joint.
US09933093B2
Fuel line coupling components couple together coaxially aligned fuel lines (e.g., single wall metal aircraft fuel lines) and allow for relative longitudinal movements therebetween. The fuel line coupling component may include an outer tubular housing member, an inner tubular coupling member, a tubular collar member and a coupler. The inner tubular coupling member is adapted to being attached to a terminal end of one of the fuel lines and is received within an interior space of the outer tubular housing member for slidable movements therewithin to allow the fuel line attached thereto to be telescopically extended and retracted relative to the outer tubular housing. The tubular collar member is coaxially aligned with the outer tubular member and is adapted to being attached to a terminal end of the second fuel line in coaxial opposition to the first fuel line.
US09933091B2
A penetration structure for a fireproof compartment has a through hole(s) provided at a compartment and a pipe(s) penetrating through the through hole(s). A circumference of the pipe(s) is wound by an epoxy resin-containing thermally expandable resin composition sheet. The epoxy resin-containing thermally expandable resin composition sheet is a laminate of one or more epoxy resin-containing thermally expandable resin composition layers having at least one of linear grooves continuously formed and linear grooves intermittently formed, and two or more of the respective linear grooves being formed onto at least one surface of the epoxy resin-containing thermally expandable resin composition sheet with an interval, and one or more substrate layers. The epoxy-resin-containing thermally expandable resin composition sheet can be wound around the pipe by bending the sheet through use of the grooves even when the temperature is low.
US09933085B2
A valve includes a modulating chamber for sending and receiving fluid through a first chamber port, a supply chamber, and a damping chamber for sending and receiving a second fluid through a damping chamber port. The valve also includes a passageway between the damping chamber and the supply chamber, and a piston assembly movable within the valve, wherein the piston assembly is configured to open and close a flow control device. The piston assembly includes a rod, a modulating piston attached to the rod movable within the modulating chamber, a supply piston attached to the rod movable within the supply chamber, and a damping piston attached to the rod movable within the passageway and the supply chamber. The piston assembly also includes a damping piston bypass that provides a restricted flow passage between the supply chamber and the damping chamber when the damping piston is located in the passageway.
US09933072B2
In a working cylinder, with a cylinder casing, in the cylinder interior of which is mounted a driving piston capable of linear movement under fluidic pressurization, wherein the cylinder casing is mounted between two cylinder covers closing the cylinder interior, wherein the cylinder covers each have a central section and an outer frame section, with at least four mounting areas and encompassing the central section, wherein there is formed between the frame section and the central section an annular space, in which are provided reinforcing struts aligned radially and each extending towards an assigned mounting area, outer surfaces of each reinforcing strut diverge away from the assigned mounting area towards the central section.
US09933069B2
When a transmission controller issues a control command, such as pressure to control clutch torque, the response may be delayed due to dynamic properties of the control system. These properties can be modeled using a dynamic response model. One potential model is a combination of a pure time delay and a first order distributed delay. Control methods may be improved in several ways by accounting for the dynamic response. First, the dynamic response model may be used to improve adaptation of a transfer function between the commanded control signal and the clutch torque. Second, the command may be adjusted based on the dynamic response model. Both the pure time delay and the time constant of the first order distributed delay may be functions of operating conditions such as temperature.
US09933068B2
A multifunctional electronic gear shift lever for simultaneous manipulation includes a cylindrical lever rotatably inserted into a support which is disposed in a center fascia surface or a console surface of a vehicle and having an entrance opening that penetrates the cylindrical lever in a longitudinal direction. A start button is disposed at a lower side of the entrance opening, connected with a controller via a spring, and moving in a vertical direction. A display is disposed on the center fascia surface or the console surface, and displays a gear shift stage of the vehicle and a state of the vehicle. The gear shift stage is changeable by rotating the cylindrical lever while simultaneously starting an engine of the vehicle by operating the start button.
US09933065B2
A shift fork shaft 123 has both end portions movably fitted in shaft supports 83e and 116a of a gear transmission 82. Clearances are left between bottom surfaces 83g and 116c of the shaft supports 83e and 116a and both end faces 123c of the shift fork shaft 123. Caps 145 are mounted in both axial ends of the shift fork shaft 123.
US09933059B2
An electromechanical actuator (EMA) is provided. The EMA may comprise a ball nut having an annular geometry centered about an axis. A dual ball screw may be disposed radially inward from the ball nut and configured to rotate about the axis. The dual ball screw may also be mechanically coupled to the ball nut. A ball screw may be disposed radially inward from the ball nut and configured to rotate about the axis. The ball screw may also be mechanically coupled to the dual ball screw.
US09933053B2
A belt-type continuously variable transmission capable of continuously changing a speed reduction ratio of a driven pulley to a drive pulley, has a speed reduction ratio regulation mechanism that regulates a minimum speed reduction ratio of the driven pulley to the drive pulley. The driven pulley includes a fixed sheave, a movable sheave displaceable in an axial direction with respect to the fixed sheave, and a coil spring that urges the movable sheave toward the fixed sheave. The speed reduction ratio regulation mechanism has a swing arm that adjusts an allowable range in which moving away in an axial direction of the movable sheave with respect to the fixed sheave is possible, and a regulation drive section that drives the swing distal end portion of the swing arm to swing continuously.
US09933051B2
The invention relates to a tensioning device for a traction drive, comprising a receiving housing, a roller carrier which is pivotably connected to the receiving housing, a helical tension spring which is supported at the receiving housing and at the roller carrier in circumferential and axial direction, wherein the roller carrier and the receiving housing are axially fixed relative to one another by the helical tension spring, a bearing arrangement by which the roller carrier is supported in the receiving housing so as to be rotatable around a rotational axis, a damping arrangement for damping a rotational movement of the roller carrier relative to the receiving housing, wherein the damping arrangement is arranged so as to be axially spaced from the bearing arrangement and is axially loaded by a tensile load of the helical tension spring.
US09933047B1
The present disclosure provides a planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle having advantages of improving power transfer performance and fuel efficiency by implementing ten forward speeds and one reverse speed. The planetary gear train includes: first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets disposed on the same shaft line; an input shaft; an output shaft; eight shafts connected to the respective rotational elements of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets; four clutches and two brakes which are control elements; and a transmission housing H. With this arrangement, rotation power from an engine which is input from the input shaft is shifted by a mutual complementing operation between the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets, and is then output through the output shaft.
US09933043B2
A multi-speed transmission for a motor vehicle includes a housing, a drive shaft, an output shaft, at least four planetary gear sets, whereas each of the planetary gear sets comprises one sun gear, at least one planet, one planetary carrier and one ring gear. The transmission includes several shift elements in the form of at least three clutches and at least three brakes. The drive shaft is connectable through the second clutch to the planetary carrier of the first planetary gear set. The planetary carrier of the first planetary gear set is connected to the second brake. The ring gear of the first planetary gear set is connected to the planetary carrier of the fourth planetary gear set. The planetary carrier of the fourth planetary gear set is connected to the sun gear of the third planetary gear set. The sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set is connected to the third brake. The planetary carrier of the third planetary gear set is connected to the output shaft. The ring gear of the third planetary gear set is connected to the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set. The third clutch is connected to the first brake. The third clutch is connected to the sun gear of the first planetary gear set.
US09933038B2
An anti-vibration device has excellent durability while reducing the amount of elastic deformation of an elastic body to a desired value. The disclosed anti-vibration device (1) includes an inner member (2), an outer member (3), an elastic body (4) that allows relative displacement between the inner member (2) and the outer member (3), a pair of first fluid chambers (C1) in communication with each other via first restricting passages (r1), and a second fluid chamber (C2) in communication with an auxiliary fluid chamber (C3) via a second restricting passage (r2). The first fluid chambers (C1) are disposed at opposite sides of the inner member (2). The second fluid chamber (C2) is disposed in an orthogonal direction (Z) that is orthogonal to a sandwiching direction (Y) and to a direction along the axis (O) of the inner member (2). Stopper parts (S) are provided in the first fluid chambers (C1).
US09933021B2
A flexible hub connection is disclosed for joining a first rotatable shaft with a second rotatable shaft so that torque can be transmitted between the shafts through the connection. The connection comprises a first flexible means having a first flex plane, a second flexible means having a second flex plane and, an intermediate member. The first flexible means is connected between the first rotatable shaft and the intermediate member, while the second flexible means is connected between the intermediate member and the second rotatable shaft. The first flex plane and second flex plane being substantially coplanar.
US09933018B2
A bearing arrangement is disclosed. The bearing arrangement includes a bearing with a bearing lubricant. A first electrically conductive portion and a second electrically conductive portion, which have different electronegativities, are in direct contact with the bearing lubricant. The bearing lubricant and the first and second electrically conductive portions form an electrolyte and two electrodes, respectively, of an electrochemical cell. The bearing arrangement further includes a sensor connected to the first electrically conductive portion and to the second electrically conductive portion, the sensor being configured to measure at least one of a current and a galvanic potential between the first and second electrically conductive portions and to determine a water content in the bearing lubricant based on the measurement.
US09933003B2
The present invention relates to an anti-vibration rivet, which comprises a core shaft and a sleeve. The core shaft including a head part and a shaft part, all of which are forming an overlap space, the head part is provided with an interlocking rabbet. The sleeve including a flange part and a fork part, all of which are forming an inner rabbet, the flange part is provided with an interlocking part which is engaged with the interlocking rabbet. With the structural design of the interlocking rabbet of the head part and the interlocking part of the flange part can improve the mutual fixing ability between the core shaft and the sleeve. And articles fixed by the anti-vibration rivet can have better stability.
US09932999B2
A hydraulic circuit changeable between a state of executing a regeneration action and a state of stopping the regeneration action. The hydraulic circuit includes hydraulic pumps; a plurality of hydraulic actuators; a plurality of control valves provided for respective hydraulic actuators; a regeneration line through which return oil returned from a specific hydraulic actuator of the hydraulic actuators to a tank is supplied to a regeneration target; a regeneration valve; a meter-out valve; and a flow-path selection device selecting a flow path for the return oil from a first flow path supplying the return oil to the regeneration line to cause the regeneration action and a second flow path supplying the return oil to the control valve for the specific hydraulic actuator to stop the regeneration action.
US09932993B2
A hydraulic control system for a machine is provided. The hydraulic control system includes a fluid reservoir, a pump motor and an accumulator. The pump motor is configured to provide pressurized fluid and to receive fluid to provide a power output. The hydraulic control system further includes a hydraulic actuator having a first and a second chamber, a first valve, a regenerative valve, and a controller. The controller is in communication with the first valve and the regenerative valve to selectively actuate the regenerative valve to allow flow of a first portion of the fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber. The controller is further configured to selectively actuate the first valve to allow flow of a second portion of the fluid from the first chamber through the pump motor to provide the power output to a shaft of a power source.
US09932992B2
A piezoelectric fan is provided that can effectively supply airflow to a subject to be cooled. The piezoelectric fan includes an air blower having a free end and a fixed end, and a planar piezoelectric element fixed to the air blower. The piezoelectric element causes vibration of the free end of the air blower. The air blower includes a first plate to which the piezoelectric element is fixed, and a second plate and a third plate which are orthogonal to the first plate and parallel to each other. In this structure, the free end of the air blower is H-shaped. The H-shaped blowing end of the air blower effectively prevents lateral airflow and improves the directivity of airflow.
US09932990B2
A ventilation device, in particular for heating, cooling and/or humidifying air in residential buildings, includes a duct-shaped housing (1) with an air inlet opening (2) and an air outlet opening (3), and a fan impeller (6) as well as a filter unit, heat exchange unit and/or heating coil unit (14) arranged in the main flow direction (Z) of an air flow generated by the fan impeller (6). An air guiding device (17) is arranged in the flow direction (Z) of the air flow in front of a suction nozzle (16)—configured as a flow conditioner, includes a bar structure with air guiding bars-such that a flow inlet opening is configured on the suction side at an axial height in front of the flow inlet opening (15) by the bar structure whose opening surface is smaller than the opening surface of the flow inlet opening (15).
US09932989B1
A method, apparatus and system for cooling compressed gases at a well site without the need for fans. Wherein produced liquids act as a continuously-flowing heat sink for gases entering stages of compression. Heat sinks can be automatically bypassed such that gases are compressed without first cooling them based upon outputs of temperature sensors.
US09932987B2
A rotor disc for a vacuum pump, in particular a turbo molecular pump, having an inner ring. The inner ring is connected to a plurality of blade elements extending radially outward. The inner ring has at least one expansion joint. For assembly, the inner ring can be surrounded by a retaining ring and arranged on a hollow cylindrical carrier element as applicable.
US09932983B2
A rotor assembly having a plurality of rotor plates mounted to a shaft, and methods of construction for a rotor assembly are disclosed. Each rotor plate in the assembly may be provided with a central opening extending between the first and second sides through which the shaft extends. In one aspect, the rotor plates are provided with a plurality of lobes extending away from the central opening, wherein each of the lobes has a lobe opening extending through the thickness of the plates. In one embodiment, the rotor plates are rotationally stacked to form a helical rotor.
US09932977B2
A medical infusion pump pressure plate alignment system and components that include a chassis, a sensor module, and a pressure plate in various embodiments. The pressure plate has a first end pivotally mounted to the chassis of the control module for pivotal retention and a second end selectively mounted to the chassis of the control module. The pressure plate, hooks or rail contain recessed or projection features configured for receipt of the complementary features of the sensor module. Additional alignment features can include a retaining component incorporated with the hook, a guide feature on the outer surface of the pressure plate, and a kickstand feature attached to the rail.
US09932976B2
A starting valve (100) for a fluid operating machine (200) for a vacuum system (1000). The starting valve (100) comprises:—a valve body (10) with an opening (17) to let a gas in; and an actuating piston (13) splined on a stem (16) free to slide in a guide (18A). The actuating piston (13), with a portion of the valve body (10), defines a chamber (30). The actuating piston (13) is subject to the action of a deformable diaphragm (15). A calibrated throttling hole (16B) is provided in series with a through hole (16A) in line with the stem (16) to establish a fluid communication between the chamber (30) and a fluid-dynamic line (500) of the vacuum system (1000). A shutter (20) is furthermore provided also splined on the stem (16). The shutter (20) closes a gas passage opening (10B) as a function of the pressure difference between the chamber (30) and the fluid-dynamic line (500). The calibrated throttling hole (16B) and the through hole (16A) establish a fluid communication between the space enclosed by a connection (25) and a space (22) defined by a cover element (23) positioned in the upper part of the valve body (10).
US09932973B2
In a reciprocating pump comprising a reciprocating member adapted to reciprocate as driven by a drive unit contained in a drive unit case, so as to perform a pumping action such that a liquid in use is aspirated into a pump chamber formed axially in front of the reciprocating member and pushed out under pressure and further comprising a high-pressure seal in slidable contact with an outer peripheral surface of the reciprocating member axially behind the pump chamber so as to prevent the liquid in use from leaking out when a high pressure is generated in the pump chamber, a flow path for the liquid in use to flow so as to bathe the drive unit therewith is provided within the drive unit case, while the rear side of the high-pressure seal is in contact with the liquid in use flowing through the drive unit case.
US09932970B1
Rankine Cycle power generation facility having a plurality of thermal inputs and at least one heat sink, where the heat sink includes a thermal chimney or a natural convective cooling tower. In a preferred embodiment, the power facility generates electricity and/or fresh water with a zero carbon footprint, such as by using a combination of solar and geothermal heating to drive a Rankine Cycle heat engine. In one embodiment, a thermal stack is mounted in the base of the thermal chimney, the thermal stack for using waste heat from the plurality of thermal inputs to drive a natural convective flow of air in the thermal chimney, the convective flow having sufficient momentum to drive additional power generation in an air turbine mounted in the chimney and to drive an evaporative cycle for concentratively extracting fresh water from geothermal brines.
US09932961B1
A wind power generator having blades which are detachably mounted on a hub whereby the blades can be easily and efficiently removed and replaced as necessary.
US09932945B2
A method of reducing nitrogen oxide emissions, the method comprising (i) injecting a petroleum-derived diesel fuel composition having: (a) a sulfur content of less than 10 ppm; (b) a flash point of greater than 50° C.; (c) a UV absorbance, Atotal, of less than 1.5 as determined by the formula comprising Atotal=Ax+10(Ay) wherein Ax is the UV absorbance at 272 nanometers; and wherein Ay is the UV absorbance at 310 nanometers; (d) a naphthene content of greater than 5 percent; (e) a cloud point of less than −12° C.; (f) a nitrogen content of less than 10 ppm; and (g) a 5% distillation point of greater than 300 F and a 95% distillation point of greater than 600 F, in an advanced combustion engine; (ii) combusting the petroleum-derived diesel fuel in (i) in a combustion chamber of a non-spark ignited engine, wherein nitrogen oxide emissions are lower than those nitrogen oxide emissions when a conventional diesel fuel is employed in a non-spark ignited engine.
US09932920B2
A control device includes a cylinder pressure sensor, a driving condition detector, a reference crank angle setter, a reference cylinder pressure calculator, an EGR ratio estimator, and a controller. The cylinder pressure sensor detects a cylinder pressure inside a cylinder. The driving condition detector detects a driving condition in an internal combustion engine. The reference crank angle setter calculates, according to the driving condition, a reference crank angle immediately before which mixture gas starts combusting. The reference cylinder pressure calculator calculates a reference cylinder pressure at the reference crank angle based on temperature characteristics of a heat capacity ratio of the mixture gas under a condition. The EGR ratio estimator calculates an EGR ratio based on a pressure difference between the reference cylinder pressure and the cylinder pressure at the reference crank angle. The controller controls the internal combustion engine according to the EGR ratio.
US09932919B2
In an engine, a controller is configured to fully close the opening of EGR valve when a cut condition is satisfied and variably control the opening when a cut release condition is satisfied. An operating zone is defined as a zone surrounded by a characteristic curve indicating a relationship between rotation speed and torque. The operating zone comprises a high operating zone containing an NTE zone, and a low operating zone that is set at a lower torque side and at a lower rotation speed side with respect to the high operating zone. The cut condition is that an operating condition specified by the rotation speed and the torque is kept within the low operating zone during a predetermined time or more. The cut release condition is that the operating condition falls within the high operating zone.
US09932914B2
A hybrid electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine configured to provide power to traction wheels, and a controller. The controller is configured to, in response to the engine being off and a power request exceeding an engine-start threshold, delay an engine start when vehicle speed is below a predetermined value. Delaying an engine start may include providing an engine-start-threshold offset. The offset decreases as vehicle speed increases. The engine is started when the power request exceeds a sum of the engine-start threshold and the engine-start-threshold offset.
US09932912B2
Various methods and systems are provided for an engine with an exhaust gas treatment system. In one example, under a first condition, a first fuel is delivered for combustion in the engine. Under a second condition, a second fuel is delivered for combustion in the engine, the second fuel different than the first fuel. Under a third condition, the first fuel is delivered as a reductant for the exhaust gas treatment system.
US09932901B2
A shroud retention system may generally include a shroud hanger and first and second hooked components extending from an outer hanger wall of the hanger. The first hooked component may include a first wall extending from the outer hanger wall and a first rail extending from the first wall. The second hooked component may include a second wall extending from the outer hanger wall and a second rail extending from the second wall. In addition, the system may also include a shroud segment having a shroud wall configured to be positioned radially between the outer hanger wall and the first and second rails. Moreover, the system may include a retention spring positioned within a radial space defined between the outer hanger wall and the first and second rails that is configured to apply a radial spring force against the shroud segment.
US09932897B2
An acoustic panel intended to be fixed internally to a fan casing of a turbojet engine, including an exterior face and an interior face which are curved about an axis, and two axially opposed transverse faces, the exterior curved face having at least one first recess on the side of a first transverse face and at least one second recess on the side of the opposite transverse face, said recesses each an attachment, in which said recesses do not open onto the interior curved face of the panel. Also covered are the turbojet engine including these panels and the method of mounting them.
US09932896B2
The invention relates to an exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) having a compressor housing (3), having a bearing housing (28) which can be connected at one end to the compressor housing (3) by means of a first fastening device (19), and having a turbine housing (2) which can be connected to the bearing housing (28) at the other end of the latter by means of a second fastening device (20), with the compressor housing (3), the bearing housing (28) and the turbine housing (2) extending along an exhaust-gas turbocharger longitudinal axis (R), wherein the first fastening device (19) is designed as a plug-and-twist connecting device.
US09932895B2
An engine wash manifold assembly for delivering wash liquid to an engine with a radial air passage includes a feeder body, an inlet on the feeder body to receive wash fluid, a first nozzle in fluid communication with the feeder body and configured to direct wash fluid into the radial passage, and a securing device configured to support the feeder body relative to a mounting location.
US09932885B2
A turbocharger compressor housing is configured to allow a releasable fixed adjustment of a geometry of a compressor housing to increase at least one of responsiveness, efficiency or the ultimate power obtainable by a turbocharged system. Adjustability can be provided by an air intake pipe that is threadably connected with a central portion of the compressor housing to allow an air gap between the housing and the intake pipe to be adjusted to create an effect similar to adjusting the inducer area of a compressor wheel disposed in the housing, whereby power can be exchanged for efficiency and responsiveness. Set screws may be used to releasably fix the position of the intake pipe relative to the compressor housing.
US09932877B2
A method is provided for monitoring an emission device coupled to an engine. In one example approach, the method comprises: following a deceleration fuel shut-off duration, indicating degradation of the emission device based on an amount of rich products required to cause a sensor to become richer than a threshold. The amount of rich products required may be correlated to an amount of oxygen stored in the emission device.
US09932876B2
Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle engine to adjust exhaust warm-up strategy based on a vehicle network information. In one example, in response to an expected decrease in temperature of a catalyst of a vehicle below a threshold and an estimated duration thereof based on communications external from the vehicle, a method may include delaying catalyst heating actions, when the catalyst heating actions are determined to be unable to heat up the catalyst to threshold temperatures. However, the catalyst heating actions may be enabled when the catalyst heating actions are determined to be able to achieve the threshold temperature within the duration.
US09932864B2
A valve train for a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine with a transmission element in the form of a rocker arm (1) or pivot arm that can be actuated, on one hand, at least indirectly by a cam of a camshaft and is in active connection, on the other hand, through an intermediate connection of a valve bridge (4), with gas-exchange valves (7, 8). The valve bridge (4) has hydraulic valve lash compensation elements (“HVAs”) allocated to each gas-exchange valve (7, 8).
