US09990551B2

A driver assistance system (10) for a motor vehicle comprises an imaging means (11) for acquiring images from a surrounding of the motor vehicle, and a processing means (14) adapted to perform image processing of images (30) recorded by the imaging means (11) and to detect an oncoming vehicle (33) by identifying its head lights (34) as a result of the image processing. The processing means (14) is adapted to detect, in the recorded images (30), a light aura (37) originating from at least one light source (34) hidden to the imaging means (11), and to use the light aura detection in the oncoming vehicle detection.
US09990546B2

An example target acquisition method includes obtaining, according to a global feature of each video frame of a plurality of video frames, a target pre-estimated position of each scale in the video frame; clustering the target pre-estimated position in each video frame to obtain a corresponding target candidate region; and determining a target actual region in the video frame according to all the target candidate regions in each video frame in combination with confidence levels of the target candidate regions and corresponding scale processing. The techniques of the present disclosure quickly and effectively acquire one or multiple targets, and, more particularly, achieve accurately distinguishing and acquiring the multiple targets.
US09990540B2

An operation estimation apparatus includes a distance measurement unit configured to measure a distance for a predetermined range, a human-body processing unit configured to detect a person on the basis of a distribution of measured distances, a tracking unit configured to assign an identifier to each detected person, and a situation estimation unit configured to estimate reaction of the person on the basis of a human data height which is a value of a height direction included in the measured distance in a first period set by prompting the person to start and end hand raising, wherein the situation estimation unit measures the human data height for each person to which the identifier is assigned a plurality of times in the first period, extracts an identifier for which human data heights are in the predetermined range, and estimates the reaction of the person corresponding to the extracted identifier.
US09990539B2

An image recognition method and device are disclosed. The disclosed device may include: a reference image storage unit configured to convert reference images into 1-dimensional vectors and store the converted 1-dimensional vectors; an image acquisition unit configured to obtain an input image; an image converter unit configured to convert the input image into a 1-dimensional vector, apply dimension reduction, and calculate coefficients for expressing the input image as a linear sum of vectors forming a reference image for each of the reference images; and a determiner unit configured to determine a reference image corresponding to the input image by performing a subtraction computation of subtracting a value obtained by applying the coefficients calculated for each reference image to a relevant reference image from the converted input image. The invention makes it possible to perform image recognition at a fast speed and lower the likelihood of the users' privacy being invaded.
US09990527B2

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to document processing, and more particularly to systems and methods that can utilize relative positions between the content of the document and a decodable indicia affixed to the document. In one embodiment, indicia reading terminals are provided that include an imaging module for capturing a frame of image data of a document. The document can include one or more decodable indicia such as a form barcode and various content fields, which delineate particular content of the document. The form barcode can include information respecting the form design and form design data. This information can be used to process the content of the document such as by providing coordinates or similar location and positioning metrics for use in processing the content of the document. In one example, the frame of image data is analyzed to identify the form barcode, from which the relative location of the content fields can be discerned without extensive processing of the frame of image data.
US09990519B2

A control circuit receives location information from a handheld RFID-tag reader that pertains to a scan of a location marker that correlates to a particular modular within a retail shopping facility. The control circuit also receives from that reader RFID-tag information gleaned from read RFID tags that are proximal to that location marker. The control circuit uses the location information to select specification information for a particular modular of interest and also compares the RFID-tag information with specification information for modulars other than the particular modular of interest to thereby remove some of the RFID-tag information and thereby provide filtered RFID-tag information. The control circuit then compares that filtered RFID-tag information with the specification information for the particular modular of interest to assess modular compliance.
US09990517B2

A restricted access device such as a cellphone, a tablet or a personal computer, analyzes contemporaneous keyboard inputs of a password and gestures to authenticate the user and enable further access to applications and processes of the restricted access device. The gestures may be facial gestures detected by a camera or may be gestures made by an avatar rendered on a display of the device. The password may be shorted based upon the context of the authentication as well as any gestures occurring during password entry. The gestures may be learned by the restricted access device during the password entry process.
US09990509B2

A human machine interface (HMI) configured to provide visualizations of one or more device elements that correspond to one or more components in an industrial automation system on an HMI screen. The HMI includes computer-executable instructions stored on a tangible machine-readable medium configured to determine whether at least one of the device elements is associated with an error and modify at least one graphic that corresponds to the at least one of the device elements when the one of the device elements is associated with the error.
US09990500B2

Disclosed herein are techniques for determining vulnerabilities in applications under testing. It is determined whether a first database instruction of an application enters information into a database and whether a second database instruction thereof obtains said information from the database. If the first database instruction enters the information in the database and the second database instruction obtains the information therefrom, it is determined whether the application is vulnerable to entry of malicious code via the database.
US09990497B2

A multi-engine malicious code scanning method for scanning data sets from a storage device is provided. The method includes, among other steps obtaining at least one data set from a storage device and generating a single forensic image of the data set and also applying a recover data application to the data set to generate a single recovered data set. A scanning is initiated of the single forensic image and the single recovered data set using the selected plurality of malware engines, where each of the malware engines, installed on the independent operating systems of the virtual operating system may be run concurrently on the single forensic image and the single recovered data set. A report is generated combining each of the malware engines reporting the results of the scans.
US09990486B2

Provided are an IC card, an IC module and an IC card system that can improve the security. An IC card of embodiments has a generation unit and an authentication unit. The generation unit generates a second password that is a password for authenticating a card user based on a first password stored in a storage unit in advance, a predetermined parameter and a predetermined algorithm. The authentication unit compares a third password acquired from an external apparatus and provide second password, and determines the validity of the card user based on the comparison result.
US09990485B2

An anti-passback algorithm for an access control system is described. The anti-passback algorithm prevents the use of valid credentials to gain access to an access-controlled area by more than one person within a given period of time. The algorithm is capable of distinguishing between credentials intentionally presented to the access control system and credentials that are unintentionally read by the access control system. Certain variables may be set by the access control system manufacturer or a trusted individual to adapt the algorithm for applications.
US09990481B2

Disclosed are various embodiments for a behavior-based identity system that recognizes and/or authenticates users based at least in part on determining stored behavioral events. For example, stored behavioral events may have been observed previously at a client or have been predefined by an authenticated user. Multiple behavioral events expressed by the client relative to a network site are recorded. The behavioral events may correspond to data that a user has elected to share, and the user may opt-in or opt-out of the behavior-based identity system. A comparison is performed between the multiple observed behavioral events and the stored behavioral events associated with a user identity. An inverse identity confidence score as to whether the user identity does not belong to a user at the client is generated based at least in part on the comparison.
US09990478B2

Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to encode auxiliary data into relational database keys and methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to obtain encoded data from relational database keys are disclosed. An example method to encode auxiliary data into relational data includes generating a code comprising a plurality of groups and representative of auxiliary data, determining incremental values for the plurality of groups, generating a first key based on the code, and generating a subsequent key by modifying the first key based on the value of the first key and the incremental values.
US09990468B2

A medical instrument includes a remaining visits indicator. The remaining visits indicator visually identifies a number of patient visits that can be completed before recharging the medical instrument.
US09990466B2

An inventory management system provided by an inventory management service provider senses removal of medical items from inventory to be dispensed to a patient. The system processes billing information to identify the patient's medical insurance provider, to identify a medical item supplier that is the preferred biller for the patient's medical insurance provider, and to determine whether the inventory management service provider is the identified preferred biller. If the inventory management service provider is the preferred biller, the system generates an invoice from the inventory management service provider to bill the patient's medical insurance provider. If the inventory management service provider is not the preferred biller, the system sends the billing information to the medical item supplier identified as the preferred biller, and generates a billing-only invoice directed to the medical item supplier identified as the preferred biller, which invoice is remit to the inventory management service provider.
US09990459B2

Methods and systems for checking a wafer-level design for compliance with a rule include identifying nets that cross chip boundaries for each of a plurality of chip layouts. Net properties are determined for each of the identified nets. Interconnected identified nets are combined into one or more virtual ensembles having properties defined by a sum of the properties of the respective interconnected nets. Each virtual ensemble is evaluated for compliance with a design rule. The chip layouts related to virtual ensembles that do not comply with the design rule are modified to bring non-compliant virtual ensembles into compliance.
US09990451B2

Disclosed herein is a computer-implemented defect prediction method for a device manufacturing process involving processing a pattern onto a substrate, the method comprising: identifying a processing window limiting pattern (PWLP) from the pattern; determining a processing parameter under which the PWLP is processed; and determining or predicting, using the processing parameter, existence, probability of existence, a characteristic, or a combination thereof, of a defect produced from the PWLP with the device manufacturing process.
US09990447B2

This invention relates to a system, method, and computer program product for managing a plurality of devices with associated lock mechanisms. According to one embodiment, a method is provided comprising: detecting, by one or more computer processors, a status of a device corresponding to a lock mechanism; recommending, by one or more computer processors, a service action on the device requiring performance by an operator; and providing, by one or more computer processors, a printable key pattern for printing a key that allows the operator to lock and unlock the lock mechanism in order to perform the service action.
US09990433B2

Provided are a method and an apparatus for searching for and acquiring information under a computing environment. The apparatus includes: at least one input device configured to receive a first query input of a first query type and a second query input of a second query type; and a controller configured to output a query input window including a first display item corresponding to the first query input and a second display item corresponding to the second query input, to automatically switch, in response to receiving the first query input, the apparatus from a first state to receive the first query input of the first query type to a second state to receive the second query input of the second query type, and to obtain a search result according to a query based on the first query input and the second query input.
US09990432B1

Systems and methods of the present invention provide for one or more server computers communicatively coupled to a network and configured to: receive a domain name search string; tokenize the domain name search string; identify, based on at least one token in the domain name search string, one or more concepts comprising a collection of data records comprising a common concept id and/or one or more languages; and recommend at least one available domain name comprising the one or more concepts and in the one or more languages.
US09990428B2

A search system includes a device controller that provisions a device to execute a copy of a selected mobile application. A crawler extracts content and metadata from states of the selected mobile application. A search input state classifier identifies search input states within the states based on a first set of heuristics, including recognition of user-visible search indicia and recognition of metadata that correlates with search functionality. A parameter identifier identifies, for each of the search input states, necessary input parameters. A search function data store stores a record for each identified search function. Each record includes a path to reach a corresponding search input state, an indication of required input parameters, and a mapping of the input parameters to user interface widgets. A query processing system uses the stored search functions to scrape content from the selected mobile application in response to a query.
US09990427B2

There is provided an information processing apparatus including an acquisition section which acquires a plurality of sub-contents included in each of one or more contents, and a management section which associates the acquired plurality of sub-contents with at least any one process from among a plurality of processes for executing processing related to an output of one or more of the sub-contents.
US09990423B2

Various embodiments describe multi-site cluster-based data intake and query systems, including cloud-based data intake and query systems. Using a hybrid search system that includes cloud-based data intake and query systems working in concert with so-called “on-premises” data intake and query systems can promote the scalability of search functionality. In addition, the hybrid search system can enable data isolation in a manner in which sensitive data is maintained “on premises” and information or data that is not sensitive can be moved to the cloud-based system. Further, the cloud-based system can enable efficient leveraging of data that may already exist in the cloud.
US09990421B2