US09932863B2
A waste heat recovery system (100) for an engine (101) comprises a fluid supply (104); one or more evaporators (120, 121) adapted to transfer waste heat from the engine (101) to fluid from the fluid supply (104) to heat the fluid to a superheated vapor; a condenser (134) having a condenser inlet (134′) in fluid communication with the one or more evaporators; and a pressure regulator (200) configured to limit the vapor pressure at the condenser inlet (134′).
US09932860B2
A shaft for a gas turbine engine includes a shaft bore along an axis, a circumferential groove within the shaft bore, a multiple of first axial grooves from said circumferential groove and a multiple of second axial grooves from said circumferential groove.
US09932859B2
A lubricating fluid damped anti-rotational system is provided comprising a pawl carrier having an axis of rotation and a radial aperture, a pawl pivotably mounted to the pawl carrier on a pivot joint, the pawl having a contact portion and a counterweight portion, a lubricating fluid jet configured to propel a lubricating fluid through the radial aperture toward the contact portion.
US09932844B2
A sealing assembly may include a support, an engine component, and a seal. The engine component may be mounted relative to the support to define a gap between the engine component and the support. The seal may be arranged between the support and the engine component to block gasses from passing through the gap. The seal may be adapted to compress and expand to fill the gap during expansion and contraction of the adjacent components that occurs during operation of a gas turbine engine including the sealing assembly.
US09932838B2
A cooling system according to an embodiment includes: a three-pass serpentine cooling circuit; and an air feed cavity for supplying cooling air to the three-pass serpentine cooling circuit; wherein the three-pass serpentine cooling circuit extends radially outward from and at least partially covers at least one central plenum and a first set of near wall cooling channels of a multi-wall blade.
US09932835B2
An airfoil has an airfoil structure that defines a cooling passage for directing a cooling medium through the airfoil structure. A swirl structure is operatively associated with the cooling passage and configured to impart a tangential velocity to the cooling medium flowing through the cooling passage. An airfoil has an airfoil structure that defines a first cooling passage and a second cooling passage for directing cooling medium through the airfoil structure, each cooling passage having a swirl structure that imparts tangential velocity on the cooling medium flowing through the associated cooling passage. A method of making an airfoil that includes forming an airfoil structure that defines a cooling passage for directing a cooling medium through the airfoil structure and forming a swirl structure that is operatively associated with the cooling passage and imparts tangential velocity to the cooling medium flowing through the cooling passage.
US09932834B2
A rotor blade for a turbine engine includes an airfoil that is connected to a base. The base includes a platform, a neck and a fillet. The fillet extends along at least a portion of an intersection between the platform and the neck. The fillet has a radius that substantially continuously changes as the fillet extends from the platform to the neck.
US09932828B2
An axial piston machine (1) is shown, comprising: a shaft (2) having an axis (3) of rotation, a cylinder drum (4) connected to said shaft (2) and having at least a cylinder (5) parallel to said axis (3) of rotation, a piston (6) movable in said cylinder (5), a swash plate (13), a slide shoe (11) pivotally mounted to said piston (6), and holding means holding said slide shoe (11) against said swash plate (13), said holding means having a pressure plate (14) and a number of coil springs (15) arranged between said cylinder drum (4) and said pressure plate (14). The object is to have a reliable operation of said machine with a simple construction. To this end each coil spring (15) is at least at one end fixed by a protrusion (20) extending into said coil spring (15).
US09932815B2
A technique facilitates monitoring of strain related effects along a tubing string, such as a tubing string extending from surface equipment toward a sea floor in a subsea well application. A monitoring module is employed to monitor the strain related effects and may have a tubular structure. The monitoring module also has a reduced wall thickness region constructed to concentrate strain in this reduced wall thickness region. Additionally, the monitoring module comprises at least one sensor mounted to the tubular structure in the reduced wall thickness region for monitoring of strains.
US09932791B2
Methods of removing two or more isolation devices is provided. An example method includes introducing two or more isolation devices into a wellbore comprising at least two wellbore intervals. Each isolation device comprises a substance and each of the substances degrades within the wellbore. The degradation rate of each of the substances causes fluid communication to be restored between the wellbore intervals in a desired amount of time. The method further includes causing or allowing each of the substances to degrade.
US09932790B2
A casing cutting tool, to be disposed downhole in a casing string on a drillstring, for the cutting and/or milling of casing strings. The tool has a main body with a plurality of rotatable blades which can rotate between a first retracted position to a second position substantially at right angles to the main body. In this second position, cutting surfaces on the blades engage the casing wall, and rotation of the tool results in cutting of the casing. A plurality of stabilizing arms are rotatably attached to the main body. A link between the blades and the stabilizing arms forces the stabilizing arms to rotate outward when the blades rotate outward. The stabilizing arms are dimensioned to span the inner diameter of the casing string, while leaving clearance to rotate the tool. The outermost ends of the stabilizing arms are rounded to avoid cutting the casing and reduce drag.
US09932786B2
The exemplary embodiments relate to misalignment correction devices and methods for mitigating misalignment of a piece of oilfield equipment in or proximate an RCD. A rounded shoulder appears on a first surface within or proximate the RCD, and a socket profile appears on a second surface within or proximate the RCD. The second surface is configured to abut the rounded shoulder. The rounded shoulder is configured to rotate within the socket profile. Further, a floating joint may be implemented into or proximate the RCD and combined with the foregoing rotation mitigation features.
US09932780B2
A drill bit for use in a wellbore is disclosed, including a bit body having a longitudinal axis; and at least one moveable member associated with a lateral extent of the bit body, wherein the at least one moveable member is configured to translate in a member axis that is substantially longitudinal. Further, a method of drilling a wellbore is disclosed, including providing a drill bit including a bit body having a longitudinal axis and at least one movable member associated with a lateral extent of the bit body; conveying a drill string into a formation, the drill string having the drill bit at the end thereof; drilling the wellbore using the drill string; and selectively translating at least one movable member in a member axis that is substantially longitudinal.
US09932771B1
A collapsible ladder safety system for a ladder having first and second vertical ladder rail and a plurality of step rungs extending between the first and second vertical rails, the system comprising first and second upright tubular hand rails and a cross member pivotally attached to each of the first and second parallel upright tubular hand rails. The tubular hand rails or cross member are releasably securable to an upper end of the ladder. The first and second upright tubular hand rails are collapsible against the cross member when not secured to the ladder.
US09932763B2
A vehicle door opening device opens and closes a door with a motor. In the vehicle door opening device, an opening reversible member on which an opening cable is wound is disposed on a top surface of a center guide rail, and a closing reversible member on which a closing cable is wound is disposed under a lower surface of the center guide rail. A moving member moves along the center guide rail and comprises a closing coupling portion to which the closing cable is coupled and an opening coupling portion to which the opening cable coupled. The closing cable moves along the lower surface of the center guide rail, and the opening cable moves along the top surface of the center guide rail.
US09932760B1
An apparatus and method to secure a bolt cutter, wire cutter, cable cutter or other type of pivot handled tool with two protruding tabs whose apertures align with each other as the handles of the pivot handled tool enter a closed position. A shackle of a padlock may be inserted through the aligned apertures to lock the handles in the closed position.
US09932758B2
A watertight door or window comprising a frame and a leaf mounted on the frame and arranged movably with respect thereto between an open position and closed position, and further comprising: a striker element arranged on the leaf, a locking element arranged on the frame and provided with a hook end designed to engage with the striker element so as to lock the leaf against the frame following closing of the leaf, and a striker actuating mechanism arranged on the leaf and able to be actuated when the leaf is in a closed position and the locking element is engaged with the striker element. The actuating mechanism is provided for releasing the striker element from a closed position, where the striker element is positioned inside a recess in the hook end of the locking element, to an open position, where the striker element is extracted from the recess in the hook end of the locking element. The actuating mechanism can be reset when the leaf is closed again.
US09932756B1
An electronic barrel lock and key system that functions in combination with a computer that codes an electronic master key, or an electronic standard key, or an electronic programming module and includes an electronic lock having a lock security device. The master key has no restrictions, based on how it is programmed, therefore it can open any of the locks. The standard key includes restrictions that precludes the key from opening the lock. The programming module cannot open a lock it is only used to program or reprogram a lock. The lock security device is utilized to prevent a person from opening the lock by applying a high temperature to the lock. The security device utilizes a low-melt alloy that is isolated from the electronic elements located within the lock. When the low-melt alloy melts it causes the lock to be placed in a permanent locked state. The system also has a non-rotating non-keyed interface between the key and the lock.
US09932752B1
A portable screening assembly for provision of privacy in public spaces includes a pair of rings. A sleeve and a plurality of slats are coupled to and extend between the rings. The sleeve is open ended. The slats are coupled to and coiledly positioned on the sleeve. The slats are elastic rendering them compressible. A plurality of couplers is coupled to the sleeve proximate to a top of the sleeve. The slats, in a resting position, place the sleeve is in an extended configuration to screen a user who is positioned in the sleeve. The slats are configured to be compressed to position the slats and the sleeve in a compressed configuration. The couplers are configured to support the sleeve on shoulders of the user. The couplers also are positionable to mutually couple to retain the slats and the sleeve in the compressed configuration.
US09932750B2
A platform for a cemetery lowering device comprising a base having a tapered edge and a non-skid surface, wherein the base comprises an opening for a casket to be lowered through the base, a frame and skin, and one or more adjustable-height footings. The frame and skin may be formed of a single piece of polymer, fiberglass, or metal. The skin may be removably attached to the frame. The non-skid surface may comprise grooves. The base may comprise a guide for positioning the cemetery lowering device on the base. The guide is an impression in a surface of the base. The base may comprise a first flange around a perimeter of the opening extending vertically from a top surface of the base. Each one of the adjustable-height footings is threaded such that height adjustments of the one of the adjustable-height footings comprise rotating the one of the adjustable-height footings.
US09932745B2
An apparatus for supporting workers and materials above-grade on both the eave and gable ends of a structure is disclosed. The apparatus can be combined with one or more additional staging apparatuses to create a staging system for the support of persons or materials while work is being done on a structure, e.g., roofing, siding, etc. The modular design of the apparatus simplifies installation, such that it can be readily attached to a roof or other support member of a structure by a single person, and facilitates the adjustable vertical positioning of people or materials along the walls of the structure. The staging system can also include a rail member for safety support and alternative scaffolding arrangements.
US09932738B2
A sheathing retention capsule may include an outer body, the outer body having a tapered inner surface defining a forcing surface. The sheathing retention capsule may also include one or more holding wedges. At least one of the one or more holding wedges may have a tapered outer surface abutting the inner surface of the outer body. At least one of the one or more holding wedges may have an inner wall.
US09932729B1
A control handle module includes a flush handle, a first lever and a second lever. The flush handle has an extension. The first lever is secured on the extension. The first lever includes a body section, a fixing portion and a pivot base. The pivot base has an arcuate periphery which is provided with a first stop rib and a second stop rib. The second lever has a first shank and a second shank. The second shank has a resting face and a pivot ear. The pivot ear is pivotally connected with the pivot base. The resting face rests on the first stop rib or the second stop rib.
US09932721B2
A system for a working machine is adapted for springing the movement of a load during transport and includes at least one hydraulic cylinder for operating the load, an accumulator, and a valve adapted to control a flow communication between the hydraulic cylinder and the accumulator. The system includes a first control valve arranged on a conduit connecting to the piston side of the hydraulic cylinder, a second control valve arranged on a conduit connecting to the piston rod side of the hydraulic cylinder, a first pressure sensor for detecting a load pressure of the hydraulic cylinder, a second pressure sensor for detecting a charge pressure of the accumulator, and a control unit adapted to receive signals with information about the pressures detected by the pressure sensors and to generate control signals corresponding to the detected pressures for controlling the springing function.
US09932711B2
Rail pad, in particular for track superstructures, comprising a substantially level intermediate layer having an upper side and a lower side, wherein the upper side is designed for arrangement to a rail and the lower side for arrangement to a sleeper, wherein the upper side and/or the lower side are provided with at least one arrangement region on which the rail or the sleeper can be arranged, wherein the rail pad comprises at least one side region arranged adjacent to the intermediate layer and wherein the side region comprises an engaging section and/or a fastening section, wherein the engaging section is designed for accommodation on the sleeper, and wherein the fastening section is designed to directly and/or indirectly connect to the rail.
US09932707B2
A process is defined for the continuous steam pretreatment and fractionation of bagasse to produce a concentrated cellulose solid stream that is sensitive to enzymatic hydrolysis. Valuable chemicals are recovered by fractionating the liquid and vapor stream composed of hydrolysis and degradation products of the hemicellulose. Cellulosic derived glucose is produced for fermentation to biofuels. A hemicellulose concentrate is recovered that can be converted to value added products including ethanol.
US09932701B2
A laundry appliance is provided, comprising a motor and a controller connected to the motor. The controller determines at least one characteristic of the motor, identifies the motor from a plurality of possible known motors based on the at least one characteristic, identifies the rotor from a plurality of possible known rotors based on the at least one characteristic, and configures at least one motor operation parameter based on the identity of the motor and/or rotor. The at least one characteristic may include the resistance of a stator coil and/or a magnetic flux constant.
US09932691B2
A single crystal is grown in a float zone which is inductively heated and the crystallizing single crystal is rotated in a direction of rotation which is periodically reversed at intervals in accordance with an alternating plan, wherein a dwell time during which the single crystal is in a state of rest because of the reversal of the direction of rotation is limited to no more than 60 ms.
US09932688B2
The present techniques provide a method for producing a Group III nitride semiconductor single crystal that is designed to grow a semiconductor single crystal with high reproducibility. The method for producing a Group III nitride semiconductor single crystal comprises adding a seed crystal substrate, Ga, and Na into a crucible, and growing a Group III nitride semiconductor single crystal. In the growth of the Group III nitride semiconductor single crystal, a measuring device is used to detect the reaction of Ga with Na. Ga is reacted with Na with the temperature of the crucible adjusted within a first temperature range of 80° C. to 200° C. After the measuring device detected the reaction of Ga with Na, the temperature of the crucible is elevated up to a growth temperature of the Group III nitride semiconductor single crystal.
US09932681B2
The present disclosure relates to an electrolytic cell for the production of aluminium by reducing alumina. The cell may comprise a sidewall including at least one side block. The side block may comprise an aluminous material having an apparent porosity of less than about 10% and a composition, as a weight percentage on the basis of the aluminous material and for a total of about 100%, such that: Al2O3>about 50%, beta-alumina being less than about 20% of the weight of the aluminous material, oxides that are less reducible than alumina at 1000° C.
US09932680B2
Electropolymerizable systems are disclosed. The electropolymerizable systems include an electropolymerizable composition including one or more 1,1-disubstituted alkene compounds and one or more conductive synergists.
US09932670B2
A method and apparatus for removing deposition products from internal surfaces of a processing chamber, and for preventing or slowing growth of such deposition products. A halogen containing gas is provided to the chamber to etch away deposition products. A halogen scavenging gas is provided to the chamber to remove any residual halogen. The halogen scavenging gas is generally activated by exposure to electromagnetic energy, either inside the processing chamber by thermal energy, or in a remote chamber by electric field, UV, or microwave. A deposition precursor may be added to the halogen scavenging gas to form a deposition resistant film on the internal surfaces of the chamber. Additionally, or alternately, a deposition resistant film may be formed by sputtering a deposition resistant metal onto internal components of the processing chamber in a PVD process.
US09932669B2
A metal nanodot formation method includes: loading a target substrate inside a processing container of a processing apparatus; depositing a plurality of metal nanodots on a surface of the target substrate by a sequence of: supplying a CO gas from a CO gas container which stores the CO gas into a raw material container which stores a metal carbonyl compound; generating gas of the metal carbonyl compound; introducing the generated gas of the metal carbonyl compound as a mixture gas containing the CO gas into the processing container; and decomposing the metal carbonyl compound on the target substrate, and directly introducing the CO gas from the CO gas container into the processing container, in a state where the introduction of the mixture gas into the processing container is stopped, such that the CO gas is brought into contact with the metal nanodots on the surface of the target substrate.
US09932667B2
A target assembly comprising—a support body having a carrying surface; —a sputtering target having an attaching surface, said carrying surface and said attaching surface being arranged in opposing facing relation to one another, thereby defining an intermediate space between said carrying surface and said attaching surface; and—a bonding material disposed in the intermediate space for binding said attaching surface to said carrying surface, —wherein distinct areas of one or both of said attaching surface and said carrying surface are selectively, superficially treated to enhance the bonding strength of said bonding material in said distinct areas.
US09932662B2
A mask frame assembly includes a mask having pattern openings and a frame including a first support portion configured to support an end of the mask and having a clamping slot and a support slot adjacent to the clamping slot; and a second support portion connected to the first support portion.
US09932652B2
Hot-stamped steel includes: a base metal that is steel including a tempered portion having hardness corresponding to 85% or less of the highest quenching hardness, the highest quenching hardness being defined as a Vickers hardness at a depth position spaced away from a surface by ¼ times a sheet thickness in a case of performing water quenching after heating at a temperature equal to or higher than an Ac3 point and retention for 30 minutes; and a Zn coating layer that is formed on the tempered portion of the base metal. The Zn coating layer includes a solid-solution layer including a solid-solution phase that contains Fe and Zn that is solid-soluted in Fe, and a lamella layer that includes the solid-solution phase and a capital gamma phase. An area ratio of the lamella layer in the Zn coating layer is 20% or less.
US09932641B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for determining whether a subject having prostate cancer is at greater risk of developing progressive disease, and methods of treating the subjects. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that approximately 90% of men carrying at least one of the following fusion genes: TRMT11-GRIK2, SLC45A2-AMACR, MTOR-TP53BP1, LRRC59-FLJ60017, TMEM135-CCDC67 and CCNH-C5orf30 experienced prostate cancer recurrence, metastases and/or prostate cancer-specific death after radical prostatectomy (each examples of “progressive prostate cancer”), while these outcomes occurred in only 36% of men not carrying any of these fusion genes. It is also based, at least in part, on the discovery that no patient studied survived five years without recurrence if their primary prostate cancer contained a TRMT11-GRIK2 or MTOR-TP53BP1 fusion gene. It is also based, at least in part, on the discovery that the protein encoded by the MAN2A1-FER fusion gene exhibits kinase activity.
US09932639B2
The present invention is related to a method for analyzing a clinical response of a patient suffering from or at risk of developing a neoplastic disease towards at least one given mode of treatment, said method comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a biological sample from said patient; b) determining, on a non protein basis, the expression level of three genes of interest, said genes being correlated with the Estrogen receptor (ESR) status in the sample, c) comparing the pattern of expression levels determined in (b) with one or several reference pattern(s) of expression levels; and d) predicting therapeutic success for said given mode of treatment in said patient from the outcome of the comparison in step (c); and treating based on said outcome.
US09932635B2
The molecules harbored in exosomes play important roles in biological science. A highly desirable goal for exosome research is the rapid, simple, simultaneous tracking and quantification of exosome harbored molecules. Disclosed herein are methods and devices for inducing the release and measurement of biomolecules harbored in exosomes. The disclosed method, Electric Field Induced Release and Measurement (EFIRM) technique, uses an electrical field to simultaneously disrupt exosomes to release the contents and measure the harbored exosomal RNA/proteins. The exosome vesicle contents can be released within minutes. This provides a potential on-site method for the detection of exosome-harbored biomolecules.
US09932631B1
A method for identifying target alleles, that includes steps of (a) forming a plurality of stabilized ternary complexes at a plurality of features on an array, wherein the stabilized ternary complexes each has a polymerase, a template nucleic acid having a target allele of a locus, a primer hybridized to the locus, and a next correct nucleotide having a cognate in the locus, wherein either (i) the primer is an allele-specific primer having a 3′ nucleotide that is a cognate nucleotide for the target allele, or (ii) the primer is a locus-specific primer and the next correct nucleotide hybridizes to the target allele; and (b) detecting stabilized ternary complexes at the features, thereby identifying the target alleles.
US09932628B2
Method and system for quantifying target nucleic acids using real-time amplification and internal calibration adjustment. The invention employs dual reference calibration curves for approximating a complete calibration curve from only a single adjustment calibrator amplified on the instrument that is to be calibrated.
US09932625B2
The invention provides a method for detection of mutant-type DNA or/and wild-type DNA by contacting at least one of a single-stranded DNA having a substituted nucleotide, a deficient nucleotide region, or an inserted nucleotide region (mutant-type DNA), or/and a wild-type single-stranded DNA corresponding to the mutant-type DNA (wild-type DNA) with a probe hybridizing with both single-stranded DNAs, to form a hybrid with the mutant-type DNA (mutant-type hybrid) or/and a hybrid with the wild-type DNA (wild-type hybrid) (at least one of the obtained mutant-type hybrid and wild-type hybrid has a loop structure), (2) contacting the obtained mutant-type hybrid or/and wild-type hybrid with an intercalator, and (3) detecting the presence or absence of the mutant-type DNA or/and the wild-type DNA by separating the conjugate of mutant-type hybrid and intercalator or/and the conjugate of wild-type hybrid and intercalator.
US09932620B2
A rapid, sensitive method of separating and detecting microorganisms from a sample potentially containing microorganisms, such as but not limited to bacteria, fungi, yeast, viruses, and the like. The method relies on separation techniques to separate and concentrate the cells from the sample, together with chemical techniques to amplify the amount of detectable signal from low numbers of cells to provide a rapid and sensitive method of detecting microorganisms. This detection method may utilize: a filtration device; a centrifugation device; a system; a swab device; and kit comprising one or more of the devices and components to perform the present method of separating and detecting microorganisms in a sample potentially containing microorganisms. The sample may be a chemical, cosmetic, personal care, pharmaceutical, or consumable good in its raw material, in-process, and/or finished product states that needs to be tested for any contaminating microorganisms prior to shipment to the consumer.
US09932619B2
The invention relates to methods for producing mogrosides with the aid of enzymes. In particular the invention proposes various biosynthetic pathways useful for mogroside production and enzymes useful for mogroside production are provided. Furthermore, the invention provides recombinant hosts useful in performing the methods of the invention.
US09932618B2
The present invention relates to a composition for production of photosynthetic light-reaction products comprising photosynthetic membrane vesicles, and a production method for the photosynthetic light-reaction products by using the composition. In addition, the present invention relates to a preparation method for a photosynthetic light-reaction monomer comprising a step of isolating vesicles from the cell membrane of photosynthetic bacteria or algae.
US09932615B2
The present disclosure provides engineered ketoreductase enzymes having improved properties as compared to a naturally occurring wild-type ketoreductase enzyme. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, host cells capable of expressing the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, and methods of using the engineered ketoreductase enzymes to synthesize chiral compounds.
US09932613B2
The present disclosure provides engineered polypeptides having imine reductase activity, polynucleotides encoding the engineered imine reductases, host cells capable of expressing the engineered imine reductases, and methods of using these engineered polypeptides with a range of ketone and amine substrate compounds to prepare secondary and tertiary amine product compounds.
US09932612B2
The present invention relates to bacterial strains, capable of utilizing glycerol as a carbon source for the fermentative production of succinic acid, wherein said strains are genetically modified so that they comprise a deregulation of their endogenous pyruvate-formate-lyase enzyme activity, as well as to methods of producing organic acids, in particular succinic acid, by making use of such microorganism. The present invention also relates to the downstream processing of the produced organic acids by cation exchange chromatography.
US09932610B2
A bioconversion method of making vanillin including expressing VaoA gene in a mixture, expressing MtSAD1 gene in the mixture, feeding eugenol to the mixture, and converting ferulic acid to vanillin by incubating with a microbial Amycolatopsis sp. strain (Zhp06) and/or a recombinant E. coli strain.
US09932606B2
A method for reconstructing a replication-selective oncolytic adenovirus using a subgroup B recombinant human adenovirus vector Ad11-5EP. The method includes: 1) deleting E1A CR2 gene and/or anti-apoptotic gene E1B 21K that is necessary for viability of an adenovirus in normal cells but not necessary in tumor cells; 2) inserting a tumor-specific promoter to drive the expression of E1A gene; 3) re-directing a cellular tropism of Ad11-5EP according to receptors on a tumor cell surface; or 4) allowing adenovirus to selectively replicate in tumor cells.
US09932599B2
The present disclosure generally relates to novel polynucleotide molecules for use in regulating gene expression in recombinant cells, such as labyrinthulomycetes cells. The disclosure further relates to nucleic acid constructs, such as vectors and expression cassettes, containing a regulatory element operably linked to a heterologous nucleotide sequence. The disclosure further relates to methods for stably transforming a host cell, such as a labyrinthulomycetes cell with transgenes. Stably transformed recombinant cells, progeny, biomaterials derived therefrom, and methods for preparing and using the same are also provided.
US09932594B2
The present invention relates to an inhibitor of FXYD2 gene expression for use in a method for treating neuropathic pain in a patient in need thereof. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising an inhibitor of FXYD2 gene expression, wherein said pharmaceutical composition is formulated for a direct administration into the peripheral nervous system (PNS) of a patient (e.g., formulated for intrathecal administration).
US09932587B2
The present invention relates generally to methods for identifying cancer patients with a poor prognosis, and to therapeutic modalities for improving prognosis by combating metastasis and abrogating chemoresistance in cancer cells. Embodiments of the present invention provide an objective means of prognostication regarding the long-term outcome of an incident of cancer, breast cancer in particular. Therapeutic modalities include immunotherapy and anti-sense therapy. Prognosis is determined by measuring the number of copies of the metadherin gene in the patient's cells.
US09932585B2
This disclosure relates to manipulating microRNA for the management of neurological disorders and compositions related thereto. In certain embodiments, the disclosure contemplates inhibition of miR324 or miR324-5p, e.g., the use of nucleobase polymers for antisense disruptions or RNA interference of miR-324 expression or for miR324-5p binding in order to increase Kv4.2 expression. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to methods of treating or preventing a neurological disease or condition comprising administering an effective amount of an inhibitor to a subject in need thereto.
US09932584B2
The invention provides a delivery system comprising a cell penetrating peptide, 10 histidines, and an interfering RNA molecule. The system can be used for delivering interfering RNA molecules into a cell in vivo or in vitro. Therapeutic uses for the delivery system are also provided.
US09932583B2
Compositions and methods for detecting, inhibiting, treating, and/or preventing a liver disease or disorder such as cholestasis or fibrotic liver disease are provided.
US09932579B2
Compositions and methods for reducing susceptibility and enhancing tolerance to Nosema disease (Nosemosis) using RNA interference technology, and more particularly, prevention and treatment of Nosema infections in honeybees by feeding of Nosema-specific dsRNA.
US09932578B2
The present application relates to nucleic acid compounds, compositions comprising same and methods of use thereof for treatment of various diseases, disorders and conditions. The compounds are preferably chemically synthesized and modified double-stranded nucleic acid molecules which down regulate expression of a p53 gene.
US09932577B2
This disclosure provides for methods and reagents for rapid multiplex RPA reactions and improved methods for detection of multiplex RPA reaction products. In addition, the disclosure provides new methods for eliminating carryover contamination between RPA processes.
US09932575B2
The present invention relates to scaffold proteins derived from plant cystatins and to nucleic acids encoding them. The scaffolds are highly stable and have the ability to display peptides. The scaffolds are particularly well suited for constructing libraries, e.g., in phage display or related systems. The invention also relates to various uses of the scaffolds, including in therapy, diagnosis, environmental and security monitoring, synthetic biology and research, and to cells and cell cultures expressing the scaffold proteins.
US09932567B1
A mutant MMLV reverse transcriptase that may have an improvement in one or more properties is provided. For example, the present reverse transcriptase is believed to be more efficient relative to other commercially available MMLV reverse transcriptase variants, particularly for templates with a higher GC content.
US09932565B2
Provided are substantially dephosphorylated forms of lysosomal storage disease (LSD) proteins, including dephosphorylated forms of iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS, or I2D) and iduronidase (IDU), having increased ability to traverse or penetrate the blood brain barrier (BBB) relative to phosphorylated forms of the protein, and p97 conjugates thereof. Also provided are compositions comprising such dephosphorylated LSD proteins and p97 conjugates, and methods of use thereof, for instance, to treat any one or more lysosomal storage diseases, such as Hunter Syndrome (or MPS Type II).
US09932561B2
This document provides methods and materials related to differentiating iPS cells into glucose-responsive, insulin-secreting progeny. For example, methods and material for using indolactam V (ILV) and glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) to produce glucose-responsive, insulin-secreting progeny from iPS cells are provided.
US09932559B2
A platform for creating an artificial blood brain barrier including a functional, perfused artificial vessel lined with endothelial cells embedded in a physiologically relevant three-dimensional extracellular matrix is described.
US09932556B2
The present invention relates to a method for in vitro differentiation of a population of blood circulating cells, such as monocytes and preferably pluripotent macrophages derived therefrom, into cells displaying functional and phenotypic neuronal characteristics. The invention further encompasses neuronal-like cells obtainable according to the present method, compositions comprising said cells, and applications thereof.
US09932553B2
A system for performing a gas-liquid mass transfer includes a container bounding a compartment and having a top wall, a bottom wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween. A first opening is formed on the container so as to communicate with the compartment. A liquid is disposed within the compartment and having a top surface disposed below the first opening. A gas is blown through the first opening so that the gas passes over at least a portion of the top surface of the liquid, the gas producing turbulence on the top surface of the liquid that is sufficient to produce a mass transfer between the gas and the liquid. A mixing element is disposed within the compartment.
US09932544B1
The present invention provides a starch-based moldable play composition, including: corn starch; mineral oil; propylene glycol; glyceryl stearate; sodium laureth sulfate; sodium chloride; potassium sorbate; phenoxyethanol; water; fragrance; and pigment dye, selected from the group consisting of yellow 3, yellow 4, red 14, red 17, blue 1, blue 2, and titanium dioxide.
US09932533B2
Transport compositions include a crude oil composition and a solvent formulation including at least one terpene component. In some embodiments, the terpene is a monoterpene. In some embodiments, the terpene is pure gum turpentine, oil of turpentine, a component of turpentine, or a combination of these. Addition of a minimal amount of solvent formulation to the crude oil composition raises the flash point of the mixture, preferably to a predetermined value, which may be in the range of 100 to 120° F., in the range of 120 to 140° F., above 140° F., or above 170° F., depending on the application. The amount of terpene is preferably in the range about 0.005 to about 5 percent by total weight of the transport composition. Methods of raising the flash point of a crude oil composition and methods of increasing the safety of handling a crude oil composition are also disclosed.
US09932531B2
Systems, processes, and catalysts are disclosed for obtaining fuel and fuel blends containing selected ratios of open-chain and closed-chain fuel-range hydrocarbons suitable for production of alternate fuels including gasolines, jet fuels, and diesel fuels. Fuel-range hydrocarbons may be derived from ethylene-containing feedstocks and ethanol-containing feedstocks.
US09932528B2
A system for desalting a crude oil stream includes vessel that has an interior piping structure that releases wash water into a crude oil flow within the vessel. The piping structure, which may have more than one level, has a plurality of spray nozzles for dispersing or releasing the wash water into the flowing crude oil stream. The spray nozzles may be located on a same side or opposite sides of the piping structure. Where multiple levels are used, the number of spray nozzles on each level may be the same as or different than the number of spray nozzles on other levels. The pressure drop through each spray nozzle is no greater than 300 psi and the nozzles deliver a dilution water droplet no larger than 300 microns in diameter. A mixing valve, static mixer, or both can be placed downstream of the vessel.
US09932525B2
The present invention provides new techniques related to magnetically controllable and/or steerable froth for use in separation processes of mineral-bearing ore and bitumen. Apparatus is provided featuring a processor configured to contain a fluidic medium having a material-of-interest and also having a surfactant with magnetic properties so as to cause the formation of a froth layer that contains at least some of the material-of-interest and is magnetically responsive; and a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field and provide non-mechanical mixing and steering/driving of the froth layer in the processor. The material-of-interest may be mineral-bearing ore particles or bitumen. The processor includes a flotation tank, a primary separation vessel (PSV), or a pipe, including a tailings pipeline. The pipe has a non-magnetic pipe section, and the magnetic field generator includes a magnetic coil arranged in relation to non-magnetic pipe section to generate the magnetic field and provide the non-mechanical mixing and steering/driving of the froth layer in the pipe.
US09932521B2
A self-suspending proppant comprises a proppant particle substrate carrying a coating of an anionic hydrogel-forming polymer. The detrimental effect of calcium and other divalent ions on the ability of the proppant to swell when contacted with water is reduced by including a calcium binding agent in the proppant.
US09932509B2
The present invention relates to the use of a double salt of Ca(NO3)2 and KNO3 for the manufacture of a melt, in particular a nitrate-based heat transfer fluid (HTF) and/or thermal energy storage fluid, for example in solar energy applications, such as in solar electrical power plant systems using a parabolic through, a central receiver or a linear Fresnel, which have both a low melting temperature and a high decomposition temperature, as well as to methods for the manufacture thereof. Using said double salt, a melt could be manufactured comprising at least NaNO3, KNO3 and Ca(NO3)2, preferably, an eutectic ternary melt comprising Ca(NO3)2, NaNO3 and KNO3 in a weight ratio of about 42:15:43 with an operating temperature of about 131° C. to about 560° C.
US09932506B2
An environmentally friendly hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture may be used as a substitute for existing refrigerant in a refrigerant system. The hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture offers greater operating efficiency and effectively replaces chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants. The refrigerant mixture for the refrigeration system includes from about 85% to about 89% by weight propane and from about 11% to about 15% by weight propene.
US09932505B2
An environmentally friendly hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture may be used as a substitute for existing refrigerant in a refrigerant system. The hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture offers greater operating efficiency and effectively replaces chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants. The refrigerant mixture for the refrigeration system includes from about 85% to about 89% by weight propane and from about 11% to about 15% by weight propene.
US09932494B2
Disclosed are a resin composition and a molded product obtained using the same. By using the resin composition according to the present invention, a molded product having excellent tensile strength, tensile modulus, electromagnetic shielding effects, anti-static effects, and the like may be provided.
US09932492B2
Disclosed is an oxidatively drying alkyd resin composition and a method for preparing said composition. Said composition is obtained by admixing an aqueous silica sol into a substantially 100% alkyd resin being in a liquid state either at ambient temperature or at an elevated temperature. Said silica sol is added in an amount of 0.1-10% by weight calculated as 100% silica on 100% alkyd resin. The use of a said composition is in a further aspect disclosed.
US09932472B2
Disclosed is a method of preparing a rubber-reinforced thermoplastic resin. According to the present invention, a graft copolymer comprising a large-particle-size rubber polymer obtained by welding polymerization-heat-control-type small particles and a reactive emulsifier or a mixed emulsifier comprising a reactive emulsifier and a non-reactive emulsifier is prepared, and a rubber-reinforced thermoplastic resin comprising the same may have enhanced mechanical properties, thermal stability, surface visibility and gloss.
US09932470B2
The present disclosure relates to highly filled polyolefin compositions with improved balance of properties particularly for applications where puncture and tear resistance is requested comprising a flexible heterophasic polyolefin composition (I), consisting of a crystalline polymer fraction (A) consisting of a copolymer of propylene with ethylene having a fraction insoluble in xylene at 25° C. of at least 90% by weight, and an elastomeric fraction (B) consisting of a copolymer or blend of copolymers of ethylene with propylene; the copolymer or blend containing units derived from ethylene in a quantity lower than 40% by weight. The fraction soluble in xylene at 25° C. of the polyolefin composition having an IVgpc lower than 2.5 dl/g, a broad molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn (GPC) equal to or higher than 4, and a Mz/Mw (GPC) equal to or higher than 2.5.
US09932469B2
A heterophasic propylene ethylene copolymer having an MFR2 of 0.5 to 100 g/10 m in and obtained using single site catalysis comprising: (i) a propylene homopolymer or propylene ethylene copolymer matrix having up to 4 wt % ethylene; and (ii) an ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) dispersed in the matrix; said heterophasic propylene ethylene copolymer having a xylene cold soluble content (XS) of 20 to 40%; wherein the ethylene content of the xylene cold soluble fraction of said heterophasic propylene ethylene copolymer is between 70 and 90 wt. %; wherein the xylene cold soluble fraction of said heterophasic propylene ethylene copolymer has an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of 3.0 dl/g or more; and wherein the melting enthalpy (ΔHM) of the heterophasic propylene ethylene copolymer is between 10 and 30 J/g at a temperature of 0 to 130° C.
US09932468B2
C2C3 random copolymer composition with an improved balance between sealing initiation temperature (SIT) and melting point (Tm), i.e. low SIT and high melting point. In addition the inventive composition shows a broad sealing window, low hexane solubles and good optical properties, like low haze.
US09932467B2
The method for manufacturing a composition consists in bringing into contact a product containing mostly polypropylene having a controlled fluidity less than 10 g/10 min with highly fluid polypropylene and a polymer grafted with maleic anhydride.
US09932465B1
A process for preparing a polyolefin, including polymerizing olefins in the presence of an antistatic agent made from or containing an alkylene oxide derived polymer made from or containing in average from about 10 to about 200 repeating units —(CH2—CHR—O)— with R being hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein the alkylene oxide derived polymer is a random copolymer of ethylene oxide and other alkylene oxides and a ratio of n:m is in the range of from 6:1 to 1:1, wherein (n) is the average number of repeating units —(CH2—CH2—O)— derived from ethylene oxide and (m) is the average number of repeating units —(CH2—CHR′—O)— derived from the other alkylene oxides with R′ being an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and the end groups of the alkylene oxide derived polymer are —OH groups.
US09932462B2
A rubber composition for a tire rim cushion or rubber finishing contains a diene rubber and a filler containing a carbon black. The diene rubber contains a natural rubber and/or an isoprene rubber, and a modified polymer that is obtained by reacting a nitrone compound with a double bond of a conjugated diene polymer. The content of the natural rubber and/or the isoprene rubber in the diene rubber is from 30 to 60 mass %, the content of the modified polymer in the diene rubber is from 8 to 70 mass %, the content of the filler is from 60 to 90 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the diene rubber, and the nitrogen adsorption specific surface area of the carbon black is from 60 to 150 m2/g. Such rubber composition has excellent low heat build-up and ozone resistance when formed into a tire.
US09932454B2
The present disclosure relates to a polymer material comprising mesopores extending between melamine-formaldehyde co-polymer nano-particles and wherein micropores extend within the co-polymer nano-particles, methods of producing the same and uses thereof.
US09932451B2
The present invention is a polyester composition for a masterbatch, which comprises a polyester, a magnesium compound, an alkali metal compound and a phosphorus compound, wherein magnesium atoms, alkali metal atoms and phosphorus atoms are contained in amounts of 400 to 2700 ppm by mass, 40 to 270 ppm by mass and 200 to 1700 ppm by mass, respectively, in the polyester composition, the melt resistivity of the polyester composition is 0.005×108 to 0.05×108 Ω·cm, and few contaminant particles are observed in the polyester composition under specified conditions. The polyester composition for a masterbatch has a satisfactorily low melt resistivity, contains few contaminant particles, and has an excellent color hue and excellent thermal stability.
US09932447B2
Provided is a curable resin composition which exhibits excellent curability and is good in storage stability. The curable resin composition comprises (a) a polymer having a hydrolyzable silyl group, (b) an acid catalyst, and (c) an onium salt represented by the following general formula (1): C+A− (1) wherein C+ is an onium cation, and A− is a hydrogen sulfate anion, a hydrogen sulfite anion, a sulfonate anion represented by R1SO3− wherein R1 represents an alkyl group, perfluoroalkyl group, cycloalkyl group, vinyl group, aryl group, perfluoroaryl group, aralkyl group or halogen atom; or a bis(substituted sulfonyl)imide anion represented by (R2SO2)2N− wherein R2 represents an alkyl group, perfluoroalkyl group, or aryl group; tetrafluoroborate anion, or hexafluorophosphate anion.
US09932445B2
New diamine monomers bearing sulfone terminated pendant groups, as well as methods for making the same, are provided. The diamine monomers are useful toward making polyamide, polyimide, and poly(amide-imide) polymers and copolymers, which possess hygromorphic properties and demonstrate humidity driven motility.
US09932432B2
Various cycloolefinic/maleic anhydride/maleimide polymers and compositions thereof useful for forming self-imageable films encompassing such polymers are disclosed. Such polymers encompass norbornene-type repeating units, maleimide repeat units and maleic anhydride-type repeating units where at least some of such maleic anhydride-type repeating units have been ring-opened. The films formed from such polymer compositions provide self imageable, low-k, thermally stable layers for use in microelectronic and optoelectronic devices.
US09932403B2
The present disclosure relates to amino acid sequences that are directed against (as defined herein) HER3, as well as to compounds or constructs, and in particular proteins and polypeptides, that comprise or essentially consist of one or more such amino acid sequences (also referred to herein as “amino acid sequences of the invention”, “compounds of the invention”, and “polypeptides of the invention”, respectively). The disclosure also relates to nucleic acids encoding such amino acid sequences and polypeptides (also referred to herein as “nucleic acids of the invention” or “nucleotide sequences of the invention”); to methods for 10 preparing such amino acid sequences and polypeptides; to host cells expressing or capable of expressing such amino acid sequences or polypeptides; to compositions, and in particular to pharmaceutical compositions, that comprise such amino acid sequences, polypeptides, nucleic acids and/or host cells; and to uses of such amino acid sequences or polypeptides, nucleic acids, host cells and/or compositions, in particular for prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic purposes, such as the prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic purposes mentioned herein.
US09932399B2
Chimeric and humanized anti-CD37 antibodies and pharmaceutical compositions containing them are useful for the treatment of B cell malignancies and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases that involve B cells in their pathology.
US09932396B2
An object is to provide an antibody capable of specifically recognizing a human NRG1 protein isoform, and suppressing signal transduction in which the isoform is involved. An antibody capable of binding to a region at positions 221 to 234 of a human NRG1-α protein or an antibody capable of binding to a region at positions 213 to 239 of a human NRG1-β1 protein was successfully obtained. Further, it was also found that these antibodies had an activity of suppressing cleavage of the NRG1 protein, an activity of suppressing phosphorylation of an ErbB3 protein in a cancer cell, and an activity of suppressing in vivo tumor proliferation.
US09932394B2
Compositions and methods of use are provided for intrabodies that bind and alter the effects of poly-glutamate protein aggregation in poly-glutamate associated diseases, such as in Huntington's disease. Intrabodies are provided that prevent poly-glutamate aggregation, gene dysregulation, and negative effects of Huntington's disease.
US09932387B2
The present invention relates to a therapeutic polypeptide and methods for its creation and use for modulating an immune response in a host organism in need thereof. In particular, the invention relates to the administration to an organism in need thereof, of an effective amount of a pre-coupled polypeptide complex comprising a lymphokine polypeptide portion, for example IL-15 (SEQ ID NO: 5, 6), IL-2 (SEQ ID NO: 10, 12) or combinations of both, and an interleukin receptor polypeptide portion, for example IL-15Ra (SEQ ID NO: 7, 8), IL-2Ra (SEQ ID NO: 9, 11) or combinations of both, for augmenting the immune system in, for example, cancer, SCID, AIDS, or vaccination; or inhibiting the immune system in, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, or Lupus. The therapeutic complex of the invention surprisingly demonstrates increased half-life, and efficacy in vivo.
US09932381B2
The present invention relates to glucagon receptor agonists and their medical use, for example in the treatment of severe hypoglycemia.
US09932378B2
Disclosed are methods of identifying an agent that modulates an NFAT regulator protein. One such method comprises contacting at least one test agent with a recombinant cell comprising at least one NFAT regulator protein or fragment or derivative thereof, assessing the effect of the test agent on an activity, interaction, expression, or binding to the NFAT regulator protein or fragment or derivative thereof, and identifying the test agent that has an effect on an activity, interaction, expression, or binding to the NFAT regulator protein or fragment or derivative thereof, whereby the identified test agent is characterized as an agent that modulates an NFAT regulator protein. Methods of identifying an agent that modulates intracellular calcium, methods to screen for an agent that modulates NFAT regulator function, methods to diagnose unexplained immunodeficiency in a subject, and methods for identifying an agent for treating or preventing a disease or disorder associated with a NFAT regulator protein or calcium signaling are also disclosed.
US09932367B2
The invention provides a method for conjugating a peptide displayed on a genetic display system to a molecular scaffold performed on an ion exchange resin.