An information retrieval system uses phrases to index, retrieve, organize and describe documents. Phrases are identified that predict the presence of other phrases in documents. Documents are the indexed according to their included phrases. Related phrases and phrase extensions are also identified. Phrases in a query are identified and used to retrieve and rank documents. Phrases are also used to cluster documents in the search results, create document descriptions, and eliminate duplicate documents from the search results, and from the index.
US09990412B2

A data driven parallel sorting method includes distributing input data records to n partitions one by one in a circular manner. Each partition corresponds to a parallel sorting process with an allocated memory chunk sized to store m data records. The method also includes sorting, in parallel, current data records in respective memory chunks in respective partitions. The method also includes in response to distribution of data records of └m/n┘ rounds, circularly controlling one of the n partitions, and writing data records that have been sorted in the memory chunk of the partition into a mass storage as an ordered data chunk, and emptying the memory chunk. The method also includes in response to all data records being distributed, writing data chunks that have been sorted in respective memory chunks into the mass storage, and performing a merge sort on all ordered data chunks in the mass storage.
US09990411B2

Embodiments described herein relate to an improved system and method for defining and reconfiguring process flows for one or more processes within an organization visually in a graphical display at a client system using a process flow diagram comprising activity elements and decision elements representing the activities and decisions to be performed during execution of a process flow. Modifications to the process flow diagram at the client display can be saved and used to update the process flow. The process flow definitions and/or reconfigurations can be supplied to a server for storage in a database, and can be later accessed during execution of the process flow. During execution of the sequence of activities of a particular process flow, the server can access one or more services from a plurality of different service modules in communication with the server to provide those services.
US09990409B2

Selectively applying format attributes of a source to the content of a destination. The format attributes defining the format of one or more source objects are captured, and from among the captured attributes, format attributes are selected. A destination object is formatted such that selected format attributes are copied to the content of the destination, and the copied format attributes are applied to the destination object as a destination format.
US09990407B2

A computer-implemented system and method for creating a user-defined database interface. An Orbit Form module processes a call comprising an identifier for the database, a target data object (database table), approach filters (table fields), and results lines (table fields). Approach filters may support comparable data types, and results lines may support both comparable and non-comparable data types. The call may optionally include parameters that the Orbit Form module uses to govern retrieval of data from the target database, presentation of filter values, and/or formatting of results pages. After testing the call constructs, the Orbit Form module generates Approach boxes (corresponding to the approach filters) that a user employs to enter target input values to compare to records in the database. Record matches result in retrieval and user-specified display of data corresponding to the results lines (DaPs). A selectable view image field in a DaP extracts and displays image file data.
US09990403B2

Disclosed is a method and a system for stream reasoning a plurality of data streams. The system comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The processor is capable of executing a plurality of modules embodied on the memory. The plurality of modules comprises an event module and a application managed window module. The event module is configured to receive a data stream associated with an event from a stream reasoner application. The data stream provides factual information about the event. Further, the data stream comprises a request. The request may be an add request or a delete request. The application managed window module is configured to insert the request associated with the event or delete a prior request associated with the event from the memory based upon a type of the request.
US09990395B2

A tape drive system server includes a non-volatile memory used as a cache memory for storing data files, at least part of the cache memory comprising a first region managed using a First In First Out policy management and a second region managed using a Least Recently Used policy management; a file system interface for interacting with data files stored on a tape drive system; an interface for allowing one or more remote systems reading and writing data stored on the cache memory; the server configured to: receive from the one or more remote systems one or more write requests for writing one or more data files; interpret attributes associated to data files instructed to be written by the one or more remote systems; and store data files instructed to be written by the remote systems according to the interpreted attributes.
US09990387B2

There is provided an information processing apparatus. For each of pieces of data each of which belongs to any of data groups constituting a tree structure, a meta-information storage unit stores an identification data string of pieces of identification data of data groups included in a path to a data group to which the piece of data belongs, as a piece of meta-information of the piece of data. A display unit displays an image representing a tree structure composed of virtual data groups corresponding to the data groups, in accordance with pieces of meta-information of the pieces of data. An update unit updates, in a case where at least one of the pieces of identification data has been specified by a user, a piece of meta-information including the specified piece of identification data among the pieces of meta-information.
US09990383B2

The present disclosure involves a method of ingesting data in an enterprise server environment. A configuration file is accessed. The configuration file specifies a blueprint for constructing a data adaptor that includes a data adaptor source, a data adaptor sink, and a data adaptor channel coupled between the data adaptor source and the data adaptor sink. The data adaptor is constructed based on the configuration file. Via the data adaptor, data is retrieved from a first entity. Also via the data adaptor, the retrieved data is written to a second entity different from the first entity. The accessing, the constructing, the retrieving, and the writing are performed by one or more electronic processors.
US09990382B1

Repair and secure erasure of non-mechanical storage devices may be performed. In at least some embodiments, a non-mechanical storage device may be detected and device information may be obtained for the non-mechanical storage device. Based, at least in part, on the device information, it may be determined whether the non-mechanical storage device is eligible for secure erasure. For an eligible device, a secure erase procedure may be initiated and success or failure of the secure erasure procedure may be reported. In at least some embodiments, firmware bugs may be detected and repaired when performing the secure erasure procedure.
US09990380B2

The invention includes an algorithmic method for dynamically computing complex relationships among objects of an underlying functional system. The invention includes a method to algorithmically determine a set of functional locations in n-dimensional functional space of a set of elements of a functional system by electronically representing a set of data entities in a database system, the database system comprising a logical data model for structuring data sets from which functional information can be derived, using the logical data model to associate a set of characteristics with a reference point in the functional information system, selecting a functional positioning algorithm, and wherein the functional positioning algorithm executes a set of steps that takes as input a set of characteristics and returns as output a set of locations in n-dimensional functional space.
US09990370B1

A method for editing a non-native file on a mobile device using a remote application, including establishing a connection between a local-side component and a remote-side component on a remote computer; wherein the local-side component identifies an editor on the remote computer based on parameters of the file; on the remote computer, activating an editor for a file located on the mobile device; upon selection of the editor, using the local-side component to transmit the file to the remote-side component; storing the file in a storage on the remote computer; opening the file using the editor and giving the editor control over the file using a protocol for remote connection; editing the file on the mobile device as if the editor on the remote computer were native; saving the file on the remote storage and transmitting the file to the mobile device; and replacing the file on the mobile device with the transmitted file.
US09990343B2

The present invention relates to an in-browser editor. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method of editing content in a browser without having to rely on the particular in-browser editing technology, such as “contentEditable” and “innerHTML.” The system includes a parser that converts an input string representing content edits in the browser into a data structure known as an Intermediary DOM (document object model). The Intermediary DOM provides a completely accurate representation of editor content in real time and operates in tandem with the Browser DOM to render the edited content in the Intermediary DOM back into displayable content.
US09990328B2

Two super-speed lanes may be enabled on a single USB cable. In an exemplary, non-limiting aspect, the USB cable is a Type-C cable. In further non-limiting aspects, the super-speed lanes may be present even if there is no USB 2.0 lane present on the D+/D− pins of the USB cable. Use of the second super-speed lane increases data throughput. Eliminating the requirement that the D+/D− pins be used for USB 2.0 data allows greater flexibility in the use of the USB connection because audio or video data may be sent over the D+/D− pins instead of USB 2.0 data. Further, the use of the two super-speed lanes allows a single computing element to operate as a host on one lane and a device on a second lane.
US09990323B2

Logic determines a connection arrangement for communication between electronic devices over a communication interconnect. A first group of signals of the communication interconnect is enabled in response to determining that a first connection arrangement is to be used. A second, different group of signals of the communication interconnect is enabled in response to determining that a second, different connection arrangement is to be used.
US09990319B2

Tracking data transfers in an input/output adapter card system to determine whether the adapter cards are well-placed with respect to the components (for example dynamic random access memories) with which the adapter cards respectively are observed to communicate data. Some embodiments use a heuristic value for each adapter card in the system based on inter node transfers and intra node transfers, which are separately weighted and summed over some predetermined time interval in order to obtain the heuristic value.
US09990314B2

Instructions and logic interrupt and resume paging in secure enclaves. Embodiments include instructions, specify page addresses allocated to a secure enclave, the instructions are decoded for execution by a processor. The processor includes an enclave page cache to store secure data in a first cache line and in a last cache line for a page corresponding to the page address. A page state is read from the first or last cache line for the page when an entry in an enclave page cache mapping for the page indicates only a partial page is stored in the enclave page cache. The entry for a partial page may be set, and a new page state may be recorded in the first cache line when writing-back, or in the last cache line when loading the page when the instruction's execution is being interrupted. Thus the writing-back, or loading can be resumed.
US09990310B2

A bus contention detection circuit includes a delay unit having an input terminal for receiving an output signal of an I/O driver, a duty cycle adjustment unit connected to the delay unit, and a comparison unit having a first input terminal for receiving the output signal, a second terminal for receiving a reference voltage, and an enable terminal for receiving an enable signal of the duty cycle adjustment unit. The enable signal has a rising edge that is delayed relative to a rising edge of the output signal and a falling edge that is aligned with a falling edge of the output signal. The comparison unit compares a voltage level of the output signal with the reference voltage when the enable signal is in a stable voltage state and determine a bus condition in response to a comparison result.
US09990295B2

A method for increasing storage space in a system containing a block data storage device, a memory, and a processor is provided. Generally, the processor is configured by the memory to tag metadata of a data block of the block storage device indicating the block as free, used, or semifree. The free tag indicates the data block is available to the system for storing data when needed, the used tag indicates the data block contains application data, and the semifree tag indicates the data block contains cache data and is available to the system for storing application data type if no blocks marked with the free tag are available to the system.
US09990293B2

Techniques described herein generally include methods and systems related to improving energy efficiency in a chip multiprocessor by reducing the energy consumption of a DRAM cache for such a multi-chip processor. Methods of varying refresh interval may be used to improve the energy efficiency of such a DRAM cache. Specifically, a per-set refresh interval based on retention time of memory blocks in the set may be determined, and, starting from the leakiest memory block, memory blocks stored in the DRAM cache that are associated with data also stored in a lower level of cache are not refreshed.
US09990290B2

Embodiments relate to cache coherency verification using ordered lists. An aspect includes maintaining a plurality of ordered lists, each ordered list corresponding to a respective thread that is executed by a processor, wherein each ordered list comprises a plurality of atoms, each atom corresponding to a respective operation performed in a cache by the respective thread that corresponds to the ordered list in which the atom is located, wherein the plurality of atoms in an ordered list are ordered based on program order. Another aspect includes determining a state of an atom in an ordered list of the plurality of ordered lists. Another aspect includes comparing the state of the atom in an ordered list to a state of an operation corresponding to the atom in the cache. Yet another aspect includes, based on the comparing, determining that there is a coherency violation in the cache.
US09990284B2