US09932363B2
Disclosed herein are nucleosides, nucleotides and analogs thereof, pharmaceutical compositions that include one or more of nucleosides, nucleotides and analogs thereof, and methods of synthesizing the same. Also disclosed herein are methods of ameliorating and/or treating a paramyxovirus viral infection, with a nucleoside, a nucleotide and an analog thereof.
US09932356B2
The disclosure generally relates to compounds of formula I, including compositions and methods for treating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The disclosure provides novel inhibitors of HIV, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and methods for using these compounds in the treatment of HIV infection.
US09932352B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) useful in the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion-related pathologies.
US09932351B2
The disclosure relates to inhibitors of USP7 inhibitors useful in the treatment of cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, immunological disorders, inflammatory disorders, cardiovascular diseases, ischemic diseases, viral infections and diseases, and bacterial infections and diseases, having the Formula: where R1, R2, R3, R5, R5′, X1, X2, n, and m are described herein.
US09932350B2
The present invention relates to inhibitors of IRAK4 of Formula I and provides compositions comprising such inhibitors, as well as methods therewith for treating IRAK4-mediated or -associated conditions or diseases.
US09932341B2
The present application provides methods of treating PI3Kδ related disorders using compounds of Formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US09932331B2
The present invention provides a compound represented by the following formula [1] or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof which has an excellent NHE3 inhibitory effect: A-Y [1] wherein A represents a structure represented by the following formula [2]: wherein R11 and R12 each represent a halogen atom or others as described herein, R2 represents C1-6 alkyl or others as described herein, ring E represents triazole, tetrazole, pyrimidine, or others as described herein, R31 and R32 each represent a hydrogen atom, C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, or others as described herein, and W represents a single bond, the formula —NH—, the formula —O—, or the formula —CONH—, and Y represents a hydrogen atom or a structure selected from
US09932330B2
Anti-angiogenic treatments, treatments of hyperpermeability disorders, treatments of neuropathic and neurodegenerative disorders, pain treatments, methods of reducing the risk of pre-eclampsia and compounds for use in such methods are described.
US09932324B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I), or the tautomers or pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, X, and Z have one of the meanings as defined in the specification, to the use of compounds of formula (I) as a medicament, to pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of formula (I), as well as to medicament combinations containing one or more compounds of formula (I).
US09932323B2
The invention provides compounds of formula I: and salts and prodrugs thereof wherein R4, X1 and X2 have any of the meanings defined in the specification, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds or salts and methods for their use in therapy. The compounds have useful antiviral properties.
US09932316B2
Novel imidazolium salts of formula (I) are described in which R is a C1-C14 alkyl group, optionally substituted by one or more fluorine atoms, or a C2-C18 alkoxyalkyl group, R′ is an alkyl group containing at least 8 carbon atoms, at least 6 of which are partially or entirely fluorinated, R″ is hydrogen or C1-C3 alkyl, Z is an organic or inorganic anion, and Q is further defined. The compounds of formula (I) are liquid crystals over a wide temperature range, and are characterized by high conductivity, hydrophobicity and stability. These properties made them ideally suitable for use in devices based on electrochemical reactions, such as solar cells, fuel cells, electrochemical sensors, lithium batteries and capacitors, etc.
US09932315B2
Persistent carbene adducts and methods of forming the same are generally described, as well as compositions comprising the persistent carbene adduct. In some embodiments, methods are provided comprising heating a persistent carbene to relatively high temperatures to convert the persistent carbene into a persistent carbene-carbodiimide adduct. In certain embodiments, the percent of the persistent carbene that is converted to the persistent carbene-carbodiimide adduct is relatively high (e.g., at least about 50%). In some embodiments, the persistent carbene-carbodiimide adducts formed via the methods described herein may be relatively stable. Compositions comprising the persistent carbene-carbodiimide adducts of the present invention may be useful for applications involving catalysis, organometallic chemistry, sensing, and surface functionalization, amongst others.
US09932314B2
The invention relates to compounds of formula (I) wherein X, Y, R1, R2, (R4)n, and (R5)m are as defined in the description, and to pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such compounds. These compounds are useful as calcium T-channel blockers.
US09932311B2
Novel compounds of the structural formula (I), and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are agonists of G-protein coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) and may be useful in the treatment, prevention and suppression of diseases mediated by the G-protein-coupled receptor 40. The compounds of the present invention may be useful in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and of conditions that are often associated with this disease, including obesity and lipid disorders, such as mixed or diabetic dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia.
US09932307B2
Processes for annealing amorphous atorvastatin is described. Pharmaceutical compositions and formulations containing annealed amorphous atorvastatin are also described.
US09932291B2
Fouling of an MMA process is reduced by acidifying a stream comprising recycled components.
US09932288B2
This invention provides a compound that is 4,4′-(4′-Carboxy)-4-nonyloxy-[1,1′-biphenyl]-3,5-diyl)dibutanoic acid (CNBDA), derivative compounds of CNBDA, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. The derivative compounds of CNBDA have one or more of the following substitutions (a) replacement of one or both of the carboxylic acid groups of the CNBDA compound with an organic acid group having 1-3, or 5-30, or more carbon atoms in chain length, wherein the carbon atom chains are either saturated, partially saturated, or unsaturated with respect to the carbon to carbon bonding, (b) replacement of the carboxylic groups of (a) with a phosphate, a sulphate, an amide, a hydroxyl, an aldehyde, or a halide group, and (c) replacement of the nonane group with an alkane having a carbon chain length of 1-8 or 10-30, or more carbon atoms. A method of treating a patient having cancer is provided.
US09932286B2
Methods of treating or suppressing mitochondrial diseases, such as Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactacidosis, stroke (MELAS), or Kearns-Sayre Syndrome (KSS) are disclosed, as well as compounds useful in the methods of the invention. Methods and compounds useful in treating other disorders are also disclosed. Energy biomarkers useful in assessing the metabolic state of a subject and the efficacy of treatment are also disclosed. Methods of modulating, normalizing, or enhancing energy biomarkers, as well as compounds useful for such methods, are also disclosed.
US09932282B2
A method for producing 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene efficiently from an intermediate product having a low reactivity is provided. A method for producing trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene comprising reacting a halogenated hydrocarbon compound having 3 carbon atoms represented by Formula (1) shown below in a gas phase with hydrogen fluoride in the presence of chlorine is provided. C3HXClYFZ (1) wherein X is 2 or 3; and when X=2, Y is an integer from 1 to 4, Z is an integer from 0 to 3, and Y+Z=4; and when X=3, Y is an integer from 1 to 5, Z is an integer from 0 to 4, and Y+Z=5; provided that Formula (1) shown above represents a halogenated hydrocarbon compound having 3 carbon atoms excluding trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene.
US09932276B2
A composite particle and a population of particles comprising a water-insoluble polyphosphate composition, methods of producing, and methods of using the same are provided. The polyphosphate composition may comprise at least one alkaline earth metal selected from calcium and magnesium and optionally at least one nutrient ion selected from the group consisting of potassium, ammonium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, boron, chlorine, iodine, molybdenum, selenium or sulfur.
US09932275B2
The present invention relates to a process for treating organic waste, which comprises the step of contacting an organic waste with one or more microorganisms from at least three of the following microorganism species: Bacillus sp. microorganisms, Pseudomonas sp. microorganisms, Bifidobacterium sp. microorganisms and Lactobacillus sp. microorganisms, the contacting being undertaken under conditions to at least partly convert the organic waste to organic fertilizer.
US09932274B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) exhibiting enhanced diamond-to-diamond bonding. In an embodiment, PCD includes a plurality of diamond grains defining a plurality of interstitial regions. A metal-solvent catalyst occupies at least a portion of the plurality of interstitial regions. The plurality of diamond grains and the metal-solvent catalyst collectively exhibit a coercivity of about 115 Oersteds (“Oe”) or more and a specific magnetic saturation of about 15 Gauss·cm3/grams (“G·cm3/g”) or less. Other embodiments are directed to polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) employing such PCD, methods of forming PCD and PDCs, and various applications for such PCD and PDCs in rotary drill bits, bearing apparatuses, and wire-drawing dies.
US09932271B2
Gypsum composites containing cementitious materials and methods of making the same are provided. Gypsum composites include gypsum and a cementitious material. Methods of making gypsum composites include combining gypsum stucco, water, and a cementitious material to form a slurry, and setting and drying the slurry to form a gypsum composite.
US09932264B2
Inorganic fibers including the following composition, SiO2, MgO and CaO being main components: SiO2: 73.6 wt % to 85.9 wt %, MgO: 9.0 wt % to 21.3 wt %, CaO: 5.1 wt % to 12.4 wt %, Al2O3: 0 wt % or more and less than 2.3 wt %, and Fe2O3: 0 wt % to 0.50 wt %.
US09932248B2
The invention relates to a process and a device for enriching water, in particular drinking water, with magnesium ions. In order to enable enrichment of water with magnesium ions in exchange for calcium ions and/or heavy metal ions during treatment of water, and in particular of drinking water, it is proposed according to the invention to pass the water through an ion exchanger which contains a weakly acidic ion exchange material, wherein at least a part of its ion exchange capacity is loaded with magnesium ions.
US09932246B2
A liquid treatment apparatus includes a supply chamber for receiving a fluid, a discharge chamber for discharging the fluid, and a cavitation generating chamber extending from the supply chamber to the discharge chamber. The cavitation generating chamber is operable to generate cavitation bubbles. A method of treating a liquid comprises directing a fluid from a supply chamber into a cavitation generating chamber by constricting the fluid through an orifice, wherein the orifice has a cross dimension that is substantially less than a cross dimension of the supply chamber, such that a fluid jet is formed. The method further includes allowing the fluid jet to expand downstream of the orifice such that the velocity of the fluid is reduced so that the jet axial velocity head at the chamber outlet is less than the difference between the static pressure within the discharge chamber and the vapor pressure of the fluid. The method also includes discharging the fluid into a discharge chamber via a chamber outlet.
US09932245B2
A purifying system for treating a fluid with UV light including a housing defining: a chamber having a treatment zone; an inlet; and an outlet. The light source supplies UV light to the treatment zone. The inlet, the tubular housing, or the outlet may extend inward into the chamber so that the fluid passes close to the light source and has a relatively increased duration in the treatment zone. The purifying system may also have a sensor coupled to the housing or light source for generating a first signal indicative of a first parameter of the treatment zone. A microcontroller can control the light source based on a signal from the sensor and data characterizing the light source. The microcontroller may also vary operation of the light source and collect data to create the data characterizing the light source.
US09932238B2
Methods of ex situ synthesis of graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, other graphene derivative structures and nanoparticles useful as polishing agents are disclosed. Compositions and methods for polishing, hardening, protecting, adding longevity to, and lubricating moving and stationary parts in devices and systems, including, but not limited to, engines, turbos, turbines, tracks, races, wheels, bearings, gear systems, armor, heat shields, and other physical and mechanical systems employing machined interacting hard surfaces through the use of nano-polishing agents formed in situ from lubricating compositions and, in some cases, ex situ and their various uses are also disclosed.
US09932237B2
Embodiments of a device, or a component of a device, including a stabilized graphite surface, methods of stabilizing graphite surfaces, and uses for the devices or components are disclosed. The device or component includes a surface comprising graphite, and a plurality of haloaryl ions and/or haloalkyl ions bound to at least a portion of the graphite. The ions may be perhaloaryl ions and/or perhaloalkyl ions. In certain embodiments, the ions are perfluorobenzenesulfonate anions. Embodiments of the device or component including stabilized graphite surfaces may maintain a steady-state oxidation or reduction surface current density after being exposed to continuous oxidation conditions for a period of at least 1-100 hours. The device or component is prepared by exposing a graphite-containing surface to an acidic aqueous solution of the ions under oxidizing conditions. The device or component can be exposed in situ to the solution.
US09932235B2
A preparation method of a battery composite material includes steps of providing phosphoric acid, manganese carbonate, water and a first reactant; processing a reaction of the phosphoric acid, the manganese carbonate and the water to produce a first product; calcining the first product to produce a precursor, which is written by Mn2P2O7; processing a reaction of the precursor and at least the first reactant to get a reaction mixture, and then calcining the reaction mixture to produce the battery composite material. As a result, the present invention achieves the advantages of reducing the times of the reduction-oxidation reaction, so that the stability of the processes is enhanced, and the difficulty of the processes is reduced.
US09932234B2
A membrane-based air separation module includes an inlet configured to receive supply air, a first hollow fiber membrane configured to substantially remove water from the supply air to form an anhydrous air stream, and a permeate port configured to exhaust the water removed by the first hollow fiber membrane from the air separation module. The air separation module also includes a second hollow fiber membrane positioned downstream of the first hollow fiber membrane configured to receive the anhydrous air stream and substantially remove oxygen from the anhydrous air stream, an oxygen-enriched air outlet configured to exhaust the oxygen removed by the second hollow fiber membrane from the air separation module, and a nitrogen-enriched air outlet configured to supply a stream of nitrogen-enriched air to a fuel tank of an aircraft.
US09932229B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing a hydrogen containing gas mixture comprising the following steps: (i) providing a preheated mixture comprising a fossil fuel, preferably methane, and steam, (ii) conducting an adiabatic reaction between the fossil fuel and the steam, in the presence of a catalyst, wherein a first reaction product mixture is formed comprising methane, hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and (iii) conducting an oxygen-assisted reforming reaction in the presence of a catalyst between said first reaction product mixture and an oxygen comprising stream, wherein the oxygen comprising stream comprises at least 40 vol % oxygen, forming a second reaction product mixture comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The invention also relates to a system suitable for hydrogen production from a hydrocarbon feed according to the present invention.
US09932228B2
The present invention provides a hybrid reforming system for producing syngas through a reforming reaction between carbon dioxide plasma and a hydrocarbon material, the system comprising: a carbon dioxide feeder (110) which feeds carbon dioxide; a hydrocarbon material feeder (120) which feeds the hydrocarbon material; a plasma reformer (200) which respectively receives carbon dioxide and the hydrocarbon material from the carbon dioxide feeder (110) and the hydrocarbon material feeder (120), and produces primary syngas through a reforming reaction while producing the carbon dioxide plasma using electromagnetic waves; a wet carbon-refining device (130) which is arranged at a gas exhaust end of the plasma reformer (200) and filters and refines carbon contained in the primary syngas; and a catalyst dry-reformer (140) which is arranged at a gas exhaust end of the wet carbon-refining device (130) and produces secondary syngas by making the refined syngas undergo a catalyst dry-reforming reaction.
US09932222B2
Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) structures, methods of manufacture and design structures are disclosed. The method includes forming a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) beam structure by venting both tungsten material and silicon material above and below the MEMS beam to form an upper cavity above the MEMS beam and a lower cavity structure below the MEMS beam.
US09932210B2
The invention relates to a plugging device for releasably connecting the drum wheel (2) of the at least one loose drum rotatably mounted on the main shaft of a winding engine, said drum wheel being rigidly connected to the loose drum, to the shaft wheel (4) which is rigidly connected to the main shaft. The releasable connection of the drum wheel (2) to the shaft wheel (4) is carried out in a formfitting manner by means of an engageable and disengageable sliding wheel (6) which is guided on a shaft wheel (4). Actuations (10) are carried out in points in a distributed manner over the circumference of the sliding wheel, said actuations acting directly on the sliding wheel (6), in order to engage and disengage the sliding wheel (6).
US09932209B2
A vehicle top lift and storage system is disclosed herein. The vehicle top lift and storage system includes a lift mechanism configured to attach to a vehicle top and to suspend the vehicle top. The left mechanism may include various configurations of straps, hooks, or pulleys, as described herein, to aid in removal of the vehicle top from a vehicle.
US09932207B2
A traffic barrier lifter mountable on a boom and having a gearbox with a first and a second rotating axis; a pair of opposing arms directly mounted to the first and second rotating axis and a rotator capable of rotating the lifter relative to the boom, wherein the gearbox is capable of moving the pair of opposing arms from an open position to a closed position such that the arms can clamp onto a traffic barrier. The rotator being capable of rotating the arms and traffic barrier relative to the boom.
US09932206B2
A plate belt of a moving walkway has plates arranged in succession in a movement direction and between two mutually parallel link chains formed by chain links of different widths. Each chain link is connected with one of the plates by at least one fastening device. The fastening devices include a fastening bolt and a cup washer, wherein the cup washer has a cup base ring and a cup collar encircling the cup base ring. The inner height of the cup collar corresponds with the thickness of at least one chain link strap of the chain link and the inner diameter of the cup collar is greater than the outer diameter of the region of the fastening bolt bearing against the cup base ring in the mounted state.
US09932205B2
An elevator system includes an elevator car located in a hoistway. One or more belts are operably connected to the elevator car to drive and/or support the elevator car along the hoistway. The one or more belts are routed over one or more sheaves. The one or more sheaves include an outer surface rotatable about a central axis and a flange located at at least one lateral end of the sheave. The sheave further includes a tracking compensator to limit lateral motion of the belt along the outer surface to prevent the belt from contacting the flange.
US09932203B2
A deterioration state of load bearing capacity in an elevator suspension member having a plurality of electrically conductive cords is detected by: providing a multi-phase alternating current circuitry including electrically conductive legs; applying at least one phase of a multi-phase alternating current to at least one of the cords electrically connected to one of the legs; applying at least another phase of the current to at least another cord and at least one resistor electrically connected to at least another leg; measuring an electric indicator current being at least one of a net sum of all phases of the current and an electric bypass current through a neutral wire being connected in parallel to the circuitry, wherein a peak current in each phase is shifted by a phase angle with respect to a peak current in another phase; and determining the deterioration state based on the measured indicator electric current.
US09932199B2
A sheet processing device includes a plurality of first units and a second unit. The first units each include, as one unit, a pressing member that presses a folding loop, a frame that movably holds the pressing member in a sheet pressing direction, and an elastic member that is disposed between the frame and the pressing member to bias the pressing member in the sheet pressing direction. The second unit supports, as one unit, a plurality of rows of first units such that the first units of each row are arranged, as a pair, so as to be opposed to each other and that an interval between the pairs is reduced stepwise from a downstream side to an upstream side in a moving direction of the second unit.
US09932198B2
There is provided a sheet processing apparatus with improved visibility of a sheet bundle discharged without post-processing thereto. The CPU circuit receives the conveyed sheet, drives and controls the sheet-returning paddle, the rack part, the rear end regulation part, the alignment plate and the like and forms sheet bundle comprising of a plural number of sheets as received. Further, the CPU circuit drives and controls the alignment plate when discharging the sheet bundle S from the processing tray, the sheet bundle S exceeding the number of sheets which can be post-processed by the stapler. Therefore, the sheet bundle S which includes sheets equal to the allowable number of sheets for post-processing of the sheet processing unit is discharged to the second discharge position which is different from the first discharge position.
US09932196B2
The present invention discloses a tape dispenser which includes a body having a downward facing concave space at a bottom thereof, a cutting blade mounted to the body and positioned in the concave space with an cutting edge recessed in the concave space, a groove member being able to move vertically between a first and second location, at the first location, the groove member being partially submerged in the concave space and pocketing at least a portion the cutting blade for cutting a piece of tape, at the second location, the groove member being downwardly away from the bottom of the body for threading a piece of tape through a gap formed between the groove member and the bottom of the body, a side plate attached to an end of the groove member, the side plate being slidably accommodated in a hollowed space formed inside the body, the side plate having a slot for retaining a spring to urge the side plate to slide downwardly resulting in the groove member to move from the first location to the second location, and a stopper situated within the slot and at an upper end of the spring, the stopper being fixed to the body and preventing the side plate from being completely pulled out of the hollowed space.
US09932193B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a reverse transport portion that transports the recording medium in a reverse direction, which is opposite to a transport direction in which the recording medium is transported to the reverse transport portion from the image forming section, a first ejection portion to which the recording medium is ejected and that is disposed on a downstream side of a second transport path in the transport direction, the second transport path diverging from a first transport path along which the recording medium is transported from the image forming section to the reverse transport portion, and a reverse transport path along which the recording medium is transported from the reverse transport portion to the image forming section, the reverse transport path not overlapping a third transport path along which the recording medium is transported from the image forming section to the first ejection portion.
US09932190B2
A medium winder, includes: a winding roller that winds a medium discharged from an image formation apparatus into a roll shape; first and second rollers that guide the medium to the winding roller; a dancer roller provided between the first and second rollers in the medium conveyance direction and movable upwardly and downwardly while contacting from above the medium between the first and second rollers; a winding driver that rotates the winding roller; a detector that detects the dancer roller; a dancer roller position recognition portion that recognizes the position of the dancer roller based on a detection result by the detector; and a winding drive controller that controls the winding driver. In an operation of unwinding the medium, the winding drive controller moves the dancer roller up and down by reducing or increasing the unwinding velocity of the medium based on a position of the dancer roller.
US09932188B2
A transportation path changing device (1) of the invention is a transportation path changing device that changes a transportation path of a continuous sheet-like object (3) that is being transported. The device includes: an oscillating section (2) that oscillates in an intersecting direction Y intersecting with a flow direction X of the transported object, and that increases/decreases the length of the transportation path of the transported object (3); a first moving means (6) that is connected to the oscillating section (2), and that moves the oscillating section (2) in the intersecting direction Y; a second moving means (7) that moves a portion or the entirety of the first moving means (6) in the intersecting direction Y; and a control section (9) that controls the first moving means (6) and the second moving means (7).
US09932175B2
An article transport facility comprises a plurality of article transport vehicles each of which is configured to travel along a track and to transport an article. Each article transport vehicle includes at least one obstacle detection sensor, each configured to detect an obstacle that exists in at least one detection area defined in a peripheral area of the article transport vehicle. The transport vehicle controller of each article transport vehicle is configured to receive the detection area information from the transport facility controller through wireless communication, and to transmit the received detection area information to at least one of the at least one obstacle detection sensor. Each of the at least one obstacle detection sensor is configured to cause the area information memory to store the transmitted detection area information.
US09932165B2
An cooler capable of achieving a sufficient temperature gradient between an inside of the cooler and an outside of the cooler such that at least a partial vacuum forms within the cooler may include an enclosure defined by at least one wall and a lid. The lid may form a relatively airtight seal with a wall of the cooler when in a closed position. A vacuum release assembly may be disposed in one of the walls or lid of the cooler, the assembly being capable of reducing a pressure differential between the enclosure and the outside of the cooler.