A storage control device includes a first processor, a second processor, and transfer units for transferring data from the first processor to the second processor. The first processor receives a write request for writing first data from a first device and sequentially transmits the first data, additional data, and pieces of dummy data. A number of the pieces is same as a number of the transfer units. The first processor notifies the first device of completion of the writing upon receiving an acknowledgement for a last transmitted piece of dummy data. Each transfer unit includes a third processor. The third processor receives the additional data from a preceding processor, and transmits an acknowledgement to the preceding processor upon storing the received additional data. The third processor receives one piece of dummy data from the preceding processor, and transmits an acknowledgement to the preceding processor upon storing the one piece.
US09990280B2

A method for reading data from a storage unit of a flash memory, performed by a processing unit, including at least the following steps: A first read command is received from a master device via a first access interface. It is determined whether data requested by the first read command has been cached in a first buffer, which caches continuous data obtained from a storage unit. A second access interface is directed to read the data requested by the first read command from the storage unit and store the read data in a second buffer and the first access interface is directed to read the data requested by the first read command from the second buffer and clock the read data out to the master device when data requested by the first read command has not been cached in the first buffer.
US09990279B2

According to one embodiment, a method includes assigning a subset of physical pages within a block of non-volatile memory to a pseudo-physical block, wherein a number of pages in the pseudo-physical block is less than a number of physical pages within the non-volatile memory block, and reassigning physical pages within the block of non-volatile memory to the pseudo-physical block upon occurrence of an event. The assigning includes: determining a health metric for each of the physical pages within the block of non-volatile memory, and selecting a subset of the physical pages for assignment to the pseudo-physical block based on the health metric. Moreover, the subset of pages has a fixed size for at least a number of reassignments.
US09990276B2

Described are a read-write control method for memory, and a corresponding memory and server. The method comprises: dividing a storage resource of the memory by taking a block as a unit; to write data, combining the data to be written into a data block, writing the data block in a free segment of the memory, and recording an identifier and a corresponding index of the data, the index of the written data is an offset indicating a memory location of the data in the memory; to read data, reading the data from the offset of the memory according to an identifier and a index of the data to be read. When read-write control is performed on the memory, the number of the times that the I/O operation is performed on the memory is reduced during data writing, thereby improving the efficiency of the write operation on the memory.
US09990275B2

A first execution plan for a first version of a structured query language statement can be requested from a database management system. The first execution plan for the first version of the structured query language statement can be loaded into a first directed graph tree structure comprising a plurality of nodes. The first directed graph tree structure can be scanned to determine whether a full table scan for accessing requested data is represented by at least a one of the plurality of nodes of the directed graph tree structure. Responsive to determining that the full table scan for accessing the requested data is represented by the at least one of the plurality of nodes of the directed graph tree structure, a first indicator that indicates a fault condition can be output.
US09990273B2

This disclosure relates generally to anomaly detection, and more particularly to system and method for detecting anomalies. In one embodiment, the method includes executing at least one thread associated with the application. Executing the at least one thread results in invoking one or more methods associated with the at least one thread. During the execution metrics associated with the one or more methods are captured. The metrics are systematically arranged in a data structure to represent a plurality of thread-method pairs and the metrics corresponding to each of the plurality of thread-method pairs. One or more anomalies associated with the one or more methods are identified from the data structure based on a detection of at least one predetermined condition in the data structure. An anomaly of the one or more anomalies includes one of un-exited anomaly, an exception anomaly and a user-defined anomaly.
US09990272B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, computer program products, and systems to increase code coverage. Embodiments of the present invention can receive a copy of source code and data associated with a sample execution of a set of instructions specified by the copy of the source code. Embodiments of the present invention can insert, into the set of instructions specified by the copy of the source code, an instruction that corresponds to a code statement that precedes an untraversed code path within the received copy of the source code. Embodiments of the present invention can execute the set of instructions that include the inserted instruction and provide an option to redirect execution of the set of instructions at the inserted instruction. Embodiments of the present invention can generate a test case that increases code coverage based on the redirected execution of the set of instructions.
US09990270B2

A coverage monitor subsystem receives an electronic message from a project data object over a communication network. The project data object includes decision code modules that have rules with a corresponding test status variable. The test status variable indicates whether the rule has been tested. The coverage monitor subsystem generates a test status identifier. The test status identifier indicates the decision code modules as tested decision code modules when all of the rules for the corresponding decision code modules have been tested. The coverage monitor subsystem transmits test status data to a reporting subsystem. The test status data includes a first identifier identifying the tested decision code modules and a second identifier identifying the decision code modules that are not tested. The reporting subsystem displays, at a computer display, a graphical representation based on the first identifier and the second identifier.
US09990266B2

Embodiments are directed to capturing data associated with an occurrence of an event via a battery-powered recorder, comprising: storing analog data in a delay circuit while a recording circuit is powered off, detecting, by a trigger circuit, the occurrence of the event while the recording circuit is powered off, powering-on the recording circuit based on the detection of the event, converting samples of analog data associated with the event provided by the delay circuit to a digital format while the recording circuit powers on, and storing the converted digital samples after the recording circuit has powered on, wherein a time delay associated with the delay circuit is greater than a time it takes for the recording circuit to power-on.
US09990260B2

One or more techniques and/or computing devices are provided for cross-platform replication. For example, a replication relationship may be established between a first storage endpoint and a second storage endpoint, where at least one of the storage endpoints, such as the first storage endpoint, lacks or has incompatible functionality to perform and manage replication because the storage endpoints have different storage platforms that store data differently, use different control operations and interfaces, etc. Accordingly, replication destination workflow, replication source workflow, and/or a proxy representing the first storage endpoint may be implemented at the second storage endpoint comprising the replication functionality. In this way, replication, such as snapshot replication, may be implemented between the storage endpoints by the second storage endpoint using the replication destination workflow, the replication source workflow, and/or the proxy that either locally executes tasks or routes tasks to the first storage endpoint such as for data access.
US09990251B2

A semiconductor system may include a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device. The first semiconductor device may be configured to output command/address signals. The second semiconductor device may be configured to output data in a read operation during a refresh operation according to a combination of the command/address signals. The second semiconductor device may be configured to extract error information from the data. The second semiconductor device may be configured to corrects errors of the data using the error information in a write operation during the refresh operation to store the corrected data in the second semiconductor device and to store the error information in the second semiconductor device.
US09990250B2

Techniques are disclosed relating to implementation of LDPC encoding circuitry on a single integrated circuit (IC). In some embodiments, circuitry on a single IC includes message circuitry configured to receive or generate a message to be encoded, encode circuitry configured to perform low density parity check (LDPC) encoding on the message, noise circuitry configured to apply noise to the encoded message, and decode circuitry configured to perform LDPC decoding of the message. In some embodiments, the disclosed techniques may reduce production costs (e.g., by reducing overall chip area), facilitate LDPC testing, and/or provide multiple different functions relating to message transmission on a single chip.
US09990248B2

A display driver integrated circuit including a logic circuit configured to receive image data from a host and an image cyclic redundancy check (CRC) unit configured to perform a CRC operation on output data of the logic circuit and transmit the performed result to the host may be provided. Additionally, a timing controller including a logic circuit configured to receive image data from a host and an image CRC unit configured to perform a CRC operation on output data associated with the logic circuit and configured to transmit the performed result to the host may also be provided. Further, a display device including a display panel, a display driver integrated circuit configured to drive the display panel and an image CRC unit configured to perform a CRC operation on output data of the logic circuit and transmit the performed result may be provided.
US09990222B2

A system can include a host device that includes a virtual machine execution environment. The host device can execute a host management component in the host device and determine whether a hypervisor or a virtual machine in the virtual machine execution environment violates at least one compliance rule. The host device can also cause the host management component to perform an action in response to determining that the hypervisor the virtual machine violates the at least one compliance rule.
US09990220B2

Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems include a hypervisor receiving an error message from an agent within a first virtual machine run by the hypervisor. In response to the error message, the hypervisor determines and initiates a corrective action for the hypervisor to take in response to the error message. An exemplary corrective action includes initiating a reset of the first virtual machine or a reset of a second virtual machine.
US09990209B2

A digital assistance device that at least partially automatically sets up a device so as to operate within a system of one or more other devices. The digital assistance device at least partially automates the setup process that would usually come in a quick start guide. This is made possible by digitalizing the quick start guide so as to be interpretable by the digital assistance device. The digital assistance device can thereby determine, for each step, what it can do based on its information and capability, but also how the instructions can be simplified based on what it knows, and for what it cannot do, it passes all or a portion of the quick start guide for that step to the user via an interactive interface. Accordingly, potential manual setup tasks are offloaded to automation, thereby simplifying the setup of a device through technical automation.
US09990203B2

Methods, devices, and systems for capturing an accuracy of an instruction executing on a processor. An instruction may be executed on the processor, and the accuracy of the instruction may be captured using a hardware counter circuit. The accuracy of the instruction may be captured by analyzing bits of at least one value of the instruction to determine a minimum or maximum precision datatype for representing the field, and determining whether to adjust a value of the hardware counter circuit accordingly. The representation may be output to a debugger or logfile for use by a developer, or may be output to a runtime or virtual machine to automatically adjust instruction precision or gating of portions of the processor datapath.
US09990202B2

A processor includes a first mode where the processor is not to use packed data operation masking, and a second mode where the processor is to use packed data operation masking. A decode unit to decode an unmasked packed data instruction for a given packed data operation in the first mode, and to decode a masked packed data instruction for a masked version of the given packed data operation in the second mode. The instructions have a same instruction length. The masked instruction has bit(s) to specify a mask. Execution unit(s) are coupled with the decode unit. The execution unit(s), in response to the decode unit decoding the unmasked instruction in the first mode, to perform the given packed data operation. The execution unit(s), in response to the decode unit decoding the masked instruction in the second mode, to perform the masked version of the given packed data operation.
US09990199B2

A method and system are disclosed. The method may include receiving instructions in a hardware accelerator coupled to a computing device. The instructions may describe operations and data dependencies between the operations. The operations and the data dependencies may be predetermined. The method may include performing a splitter operation in the hardware accelerator, performing an operation in each of a plurality of branches, and performing a combiner operation in the hardware accelerator.
US09990188B2

Computer implemented techniques for storage management include transforming file instances using a modeling language platform that includes a language grammar and a set of language processing rules to transform instances of an entity written in the language grammar into a platform independent code and artifact files and auto-generating by the modeling language platform code to recognize and process input in a given language to deconstruct file instances into pieces that allow further discrete operations to be performed on the file instances.
US09990174B2

A method and system for creating and navigating linear hypermedia resource programs are disclosed. The system includes a distributed hypermedia resource network having a plurality of hypermedia resources residing on one or more remote information nodes. A common remote information node is in communication with a subscriber station and the remote information nodes in the distributed network. The common remote information node contains at least one linear hypermedia resource program consisting of pre-selected media elements from one or more hypermedia resources linked with exclusive linear links, each media element in the linear program having only one forward link to the next media element. The method includes the steps of downloading and displaying a media element in the linear program and responding to user commands to download and display the next media element in the linear program.
US09990169B2