US09932158B2
A closure includes a base and a lid, the base and lid being joined by a double hinge arrangement so that the lid is movable between a closed position and an open position. The double hinge arrangement includes a first hinge and a second hinge. The lid may be held stably in the open position via tongues or the like, which are provided on or by the lid, base, and/or hinge arrangement.
US09932155B2
Some embodiments relate to a cap for controlling fluid flow from a bottle that includes an opening for dispensing the fluid. The cap includes a first section and a second section. The first section defines an orifice and a plurality of air channels. The opening of the bottle is in flow communication with the orifice and the plurality of air channels. The second section includes a first plurality of rings for securing the opening of the bottle, such that at least one of the air channels and the orifice creates an air-lock to secure the fluid within the bottle.
US09932150B2
A closure for closing a bag and a die head and method for making the closure. The closure includes two closure members having support walls and mating interlocking profiles. The support walls are resilient and have self-retaining forms in vertical section including middle sections curving outwardly away from one another when mounted on a bag. Top portions of the support walls extend outwardly away from one another to form gripping panels when the closure is closed. A die head for forming a closure member includes a body that defines a slot including a support wall segment for forming the support wall of the closure member. The support wall segment includes first and second portions oriented transverse to one another and intersecting at a vertex. To form the closure member, polymer is extruded through the slot and quenched.
US09932149B2
A package includes a first panel and a second panel, wherein each of the first and second panels defines a right side edge portion, a left side edge portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion. The package includes a pleat that interconnects between the first end portions of the first and second panels. The pleat defines a right side edge portion and a left side edge portion and includes a handle aperture forming a handle. A first seam joins the right side edge portions of the first panel, the second panel, and the pleat and a second seam joins the left side edge portions of the first panel, the second panel, and the pleat. A third seam joins the second end portion of the first panel with the second end portion of the second panel. The first panel, the second panel, and the pleat are integrally formed.
US09932148B2
A portable gas cylinder is disclosed which includes a gas cylinder including an upper portion having a valve port and an annular mounting collar surrounding the valve port, a handle assembly including a housing having a body portion configured to mate with the upper portion of the gas cylinder, a pair of diametrically opposed gripping handles extending upwardly from the body portion and a central aperture providing access to the valve port, wherein an annular retention channel is formed in an undersurface of the housing, extending about the periphery of the central aperture for receiving the mounting flange of the gas cylinder, and a blocking ring for securing the mounting flange of the gas cylinder within the retention channel of the handle assembly.
US09932143B2
A cargo organizer includes a base, a storage compartment supported by the base and a deployment system for the storage compartment. The storage compartment includes a plurality of wall panels each having a hinged connection with the base and pivotable about its hinged connection between a stowed orientation and an upright orientation. The storage compartment is selectively deployable between a collapsed condition and an open condition. In the collapsed condition, each wall panel is lowered to its stowed orientation while, in the open condition, each wall panel is raised to its upright orientation. In the collapsed condition, the wall panels include an underlying wall panel and two adjacent overlying wall panels in spaced opposition about the underlying wall panel. The deployment system includes a strap system that connects an inboard portion of the underlying wall panel to respective outboard portions of the two adjacent overlying wall panels.
US09932140B2
The invention provides a stabilized load tray for supporting a load stack, the stabilized load tray comprising: a horizontal floor; vertical side walls connected to the floor; a top connected to the side walls; and a deployable lip connected to the top, wherein the deployable lip can be folded from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position adjacent the load stack.
US09932134B2
A method and a system for setting corner protectors on a load. In operation of one embodiment, an actuator retrieves a two corner protectors from a corner protector storage and provides the corner protectors to a corner protector transferring and setting system. The corner protector transferring and setting system transfers the corner protectors to a side of the load furthest from the actuator and sets the corner protectors against the two adjacent vertically extending corners of that side of the load. The actuator retrieves another two corner protectors from the corner protector storage and sets the two corner protectors against the two vertically extending corners of a side of the load closest to the actuator. A wrapping machine then wraps a film around the corner protectors and the load, thereby securing the corner protectors in place.
US09932132B2
A can, and device and method for producing same, includes two circular end elements forming a base and lid. The can further includes a sleeve which has fold lines forming edges, the can sleeve having a circular cross-sectional area at both ends and a polygonal-sectional area in its central region. The polygonal cross-sectional area in the central region is at most decagonal.
US09932131B2
Apparatus and methods for determining orbital parameters for spacecraft are provided. A computing device can receive a first plurality of orbital parameters defining a first orbit by a first spacecraft of a particular object. The first orbit can have a corresponding first ground track over the particular object. The computing device can receive a following time for a second spacecraft. The computing device can determine a second plurality of orbital parameters for a second orbit by the second spacecraft of the particular object based on the first plurality of orbital parameters and the following time. The second orbit can have a corresponding second ground track over the particular object that follows the first ground track. The computing device can generate an output that includes the second plurality of orbital parameters.
US09932130B2
Passageway including a section that is extendable and retractable, the section including a frame, slide track assemblies, and scissor bar assembly. The frame has upright members. The slide track assemblies are disposed proximately to respective upright members. Each of the slide track assemblies includes a slide track and slide block. The slide track has a cavity and channel. The slide block is configured to ascend, descend, and rotate within the cavity. The slide block includes a guide block that extends from the slide block at least partially through the channel. The scissor bar assembly is secured to the upright members and slide track assemblies such that the upright members are enabled to extend and retract with respect to each other along at least one arcuate path, wherein the guide block limits rotation of the slide block within the slide track to rotation of the guide block within the channel.
US09932129B2
A device for moving aircraft along the ground includes at least one runway and at least one aircraft. The aircraft is secured to a tractor element having a magnetic mass formed mainly of type II superconductor material and the runway includes stator coils arranged in the runway with at least one line of coils parallel to an axis of the runway. A command/control system supplies power to the stator coils to generate a magnetic field that levitates the tractor element, magnetized beforehand into a phase II superconducting state, above the runway.
US09932127B2
In one example, a method includes receiving, over an aircraft data communications bus, a plurality of non-pneumatic inputs corresponding to aircraft operational parameters. The method further includes processing the plurality of non-pneumatic inputs through an artificial intelligence network to generate an air data output value, and outputting the air data output value to a consuming system for use when a pneumatic-based air data output value is determined to be unreliable.
US09932126B2
System and method of integrity checking digitally displayed data in a display system having a display comprising a pixel array with a viewable area, including rendering a known value into a QR code graphic, generating an image onto the display including drawing the QR code graphic in the viewable area of the pixel array, monitoring the generated image for the drawn QR code graphic and determining the integrity of the drawn graphical information.
US09932117B1
A parachute canopy release assembly includes a frame assembly with first and second upstanding members. A latching member has a pivot end and a latch end, the pivot end pivotally coupled to a bottom portion of the first upstanding member. A riser bar has a pivot end and latch engaging end, the pivot end of the riser bar pivotally coupled to a top portion of the second upstanding member, the latch engaging end retained by the latch end of the latching member in the locked state. A release linkage assembly includes a lock member configured to transition from a first state to a second state, retain the latching member in a first position in the first, locked state and retain the latching member in a second position in the second, unlocked state.
US09932108B1
A first instruction directed to a first device is received from a controller and via a communication channel with redundancy. The first instruction is sent to the first device via a first communication protocol associated with the first device. A second instruction directed to a second device is received from the controller and via the communication channel with redundancy. The second instruction is sent to the second device via a second communication protocol associated with the second device.
US09932096B1
A boat leveling system includes a boat that has a port side, a starboard side, a port fuel tank, a starboard fuel tank, a port fuel line, a starboard fuel line, an engine, an engine fuel return line and a fuel vent line. A leveling unit is positioned within the boat. The leveling unit is in fluid communication with the engine fuel return line to receive fuel. The leveling unit is in fluid communication with each of the port fuel line and the starboard fuel line. The leveling unit diverts the fuel to the port fuel line when the boat is listing to the starboard side. Thus, the port fuel unit receives additional fuel to level the boat. The leveling unit diverts the fuel to the starboard fuel line when the boat is listing to the port side. Thus, the starboard fuel unit receives additional fuel to level the boat.
US09932095B2
An assembly (3) comprising at least a first module (1) and a second module (2) with respective longitudinal axes (5) is described. Each one of the modules (1, 2) comprises a connection side (6, 7, 8, 9) which is facing the other module (1, 2) and is arranged between the upper side (6, 7, 8, 9) and the underside (20, 42), and at least two elongated bendable members (12) which connects the first module (1) with the second module (2). The first module (1) comprises at least a first connection side (6) which comprises a first recess (13) which is a part of a rotationally symmetrical form with a symmetry axis (43) which is parallel with the connection side (6). The assembly (3) comprises at least a first connection member (17), which comprises an inelastic member (22) and a longitudinal axis (35) which is parallel with the symmetry axis (43), and which is in engagement with and rotatable around the symmetry axis (43) in relation to the first recess (13).
US09932085B2
An ABS modulator support structure of a saddle type vehicle includes a main frame, a down frame, a pair of shroud which cover the right and left side of the frames, a radiator, a reserve tank which stores a coolant for the radiator, and an ABS module. The radiator is arranged on one (left side) side of the down frame 18 in a width direction of the vehicle. The ABS module is arranged on the other (right side) of the sides of the down frame in the width direction of the vehicle. The reserve tank and the shrouds are arranged outside the ABS module.
US09932080B2
A motorcycle comprises a vehicle body frame; a seat mounted to the vehicle body frame and including a seat section on which a rider is seated; and a pair of rear side cowlings which are placed on right and left sides of the seat and mounted to the vehicle body frame, the pair of rear side cowlings including protruding sections, respectively, protruding farther upward than the seat section, when viewed from a side.
US09932078B1
A utility trailer having outboard wheels, the trailer including a deck having a first height, a frame having an axle in which wheels attached to the axle have a second height, the second height extends a predetermined distance above the first height, opposed side panels are rotatably coupled to the frame, at least one of the opposed panels includes an opening having a third height, the third height being greater than the predetermined distance.
US09932077B2
A rubber crawler that has a specified rotation direction. includes a crawler body, rubber projections and lugs. The lugs project out from an outer peripheral face, extend at an angle to the crawler peripheral direction from an inner side end portion toward the crawler width direction outer side and toward an opposite side to a crawler rotation direction with a larger angle at an acute angle side with respect to the crawler peripheral direction on the crawler width direction outer side than on the central line side; have inner side end portions of lugs adjacent to each other in the crawler width direction respectively overlapping a single projection of the projections, and are disposed at positions separated in the crawler width direction with the inner side end portions adjacent to each other in the crawler width direction respectively overlapping each other when viewed along the crawler width direction.
US09932072B2
A vehicle structure includes a battery, a chamber that is arranged on an outer side in a vehicle width direction of the battery and provided on part of an exhaust pipe through which emission gas from a fuel cell system is emitted outside a vehicle, and a side frame that is arranged between the battery and the chamber in the vehicle width direction and extends in a fore-and-aft direction. A slider member inclined inward in the vehicle width direction toward a lower side of the vehicle is arranged between the chamber and the side frame. A lower end portion of the slider member is in a position lower than a position of a lower end portion of the battery.
US09932054B2
A derailer for use in a railroad system, has an outside switch point that selectively overlays a running surface of a first mainline track and rises above the running surface of the first mainline track and an outside switch rail mechanically fastened to the outside switch point. The derailer also includes an inside switch rail including a second switch point that selectively lies adjacent a head of a second mainline track and terminates between the first and second mainline tracks.
US09932033B2
A method is disclosed for analyzing historical accident information to adjust driving actions of an autonomous vehicle over a travel route in order to avoid accidents which have occurred over the travel route. Historical accident information for the travel route can be analyzed to, for example, determine accident types which occurred over the travel route and determine causes and/or probable causes of the accident types. In response to determining accident types and causes/probable causes of the accident types over the travel route, adjustments can be made to the driving actions planned for the autonomous vehicle over the travel route. In addition, in an embodiment, historical accident information can be used to analyze available travel routes and select a route which presents less risk of accident than others.
US09932024B2
A vehicle brake hydraulic pressure control apparatus (control apparatus 100), installed in a vehicle reducing a drive torque when the vehicle is at a halt, that includes vehicle holding control section 113 for performing vehicle holding control by holding a brake hydraulic pressure when the vehicle is at a halt. The vehicle holding control section 113 is configured to release the holding of the brake hydraulic pressure based on the accelerator operation of a driver when the vehicle is at a halt and, in the releasing of the holding of the brake hydraulic pressure, release the holding of the brake hydraulic pressure completely before the drive torque of the vehicle starts increasing.
US09932011B2
An airbag includes a main inflation portion, in which an inflator is arranged, and an auxiliary inflation portion, the volume of which is smaller than that of the main inflation portion. The main inflation portion is deployed forward in a space between an occupant and a side wall of the vehicle. Prior to the deployment of the main inflation portion outside the seat back, the auxiliary inflation portion is inflated inside the seat back with inflation gas from the inflator to push the occupant toward the inner side. The main inflation portion and the auxiliary inflation portion each have a communication port that connects the main inflation portion and the auxiliary inflation portion to each other. The airbag includes an inflation promoting structure, which promotes the inflation of the auxiliary inflation portion compared to the inflation of the main inflation portion.
US09932008B1
A system of bumper spacers that provide for relocation of a vehicle's bumper forward of the body. Single and multiple points of attachment define spacers are provided with varying dimensional aspects to accommodate different vehicle applications. Stabilization and positioning installation engagement tab extensions extend from the respective spacers in both the axial and trans-axial opening alignment extending at right angles from the spacer's body member exterior surface.
US09932006B2
A vehicular energy absorption structure includes a hollow tubular energy absorption body made from a fiber reinforced resin, an opposing face (e.g., an attachment plate) that is provided facing an axial direction end portion of the energy absorption body, and against which the energy absorption body is crushed from the axial direction end portion during a vehicle collision, and a guide section (e.g., peripheral wall, ribs) that projects from the opposing face and that is disposed in an interior of the energy absorption body. The guide section includes an abutting section (e.g., abutting walls) that contacts a wall of the energy absorption body from the inner side of the wall during the vehicle collision, the abutting section being separated from the opposing face by an opening in the axial direction of the energy absorption body.
US09932005B2
A vehicle bumper assembly is provided having an energy absorber, a bracket, a step pad and a bumper fascia. The energy absorber includes an upper horizontal surface wherein the upper horizontal surface may define a deformable structure. The deformable structure may be in the form of flexible fins. The bracket may be mounted to the vehicle frame on a first end of the bracket and the energy absorber affixed to a second end of the bracket. The step pad may be affixed to the energy absorber. The bumper fascia may be affixed to either or both the step pad and the energy absorber.
US09931996B2
In certain embodiments, a mobile entertainment system includes a screen assembly with a display and a signal generating device. A housing pivotally coupled to the screen assembly can have a lower portion, an upper portion, and a housing cavity sized and shaped to receive the screen assembly. The upper portion can receive at least a portion of the signal generating device. At least a portion of the screen assembly can rotate through an opening in the lower portion. A shell can receive the housing.
US09931991B2
A multi-purpose assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. The assembly comprises a rotational assembly comprising a first surface rotationally interchangeable with a second surface. The assembly further comprises a housing configured to pivotally engage the rotational assembly. The first surface comprises a hanger and the second surface comprises a task light.
US09931989B2
A load cover arrangement for an interior luggage compartment of a vehicle. The load cover arrangement comprises a load cover having a fixed end attached to a tailgate of the vehicle, and a front portion having fastening members for releasably attaching to a front side of the luggage compartment. When attached, the load cover extends a distance Dclosed in a closed tailgate position, and a distance Dopen in an open tailgate position, measured from an opening in the tailgate and across the luggage compartment. The fixed end of the load cover is arranged inside of the tailgate and the load cover extends an internal distance Dinternal and projects out through the opening in the tailgate, wherein at least a portion of the load cover is resiliently elastic so that it is stretchable between a retracted position with a length of Dretracted, the closed tailgate position and the open tailgate position.
US09931987B2
A receiver hitch mountable platform that may be configured to a variety of uses, such as a step, carrier, ramp, or other purposes. The platform provides an attachment plate that may receive a plurality of accessories attached thereto via fasteners.
US09931985B1
An apparatus comprising a first sensor, an interface, a second sensor and a processor. The first sensor may be configured to generate a video signal based on a targeted view of a driver. The interface may be configured to receive status information about one or more components of a vehicle. The second sensor may be configured to detect an object within a predetermined radius of the second sensor. The processor may be configured to determine a field of view of the driver based on the status information. The processor may be configured to generate a control signal in response to a cross reference between (i) a field of view of the driver and (ii) the detected object. The control signal may be used to alert the driver if the detected object is not in the field of view of the driver.
US09931973B2
A hay bale transport device facilitates loading and securement of hay bales for transport. The device includes a trailer configured for being coupled to and moved by a vehicle. The trailer has a front end, a back end, and a pair of lateral sides extending between the front end and the back end. Each of a pair of side harnesses extends along an associated one of the lateral sides of the trailer. Each of the side harnesses includes a pair of end bars and a plurality of wires coupled to and extending between the end bars wherein the side harnesses are configured to secure hay bales on the trailer.
US09931970B2
A dump cart comprises a bed, a bed adapter, a frame, and a lift adapter. The bed is configured to carry a load. The bed adapter is configured to receive a bottom wall of the bed and includes a left adapter rail and a right adapter rail. The frame includes a left frame rail pivotally coupled to the left adapter rail and a right frame rail pivotally coupled to the right adapter rail. These connections allow the bed to dump the load to the rear of the dump cart. The lift adapter assists in lifting an object and includes left and right cradle arms that are configured to couple to one or more features of the object and a stabilizer leg that is configured to contact the ground so as to support a portion of the weight of the object.
US09931969B1
An adjustable vehicle cupholder is provided. The adjustable cupholder may include a console including a recessed portion defining a cupholder and a track extending along a length of the console. The track preferably terminates at the cupholder. The vehicle cupholder may also include a spiraling fitting that has an elongated shape and extends from the track. The spiraling fitting may be configured to spiral from a first diameter to a second smaller diameter as the spiraling fitting moves along the track and within an inner periphery of the cupholder.
US09931968B2
A mat structure for a vehicle, in which an edging member capable of preventing impurities such as soil from falling down to an indoor floor of the vehicle is sewed on an upper surface of an edge of a mat, and a sewing device capable of easily sewing the edging member and a magic tape on the mat. The mat prevents impurities remaining on the upper mat from falling down to the indoor floor of the vehicle and contaminating inside the vehicle by using the protrusion portion, and passengers may scrape the impurities off bottoms of the passenger's shoes on the protrusion portion so that the impurities remain on the upper mat. Also, the protrusion portion protects a sewing line of the female magic tape against frictions with the bottoms of the shoes, and prevents the sewing line from being torn off.
US09931960B2
Systems and methods for measuring voltage of a battery pack for an electrified vehicle, such as an electric or hybrid vehicle, include a battery having internal circuits that measure pack voltage and individual cell voltages, an electric machine powered by the battery to propel the vehicle via an external circuit that measures the pack voltage, and a processor programmed to publish the pack voltage to a vehicle network based on a first internal circuit voltage in response to a voltage differential among the internal circuits being less than a threshold and based on the individual cell voltages otherwise. The published pack voltage may be used by one or more battery or vehicle controllers to control various battery and vehicle functions including engine starting in a hybrid vehicle and battery charging and discharging, for example.
US09931956B2
Vehicle battery management systems (BMS) and methods are described, in which the output of a vehicle battery is reduced by activating a shutdown mode. A BMS may be configured to start a timer when the vehicle is turned off, e.g. based on when the main power between the vehicle and the battery is interrupted or based on a signal from the vehicle control system. The BMS may further be configured to store BMS data (e.g. variable data related to operation and/or status of the battery) to an electronic storage device, and to switch the battery to a shutdown mode, when the timer reaches a predetermined value. The BMS may be further configured to load the BMS data from the electronic storage device and/or to deactivate the shutdown mode when the vehicle is turned back on.
US09931953B2
It is intended to provide a safe non-contact charging environment that enables finding an electronic appliance that remains left in a vehicle before start of charging and preventing trouble that an electronic appliance breaks down by electromagnetic waves generated during charging by means of electromagnetic coupling. A process of checking to see that an electronic appliance remains left inside a vehicle, based on wireless communication information emitted by the electronic appliance left inside the vehicle is performed in advance. When it has been detected that an electronic appliance remains left, a charging current value is controlled according to an allowable current of the detected electronic appliance or an alert is generated to notify that the electronic appliance remains left.
US09931946B2
A method is provided for controlling charging of an energy storage system in a vehicle including an electric machine which is arranged for propulsion of the vehicle. The method includes initiating the charging upon connection of the energy storage system to an external power supply via connector elements; and transmitting, between the vehicle and the external power supply, a control signal including data related to the charging by a wireless transmission link. The method furthermore includes evaluating whether the control signal is received; and terminating the charging in the event that the control signal is not received. An arrangement for controlling charging of an energy storage system is also provided.
US09931942B2
A method is provided for controlling braking force in regenerative brake cooperative control of an environmentally friendly vehicle that executes regenerative braking at front wheels and/or rear wheels. A brake system that independently adjusts the braking forces of the front and rear wheels is employed to distribute braking force to assure vehicle stability, to improve fuel efficiency and to have improved braking performance.
US09931938B2
In a vehicle battery relay assembly for disconnecting or isolating a vehicle battery from a connection line, a housing is provided having a solenoid and a switch activated by the solenoid. The switch electrically connects and disconnects a first contact terminal for connection to the vehicle battery and a second contact terminal for connection to the connection line. The solenoid has a solenoid coil. A rotatable ratchet gear rotates by engagement with a pawl, the pawl being connected to a plunger of the solenoid. The switch comprises a contact element coupled to the ratchet gear, the contact element having at least first and second projecting contact points. The contact element is positioned relative to a contact surface of the first and second contact terminals such that given a first rotation of the contact element the first and second contact terminals are electrically connected and given a subsequent second rotation the first and second contact terminals are electrically disconnected.
US09931936B2
An energy management system is provided for a hybrid electric or electric vehicle including an electrical power collector for intermittently collecting electrical power from an external power supply track during driving of the vehicle. The energy management system is arranged to distribute electrical power from the electrical power collector to at least one electrical auxiliary load of the vehicle when collecting electrical power from the external power supply track. The enemy management system includes a control unit configured to control operating characteristics of the at least one auxiliary load depending on if the vehicle operates in a power collecting mode or in a non-power collecting mode.
US09931932B2
The present invention provides a wireless power-supply control assembly 100 for wirelessly controlling a boat's main power supply. The assembly 100 comprises an enclosure assembly 110, wherein a latching relay 600 and a wireless-receiver relay 300 are mounted. The wireless receiver relay 300 is controlled by commands from a wireless transmitter and causes the latching relay 600 to connect or disconnect the boat's main power. In other embodiments, an ignition-sense relay 400 is also mounted within the enclosure and disconnects power to the wireless-receiver relay 300 when the boats ignition is on. In yet another embodiment, a manual override switch 200 is provided within the enclosure for bypassing the latching relay 600 and manually connecting the boat's power.
US09931926B2
An active grille shutter arrangement having a modular frame. The active grille shutter arrangement includes a primary frame piece defining a width and height of an aperture of the modular frame, wherein in the primary frame piece has a motor housing, and upper frame portion having a first end and a second end, a lower frame portion having a first end and a second end and the motor housing extends between the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion. There is a plurality of secondary frame pieces that are adjustably connected to the primary frame pieces, thereby allowing the width of the modular frame to be adjusted.
US09931920B1
A roof assembly includes a vehicle body defining an opening and having a track extending along the opening. The track is elongated along a track axis. The roof assembly includes a panel removably disposed in the opening, a latch attached to the panel and releasably engageable with the vehicle body, and a block attached to the panel and removably engageable with the track. The block is rotatable relative to the panel about a block axis perpendicular to the track axis.
US09931918B2
A vehicle roof structure including roof glass that includes an opaque coating section formed so as to shield a structural object disposed at a vehicle lower side from view from the vehicle cabin outer side, a shielding body, and an extension. The shielding body is provided at the vehicle lower side of the roof glass at a coating width direction inner end of the opaque coating section, includes an upper end on a vehicle upper side attached to the roof glass, and shields a location of the structural object facing the opaque coating section. The extension includes an extension direction leading end positioned further inward with respect to the glass surface than the coating width direction inner end, and shields a location of the structural object jutting out further inward with respect to the glass surface than the shielding body.
US09931910B2
An adsorption heat pump-equipped vehicle air conditioning device comprising: an adsorption heat pump that includes a plurality of vessels, each of which includes an adsorption section housing an adsorbent and an evaporation and condensation section inside which a refrigerant is sealed, an adsorption process and a desorption process being performed repeatedly inside the vessels; first heat exchangers respectively disposed inside each of the adsorption sections; second heat exchangers respectively disposed inside each of the evaporation and condensation sections; a first circulation route for circulating refrigerant between a high temperature heat source and a heater core; a second circulation route for circulating refrigerant between the adsorption heat pump and an interior heat exchanger, wherein the second circulation route is connected to the adsorption heat pump through a switching valve; and a controller that controls switching of the switching valve.
US09931909B2
A computing system for a vehicle is provided. The computing system includes one or more processors for controlling operation of the computing device, and a memory for storing data and program instructions usable by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to estimate at least one characteristic of emissions from at least one forward vehicle expected to enter a ventilation system of an ego-vehicle within a predetermined travel distance ahead of the ego-vehicle and, responsive to one or more estimated characteristics, control the ego-vehicle ventilation system.
US09931908B2
An air inlet system for an automotive HVAC system has a housing comprising a first cylindrical segment enclosing an interior space and having a first radial surface with a first angular divergence. The first radial surface has a fresh air aperture and a recirculation aperture for radially receiving fresh air and recirculated air, respectively. The housing further comprises an outlet body with an exit aperture. A pivoting door element is mounted in the interior space and shaped as a second cylindrical segment with a second radial surface with a second angular divergence which is less than the first angular divergence. The door element has a pivot axis that allows the second radial surface to slide along the first radial surface. The door element pivots to selectably align the opening with the fresh air aperture or the recirculation aperture in order to 1) block the fresh air aperture without blocking the recirculation aperture, 2) simultaneously block portions of the fresh air aperture and the recirculation aperture, 3) block the recirculation aperture without blocking any of the fresh air aperture, or 4) block the recirculation aperture while blocking only a portion of the fresh air aperture.
US09931905B2
A vehicle air conditioner includes a duct in which a partition member forming a first flow path and a second flow path is provided, and a heat pump circuit. In the heat pump circuit, a first indoor heat exchanger that contributes to heating is located in the first flow path or faces an outlet of the first flow path, and a second indoor heat exchanger that contributes to cooling is located in the second flow path. The duct is provided with at least one heating exhaust port for discharging air cooled in the second indoor heat exchanger to the outside of the vehicle interior in heating operation, and a cooling exhaust port for discharging air heated in the first indoor heat exchanger to the outside of the vehicle interior in cooling operation.
US09931902B2
A stabilizer bushing has a holding hole for holding a stabilizer bar and is to be mounted on a mounting surface of a vehicle-body-side component. A normal line to the mounting surface extends in a direction intersecting an up and down direction of a vehicle. The stabilizer bushing has at least one separation surface, one end portion of which is located on an inner circumferential surface opposed to the holding hole, and the other end portion of which is located on an outer surface of the stabilizer bushing at a position different from a rigid-component opposed portion opposed to the vehicle-body-side component. The at least one separation surface has a first separation surface located nearer to the rigid-component opposed portion than a plane extending through a central axis of the holding hole and parallel with the rigid-component opposed portion.
US09931891B1
A suspension system for a pneumatic compactor includes a bolster frame and a steering input member coupled to the bolster frame. The suspension system includes at least one support member coupled to the bolster frame. The suspension system includes a support arm coupled to the at least one support member. The suspension system further includes a vibration absorber having a first end coupled to the bolster frame and a second end coupled to the support arm.
US09931887B2
The invention is a paint can holder, allowing a painter to hold a paint container for easy access when painting, having a base with a ledge integrally formed to the base, securely conforming to a sealing lip of the paint can, and a handle with a pair of inwardly bent legs extending through the handle connecting the handle to the base and a pair of hinge connecting means. An over center clamping member connects to the hinge connecting means, allowing the handle to cause the over center clamping member to clamp the base to the sealing lip of the paint can. A connecting component threads through a clip hole in the base simultaneously attaching to a user's garment. The invention may be used for home improvement or construction to carry a paint and other articles, allowing the paint can to remain upright without spilling.
US09931881B2
An arm motor control section controls the operation of an arm motor that drives an arm section for turning a page of a book by pressing an adhesion roller against the page, and a current detection section outputs a current limit notice upon detecting an overcurrent in the arm motor which is limited by a limiter. When a current limit notice is outputted in a page turning operation, a CPU drives and controls the arm motor to perform reverse rotation by the arm motor control section, and thereby controls a pressing period that is a locking period during which the adhesion roller is pressing the page.
US09931880B2
To provide a decorative illumination ink jet recording material having a resin base, an ink accepting layer that is disposed as an outermost layer and contains a resin, a layer that contains a metal oxide, and a white layer that contains white particles and a resin, a decorative illumination image, a method of forming the decorative illumination image, and a decorative illumination signboard.
US09931876B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a decorative building board, including: ejecting active ray-curable ink from an ink jet recording head onto a building board that includes a base material selected from a metallic base material and a ceramic base material and an ink receiving layer arranged on the base material, the ink receiving layer being obtained by curing a resin composition and having an arithmetic average roughness (Ra) specified under JIS B 0601:2001 of from 0.4 μm to 3 μm, to thereby perform printing on the ink receiving layer; and irradiating the active ray-curable ink with an active ray from 2.2 seconds to 30 seconds after the active ray-curable ink lands on the ink receiving layer.
US09931868B2
A recording apparatus which includes a transport belt which transports a medium; a pressing roller which presses the medium to the transport belt; and a support unit which can support the transport belt, in which at least a part of a portion of the support unit, which faces the pressing roller through the transport belt is subjected to friction relief processing. By setting to a recording apparatus with such a configuration, it is possible to suppress an increase in friction force between the transport belt and the support unit which can support the transport belt.
US09931855B2
A liquid storage container for storing a liquid has a label member attached to a surface thereof. A bonding face of the label member that is bonded to the surface includes a first area and a second area having a low bonding strength. The second area covers a liquid supply port. A score line is formed on the label member, and the score line extends along a boundary between the first area and the second area and is formed in the second area.
US09931850B2
A housing and a cover member are injection-molded and these housing and cover member are joined within a pair of mold. When the housing and the cover member are joined by molten resin, a mold for suppressing deformation is positioned at a face of the housing opposite to a face receiving a pressure of the molten resin.
US09931846B2
A print device includes a head, a cap, a suction portion, an absorption member, and a plate-shaped member. The head has an ejection surface. The ejection surface has a plurality of nozzles formed in the ejection surface and is directed in a predetermined direction. The cap has a frame-shaped wall portion and a suction opening. The suction portion is connected to the inside of the cap via the suction opening. The absorption member is arranged in a position surrounded by the frame-shaped wall portion and is configured to absorb liquid. The plate-shaped member is surrounded by the frame-shaped wall portion and is arranged in a position facing the absorption member. The plate-shaped member is extending along an inner end surface of the frame-shaped wall portion and has a hole.
US09931829B2
A composite film includes a substrate that is not responsive to relative humidity, and also one or more layers of hygromorphic material. The hygromorphic material expands in response to an increase in relative humidity and contracts in response to a decrease in relative humidity. In some cases, the composite film is bi-layer or tri-layer. The composite films are fabricated such that they undergo a desired bending pattern in response to changes in relative humidity. In some cases, these bending patterns are combinations of two bending primitives: a smooth curve and a sharply angled curve. These two primitives are combined to create a variety of shape transformations including 1D linear transformation, 2D surface expansion and contraction, 2.5D texture change and 3D folding. Any type of hygromorphic material may be employed, including living gram positive and gram negative bacterial cells, yeast cells, plant cells, mammalian cells, cell debris, or hydrogel.
US09931828B2
A three-dimensional printing device includes an optical device and a controller that controls the optical device. The controller includes a dividing section that divides an area of a vat that is irradiated with light of a projector into a plurality of blocks, a counting section that counts a number of times of irradiation with light of the projector, a first determination section that determines whether or not the number of times counted by the counting section has reached a predetermined threshold value, a light output section that changes when it is determined by the first determination section that the number of times has reached the predetermined threshold value from a first energy to a second energy lower than the first energy an energy of light to be output from the projector to the photo-curable resin of the block for which determination has been made.
US09931826B2
A device for manufacturing circumferentially closed tubular tube bodies, comprising conveying means for conveying the substrate in a conveying direction, and also comprising tube-forming means which are designed to form a web-like substrate, which has a first and a second longitudinal edge, into a tubular form in which, in the circumferential direction, the first and the second longitudinal edge form or delimit a contact region, in particular abutting or overlapping region, which extends in the conveying direction, wherein the tube-forming means effect the shaping of the substrate into the tubular form in a shaping region and comprise welding means for welding the tubular form at a weld circumferential position, first sensor means, which are upstream of the shaping region; in the conveying direction, for detecting the position of the substrate web, setting means for setting the position of the substrate web transversely with respect to the conveying direction, and first control means which are designed to actuate the setting means, taking into consideration the measurement values from the first sensor means, such that the web-like substrate is held in a setpoint position transversely with respect to the conveying direction or such that the web-like substrate is adjusted in the direction of the setpoint position.
US09931824B2
A method of laying up a segment on a layup surface using a layup head that is mobile with respect to the layup surface, the layup head supporting a spool of a tape of material which includes at least one layer to be laid up from which said segment is cut and at least one interliner, the method including applying the tape of material against the layup surface and removing the interliner using a separator. The tape of material is pressed firmly by a press roller against the layup surface before the interliner is removed as the layup head moves in an advancing movement. A layup head for implementing the method and a layup machine including the layup head are also described.
US09931822B2
A polyester film made from two kinds of polyester resins and having a specific DSC (and a specific glass transition point) is provided, (i) which is superior in mechanical property, capable of thermocompression bonding with a metal sheet, despite a high degree of crystallization of the film, reduces quality change of plastic film laminated on the metal sheet even if faced with variation of conditions of thermocompression bonding with the metal sheet, and which is capable of thermocompression bonding even at a relatively low temperature, (ii) which is superior in formability, (iii) which is superior in flavoring property and impact resistance, and which obliterates occurrence of whitening or delamination of the film, or microcracks on the film, even if the film in the metal laminated sheet obtained by thermocompression bonding of the film on the metal sheet or on the surface of a metal can obtained by subjecting the metal laminated sheet to various form processings is crystallized, and (iv) which satisfies productivity at an industrial scale.
US09931813B2
A bonding structure and a method of fabricating the same are provided. A first substrate having a first bonding element and a second substrate having a second bonding element are provided, wherein at least one of the first bonding element and the second bonding element is formed with an alloy. A bonding process is performed to bond the first bonding element with the second bonding element, wherein a diffusion liner is generated at the exposed, non-bonded surface of the bonding structure.
US09931807B2
A device for compacting a contoured elongate composite layup includes flexible first and second fiber reinforced resin flexible sections flexible along their lengths. The first section is flexible within a first plane and the second section is flexible within the first plane as well as within a second plane. The second section includes flexible joints reinforced by a spine.
US09931806B2
An embossing/debossing system and method for embossing or debossing an impressionable material, such as paper. The system may comprise a laser cutting apparatus and a stamping apparatus. The laser cutting apparatus may comprise a laser configured for cutting and/or ablating one or more patterns into a stencil material. The stamping apparatus may be configured to receive the stencil material from the laser cutting apparatus and may have an actuatable elastomeric press pad configured to press the impressionable material into the patterns formed in the stencil material by the laser cutting apparatus. The system may also comprise various feeding devices configured to feed the stencil material from the laser cutting apparatus to the stamping apparatus and/or configured to feed the impressionable material through the stamping apparatus.
US09931805B2
A process for realizing blanks for the manufacture of boxes to measure, characterized in that it includes the following stages: —collecting at least a sheet of packing material from at least a store; —transferring it to a cutting station in which the sheet itself is cut so that a plurality of pieces is obtained therefrom, which plurality of pieces exhibits a common dimension and other dimensions which are different from one another according to predetermined ratios; —collecting the pieces, according to the dimensions of the box to be formed, in order to cut them into the predetermined dimensions, after joining, when necessary, one or more of said dimensionally homogeneous pieces so as to form a piece that is longer than the one available and suitable for constituting the “bottom” piece, which includes the bottom and at least two first opposite lateral walls of the box to be formed; cutting to measure said pieces and subjecting them singly to a first and a second marking in order to obtain weakened or folding lines in predetermined positions; —and after removal, if necessary, of corner portions of some pieces, carrying out the composition thereof in order to form a single body constituting the blank, flat, complete and ready to be folded and glued to form the box.
US09931791B2
Three-dimensional printer fabrication is improved receiving a digital model of an object, the digital model specifying two or more different build materials; prioritizing the two or more different build materials with a ranking; identifying exclusive locations in the plurality of layers where a surface layer of the object has one of the two or more different build materials; generating an external structure for the object according to one or more design rules; matching a first build material of the external structure to a second build material of the object at each of the exclusive locations; and generating tool instructions for fabricating the object and the external structure using at least the first build material and the second build material.
US09931789B2
Method and apparatus for producing a large three-dimensional work piece. In a method for producing a three-dimensional work piece, a layer of raw material powder is applied onto a carrier (16) accommodated within a process chamber (12) by means of a powder application device (14), wherein a plurality of irradiation areas (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) is defined on a surface of the carrier (16). Electromagnetic or particle radiation is selectively irradiated onto the raw material powder applied onto the carrier (16) by means of an irradiation system (20), the irradiation system (20) comprising a plurality of irradiation units (22), each irradiation unit (22) being associated with one of the irradiation areas (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) defined on the surface of the carrier (16) and being configured to selectively irradiate electromagnetic or particle radiation onto the raw material powder applied onto the associated irradiation area (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d). Fresh gas is supplied to the process chamber (12) by means of a gas inlet system (30), and gas containing particulate impurities is discharged from the process chamber (12) by means of a gas outlet system (32) such that a gas flow pattern is generated within the process chamber, the gas flow pattern being configured such that each irradiation area (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) defined on the surface of the carrier (16) is overflown with fresh gas which is supplied to the process chamber (12) via the gas inlet system (30) and which, after having overflown the irradiation area (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d), is discharged from the process chamber (12) as gas containing particulate impurities via the gas outlet system (32).
US09931784B2
The present invention concerns a system and method for fabricating a three-dimensional object. A build platform is provided that defines a build area and includes a print bed within the build area. Also provided is an extruder that extrudes build material. An ejector having at least one arm that has at least two opposing ends is used to remove the printed object. The first end of the ejector is adapted to travel in a vertical direction and the second end is adapted to travel in a horizontal direction. A scraper portion extends horizontally, parallel to the print bed from a retracted position to an extended position when the first end travels in a vertical direction towards the print bed.
US09931782B2
A thermoforming device is described. It relates to a mold assembly including a first and second mold, and to a mold that can be used in a thermoforming device. It also relates to a method for thermoforming a product. The thermoforming device is characterized in that the thermoforming device comprises a second pre-stretcher, in addition to a first pre-stretcher and a calibration element, and that the second pre-stretcher is at least partially and moveably arranged in a second mold body. A movement relative to the second mold body and towards the same forming cavity of the first pre-stretcher, the second pre-stretcher, and the calibration element, can be individually controlled, and the second pre-stretcher at least partially surrounds the first pre-stretcher and the calibration element.
US09931765B1
The mixing machine is a motorized cement mixer that designed to mix cement in batches of less than 1 cubic foot. The mixing machine comprises a mixing bucket, a paddle insert, a motor, a drive system, a housing, and a control system. The mixing bucket is used to contain the cement or concrete mixture. The paddle insert is an insert designed to go into the mixing bucket. The paddle insert further comprises a plurality of paddles that are used to agitate the concrete mixture to insure efficient mixing. The motor and drive system are used to rotate the mixing bucket to efficiently mix the concrete mixture, and to prevent the concrete mixture from setting in the mixing bucket. The mixing machine comprises a mixing bucket, a paddle insert, a motor, a drive system, a housing, and a control system.
US09931764B2
A pocketformer includes a pocketformer body having a tapered exterior surface. The exterior surface has at least one portion along a length thereof of substantially constant diameter. The pocketformer body has a feature for engaging an anchor base in a concrete structure prior to pouring concrete and a grout ring having a substantially constant inner diameter substantially equal in diameter to the at least one portion. The grout ring has an exterior surface shaped to cause retention of the grout ring in set concrete.
US09931763B2
The present disclosure provides a method of stiffening an outer layer of a wet extrudate, where the extrudate has a honeycomb cellular structure. The method includes extruding the extrudate through an extrusion apparatus and directing a substantially uniform flow of fluid onto the outer layer of the extrudate. The method also includes increasing the temperature of a binder material of the extrudate to its gelation point and stiffening at least the outer layer of the extrudate.
US09931759B2
A rotary cutting die for cutting corrugated board to form a die cut product including one or more product ejectors that are specifically configured to avoid crushing the flutes of the die cut product.
US09931751B2
A programming device receives a number of local coordinate systems from a user. Each local coordinate system is referenced directly or via at least one other local coordinate system to a global machine coordinate system of a motion-controlled machine. The programming device receives from the user, in each case with reference to one of the local coordinate systems, a number of positions to be approached by the end effector and/or a number of obstacles to be bypassed by the end effector. The programming device determines, with reference to the positions to be approached received from the user and the obstacles received from the user in the global machine coordinate system, the path to be traveled by the end effector The programming device stores the path to be traveled by the end effector as a first file so that it can be retrieved again at a later time.
US09931724B2
Devices, systems, and methods are provided for controlling a quantity of cutting fluid dispensed for a cutting tool within a CNC or other machining system. The devices, systems, and methods may include controlling multiple fluids such that coolant, lubricant, or other fluids can be delivered at different locations, at different flow rates, have their flow rates changed independently, and/or have their flow rates changed dynamically during a machining operation. In some embodiments, a feedback loop or input may be provided to obtain and/or provide information regarding the machining operation—such as cutting force, cutting temperature, cutting friction, machining operation, tool in use, work piece geometry, and/or material—and automatically and/or independently modify the fluid flow rates. The fluid may be atomized with air or other gases to minimize the quantities of fluid used. Components in the system may be modular to allow the system to be used with existing and new machining technologies.
US09931723B2
A collar member is for a collar assembly of a cutting system and method. The cutting system has a spindle and a cutting tool coupled to the spindle. The collar assembly includes a number of components and a gas flow system having a number of gas flow delivery apparatus and a number of conduits. The collar member includes a support portion structured to be coupled to the spindle, and a chamber portion extending from the support portion and being structured to be coupled to each of the number of components, the number of gas flow delivery apparatus, and the number of conduits. The support portion has a side portion having an edge portion defining a thru hole in order to form a passageway from an interior of the support portion to an exterior thereof.
US09931722B2
A conveyor installation for the transportation of articles along a predefined path includes a running rail, at least one running carriage which is freely movable along the running rail, and a driven engagement device which extends at least in sections along the running rail and which includes a multiplicity of engagement elements movable along the running rail. Reliable and quiet operation is achieved in that the engagement elements are movable back and forth between two stable positions, wherein, in the first stable position, the engagement elements can be moved relative to the at least one running carriage past the running carriage without entering into engagement with the running carriage (non-engagement position), and wherein, in the second stable position, the engagement elements, during a movement relative to the at least one running carriage past the running carriage, compulsorily enter into engagement with the at least one running carriage (engagement position).
US09931715B2
A test piece preparation step of preparing a test piece (50) including a welding structure in which a welding material formed of an austenitic alloy is welded to a member formed of low-alloy steel or low-carbon steel, a hydrogen supply step of supplying hydrogen to the test piece (50), and a characteristic stress acquisition step of applying a load (F) to the test piece (50) to which hydrogen was supplied and acquiring a characteristic stress showing material mechanical properties of the test piece (50) are executed.
US09931714B2
A method of forming a cutting element for an earth-boring tool may include directing at least one energy beam at a surface of a volume of polycrystalline superabrasive material including interstitial material disposed in regions between inter-bonded grains of polycrystalline superabrasive material. The method includes ablating the interstitial material with the at least one energy beam such that at least a portion of the interstitial material is removed from a first region of the volume of polycrystalline superabrasive material without any substantial degradation of the inter-bonded grains of superabrasive material or of bonds thereof in the first region.