Provided is a print controller connectable to each of a cut paper printer and a continuous paper printer, the print controller including a receiving unit that receives a print job in a job ticket format from a print work flow system, a test print instruction unit that generates a print job of a new test print based on the print job and instructs the cut paper printer to execute a print process to execute a test print using print data included in the print job, a holding notification unit that notifies the print work flow system of an effect that the print job is held, and a real print job instruction unit that sends the print data included in the print job and a print parameter to the continuous paper printer and instructs the continuous paper printer to execute a real print job.
US09990160B2

One embodiment relates to a memory structure that includes a bank group and a port emulation circuit module. The bank group includes a plurality of memory banks, each memory bank having one read port and one write port. The port emulation circuit module provides a group read/write port and a group read port for the bank group. Another embodiment relates to a port emulation circuit module. The port emulation circuit module includes a port emulation control circuit that receives control signals including a first address for a group read/write port and a second address for a group read port, a first data path circuit for the group read/write port, and a second data path circuit for the group read port, wherein the second data path circuit outputs a second read data. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.
US09990155B2

A storage control device configured to be coupled to a storage device including a first portion and a second portion, the storage control device includes a memory, and a processor configured to control an operation mode of the first portion of the storage device to be in a first mode and a second mode, a first power consumed by the first portion in the first mode being less than a second power consumed by the first portion in the second mode, set the operation mode of the first portion in the first mode, receive a first request, determine whether the received first request is a polling access request, and when the received first request is the polling access request, keep the operation mode of the first portion in the first mode, and read first data from the second portion.
US09990154B2

A semiconductor device in which unwanted change in the secondary data which must be reliable is suppressed and the need for a considerable increase in the capacity of a memory unit can be avoided. Also it ensures efficient data processing by asymmetric access to the memory unit. It includes a memory unit having a first memory without an error correcting function, a second memory with an error correcting function, and a plurality of access nodes for the memories. A plurality of buses is coupled to the access nodes and a plurality of data processing modules can asymmetrically access the memory unit through the buses. The first memory stores primary data before data processing by the data processing modules, and the second memory stores secondary data after data processing by the data processing modules.
US09990147B2

Methods and apparatus for optimizing resource utilization in distributed storage systems. A data migration technique is described that may operate in the background in a distributed storage data center to migrate data among a fleet of storage units to achieve a substantially even and randomized data storage distribution among all storage units in the fleet. When new storage units are added to the fleet and coupled to the data center network, the new storage units are detected. Instead of processing and storing new data to the newly added storage units, as in conventional distributed storage systems, the new units are blocked from general client I/O to allow the data migration technique to migrate data from other, previously installed storage hardware in the data center onto the new storage hardware. Once the storage load on the new storage units is balanced with the rest of the fleet, the new storage units are released for general client I/O.
US09990141B1

A storage control device configured to control a storage device includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to receive a request of writing of data from an information processing device, assign a unit memory area in the storage device in response to the request of writing, determine whether a sequential format processing is to be executed on the unit memory area based on continuity of logical addresses designated by the request of writing, and determine a timing to execute the sequential format processing on the unit memory area based on a number of commands per unit time to the storage device when the sequential format processing is determined to be executed on the unit memory area.
US09990139B2

Provided are method for dynamically allocating resources to command queues and response queues by a non-volatile memory (NVM) controller. The method includes creating command queues and response queues for at least one operating system among a plurality of operating systems running on a host system and mapping the created command queues and response queues to a plurality of internal shared queue registers. The plurality of operating systems running on the host system communicate with at least one NVM controller independently.
US09990131B2

In an example, a circuit to manage memory between a first and second microprocessors each of which is coupled to a control circuit, includes: first and second memory circuits; and a switch circuit coupled to the first and second memory circuits, and memory interfaces of the first and second microprocessors, the switch circuit having a mode signal as input. The switch is configured to selectively operate in one of a first mode or a second mode based on the mode signal such that, in the first mode, the switch circuit couples the first memory circuit to the memory interface of the first microprocessor and the second memory circuit to the memory interface of the second microprocessor and, in the second mode, the switch circuit selectively couples the first or second memory circuits to the memory interface of either the first or second microprocessor.
US09990128B2

A messaging system in one embodiment includes a messaging app and one or more extension apps configured to create content that is displayed in a view hosted by the messaging app. The messaging app can launch the one or more extension apps, and content can be communicated between each extension app and the messaging app through an interprocess communication.
US09990125B2

The present disclosure may provide a mobile terminal including a body having a front surface, a rear surface and a lateral surface thereof, a display unit disposed on the front surface to display first screen information, a lateral touch sensing unit formed on the lateral surface adjacent to both edges of the display unit to receive a user's consecutive touch input, and a controller configured to control the display unit to display second screen information in one region on the display unit corresponding to a touch range of the consecutive touch input.
US09990124B2

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal for efficiently sharing many images and a method of controlling therefor. In particular, the present invention relates to a mobile terminal including a touch screen, a memory configured to store a plurality of images, a wireless communication unit configured to transceive data with a counterpart terminal and a controller configured to control the touch screen to output a chat window including a history of messages transceived with the counterpart terminal, the controller, if a part of a plurality of the stored images is selected via the chat window, configured to control the wireless communication unit to transmit thumbnail images for the selected part of a plurality of the stored images to the counterpart terminal.
US09990114B1

Customizing publication via multiple outlets includes presenting a user interface for publishing a communication on a plurality of outlets; receiving an initial version of a communication; displaying the initial version of the communication in each of a plurality of editing windows simultaneously, wherein each of the plurality of editing windows corresponds to one of the plurality of outlets or a platform associated with one or more of the plurality outlets; receiving a customization to at least one of the displayed initial versions of the communication; and publishing the communication on each of the plurality of outlets, including the customization to at least one of the displayed initial versions of the communication.
US09990109B2

An information display terminal achieves a suitable display of types of electronic content such as electronic books with a display unit, an operation unit for receiving an operation instruction directed to the information display terminal, and a scroll control unit for controlling the operation for automatic scroll processing of the electronic content displayed on the display unit. An operation instruction instructing initiation of the automatic scroll processing is input to the operation unit, the scroll control unit performs control to initiate automatic scroll processing by which the electronic content displayed on the display unit is displayed in such a manner that the electronic content is moved a predetermined distance per predetermined time period; and when an operation instruction instructing interruption of the automatic scroll processing is input to the operation unit, the scroll control unit performs control to interrupt the automatic scroll processing.
US09990107B2

An electronic device displays a user interface that includes one or more user interface elements; detects a user input on a touch-sensitive surface that includes detecting a contact at a location that corresponds to a respective user interface element; and, in response: if the user input satisfies menu-display criteria, including a criterion that is satisfied when the contact has an intensity above a first intensity threshold, displays a first menu overlaid on the user interface; and, if the user input satisfies action criteria, wherein the action criteria are capable of being satisfied when the intensity of the contact is below the first intensity threshold, initiates performance of an action associated with the respective user interface element without displaying the first menu.
US09990102B2

Icons representing a library of predefined media objects for insertion in a digital content work open for editing within a content creation and editing tool may be displayed in a graphical user interface of the content creation and editing tool. Thus, the content creation and editing tool may include an interface which displays, simultaneously, a presentation view and a code view of content comprising the digital content work along with icons representing the library of predefined media objects. Computer-readable code corresponding to a selected one of the library of predefined media objects may be inserted within the digital content work at a user-specified location, e.g., responsive to user action specifying a desire to insert code. Also, an explanation of a selected one of the media objects of the library may be displayed responsive to a user action.
US09990097B2

A touch screen panel includes a substrate, a sensing electrode, a connection wire, and a passivation layer. The substrate includes a first area and a second area disposed outside the first area. The sensing electrode is disposed in the first area. The connection wire is electrically connected to the sensing electrode, the connection wire being disposed in the second area. The passivation layer covers portions of the sensing electrode and the connection wire. The sensing electrode includes a first conductive layer disposed on the substrate. The connection wire includes a second conductive layer disposed on the substrate, a metal wiring layer disposed on the second conductive layer, and a capping layer disposed on the second conductive layer.
US09990087B2

A capacitive force sensor characterization system for calibrating a capacitive force sensor included in a personal electronic device. The capacitive force sensor includes a first capacitor plate coupled to a flexible element of the personal electronic device, which is coupled to the device housing, and a second capacitor plate coupled to an internal structural member of the personal electronic device. The internal structural member is not coupled to the housing during the characterization. The capacitive force sensor characterization system includes: a housing fixture adapted to hold the housing of the personal electronic device; a member fixture adapted to hold the internal structural member of the personal electronic device; a positioner coupled to at least one of the housing fixture or the member fixture; a position sensor; control circuitry electrically coupled to the positioner to provide a drive signal to the positioner; and a processor coupled to the first and second capacitor plates and the position sensor. The positioner is adapted to vary the gap width between the first and second capacitor plates in response to the drive signal. The position sensor is adapted to measure differences in the gap width between the capacitor plates relative to an initial gap width. The control circuitry is adapted to generate the drive signal following a test procedure such that, in response to the drive signal, the positioner varies the gap width between the capacitor plates from the initial gap width to at least two test gap widths. The processor adapted to determine: a capacitive sensor gain; a capacitive sensor offset; and an initial effective separation between the capacitor plates.
US09990080B2

Disclosed is a touch input sensing device comprising: a touch input sensing electrode; a touch sensing unit connected to one point of the touch input sensing electrode to measure a change in a touch capacitance formed by the touch input sensing electrode according to a touch input; a second node included in the touch input sensing device to form a capacitance between the one point and the second node; and a potential control unit for providing a potential value following the potential of the one point to the second node to decrease a potential difference between the one point and the second node.
US09990076B2

Disclosed herein is a touch screen apparatus including a touch screen having a geomagnetic sensing function and a near-field communication (NFC) function and configured to calculate touched coordinates using a touch input signal when the touch input signal is generated as a location on a touch panel is touched by a touch screen electronic pen after the touch screen is powered on; the touch screen electronic pen having an NFC function, and configured to take notes on the touch panel according to a user's manipulation and transmit the touched coordinates calculated by the touch screen to a main central processor; and the main central processor having an NFC function, and configured to receive the touched coordinates from the touch screen electronic pen and output characters corresponding to the touched coordinates onto the touch panel.
US09990070B2

Providing a virtual keyboard interaction is disclosed. An indicator identifying a force intensity of a touch input provided on a touch input surface is received. It is determined that the touch input is associated with a virtual keyboard. A virtual keyboard interaction is provided based at least in part on the indicator identifying the force intensity of the touch input.
US09990068B2