US09931711B2
A friction stir welding method which permits advantageous production of a product which has a sound welded area without joint defects, by joining together two members formed of the same material or respective different materials selected from a cast aluminum alloy and 2000 series, 4000 series, 5000 series and 7000 series aminum alloys which are considered difficult to be joined together by the friction stir welding method. A termination tab member formed of a 1000 series, 3000 series, 6000 series or 8000 series aluminum alloy is disposed in abutting contact with end faces of joining portions of first and second members (in an abutting part), on the side of termination of the welding operation, and the friction stir welding operation is terminated after a probe of a rotary tool is moved from the joining portions of the two members into the termination tab member.
US09931708B2
A system and method for a plasma system includes a plasma torch actuated by a trigger, a consumable installed in the plasma torch, and a gas flow system constructed to receive pressurized gas and provide a gas flow to the plasma torch. A gas flow regulating system is included and configured to regulate the gas flow, and a sensing device is included and configured to monitor a gas pressure in the plasma torch. The plasma system also includes a controller configured to receive a signal from the sensing device and to determine one of a length parameter of the plasma torch and a type of the consumable therefrom.
US09931704B2
A power tool has a cutting element driven by a motor assembly, the motor assembly driving a fan for flowing air over the motor assembly. The power tool includes a foot plate configured to be supported on a workpiece, the foot plate defining an opening through which the cutting element extends, and at least one alignment opening arranged relative to the cutting element opening to allow the operator to visualize the cut line of the cut created by the cutting element. A motor housing is provided that supports the motor assembly on the foot plate, in which the motor housing defines a cavity substantially enclosing the motor assembly and arranged to receive airflow from the fan. A nozzle is defined in the motor housing that is configured to direct airflow from the cavity of the motor housing in an airflow line of action intersecting the at least one alignment opening.
US09931700B2
A clamping device for clamping a workpiece or a tool or a tool holder to a machine component of a machine tool, including an axially movable tension rod, a clamping assembly which can be moved by the tension rod between a clamped position and a released position, a spring assembly dedicated to the tension rod for generating the clamping and draw-in force of the clamping assembly, and a releasing unit by which the clamping assembly can be moved by the tension rod against the force of the spring assembly into the released position. The spring assembly has a minimum of one spring unit with a plurality of flexible spring members disposed between a first and a second spring holder, with the first and second spring holders being secured against torsion relative to the tension rod.
US09931698B2
A cutting insert for threading of the present invention includes two opposing end surfaces and a peripheral side surface extending therebetween. The peripheral side surface has a first side surface portion and a second side surface portion arranged at different positions in a circumferential direction. A cutting edge is formed at an intersecting ridgeline portion between the first end surface and the first side surface portion and at least a portion of this cutting edge has a shape corresponding to a thread groove. The second side surface portion has an inclined portion which enlarges outward from the side of the first end surface toward the side of the second end surface. This inclined portion is configured to engage with a side wall surface of a tool body so as to prevent floating of the cutting insert.
US09931689B2
A method and manufacturing unit for producing a rotor blade (5) of a wind turbine (1) from at least a first rotor blade element (11, 11′, 12, 12′) and a second rotor blade element (11, 11′, 12, 12′). The first rotor blade element (11, 11′, 12, 12′) and the second rotor blade element (11, 11′, 12, 12′) are positioned in the desired relative arrangement with respect to each other such that a joint gap (13) remains between the first rotor blade element (11, 11′, 12, 12′) and the second rotor blade element (11, 11′, 12, 12′). Adhesive is introduced into the joint gap (13) for joining the first rotor blade element (11, 11′, 12, 12′) and the second rotor blade element (11, 11′, 12, 12′).
US09931675B2
A substrate mark detection apparatus includes: a detecting module, configured to detect a depth at which a mark is embedded in a substrate to be detected and determine whether the substrate is valid or not according to the depth at which the mark is embedded in the substrate; an information extracting module, configured to parse the mark to obtain parsed information in a case where the substrate is valid, query pre-stored information corresponding to the mark, determine whether the parsed information conforms to the pre-stored information or not, and if yes, to extract the pre-stored information and output the pre-stored information; a sorting module, configured to remove the substrate in a case where the substrate is invalid or the parsed information does not conform to the pre-stored information.
US09931674B2
An inspection and ejector unit for preforms for plastic containers in a transportation line, has at least one driver device which picks up preforms travelling from an inward conveyor device to the inspection and ejector unit, transports them further and passes on at least some of the preforms to an outward conveyor device, at least one detection device by which faulty preforms in the driver device are detected, and at least one ejection device by which preforms which are detected as faulty are removed from the driver device, and a corresponding method.
US09931670B2
An ultrasonic transmitter includes a piezoelectric integrated thin film transistor (PITFT). The transistor includes a top gate electrode, a bottom gate electrode, and a piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer generates vibrations in response to a voltage applied across the top gate electrode and the bottom gate electrode. The transistor includes micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) mechanically coupled to the PITFT. The MEMS includes a resonator that transmits ultrasonic pressure waves based on the vibrations.
US09931666B2
A mask assembly includes a frame with an opening, at least one support stick in the frame and extending in a first direction to traverse the opening of the frame, the support stick including a communication pattern above the opening of the frame, and a mask positioned on the frame and the at least one support stick, the mask extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to traverse the opening of the frame, and the mask being exposed to the opening of the frame through the communication pattern.
US09931654B2
The disclosure includes a system comprising a first chamber having pressurized gas, a compressor connected to the first chamber (which may be a bladder), and a second chamber connected to the first chamber. The second chamber includes contents. The system also includes an exit from the second chamber. The pressurized gas from the first chamber travels into the second chamber to force the contents out of the exit of the second chamber. The compressor increases the pressure of the gas in the first chamber.
US09931648B2
Apparati for generating a mist are disclosed. One apparatus is disclosed, which has an elongate hollow body (12) and an elongate member (14) located within the body (12). A transport fluid passage (16) and a nozzle (32) are defined between the body (12) and the elongate member (14). The transport fluid passage (16) has a throat portion of reduced cross-sectional area and is in fluid communication with the nozzle (32). The elongate member (14) includes a working fluid passage (26) and one or more communicating openings, such as for example, bores, annuli, and combinations thereof, (30) extending radially outward from the working fluid passage (26). The openings (30) permit a working fluid (e.g. water) to be passed into the transport fluid passage (16), whereupon the working fluid is subjected to shear forces by a high velocity transport fluid (e.g. steam). The shearing of the working fluid results in the generation of a mist formed from droplets of substantially uniform size. Methods of generating a mist using such apparati are also disclosed. Also provided are mists for fire suppression produced using an apparatus disclosed herein, as well as fire suppression systems that include any of the apparati disclosed herein. Further provided are devices, methods, and mists for various other applications including turbine cooling and decontamination.
US09931643B2
A decanter centrifuge includes a rotatable bowl extending along a centrifuge axis of rotation, and a rotatable scroll conveyor with hub mounted coaxially within the bowl. A feed pipe passes centrally within the hub and leads into a feed chamber within the hub. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart nozzles extend radially outward from a round internal wall of the feed chamber to the outside surface of the hub and extend radially inward beyond the internal wall of the feed chamber. A plurality of discrete accelerator inserts are mounted on the internal wall of the feed chamber, wherein each insert is adjacently mounted between two nozzles and each nozzle is circumferentially fixed by abutment with the radially inward extensions of two of the spaced apart nozzles.
US09931642B2
A collection apparatus for a separator. The collection apparatus including a housing at least partially encircling a flow separation passage and defining a chamber and a cutout, the chamber being in fluid communication with the flow separation passage to receive a separated flow therefrom, and the cutout extending outward from the chamber to at least partially deflect the separated flow.
US09931638B2
A garbage disposal cleaning system includes a garbage disposal that may be fluidly coupled to a drain on a sink. A scrubbing unit is removably positioned within the garbage disposal. The scrubbing unit frictionally engages the garbage disposal. The scrubbing unit contains and releases a detergent. The scrubbing unit cleans the garbage disposal when the garbage disposal is turned on. Thus, the scrubbing unit may reduce an odor relating to bacterial decay in the garbage disposal.
US09931637B2
A support apparatus for a filter membrane comprises a base support and a disc-shaped porous support member. The member is removably received in a seat portion of the base support in fluid communication with a drain. A bottom side of the disc-shaped porous support member is supported in a support plane. The bottom side of the member is unsupported in an area and the unsupported area is adjacent to a space in the seat portion of the base support that is located and dimensioned such that application of a force, onto the top side of the member at a location substantially within the boundaries of the unsupported area at the bottom side will cause the member to pivot/tilt into the space and lift above the support plane at a diagonally opposite side from the location where the force is applied so that it can be easily grasped and removed.
US09931632B2
A microfluidic system includes a magnetic source (150) and two chambers (110) that are connected by a channel. The chambers and the channel are filled with different fluids such that a non-zero surface tension is created at the associated fluidic interfaces. Moreover, the magnetic source (150) is arranged to provide at least two separate magnetic gradient regions (GR) and to allow for the attraction of magnetic particles (MP) present in one of the chambers into these different regions. The magnetic forces (F) generated by at least one of the gradient regions (GR) is strong enough to allow for pushing or pulling magnetic particles through the fluidic interfaces. The magnetic source may be realized by a permanent magnet (150) of hexahedral shape. A method achieves dispersion and re-accumulation of an ensemble of magnetic particles in the microfluidic system.
US09931629B2
An apparatus including an array of wells including a number of well channels, each well channel including a plurality of wells in the well channel, the wells containing a substance in use, one or more inlets for receiving respective fluids and channels coupled to the one or more inlets for selectively supplying one or more fluids to each well channel to thereby expose the substance to different conditions allowing a response of the substance to the conditions to be determined.
US09931627B2
A top part for a sampling pipette including a hollow outer body forming a handle, a pipetting control stem, a device for adjusting and displaying a volume to be sampled, including a first threaded member for adjusting the volume to be sampled crossed by the control stem, the device also comprising a set of first volume graduations angularly spaced from one another around the longitudinal axis and cooperating with a first mark so as to inform about the volume to be sampled. The first threaded member is rotatably integral with one of both elements formed by the set of first volume graduations and the first mark, the mark being axially arranged between the hollow outer body forming a handle and the control knob.
US09931625B2
A bottom part of a positive-displacement pipetting system), including a body slideably housing a device for gripping a piston belonging to a capillary-piston assembly the capillary of which is adapted to be fitted onto an end-fitting of the body. The system also comprises means for ejecting the capillary-piston assembly arranged externally with respect to the body. The system is constructed so that a relative rotation between the ejection means and the gripping device causes it to pass from an open configuration enabling the piston to be released to a closed configuration enabling said piston to be retained, and/or the reverse.
US09931623B2
A method for producing a metal nanoparticle complex according to the present invention is a method for producing a metal nanoparticle complex in which metal nanoparticles are supported in pores of a porous body, said method comprising at least: an adsorption step of allowing an organic metal complex to adsorb in pores of a porous body; and a decomposition/reduction step of heating the porous body, which has had the organic metal complex adsorbed in the pores thereof, under a reductive atmosphere to decompose an organic compound in the organic metal complex adsorbed in the pores of the porous body and also reduce a metal cation in the organic metal complex, thereby causing metal nanoparticles to be supported in the pores of the porous body.
US09931621B2
The invention relates to long chain alcohol, to processes for catalytically producing long chain alcohol from carbon monoxide and molecular hydrogen, to equipment useful in such processes, and to the use of long chain alcohol, e.g., for producing fuel, lubricating oil, detergent, and plasticizer. The catalyst is mesoporous and comprises iron and copper.
US09931620B2
Described are catalyst materials and catalytic articles comprising a metal exchanged SAPO material comprising a plurality of substitutional sites consisting essentially of Si(4Al) sites and substantially free of Si(0Al) sites. The materials and catalytic articles are useful in methods and systems to catalyze the reduction of nitrogen oxides in the presence of a reductant.
US09931619B2
Provided are an ethanol dehydration catalyst having a high ethylene yield even at a low temperature region, as an ethanol dehydration catalyst for converting a feedstock including anhydrous ethanol or hydrous ethanol to ethylene, and a method of preparing ethylene by using the same. In the ethanol dehydration catalyst for converting a feedstock including anhydrous ethanol or hydrous ethanol to ethylene of the present invention, the catalyst includes 0.1 wt % to 0.5 wt % of lanthanum (La) or 0.05 wt % to 1 wt % of gallium (Ga) in ZSM-5.
US09931614B2
A ceria-zirconia-based composite oxide including a composite oxide containing ceria and zirconia, wherein the ceria-zirconia-based composite oxide contains at least one member selected from the group consisting of praseodymium, lanthanum, and yttrium in an amount of 0.5 to 5.0 mol % relative to a total amount of the cations contained in the ceria-zirconia-based composite oxide, where the ratio of the content of both cerium and the at least one member selected from the group consisting of praseodymium, lanthanum, and yttrium in the ceria-zirconia-based composite oxide to the content of zirconium therein ([cerium and the at least one member selected from the group consisting of praseodymium, lanthanum, and yttrium]:[zirconium]) is in the range of 43:57 to 48:52 by mole ratio.
US09931613B2
Process for the regeneration of a copper, zinc and zirconium oxide-comprising adsorption composition
The invention relates to a process for the regeneration of a copper-, zinc- and zirconium oxide-comprising adsorption composition after use thereof for the adsorptive removal of carbon monoxide from substance streams comprising carbon monoxide and at least one olefin, in which the adsorption composition is heated to a temperature in the range from 160 to 400° C. and a regeneration gas is passed through the adsorption composition, wherein the regeneration gas comprises 1000 to 3000 ppm of oxygen in an inert carrier gas.
US09931608B2
A process for separating polymeric and gaseous components of a polymer-monomer mixture at a pressure of from 0.12 MPa to 0.6 MPa and a temperature of from 120° C. to 300° C. in a separation vessel is provided. The separation vessel has a vertically arranged cylindrical shape with a ratio of length to diameter L/D of from 0.6 to 10 and an inlet pipe capable of introducing the polymer-monomer mixture into the separation vessel which the inlet pipe extends vertically from the top of the separation vessel into the separation vessel. Further a process for preparing ethylene homopolymers or copolymers from ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of free-radical polymerization initiators at temperatures from 100° C. to 350° C. and pressures in the range of from 110 MPa to 500 MPa comprising such a process for separating a polymer-monomer mixture is provided.
US09931606B2
A single-lever mixing cartridge includes a head piece, which accommodates a bottom piece having at least one inflow channel and at least one outlet channel, and a disk control having a control disk that can be displaced via an at least pivotably mounted spindle relative to a passage disk which is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner. At least all inlet channels are provided with at least one lip seal for sealing the bottom piece against the passage disk and/or against a fitting receiving the cartridge.
US09931601B2
Exemplary embodiments are directed to venturi bypass systems that generally include a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The systems can include a venturi path disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The venturi path can include a venturi defining a venturi inlet and a venturi outlet. The systems can include a bypass loop connected to the venturi path at a joint upstream of the venturi outlet. The systems can include a separation tube connected to the venturi outlet. The separation tube can extend fluid flowing through the venturi path downstream of the joint at which the bypass loop connects to the venturi path. Exemplary embodiments are also directed to methods of regulating fluid flow through a venturi bypass system.
US09931591B2
A capacitive sensor system for detecting accumulation of dust in a filter of a HVAC system includes a first conductive mesh, a second conductive mesh, a first filter media disposed between the first conductive mesh and the second conductive mesh, and a circuit configured to measure a capacitance of a first capacitive sensor formed by the first conductive mesh, second conductive mesh, and the first filter media. The circuit further is configured to translate a measured capacitance to a dust level indicator frequency that is used to determine a frequency corresponding to level of dust.
US09931588B2
An underdrain apparatus and a method for manufacturing such apparatus are provided. The underdrain apparatus can be extruded in long sections as a unitary part. The underdrain apparatus may be extruded in various sizes, shapes, and materials. Further, the underdrain apparatus may include a passageway for transporting water to and from the filter media and/or air to the filter media. In some embodiments, apertures are formed in the underdrain apparatus during an extrusion process to provide a path between the passageway and the filter media.
US09931584B2
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for counter-current solids leaching. A multi-stage countercurrent leaching chamber can include a top and bottom end, a barren liquor input, two or more regions for countercurrent mixing, and a barren solids output. The input can be configured to receive barren liquor. The two or more regions for countercurrent mixing and separation can be configured to mix and separate liquid and solid phases. The barren solids output can be configured to collect and discharge barren solids from the bottom end of the multi-stage countercurrent leaching chamber. A fluidized bed chamber and clarifier chamber can also be included, where the fluidized bed receives a fluidizable slurry of pregnant solids and the clarifier chamber aids in separating liquids from solids passing from a top of the fluidized bed chamber to the top end of the multi-stage countercurrent leaching chamber.
US09931577B2
The present invention discloses a servo of an entertainment robot that includes a servo main body and a servo plate. The servo main body includes a casing and an output shaft. The casing is a hexahedron. The servo plate is fixed to the output shaft of the servo main body. The servo plate includes a square drive plate. At least one surface of the servo main body includes a T slot having an opening at one end. The size of the T slot matches the size of the drive plate of the servo plate. Tools are not needed for assembling/disassembling during the assembling of entertainment robots, thereby reducing the complexity during assembling, lowering the assembly difficulty, simplifying the assembling process, increasing the joy of DIY, and providing more space for the users to bring into play their imaginations.
US09931574B2
The present disclosure describes novel systems and methods for teaching and exercising leadership skills and strategies including the use of a narrative-driven role playing game.
US09931565B2
A device for online gaming includes a gaming accessory provisioned with a configuration that includes a group of settings of operating parameters for the gaming accessory. The group of settings corresponds to selections from first equipment of a user via an accessory management application. Upon initiation of a gaming session, the gaming accessory is in communication with second equipment of the user. The gaming accessory is not in communication with the first equipment of the user and is not in communication with the second equipment of the user prior to the initiation of the gaming session. The accessory management application can be a client application of a server remote from the first equipment of the user and the second equipment of the user. The group of settings can be received from the first equipment of the user via a graphical user interface presented by the accessory management application.
US09931560B2
A method for analyzing punching activities of a boxer during a training session is implemented through a glove that is worn by the boxer. The glove includes a microprocessor, an inertial measurement unit, and other related electrical components so that the method of analyzing punching activities can be executed through a single punch analysis. The inertial measurement unit timestamps and collects raw orientation and spatial positioning data for the glove, and enables the microprocessor to execute the single punch analysis throughout the training session. The single punch analysis outputs and displays a forward glove speed, a forward glove force, a forward glove power, heart rate of the boxer, calories burned by the boxer, lag time between multiple punches, and total number of punches throughout the training session.
US09931553B1
This disclosure assists a golfer in these situations. The golf club caddy is adapted to be used in the game of golf. The golf club caddy is a lightweight, portable carrier that is used to carry a plurality of golf clubs as well as a plurality of accessories that may be required by the golfer. The golf club caddy is a self-supporting structure that with sub-structures that are designed to carry the plurality of golf clubs, one or more towels, one or more golf balls, and tools such as range finders or GPS locators. The golf club caddy comprises a plurality of club holders, a container, a cylinder, a plurality of legs, and a leg opening mechanism.
US09931547B2
A golf club head includes a main body having a top portion, a bottom portion, a striking face, and an interior surface. A weight member is coupled to the interior surface of the main body. In an imaginary vertical plane that passes through the weight member, the interior surface of the main body comprises a first point and a second point. An imaginary line passes through the first point and the second point. A first imaginary boundary line and a second imaginary boundary line, both passing through the weight member and being perpendicular to the imaginary line, pass through the first point and the second point, respectively. Between the first point and the second point, the interior surface of the main body has an irregularity factor of at least 1.2 and the weight member comprises a distribution factor of at most 1.0 and a conformity factor of at most 0.07.
US09931546B2
A golf club 2 includes a head 4, a shaft 6, a grip 8, a first member m1 detachably attached, a second member m2 detachably attached, and a tool 102. A minimum force required to detach the first member m1 from the tool 102 in a connection state of the tool 102 and the first member m1 is defined as F1. A minimum force required to detach the second member m2 from the tool 102 in a connection state of the tool 102 and the second member m2 is defined as F2. The force F1 is greater than the force F2.
US09931540B1
A balancing exercise device has a central balancing member having a center of balance. A first foot pad is coupled to the central balancing member on a first side of the center of balance. The first foot pad is pivotable with respect to the central balancing member. A second foot pad is coupled to the central balancing member on an opposite, second side of the center of balance. The second foot pad is pivotable with respect to the central balancing member. An application of equal forces on the first and second foot pads balances the central balancing member with respect to the center of balance. An application of unequal forces on the first and second foot pads causes the central balancing member to pivot about the center of balance until one of the first and second foot pads engages with a support surface on which the central balancing member is supported.
US09931533B2
Weight lifting strap which is looped around the wrist and wrapped in helical fashion about a weight lifting bar or the like and gripped by the hand with opposite sides of the strap facing the bar and the hand, and the strap being fabricated of a woven material with rubberized strands on the side of the strap which faces the bar.
US09931531B2
A weighted vest includes weight attachment points that allow the user to customize the weight distribution when attaching resistance across a body surface. The vest is secured with shoulder straps, side support straps and a chest buckle and can be comfortably worn during any form of physical exercise, freeing the user's hands for other purposes. The vest is reinforced to withstand the stress of the added resistance with the interior of the vest being padded for comfort. Exchangeable rubber disks are removeably fastened to a back panel to modify the resistance in order to achieve the desired exercise intensity. The disks are shaped to fit together to form a continuous, tessellated layer, if desired, and are secured to attachment points on the weight panel with fasteners. The rubber disks are weighted to provide added mass with sufficient flexibility to conform to contours of the user's body.
US09931528B2
A concealed sprinkler including a body having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion includes an annular wall defining a chamber and an opening in communication with the chamber. A deflector assembly is disposed within the chamber. A trigger assembly having a lever assembly engaged with an inner surface of the annular wall supports the deflector assembly in the first position, the trigger assembly including and a thermally rated plate assembly having a lip portion to substantially circumscribe and substantially cover opening and chamber.
US09931526B2
A connecting adjustment assembly for a fall protection assembly including a back plate assembly and a sliding engagement member is provided. The back plate assembly includes a body and a roller. The body has a first side and an opposed second side. The body further has a first edge and an opposed second edge that defines the length of the body. The body also has a third edge and an opposed fourth edge that defines a width of the body. The body still further has a groove in the second side that passes along the width of the body. The roller is rotationally coupled proximate the second edge of the body. The sliding engagement member includes a first portion with a first post and a second portion with a connection head. The first post is configured and arranged to be at least partially received within the groove of the body.
US09931523B2
An apparatus for driving and controlling ultrasonic elements includes a computer-based host unit that determines driving characteristics with which to drive the ultrasonic elements; a microprocessor-based controller that receives an output from the host and provides signals representing a frequency and/or an amplitude characteristic; a frequency control circuit receiving the frequency characteristic signal; an amplitude control circuit receiving the amplitude characteristic signal; an RF amplifier acting on an output from the frequency and/or the amplitude control circuits to provide an amplified output signal corresponding to the frequency and/or amplitude characteristic; a coupling circuit that couples the amplified output signal to the ultrasonic elements and provides a forward output signal to a first RF detector circuit and a reverse output signal to a second RF detector circuit; and an analog-to-digital converter that receives an output of the RF detector circuits and provides a corresponding converted output to the controller.
US09931521B2
A multi level multileaf collimator employs leaves with leaf tips having a non-square shape in a beam's eye view to improve beam shaping effect and penumbra performance. The multi level multileaf collimator includes a first multileaf collimator in a first level comprising beam blocking leaves longitudinally movable in a first direction, and a second multileaf collimator in a second level comprising beam blocking leaves longitudinally movable in a second direction. The first direction may be generally parallel with the second direction and the leaves of the first multileaf collimator may laterally offset the leaves of the second multileaf collimator. The beam blocking leaves of the first multileaf collimator may comprise an end portion having a non-square shape in a beam's eye view.
US09931516B2
Methods are disclosed for treating cell components, cells, organelles, organs, and/or tissues with acoustic energy, electromagnetic energy, static or alternating electric fields, and/or static or alternating magnetic fields in the presence or absence of exogenous particulate agents for therapeutic applications.
US09931514B2
A hermetically sealed filtered feedthrough assembly for an active implantable medical device includes an electrically conductive ferrule hermetically sealed by a first braze to an insulator. A conductor is hermetically sealed to and disposed through the insulator. A filter capacitor has an active electrode plate and a ground electrode plate which are disposed within and supported by a capacitor dielectric in an interleaved, partially overlapping relationship. A first passageway is disposed through the capacitor dielectric having a capacitor internal metallization which is connected to the active electrode plate. A capacitor external metallization electrically connects to the ground electrode plate. An oxide-resistant metal addition includes a conductive core with a conductive cladding of a different material. A first electrical connection is between the oxide-resistant metal addition and the capacitor external metallization. A second electrical connection is between the oxide-resistant metal addition and the ferrule.
US09931510B2
A system and method for controlling non-paresthesia stimulation of neural tissue of a patient. The method delivers a non-paresthesia stimulation waveform, senses sensory action potential (SAP) signals from the neural tissue of interest, and analyzes the SAP signals to obtain SAP activity data for at least one of an SAP C-fiber component or an SAP A-delta fiber component. The method determines whether the SAP activity data satisfies a criteria of interest and adjusts at least one of the therapy parameters to change the non-paresthesia stimulation waveform when the SAP activity data does not satisfy the criteria of interest.
US09931507B2
The present invention is an improved hermetic package for a retinal prosthesis implanted in the human body. The retinal prosthesis includes a flexible circuit electrode array suitable to stimulate the retina while connected to a hermetic package on the outside of the eye, the hermetic package including a cover and a base where the cover is bonded to the base such that the cover and base form the hermetic package.
US09931504B2
A catheter may include electrodes for transvascular nerve stimulation. The electrodes may be positioned within lumens of the catheter and aligned with apertures in the outer wall of the catheter. The electrodes may produce focused electrical fields for stimulation of one or more nerves. In one embodiment, the catheter may include a set of proximal electrodes and a set of distal electrodes, and the proximal electrodes may stimulate a patient's left phrenic nerve and the distal electrodes may stimulate a patient's right phrenic nerve.
US09931496B2
A microneedle array includes a microneedle unit that includes microneedles; and a microneedle unit support member that includes an opening, guides both ends of the microneedle unit through inclined grooves, and arranges tips of the microneedles so as to project through the opening in an inclined manner.
US09931490B2
A control system for an arterial catheter operable to selectively impede blood flow includes a processor and a storage medium accessible to the processor that bears instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to execute logic including receiving a first signal representing a physical parameter associated with a patient in whom the catheter is disposed, receiving a second signal representative of time, and causing inflation of a first balloon on the catheter to impede blood flow in the first artery. Based at least in part on the first signal satisfying a first condition, the instructions include causing deflation of the first balloon. Based at least in part on the second signal indicating elapse of a predetermined time period, the instructions include causing deflation of the first balloon regardless of whether the first signal satisfies the first condition.
US09931483B2
An improvement to a breathing therapy machine to detect and rate occurrences of periodic breathing and to alter the therapy delivered to a user of the device based on the rating.
US09931481B2
A metered dose inhaler (“MDI”) applicator is disclosed that includes a carrier, a housing, an adjuster and a lever. The carrier defines an aperture configured to receive a boot of a MDI. The housing is configured to be assembled with the carrier and to move in a vertical direction within the MID applicator relative to the carrier. The adjuster is configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when the adjuster is in the locked position, the adjuster is configured to prevent the carrier and the housing from moving in one or more directions relative to one another. The lever is pivotally connected to the housing and is configured to transfer a force applied to the lever to a canister of the MDI and to actuate the MDI to dispense an aerosolized medicine.
US09931480B2
A connector mountable to a syringe barrel has a proximal barrel-engaging portion, a distal luer fitment portion, and a fluid aperture therethrough. The barrel-engaging portion of the connector includes an axial ledge configured to abut the axial distal edge of a glass syringe barrel. The connector facilitates mounting a luer assembly to the barrel. The luer assembly may be a tip cap having a complementary luer fitment for connection to the luer fitment portion of the connector. The luer assembly may be a luer needle assembly having a complementary luer fitment for connection to the luer fitment portion of the connector. The connector and syringe may further include an immobile, compressible needle seal. The needle seal is adjacent to or engageable with the barrel-engaging portion of the connector. The syringe may be configured with a plunger capable of engaging a retractable needle.
US09931479B2
A system for use in filling one or more reservoirs. The system includes a fill station including a fill station base, a fill station cover hingably attached to the fill station base, and a filling aperture attached to the fill station cover, wherein the fill station may be opened to accommodate the one or more reservoirs. The system also includes a vial having an interior volume for containing a fluidic medium, the vial configured to removably attach to the filling aperture, and a plunger located within the vial, the plunger advancable within the vial to reduce the interior volume.
US09931476B2
The present invention discloses a disposable safety self-destruction insulin needle. The invention uses a sleeve-connected linkage structure and realizes an instant reset of the safety sleeve by means of the spring located in the middle axis so as to ensure that the needle tube is not exposed and preferably realizes a tilting and deflection of the self-destruction pressure base due to a plurality of flexible plates unevenly distributed on the inner wall in the needle base so as to finally ensure that the insulin needle cannot be used a second time, in so doing the safety self-destruction operation of the insulin needle is realized.
US09931475B2
A retractable needle device attachable to the front of a fluid collection or infusion device such as a syringe, the retractable needle device comprising a housing having an engagement member, a slide support surface, a retraction cavity and a first pinch surface; a needle; a needle alignment member comprising a needle tube and a second pinch surface; and a needle retraction mechanism positioned within the needle tube and configured to bias the needle rearwardly; wherein the first and second pinch surfaces are configured so that a pinching force applied to them will cause relative lateral movement between the housing and needle alignment member. This translational movement from an injection position, wherein the needle is aligned with the syringe connector, to a retraction position, wherein the needle is aligned with the retraction cavity, allows the needle retraction mechanism to force the needle into the retraction cavity.
US09931471B2
Auto-injector for administering a dose of a liquid medicament includes a housing to contain a syringe with a hollow needle and a stopper for sealing the syringe and displacing the medicament (M), the housing having a distal end (D) and a proximal end (P) with an orifice to apply against an injection site. A spring means, upon activation, can push the needle from inside the housing through the orifice and past the proximal end (P), operate the syringe to supply the dose of medicament (M), and retract the syringe with the needle after delivering the medicament (M). An activating means can lock the spring means in a pressurized state prior to manual operation and capable of, upon manual operation, releasing the spring means for injection.
US09931469B2
An auto-injector device for administering a liquid pharmaceutical composition, in which an end-user can select between doses that the device is capable of delivering. The end-user choices that translate into the selected doses can be based on end-user perceived severity of symptoms, end-user weight and other such factors. In some embodiments the auto-injector is configured to administer the one chosen dose only. In other embodiments, the auto-injector can deliver second and subsequent doses up to full dose of the pharmaceutical composition disposed in the injector. The auto-injector can provide visual, audio, and tactile feedback, alone or in combination, to the user to indicate the dose selected, instructions for use, and when the dose has been administered.
US09931467B2
An autoinjector includes a body (1; 1010), a reservoir containing fluid product, a piston, a needle, a piston rod (5 5; 1005) that is displaceable between a loaded position and an injection position, and an injection spring (8; 1008) to stress 10 the piston rod towards the injection position. The autoinjector also includes an injection lock having a control sleeve (4; 1004) containing the piston rod and the injection spring. The piston rod includes a radial recess (50; 1050) receiving a substantially spherical blocking element (7; 1007) mobile between a blocking position and an unblocking position, stressed radially towards the exterior by the piston rod, and held in the blocking position by a blocking member (23; 1004) that is displaceable relative to the piston rod to release the blocking element.
US09931465B2
There is provided a compact flow restriction device having a housing and tubing, the housing holding the tubing within it, the tubing reducing liquid pressure from a higher pressure at a first tubing end to a second pressure at a second tubing end, the housing adapted to be worn by a patient and the liquid delivered to said patient at the second end at the second pressure.
US09931460B2
A method and apparatus for a connection interface between a reservoir or syringe, infusion set tubing, and an infusion pump is provided. The reservoir, a base and a cap are connected to form an integrated unit that is capable of being inserted and secured in an infusion pump housing. The cap and the infusion pump are each provided with at least one sensor or at least one detectable feature, arranged to interact with at least one corresponding detectable feature or sensor on the other of the cap and infusion pump device, to detect one or more of the presence, position or other characteristic of the cap when the cap is aligned or coupled with the infusion pump housing. The detectable feature and sensor may be magnetic, RF, mechanical, optical or any combination.
US09931457B2
The invention concerns polymer systems comprising at least one polymer with a plurality of pores where the polymer is initially functionalized on substantially all surfaces followed by a stepwise surface specific functionalization such that a different functional group resides on the external or internal pore surface of the bead. The invention also concerns use of such polymer systems in blood, blood product, or physiologic fluid purification.
US09931453B2
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a dialysis agent A, which is able to set the total acetate ion content in the dialysate to a low value, excellent in storage stability of glucose, able to reduce the acetic acid odor, and able to suppress the corrosion of the dialysate delivery system and the dialysis machine, as well as to provide a two pack type dialysis agent utilizing the dialysis agent A.In the dialysis agent A used in the preparation of a bicarbonate dialysate, which is used as one part of a two pack type dialysis agent, it becomes possible to prepare a bicarbonate dialysate having the total acetate ion concentration of between 2 mEq/L or more and less than 6 mEq/L by allowing to include glucose, acetic acid and acetate salt and to satisfy the molar ratio of 1:0.5 to 2 of acetic acid and acetate salt, and include acetic acid and acetate salt in a total amount of between 2 mEq or more and less than 6 mEq in the dialysis agent A required to prepare 1 L of the bicarbonate dialysate. Moreover, according to the dialysis agent A, in addition to the excellent stability of glucose, it is possible to reduce the acetic acid odor, and furthermore possible to suppress the corrosion of the dialysate delivery system and the dialysis machine.
US09931452B2
Blood treatment apparatus and methods of using the same are described herein that include two or more intermediate containers located between a treatment solution source and a port through which the treatment solution is to be delivered with the blood treatment apparatus. The weight of the intermediate containers is measured and used to control the refilling and emptying of treatment solution in the intermediate containers.
US09931451B2
A multifunctional handle for a blood treatment machine for moving the blood treatment machine by hand and also for the coiling of cables, with a placement segment and a slip prevention segment which protrudes from a first end of the first flat section at an angle from the first flat section and which is designed ergonomically to be grasped by a hand.
US09931448B2
A system and apparatus for treating a tissue site with reduced pressure and collecting fluids from the tissue site is disclosed. The system may include a reduced-pressure source, a pouch in fluid communication with the reduced pressure source, and a dressing in fluid communication with the pouch. The pouch may include a first wall, a second wall having a periphery coupled to the first wall to form an interior, and a third wall extending through the interior to form a first chamber in fluid communication with the dressing and a second chamber in fluid communication with the reduced pressure source. A plurality of filters are positioned in the third wall. The filters permit fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber.
US09931443B1
The present invention relates to a hemostatic injection needle coated with a chitosan in which a catechol group and an oxidized catechol group are introduced and cross-linked. The hemostatic injection needle according to the present invention can suppress bleeding during and after injection, and thus can be effectively used for injection not only into coagulopathy patients, including diabetic patients, patients under anticancer treatment, and haemophilia patients, who have a low hemostatic ability, but also into patients showing blood rejection responses, and children.
US09931441B2
The present invention relates generally to specially designed magnesium-aluminum (“Mg—Al”) alloys and medical uses thereof in a hemodynamic environment, and, more particularly to devices for sealing an opening formed through biological tissue (such as blood vessels) made from such specially designed magnesium-aluminum alloys.
US09931439B2
Described are medical graft materials and devices which can be usefully modified with liquid additives such as cell suspensions, bioactive agents, or combinations of these. The medical graft materials and devices can have a first outer surface and a second outer surface and can define an internal chamber between the first outer surface and the second outer surface. The medical graft materials and devices can also have at least one region of the graft material interrupting the chamber and surrounded by the chamber. Also described are methods for making and using these medical graft materials and devices.
US09931438B2
The objection of this invention is to provide an article with a foamed surface having a porous structure in the surface of a plastic base, an implant and a method of producing them. The article has a body and a superficial layer formed in a surface of the body, the layer including small-diameter and large-diameter pores, wherein part of the small-diameter and large-diameter pores are open pores which are open at the surface of the layer; the open pores have small open pores with an average diameter of 5 μm or less and large open pores with an average diameter from 10 to 200 μm; and the large open pores have an inner wall with passages connected with the small-diameter large-diameter pores. The implant is the article itself or the article with a bioactive substance in the layer thereof. The method provides an example of producing the article and implant.
US09931437B2
The invention provides a scaffold of extracellular matrix polymers with recombinant chimeric peptides tethered thereto. The invention also provides recombinant chimeric peptides of antimicrobial peptides and extracellular matrix binding domains. The invention also provides methods for treating chronic wounds using the scaffold and/or recombinant chimeric peptides.
US09931427B2
A method of operating a sterilization system having a vacuum chamber for sterilizing instruments, the chamber connected to a reservoir of sterilant by a valve in a closed state, is disclosed. The method comprises placing the instruments in a non-sterile state in a sterilization pack, opening the chamber, placing the pack into the chamber, closing the chamber, withdrawing a first volume of air from the chamber, changing a volume of liquid water into vapor, opening the valve, introducing the sterilant into the chamber, withdrawing the sterilant from the chamber, introducing a second volume of air into the chamber, opening the chamber, removing the pack from the chamber, and removing the instruments in a sterile-state from the pack. The method may also include taking a baseline humidity measurement while the pressure within the chamber is a first pressure, lowering the pressure within the chamber to a conditioning pressure, maintaining the conditioning pressure for a dwell time, increasing the pressure within the chamber, acquiring a second humidity measurement from within the chamber, and comparing the baseline humidity measurement to the second humidity measurement.
US09931417B2
The present invention concerns improved methods and compositions for preparing SN-38 conjugates of proteins or peptides, preferably immunoconjugates of antibodies or antigen-binding antibody fragments. More preferably, the SN-38 is attached to the antibody or antibody fragment using a CL2A linker, with 1-12, more preferably 6-8, alternatively 1-5 SN-38 moieties per antibody or antibody fragment. Most preferably, the immunoconjugate is prepared in large scale batches, with various modifications to the reaction scheme disclosed herein to optimize yield and recovery in large scale. Other embodiments concern optimized dosages and/or schedules of administration of immunoconjugate to maximize efficacy for disease treatment and minimize side effects of administration.
US09931407B2
Described herein are silicon based conjugates capable of delivering one or more payload moieties to a target cell or tissue. Contemplated conjugates may include a silicon-heteroatom core, one or more optional catalytic moieties, a targeting moiety that permits accumulation of the conjugate within a target cell or tissue, one or more payload moieties (e.g., a therapeutic agent or imaging agent), and two or more non-interfering moieties covalently bound to the silicon-heteroatom core.
US09931406B2
Disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition comprising an amide derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a non-metallic salt lubricant, which can be used as an effective cancer cell-growth inhibitor owing to its enhanced storage stability with no quality changes over time.
US09931403B2
Non-aqueous patches comprising lidocaine, which is not dissolved and is present in a crystalline state, have poor permeability to the skin. Therefore, non-aqueous patches have a high concentration of lidocaine. It is pointed out that lidocaine has an adverse effect on the heart. Prolonged use of a high concentration of lidocaine causes side effects, such as shock, rubor, and irritating sensation. External preparations comprising more than 5 mass % of lidocaine are designated as powerful drugs, and cannot be used as household (nonprescription) medicine. Provided is a non-aqueous patch that is effective to relieve muscle pain, the non-aqueous patch comprising lidocaine and/or its reactant, and a dissolving agent composed of an organic acid and a polyalcohol, which are contained in a base.
US09931400B2
Provided is a method of combination therapy for prevention or treatment of c-Met-induced or angiogenesis factor-induced diseases including co-administering an angiogenesis inhibitor and an anti-c-Met antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof to a patient.
US09931399B2
The invention improves TdaP vaccines by including a TLR agonist in them. This agonist can provide stronger protection, longer-lasting protection, and/or can reduce the amount of antigen which is required to achieve a particular immune response.
US09931397B2
The present application relates to an immunogenic composition comprising at least 2 conjugates of N. meningitidis capsular saccharide and protein carrier, wherein said conjugates comprise at least 2 different N. meningitidis capsular saccharides selected from the group consisting of MenA, MenC, MenY and MenW, wherein at least one capsular saccharide is conjugated to a protein carrier with a saccharide:protein ratio (w/w) between 1:2-1:5, and wherein at least one different capsular saccharide is conjugated to a protein carrier with a saccharide:protein ratio (w/w) between 5:1-1:1.99.
US09931393B2
Methods of eliciting an immune response to a JC polyomavirus (JCV) by administering an effective amount of an immunogenic composition including an isolated JCV VP1 polypeptide or a nucleic acid encoding the VP1 polypeptide to a subject are provided. VP1 polypeptides and immunogenic compositions suitable for use in the methods are provided, including JCV genotype 2 VP1 polypeptides and/or JCV genotype 3 polypeptides. Methods of identifying a subject at risk of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) are also provided. In some embodiments, the methods include obtaining a biological sample from a subject, detecting presence or absence of JCV neutralizing antibodies in the sample from the subject, and identifying that the subject is at risk of developing PML if there is an absence of detectable JCV neutralizing antibodies in the sample from the subject.
US09931392B2
The invention relates to microbial host cells engineered to produce glycoconjugate vaccines by stable integration of an acceptor protein and an oligosaccharyltransferase into the host's genome, wherein expression of the oligosaccharyltransferase is regulated.
US09931390B2
The present disclosure relates generally to therapeutic compositions comprising recombinant bacteria. Further, the disclosure elaborates upon methods of utilizing the taught therapeutic compositions to treat autoimmune and inflammatory disease. The present teachings also relate to the disclosed recombinant bacteria and methods of producing the recombinant bacteria utilized in the compositions and methods. Further taught herein are dietary supplements and food additive compositions comprising the taught recombinant bacteria.
US09931381B2
Physiologically acceptable anti-biofilm compositions comprising Serratia peptidase and optionally one or more of bromelain, papain and a fibrinolytic enzyme. Additional components can include antimicrobials, antibiotics, antifungals, herbals, chelating agents, lactoferrin and related compounds, minerals, surfactants, binders, and fillers useful for the inhibition and treatment of gastrointestinal biofilms in humans. Physiologically acceptable anti-biofilm compositions containing these enzymes are useful in the inhibition, reduction and/or treatment of biofilms such as in the ear, vagina, joints, bones, gut, surgical sites and other locations, and are useful for the inhibition, reduction and/or treatment of associated systemic symptoms caused by biofilm associated microorganisms.
US09931379B2
Provided are oxyntomodulin analogs. The peptide analogs have at least two cysteines. The two cysteines are separated by six amino acids such that they can be crosslinked using suitable crosslinking moieties. The crosslinked peptides have long half-lives and/or efficacy. For example, peptide analog compositions are used for inducing weight loss and/or reducing blood glucose levels.
US09931378B2
A method of treating human papillomavirus (HPV), by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a primary cell-derived biologic to a patient infected with HPV, and inducing an immune response to HPV. A method of overcoming HPV-induced immune suppression of Langerhans cells (LC), by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a primary cell-derived biologic to a patient infected with HPV, and activating LC. A method of increasing LC migration towards lymph nodes, by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a primary cell-derived biologic to a patient infected with HPV, activating LC, and inducing LC migration towards lymph nodes. A method of generating immunity against HPV, by administering an effective amount of a primary cell derived biologic to a patient infected with HPV, generating immunity against HPV, and preventing new lesions from developing.
US09931377B2
The present invention relates to agents that modulate interleukin-15 (“IL-15”) signal transduction or function (“Therapeutic Agents”) and the use ol″ those agents to modulate immune function. The Therapeutic Agents target the interaction between IL-15 and its receptor and modulate IL-15-induced signal transduction. The Therapeutic Agents may be formulated with polymers, such as poly-β-1-♦4-N-acetylglucosamine. for administration to a human subject to modulate IL-15-mediated immune function.