The invention discloses a color filter substrate, a method for fabricating the color filter substrate, a touch screen and a display device. The color filter substrate comprises: a transparent substrate; a color filter layer provided on one side of the transparent substrate; a first touch electrode provided on the side of the transparent substrate where the color filter layer is located, the first touch electrode being made of metal or ashed metal; and a second touch electrode provided on one side of the transparent substrate. The embodiments of the invention solve the problems that a touch screen with touch electrodes made of ITO has high impedance, large thickness and high cost, thus lowering the impedance of the touch screen, reducing the thickness of the touch screen and lowering the cost.
US09990065B2

A color filter substrate (2), a liquid crystal module and a display device are disclosed. The color filter substrate includes a touch flexible printed circuit binding area (3) for binding a touch flexible printed circuit; and a black matrix area (4) light shielding; the touch flexible printed circuit binding area (3) and the black matrix area (4) are two areas separate from each other and have no overlapping or partially overlapping parts therebetween; and a bottom of the touch flexible printed circuit binding area (3) is transparent. The color filter substrate (2), the liquid crystal module and the display device enable the binding conditions and the state of conducting particles to be monitored from backside, so that product yield is improved and accident rate is reduced.
US09990057B2

The present invention relates to a mouse for a computer, which is a computer input device. The mouse has an upper case with a vertical cushioning function against force imposed on the mouse, and thus can operate smoothly. The present invention provides a cushioning function to a mouse, thereby eliminating fatigue and muscle pain of the wrist and fingers even when a user uses the mouse for a long time. The mouse is manufactured by assembling an upper case and a lower case, and is configured such that a protrusion box which protrudes upwards is formed on the lower case, a boss is fixed on the lower side of the upper case and penetrates the protrusion box, thereby being joined with the same, and a spring which is supported by the protrusion box is inserted into the boss from the outside while the lower side of the boss can be prevented from being separated from the protrusion box.
US09990051B2

A portable keyboard includes a plurality of key assemblies including a plurality of key tops, a main body of a pillar shape of n angles, which is located in the vicinity of a first key assembly among a plurality of the key assemblies and includes a plurality of sides, a flexible connection member configured to connect a plurality of the key assemblies with the main body, and a main board configured to be embedded in the inside of the main body and process input signals inputted from a plurality of the key assemblies. In this case, the main body includes a first side of which one edge of the first side is connected with the flexible connection member, a second side adjacent to another edge of the first side and the second side of which an angle with the first side is equal to or greater than 90 degrees, and a cradle configured to combine one end of the cradle with the second side using a hinge to make the cradle to be rotated and the cradle configured to be contacted with the second side.
US09990049B2

There is provided an information presentation apparatus. A detection unit detects whether another information presentation apparatus is within a predetermined range from an own apparatus. A specification unit specifies a theme in which a first user corresponding to the own apparatus is interested. An execution unit, in a case where it is found by communication with the other information presentation apparatus which is detected as being in the predetermined range from the own apparatus by the detection unit that there is a common theme between a theme in which a second user corresponding to the other information presentation apparatus is interested and the first user's interest theme which is specified by the specification unit, executes a notification operation to notify that the first user and the second user are interested in the common theme to the first user and the second user.
US09990041B2

One illustrative computing device disclosed herein includes a sensor configured to detect a user interaction with a physical object and transmit a sensor signal associated with the user interaction. The illustrative computing device also includes a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to: receive the sensor signal; determine a characteristic of the physical object based on the sensor signal; determine a haptic effect associated with the characteristic; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The illustrative computing device further includes a haptic output device in communication with the processor, the haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.
US09990036B2

A head mounted display (HMD) including a display unit configured to display an augmented reality image; a communication unit configured to communicate with an external device; a gaze detection unit configured to detect a gaze of a user; and a processor configured to execute a function corresponding to the augmented reality image when the augmented reality image and the external device are aligned in a first mode. Further, the first mode is a mode in which a display position of the augmented reality image remains fixed even when a position of the external device is changed, and transmit control information for displaying an execution image of the function to the external device.
US09990033B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide efficient and automatic systems and methods for regulating the viewing posture of a user. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to regulate the viewing posture of both juveniles and adults, by providing real-time data analysis of a viewing distance and viewing angle of a device, and generating feedback to a user related to their current viewing posture, while also providing increased supervision of the viewing posture of juvenile device users.
US09990022B2

An integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed herein for adaptive power multiplexing with a power distribution network. In an example aspect, the integrated circuit includes a first power rail, a second power rail, and a load power rail. The integrated circuit also includes multiple power-multiplexer tiles and power-multiplexer control circuitry. The multiple power-multiplexer tiles are coupled in series in a chained arrangement and configured to jointly perform a power-multiplexing operation. Each power-multiplexer tile is configured to switch between coupling the load power rail to the first power rail and coupling the load power rail to the second power rail. The power-multiplexer control circuitry is configured to control a direction of current flow to prevent cross-conduction between the first power rail and the second power rail during the power-multiplexing operation.
US09990014B2

A fan assembly for a computer system that includes a fan, which has a flange having at least three fastening openings; and a holding device with at least two spring-loaded first fastening elements and a second fastening element. The fastening elements are arranged relative to one another such that in a relaxed state of the first fastening elements, the fan can be placed on the holding device in a first manner such that only the first fastening elements engage into respective two fastening openings, and in a second manner against a spring force of the first fastening elements.
US09990013B2

Disclosed is a system and method for facilitating optimizing cooling efficiency of a data center. The method may comprise receiving a layout of the data center. The method may comprise computing co-ordinates of each equipment of a plurality of equipments associated with the data center. Further, the method may comprise segregating the layout into a plurality of cells. The method may comprise capturing preliminary data associated with the data center. Further, the method may comprise determining a state value of the data center based upon the preliminary data. The method may comprise capturing CFD data and, selectively, thermal assessment data. Further, the method may comprise facilitating the optimization of the cooling efficiency of the data center by using an external analysis tool capable of performing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis or thermal assessment followed by the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis using the CFD data and the thermal assessment data.
US09990009B2

An apparatus, including: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing computer program instructions, the at least one processor being configured to execute the computer program instructions to cause the apparatus at least to perform: detecting user input; selecting, in dependence upon the detected user input, at least a portion of an output of a user output device; determining, while the at least a portion of the output of the user output device is selected, whether a user makes a gesture input by moving the apparatus; and altering, in response to determining that the gesture input has been made by the user, the selected at least a portion of the output of the user output device.
US09990001B2

An electronic device may have a housing in which a display is mounted. A gasket may be mounted in a groove between the display and housing. The gasket may contain an embedded stiffener. Corner brackets may be installed in the corners of the housing. The housing may have inner and outer concentric ribs. Recesses in the housing may be configured to receive the corner brackets. The recesses may be formed between the inner and outer concentric ribs. Gap filling structures such as a foam layer may be interposed between a rear housing wall and a display backlight unit. Display color variations may be corrected by using a backlight unit having an array of light-emitting diodes of different colors. An electrostatic discharge protection layer may be grounded to a housing using conductive tape. Black edge coatings and adhesive-based structures may block stray light. Camera window regions may be supported using adhesive.
US09989991B1

Emissive display apparatuses include an emissive display and a display support to moveably support the emissive display relative to an avionics instrument panel. The moveable support includes folding movement, rotating movement, sliding movement, and retractable movement between deployed and stowed positions.
US09989984B2

A reference voltage circuit is provided, which includes bandgap reference circuit, bias current generator, first capacitor, second capacitor, comparator and control logic circuit. In the active mode of the control logic circuit, the control logic circuit controls the bandgap reference circuit to deliver bandgap reference voltage. The comparator transmits first comparison signal to control logic circuit when the first and second capacitors are charged to the bandgap reference voltage. The control logic circuit enters low power mode and controls the bandgap reference circuit to stop delivering the bandgap reference voltage. If the comparator detects the potential difference between the first capacitor and second capacitor exceeds the threshold value, the control logic circuit returns to active mode according to the second comparison signal transmitted form the comparator.
US09989981B1

A voltage regulator is disclosed. The voltage regulator is cascaded, including first and second stages. The first stage may be a capacitor-less first stage that includes a source follower implemented with a first PMOS transistor, with the first PMOS transistor receiving a first reference voltage on its respective gate terminal. The first stage is coupled to receive a first voltage from an external voltage supply, and to provide a second voltage to the second stage. The second stage may be directly and exclusively coupled to the first stage, with no capacitor or connection for one coupled to the first stage output. The second stage may provide an output voltage, on an output node, with the output voltage being less than the second voltage.
US09989978B2

A gas pressure regulator includes a body having respective inlet and outlet ports and an interior chamber defining a gas flow path. A hollow piston is moved in relation to a valve seat to create a junction through which gas is directed along the flow path to the outlet port. The piston engages a valve seat, thereby defining relative open and closed positions based on the position of the piston and the pressure of the gas, the piston being axially biased by a spring. The valve seat is attached to an adjustment member having at least one externally accessible feature to enable the axial position of the valve seat to be varied relative to the spring biased piston. In one version, the gas pressure regulator can include a heater assembly extending into the flow path adjacent the outlet port, enabling ported gas to be heated before introduction, e.g., into an engine.
US09989975B2

Methods and systems for accurately measuring and monitoring accumulated volume of hydraulic fluid in a blowout preventer (BOP) system, specifically for a function of interest, are disclosed. One method includes initializing a state machine algorithm, the state machine algorithm responsive to a BOP function of interest being activated; measuring an initial hydraulic flow rate baseline and an initial pressure baseline to create a hydraulic impedance variable for use in the state machine algorithm; monitoring an aggregate hydraulic flow rate and pressure of the BOP system over time; applying the hydraulic impedance variable to negate BOP system hydraulic flows not related to the BOP function of interest; and applying the state machine algorithm to determine when the BOP function of interest has been completed responsive to a total accumulated volume of hydraulic fluid.
US09989973B2

A measurement control system for a multi-shaft supported air floatation platform, the system comprising a load feedback unit (5), an execution unit (6), a position measurement unit (7), a safety protection unit (8), a controller (9), a rotating motor (10), and a linear light source 11; the load feedback unit comprises M pressure sensors (5-1) and four differential sensors (5-2); the execution unit comprises M servo voice coil motors (6-1) and M servo voice coil motor drivers (6-2); the position measurement unit comprises a plane grating (7-1), M linear gratings (7-2) a linear array CCD (7-3), a tilt sensor (7-4), M electronic levels (7-5), and an indoor GPS (7-6); the safety protection unit comprises 2M proximity sensors (8-1) and M temperature sensors (8-2); and the linear array CCD consists of no few then six CCDs. The system solves the problems of leveling limitations and narrow application range of existing supporting platforms.
US09989972B2

Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for limiting elevator deflection commands to avoid the aft body of an aircraft from contacting the ground during a landing maneuver. In one example, a system includes a memory configured to store a plurality of executable instructions and a processor. The processor is configured to determine a descent profile and a current pitch profile. A pre-determined maximum pitch profile associated with the descent profile is used to compare to the current pitch profile. The comparison is used to compute an elevator deflection value that limits an elevator command signal in order to avoid a tail strike. Additional systems and methods are also provided.
US09989951B2

Systems and methods are provided to facilitate receipt of tag requests from one or more interfaces, based upon which a single tagset is compiled at a controller comprising all the requested tags for a given update rate, whereupon the single compiled tagset is subsequently forwarded to the one or more interfaces. A controller generates a superset of tags associated with an industrial process. Each interface can request a copy of the superset, from which the required tags are selected. The controller receives the requested tags from all of the interfaces and combines the requested tags into a single tagset, for a given update rate, comprising the various parameters associated with the tags. At the selected update rate, the tagset is forwarded to the interfaces. A masterset can be utilized to identify the sequence of tags in a tagset and check code can ensure continuity of the tags in the tagset.
US09989946B2

The invention relates to a program-controlled laboratory machine and to a method for the automatic program-controlled treatment of laboratory samples. The laboratory machine has a display having a first display area, via which program parameters that are required by the user are input, and has a second display area in which these input program parameters are shown. The performance of the treatment is effected automatically using the program parameters that are required by the user.
US09989938B2

A communication device includes a determining unit and a sending unit. The determining unit determines, when setting information related to a predetermined item is received from a predetermined apparatus, whether another piece of setting information related to the predetermined item is newly received from the predetermined apparatus before a predetermined time period elapses after the setting information is received. The sending unit sends, when the determining unit determines that the another piece of setting information is not newly received from the predetermined apparatus before the predetermined time period elapses, the setting information to a server device.
US09989934B2

A method a speed controller includes reading in an actual angular acceleration value of a motor, comparing the actual angular acceleration value to a setpoint angular acceleration value, determining a controller output torque of an integrating I-component of the speed controller based on the comparison, and controlling the rotational speed of the motor based on the determined controller output torque.
US09989929B2

A method and apparatus to provide a user interface for a multi-purpose band is described. The user interface includes two shapes, in one embodiment, each shape made up of a plurality of LEDs or other light sources. Multiple types of information may be provided to the user through the lights, including activity statistics, sleep statistics, and current time.
US09989928B2

A time-to-digital converter includes: an input for receiving a time-domain input signal; an output for providing a digital output signal; a time register coupled to the input and to a first node; a time quantizer coupled to the time register for providing the digital output signal at the output; and a digital-to-time converter coupled to the output for providing a feed-back signal at the first node.
US09989924B2

A smart watch and motion gaming system are disclosed. The smart watch interacts with the motion-controlled game apparatus, and includes a controller, and a geomagnetic field sensor, a gravity sensor, a gyroscope, and a data transmission circuit, which are electrically connected to the controller. The geomagnetic field sensor detects an orientation of the smart watch and acquires the orientation data. The gravity sensor detects an inclination condition of the smart watch and acquires the inclination data. The gyroscope detects a rate of rotation of the smart watch to acquire the rotation rate data. The controller runs at least one of the geomagnetic field sensor, the gravity sensor, and the gyroscope in response to the user's selection, and accordingly collect the sensing data. The data transmission circuit transmits the collected sensing data to the motion-controlled game apparatus.
US09989923B2

An electronic timepiece includes an outer case, a back cover, and an antenna for receiving radio waves disposed in the outer case, wherein at least one of the outer case and the back cover is formed from a titanium alloy composed of aluminum in an amount of 3.50 mass % or more and 4.50 mass % or less and vanadium in an amount of 20.00 mass % or more and 23.00 mass % or less, with the remainder including titanium and impurities.
US09989910B2

The present invention is directed to downsize the main body and achieve a good image quality at a low cost. A rotation shaft of a first discharge roller is tilted with respect to that of a second discharge roller. The center of oscillation C of a first discharge roller holding member is provided more upstream in the direction in which a sheet is discharged than a straight line made by the rotation center of the first discharge roller and the rotation center of the second discharge roller.
US09989901B2

A fixing device includes a cylindrical film, and a heater including a substrate, a first heat generating resistor, and a second heat generating resistor. A controller controls supply of electric power to the heater using one of PID control and PD control on the basis of a deviation between a target temperature and a detected temperature detected by a temperature detecting member, such that the temperature of the heater is maintained at the target temperature. A proportional gain of the PID control or the PD control when the first heat generating resistor is supplied with the electric power and the second heat generating resistor is not supplied with the electric power is less than a proportional gain of the PID control or the PD control when the first heat generating resistor is not supplied with the electric power and the second heat generating resistor is supplied with the electric power.
US09989896B2

In general, a fixing device according to an embodiment includes an endless belt, a pressure element, a heating member, an adjustment mechanism, and a controller. The pressure element conveys a sheet while interposing the sheet under pressure between the same and the endless belt. The heating member is provided on the inner side of the endless belt and has a heat generating element for heating the endless belt. The adjustment mechanism moves at least one of the heating member and the pressure element in such a direction as to bring the one closer to or away from the other, to adjust the nip width which is the length of an interposing and pressurizing region in a sheet conveyance direction, the interposing and pressurizing region being formed by the heating member and the pressure element to interpose the endless belt under pressure. The controller controls the adjustment mechanism so that A>B≥N is satisfied, where A is the nip width during a fixing process in which the sheet is heated to fix a color material onto the sheet, B is the nip width during temperature raising of the heating member to be conducted before the fixing process, and N is the length of the heat generating element in the sheet conveyance direction.
US09989887B2

An information storage device installed in a removable device configured to be removably installed in an image forming apparatus body, includes: an information storage unit that stores information communicated between the image forming apparatus body and the removable device; a terminal that comes in contact with a body side terminal; and a substrate that holds the information storage unit and the terminal and includes a hole configured to be engaged with a protruding section installed in the image forming apparatus body. The terminal includes a plurality of terminals each including one of a plurality of metallic plates arranged in a transverse direction thereof. An earth terminal, which comes in contact with a body side earth terminal formed in the protruding section, is formed in the hole. The hole is disposed at a position sandwiched between two metallic plates among the plurality of metallic plates.
US09989880B2

An image forming apparatus includes a charging member, a light source, and a light quantity lowering member. The light quantity lowering member is provided so that a lowering amount of a quantity of a part of light reflected by a surface of a member at each of end portions of a charging region where the surface of the image bearing member is charged by the charging member is larger than that at a portion inside an associated end portion with respect to a rotational axis direction of the image bearing member.
US09989870B2

An image formation apparatus includes a first development device configured to form a color developer image with a color developer, and a second development device configured to form a transparent developer image with a transparent developer. The ratio of the viscosity of the transparent developer to the viscosity of the color developer is not greater than a certain amount.
US09989866B2

A photolithography method includes producing, from an optical source, a pulsed light beam; and scanning the pulsed light beam across a substrate of a lithography exposure apparatus to expose the substrate with the pulsed light beam including exposing each sub-area of the substrate with the pulsed light beam. A sub-area is a portion of a total area of the substrate. For each sub-area of the substrate, a lithography performance parameter associated with the sub-area of the substrate is received; the received lithography performance parameter is analyzed, and, based on the analysis, a first spectral feature of the pulsed light beam is modified and a second spectral feature of the pulsed light beam is maintained.
US09989859B2

Position information of a movable body within an XY plane is measured with high accuracy by an encoder system whose measurement values have favorable short-term stability, without being affected by air fluctuations, and also position information of the movable body in a Z-axis direction orthogonal to the XY plane is measured with high accuracy by a surface position measuring system, without being affected by air fluctuations. In this case, since both of the encoder system and the surface position measuring system directly measure the upper surface of the movable body, simple and direct position control of the movable body can be performed.
US09989854B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive resin composition for projection exposure capable of forming a resist pattern that is excellent in adhesion, resolution, and inhibitory properties against the occurrence of resist footing, and the present invention provides a photosensitive resin composition for projection exposure comprising (A) a binder polymer; (B) a photopolymerizable compound having an ethylenically unsaturated bond; (C) a photopolymerization initiator; and (D) a sensitizing dye, wherein the (B) photopolymerizable compound having an ethylenically unsaturated bond comprises a (meth)acrylate compound having a skeleton derived from dipentaerythritol and a compound represented by the following formula (III): wherein R8, R9, R10, and R11 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, X and Y each independently represent an ethylene group or a propylene group, p1, p2, q1, and q2 each independently represent a numerical value of 0 to 9, both p1+q1 and p2+q2 are 1 or more, and p1+q1+p2+q2 is 2 to 9.
US09989852B2

A positive photosensitive resin composition including: a polysiloxane synthesized by hydrolyzing and partially condensing a specific organosilane and an organosilane that has a carboxyl group and/or a dicarboxylic acid anhydride structure; particles of one or more metal compounds selected from an aluminum compound, a tin compound, a titanium compound, and a zirconium compound, or composite particles of a silicon compound and one or more metal compounds selected from an aluminum compound, a tin compound, a titanium compound, and a zirconium compound; a naphthoquinone diazide compound; and a solvent.
US09989849B2

A chemically amplified resist material comprises a polymer component that is capable of being made soluble or insoluble in a developer solution by an action of an acid, and a generative component that is capable of generating a radiation-sensitive sensitizer and an acid upon an exposure. The radiation-sensitive acid generating agent included in the generative component comprises a compound represented by the formula (B). RB3 and RB4 each independently represent a monovalent organic group, or taken together represent a cyclic structure together with the O—C—O. At least one of RB3 and RB4 comprises a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, a formyl group, a carbonyl group, a carboxy group, a sulfo group, a sulfonyl group or a combination thereof, or the cyclic structure having 4 to 30 ring atoms is a spiro cyclic structure, a fused cyclic structure or a bridged cyclic structure.
US09989848B2

The present invention provides an optical waveguide photosensitive resin composition containing a resin component and a photoacid generator, wherein the photoacid generator has a characteristic property (x) such that an absorption limit (O—O transition energy) calculated based on the shape of an ultraviolet spectrum obtained by spectrometrically analyzing a 0.1 wt % propylene carbonate solution of the photoacid generator by means of an ultraviolet/visible spectrophotometer is 3.5 to 4.1 eV. Where an optical waveguide core layer is formed by using the inventive optical waveguide photosensitive resin composition, for example, the optical waveguide core layer has a lower loss, and is excellent in patternability and reflow resistance.
US09989843B2

Aspects of the present invention relate to a test photomask and a method for evaluating critical dimension changes in the test photomask. Various embodiments include a test photomask. The test photomask includes a plurality of cells having a varied density pattern. The plurality of cells include a first group of cells arranged along a first line, the first group of cells having a first combined density ratio. The plurality of cells also include a second group of cells arranged along a second line, the second group of cells having a second combined density ratio. In the plurality of cells, the second combined density ratio for the second group of cells is equal to the first combined density ratio of the first group of cells. The varied density pattern is configured to substantially neutralize fogging effects.
US09989836B1

An optical mounting device is disclosed that enables an optical device to be pointed in the desired orientation with minimal effort between a horizontal and a vertical position. The device includes a yoke, a saddle, and a payload platform assembly. The device can lock the position of the optical device into a desired orientation. The payload platform assembly has a lower base that is coupled to the saddle and an extendable upper section attached to a rotation pivot guide that allows the upper section to rotate up to 90 degrees from horizontal landscape orientation to a vertical portrait orientation.
US09989835B1

A camera mounting assembly includes a first bezel configured to be positioned on a first side of a panel of a work vehicle and to support a camera. The camera mounting assembly also includes a second bezel configured to be positioned on a second side of the panel and to couple to the first bezel to support the camera between the first bezel and the second bezel, and to couple the camera mounting assembly to the panel.
US09989830B2

An optical modulator element includes first and second optical modulators, an optical input terminal, and a branch coupler. Each of the first and second optical modulators includes a pair of Mach-Zehnder waveguides, a first optical coupler to split rays from the branch coupler into the pair of Mach-Zehnder waveguides, and a second optical coupler to combine rays transmitted through the pair of Mach-Zehnder waveguides. The first and second optical modulators are disposed in such a manner that a traveling direction of rays propagating through the pair of Mach-Zehnder waveguides of the first optical modulator and a traveling direction of rays propagating through the pair of Mach-Zehnder waveguides of the second optical modulator are angled toward each other.
US09989818B2

Provided are display device. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device comprising a first substrate, a gate wiring which is formed on the first substrate and extends in a first direction, a data wiring which is insulated from the gate wiring, intersects the gate wiring, and extends in a second direction, and a pixel electrode which comprises a first subpixel electrode to which a first data voltage is applied from the data wiring and a second subpixel electrode to which a second data voltage lower than the first data voltage is applied from the data wiring, wherein the first subpixel electrode is surrounded by the second subpixel electrode, and the second subpixel electrode does not overlap the data wiring.
US09989804B2

A display device includes a display panel curved in a first direction, a light source comprising driving circuit boards and light emitting elements disposed on the driving circuit boards, a reflective sheet disposed on the driving circuit boards and including a first edge area, a second edge area spaced apart from the first edge area in the first direction, and a center area disposed between the first and second edge areas, where holes are defined in the center area to expose the light emitting elements, a cover member including a bottom portion on which the driving circuit boards are disposed and sidewalls bent from the bottom portion, a first correction tape disposed on the first edge area, and a second correction tape disposed on the second edge area.
US09989799B2

A coating device includes an upper stage, a lower stage and a spraying part. The upper stage masks an upper surface of a display panel. The lower stage masks a lower surface of the display panel. The spraying part sprays ink to a side surface of the display panel. The side surface of the display panel is exposed between the upper stage and the lower stage. The coating device includes the upper stage and the lower stage, so that the coating device may form a coating layer of uniform thickness by precisely spraying ink. In addition, a cross-section of the coating layer may be precisely formed having specific shape such as an L or C shape. A display apparatus having high light usage efficiency and reduced light leakage may be provided by using the coating device.
US09989785B2

In an optical device, a ring-resonator modulator, having an adjustable resonance (center) wavelength, receives an optical signal that includes a carrier wavelength from an input-output optical waveguide. Then, a monitoring mechanism monitors a performance metric (such as an average power or a signal swing) of a monitor optical signal from the ring-resonator modulator. Moreover, control logic in the optical device adjusts the resonance wavelength based on the monitored performance metric so that the resonance wavelength is locked to the carrier wavelength. In particular, the control logic may apply a change to an adjustment signal that is provided to the ring-resonator modulator. If the change increases the performance metric, the control logic may continue to modify the resonance wavelength. Otherwise, the control logic may modify the resonance wavelength by applying one or more changes, having an opposite sign to the change, to the adjustment signal.
US09989779B2

The present invention is a lens driving device comprising first driving coils 30a which relatively moves a lens holder 40 against a base part 10 along X axis perpendicular to an optical axis of a lens 100, and second driving coils 30b which relatively moves a lens holder 40 against a base part 10 along Y axis perpendicular to an optical axis. At the base part 10, an opening part 12 is formed where a part of the lens 100 is to be inserted in a movable manner along the driving plane. The oblique diameter Dxy1 and Dxy2 of the opening part 12 along the oblique direction positioned at the middle of X axis and Y axis, is larger than the first inner diameter Dx along X axis direction of the opening part 12, and also larger than the second inner diameter Dy along Y axis direction of the opening part 12. At the base part 10, the cylinder shape projection part 14 is formed along the periphery of the opening part 12.
US09989768B2

A spectacle lens for a display device can be fitted on the head of a user and generate an image. The spectacle lens includes a front side and a rear side, a coupling-in section and a coupling-out section spaced apart from the coupling-in section, as well as a light guiding channel which is suitable for guiding light bundles of pixels of the generated image, which are coupled into the spectacle lens via the coupling-in section of the spectacle lens, in the spectacle lens to the coupling-out section, by which they are coupled out of the spectacle lens. The light guiding channel includes a first reflecting layer, which extends from the coupling-in section to the coupling-out section and on which the light bundles are reflected for guiding to the coupling-out section. The first reflecting layer includes at least one transparent gap.
US09989763B2

A near eye or heads up display system includes at least one light source, an imaging device, and an optical structure. The at least one light source can be, e.g., a red light source that produces light within a red wavelength range that has at least two different narrow bands of light having respective different emission peaks. The imaging device produces an image using light produced by the light source(s). The optical structure is configured to transfer light corresponding to the image from an input-pupil to an output-pupil where the image is viewable. By producing at least two different narrow bands of light having respective different emission peaks within a color (e.g., red) wavelength range, and taking advantage of chromatic dispersion, a more uniform intensity distribution is provided in the viewable image compared to if only one narrow band of light within the color wavelength range were produced.
US09989760B2

Provided is a headup display apparatus that is capable of accurately outputting stable display light, a collimator lens, collimates image light, as parallel light, said image light having been outputted from a display means. A parallel light guide has a first surface, which has the parallel light from the collimator lens inputted thereto, and which reflects a part of the parallel light and transmits a part of the parallel light as transmitted light beams, and a second surface that reflects the parallel light to the first surface, said first surface and second surface being provided in parallel to each other. The parallel light guide outputs the transmitted light beams from the first surface, and the parallel light is inputted to the first surface at a predetermined angle.
US09989759B2

The present disclosure discloses a camera lens and a calibration method of field-depth for the camera lens. The camera lens includes a lens module, a central processing unit and a thermal expansion compensation module. The lens module includes a first lens and a second lens with a baseline length b2 to the first lens. The first lens includes a first lens unit formed on same glass substrate and a second lens unit with a baseline length b1 to the first lens unit. The baseline length change value between the second lens and the first lens can be calculated. Therefore the thermal expansion of the camera lens can be calibrated.
US09989751B2

A sight includes a cylinder, a first lens, a first lens seat, and at least one first elastic member. The first lens is disposed in the cylinder. The first lens seat carrying the first lens is disposed in the cylinder. The first elastic member is disposed between an outer surface of the first lens seat and an inner periphery of the cylinder, wherein the first lens seat is tightly fitted with the cylinder and light enters the cylinder through the first lens.
US09989742B2

In an optical system (ZL) capable of imaging in a plurality of object side media (for instance, air and water) whose refractive indexes are different from each other, the optical system is composed of, in order from an object, a front lens group (G1) whose position in an optical axis fixed, and a rear lens group (for instance, G2 to G4), and the rear lens group comprises at least two moving lens groups (for instance, G2 and G3), and at least two moving lens groups in the rear lens group are moved along the optical axis upon changing between object side media.
US09989738B2

An optical image capturing system includes, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens, a sixth lens, and a seventh lens. At least one lens among the first to the sixth lenses has positive refractive force. The seventh lens have negative refractive force, wherein both surfaces thereof can be aspheric, and at least one surface thereof has an inflection point. The lenses in the optical image capturing system which have refractive power include the first to the seventh lenses. The optical image capturing system can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras.
US09989735B2

A four-piece optical lens for capturing image and a five-piece optical module for capturing image are provided. In the order from an object side to an image side, the optical lens along the optical axis includes a first lens with positive refractive power; a second lens with refractive power; a third lens with refractive power; and a fourth lens with refractive power; and at least one of the image-side surface and object-side surface of each of the four lens elements are aspheric. The optical lens can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras.
US09989733B2

A camera lens includes an open aperture; and a falcate first lens having a positive refractive power with a convex surface toward an imaging surface side. The camera lens satisfies specific conditions.
US09989732B1

A lens assembly includes sequentially from an object side to an image side along an optical axis a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, a stop, a fifth lens, a sixth lens, a seventh lens and an eighth lens. The first lens is a meniscus lens with refractive power. The second lens is a meniscus lens with refractive power. The third lens is a biconcave lens with negative refractive power. The fourth lens is a biconvex lens with positive refractive power. The fifth lens is a biconvex lens with positive refractive power. The sixth lens is with positive refractive power. The seventh lens is with negative refractive power. The eighth lens is with positive refractive power. The sixth lens and the seventh lens are cemented together.
US09989726B2

An electromagnetic driving device is provided, which includes a movable member, a stationary member, a driving magnet, a driving coil, a conductive layer, and an external terminal. The movable member and the stationary member are arranged separate from each other along a main axis. The driving magnet is positioned on the movable member. The driving coils are arranged corresponding to the driving magnet and are disposed in the stationary member. The conductive layer is electrically connected to the driving coils and is disposed in the stationary member. The external terminal is exposed by the fixed member and electrically connected to the conductive layer. The thickness of the external terminal is different from the thickness of the conductive layer.
US09989723B2

An optical fiber ribbon comprises a plurality of optical fiber strands that are arranged side-by-side in one direction and integrated. The optical fiber ribbon comprises a plurality of optical fiber strands that are bonded in parallel. In the optical fiber ribbon, the adjacent optical fiber strands are bonded using a bonding section in which the same are continuously bonded along the entire length thereof and a bonding section in which the same are intermittently bonded at prescribed intervals. In other words, either of the bonding sections is formed between the adjacent optical fiber strands.
US09989722B2

A fiber optic cable includes an optical fiber, strength components disposed on opposite sides of the optical fiber, and a polymeric cable jacket. The optical fiber includes a glass core, a glass cladding, and a polymer coating. The cable jacket surrounds the optical fiber and the strength components. Further, the cable jacket is tightly drawn onto the optical fiber, where excess fiber length of the optical fiber is such that positive strain is present in the optical fiber at room temperature (25° C.).
US09989702B2

A photonic waveguide structure for performing polarization rotation includes a first waveguide layer including input and output waveguides. The input and output waveguides are separate and discontinuous structures. The input and output waveguides are configured in the first waveguide layer to have a lateral offset therebetween. The photonic waveguide structure further includes a second waveguide layer including a waveguide structure disposed under or over the first waveguide layer. The waveguide structure includes a polarization conversion region configured within the second waveguide layer to overlap the input or output waveguides in the first waveguide layer.
US09989701B2

Methods of depositing materials to provide for efficient coupling of light from a first device to a second device are disclosed. In general, these methods include mounting one or more wafers on a rotating table that is continuously rotated under one or more source targets. A process gas can be provided and one or more of the source targets powered while the wafers are biased to deposit optical dielectric films on the one or more wafers. In some embodiments, a shadow mask can be laterally translated across the one or more wafers during deposition. In some embodiments, deposited films can have lateral and/or horizontal variation in index of refraction and/or lateral variation in thickness.
US09989700B1

A planar lightwave circuit may include a set of components. The set of components may include an input waveguide to couple to an optical communications transceiver. The set of components may include an output waveguide to couple to the optical communications transceiver. The set of components may include a common port to couple to an optical fiber. The set of components may include a first polarization beam splitter. The set of components may include a second polarization beam splitter. The set of components may include a third polarization beam splitter. The set of components may include a rotator assembly including a Faraday rotator and a quarter-wave plate.
US09989692B2

Methods and apparatus for providing one or more components for a display system, particularly for producing diffused light.
US09989689B2

A backlight unit may be provided which is capable of local dimming. The backlight unit includes: one or a plurality of light emitting devices; and a light guide plate including a top surface and a bottom surface, one or a plurality of grooves which are formed in the bottom surface and in which the light emitting device is disposed, a reflective layer which is disposed within the one or the plurality of grooves and reflects light emitted from the light emitting device, and a plurality of inverse prism patterns disposed in the top surface.
US09989688B2

There is provided a polarizing plate including: a polarizer; and a light transmissive film with a birefringent property in a plane, disposed on one surface of the polarizer, wherein the light transmissive film satisfies a relationship of the following expression (1): nx>N>ny  (1) where a refractive index in a slow-axis direction which is a direction with a greatest refractive index in a plane of the light transmissive film is nx, a refractive index in a fast-axis direction which is a direction orthogonal to the slow-axis direction in the plane is ny, and an average refractive index of the light transmissive film is N; and wherein the polarizer and the light transmissive film are placed so that both fast-axis direction of the light transmissive film and absorption-axis direction of the polarizer are along a horizontal direction.
US09989686B2

The invention relates to a tinted polarizing optical element (1), including a polarizing assembly (5) consisting of at least a first layer (7) and a second layer (9) made of a thermoplastic or thermosetting material and sandwiching a polarizing film (11) therebetween, and to a method for manufacturing said optical element. The latter further comprises a third layer (13) made of a tinted thermoplastic material adhering, by means of injection, to the second layer (9), characterized in that the element includes a fourth layer (15) which is made of a crystal thermoplastic material adhering, by means of injection, to the third layer (13), and which is to be surfaced so as to achieve a corrective effect.
US09989684B2

An interference filter includes a layers stack comprising a plurality of layers of at least: layers of amorphous hydrogenated silicon with added nitrogen (a-Si:H,N) and layers of one or more dielectric materials, such as SiO2, SiOx, SiOxNy, a dielectric material with a higher refractive index in the range 1.9 to 2.7 inclusive, or so forth. The interference filter is designed to have a passband center wavelength in the range 750-1000 nm inclusive. Layers of a dielectric material with a higher refractive index in the range 1.9 to 2.7 inclusive provide a smaller angle shift compared with a similar interference filter using SiO2 as the low index layers.
US09989678B2

In an anisotropic optical film including two or more anisotropic light diffusion layers where a linear transmittance varies depending on an incident light angle, each of the anisotropic light diffusion layers has a matrix region and a plurality of pillar regions that differ in refractive index from the matrix region, at least two types of anisotropic light diffusion layers (a) and (b) that differ in aspect ratio between a short diameter and a long diameter at a cross section perpendicular to an orientation direction of the pillar regions are used as the anisotropic light diffusion layers, the aspect ratio between the short diameter and the long diameter in the pillar regions is made less than 2 in the anisotropic light diffusion layer (a), and the aspect ratio between the short diameter and the long diameter in the pillar regions is made 2 or more and 20 or less in the anisotropic light diffusion layer (b).
US09989661B2

Methods for identifying rock properties in real-time during drilling, are provided. An example of an embodiment of such a method includes positioning one or more acoustic sensors to detect drill sounds emanating from the drill bit and the rock encountered during drilling operations, connecting the sensors to select components of a drilling rig to maximally pick up the drill sounds of the drill bit engaging rock during drilling operations. The method also includes providing and deploying an inductive telemetry, wireless telemetry, or wired transmitting system. The method also includes providing and configuring a computer to analyze the “raw” acoustic signals received from the acoustic sensors through the respective transmitting system.
US09989655B2

Described is a chip comprising: a substrate; a logic unit forming an active circuit on the substrate; and a cosmic ray detector embedded in the substrate, the cosmic ray detector to detect a cosmic ray and to generate a signal indicating detection of the cosmic ray, the signal for reducing error in the logic unit.
US09989637B2

A collision warning apparatus, mountable in a vehicle to detect collision threat levels between the host vehicle and an object or target detected forward of the host vehicle. All processing and signal generation takes place in a controller in the housing without reliance on external signals, except for input power, from the host vehicle. The controller activates visible and/or audible indicators on the housing to alert the driver of the collision threat level.
US09989630B2

Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide multipath interference cancelling for imaging devices and systems. In various implementations, structured light is used to diminish, if not cancel interference. For example, the light may be structured with respect to amplitude or phase, based on an emission angle of the light.
US09989627B2

A radar system is described that comprises a transmitter, a receiver, a spillover cancellation unit, and a combiner. The transmitter transmits radio signals. The receiver receives interfering signals due to local signal coupling of transmitted signals. The local signal coupling comprises at least one interfering path or mechanism. The spillover cancellation unit is configured to output a replica of each of the interfering signals. Each replica is configured to replicate a particular interfering signal received through a particular interfering path or mechanism. The combiner is configured to combine into a signal path of the receiver, a replica of an interfering signal to subtract the interfering signal from the receiver's signal path. The receiver receives the transmitted radio signals reflected from objects in the environment without saturating the signal path of the receiver due to the subtraction of the interfering signal from the receiver's signal path.
US09989622B1

In a general aspect, the radio state of a wireless communication device is controlled. In some aspects, a first set of motion detection signals is processed by operation of a radio subsystem of a wireless communication device in a first radio state. An amount of variation in the first set of motion detection signals is determined based on values of a parameter of the motion detection signals. A counter is updated in response to a determination that the variation is greater than a first threshold, and the radio subsystem is changed to a second radio state based on comparing the value of the counter with a second threshold. A motion detection process is executed to detect motion of an object in the space based on a second set of motion detection signals processed by operation of the radio subsystem in the second radio state.
US09989616B2

Some embodiments include memory arrays. The memory arrays can have global bitlines extending along a first horizontal direction, vertical local bitlines extending perpendicularly from the global bitlines, and wordlines extending along a second horizontal direction which is perpendicular to the first horizontal direction. The global bitlines may be subdivided into a first series at a first elevational level, and a second series at a second elevational level which is different from the first elevational level. The global bitlines of the first series can alternate with the global bitlines of the second series. There can be memory cell material directly between the wordlines and the vertical local bitlines. The memory cell material may form a plurality of memory cells uniquely addressed by wordline/global bitline combinations. Some embodiments include cross-point memory cell units that have areas of about 2F2.
US09989615B2

A method of correcting warping of an acquired image in an MRI system, caused by non-linearities in gradient field profiles of gradient coils is set forth, comprising a) constructing a computer model representing conducting pathways for each gradient coil in said MRI system; b) calculating a predicted magnetic field at each point in space for each said gradient coil in said model; c) measuring actual magnetic field at each point in space for each said gradient coil in said MRI system; d) verifying accuracy of said model by comparing said predicted magnetic field to said actual magnetic field at each said point in space and in the event said model is not accurate then repeating a)-d), and in the event said model is accurate then; constructing a distortion map for mapping coordinates in real space to coordinates in warped space of said acquired image based on deviations of said predicted magnetic field from linearity; and unwarping said warping of the acquired image using said distortion map.
US09989607B2

In a method to operate a magnetic resonance (MR) system to acquire MR data, an RF excitation pulse is radiated followed by repeated, chronologically sequential implementation of the following steps in order to respectively acquire the MR data of an echo train. A refocusing pulse is radiated, a phase coding gradient is activated, and an additional magnetic field gradient for spatial coding is activated in a direction that is orthogonal to the direction of the phase coding gradient in order to read out the MR data of a k-space line. A k-space line in the k-space center is acquired at a predetermined echo time. A first half of k-space is acquired by entering data into k-space lines of the respective echo train, the data being acquired before the echo time. A second half of k-space is acquired by entering data into k-space lines of the respective echo train, this data having been acquired after the echo time. The k-space lines in the first half of k-space have a first density while the k-space lines in the second half of k-space have a second density that differs from the first density.
US09989597B2

Correlated double sampling (CDS) for magnetoresistive (MR) sensors is provided. Here the MR sensor output is sampled at two closely spaced times. The first sample is MR signal+baseline+noise and is sampled when the modulated magnetic field is non-zero. The second sample is baseline+noise only because it is sampled when the modulated magnetic field is zero. The difference between the first and second samples will have significantly reduced low frequency noise and baseline cancellation. Modulation of the electrical bias provided to the MR sensor can be used to provide a baseline signal for temperature compensation. In a second aspect, we provide MR sensor arrays having input and output multiplexing and demultiplexing for row and column line selection, in combination with a per-sensor switch to prevent noise accumulation and bandwidth reduction from idle MR sensors.
US09989589B2

A system and method for testing electronic circuit devices. The system has a central processing unit with a plurality of separate core processing units. The utility service program is initiated at the startup of the computer program which acts as an intermediary between user applications and the computer operating system. The utility service is responsive to an ATE execution engine to set an affinity for one or more processing cores for exclusive use for the ATE execution engine. The ATE execution engine communicates with the utility service to reserve one or more processing cores for execution of the program for testing electronic devices.
US09989580B2

Fault analysis for an electric network having a plurality of multi-phase buses is performed by computing equivalent circuits for the multi-phase buses of interest. Each equivalent circuit includes an N×N impedance matrix, N corresponding to the number of phases of the multi-phase bus for which that equivalent circuit is computed. Elements of the impedance matrices are determined based on voltages resulting from a plurality of experimental current injection vectors and a factorized pre-fault admittance matrix. The pre-fault admittance matrix represents nodal admittance of the multi-phase buses without faults. A fault current injection vector for each multi-phase bus and fault type of interest is determined based on the equivalent circuit determined for that multi-phase bus. A fault voltage vector for each multi-phase bus and fault type of interest is determined based on the factorized pre-fault admittance matrix and the fault current injection vector determined for that multi-phase bus and fault type.
US09989579B2

Systems and methods for detecting thermal-mechanical strain fatigue in an electrical fuse include a controller configured to monitor at least one fuse fatigue parameter over a period of time while the fuse is connected to an energized electrical power system, and based on the monitored at least one fuse fatigue parameter, the controller is further configured to determine at least one of a consumed service life of the fuse element or a service life remaining of the fuse element.
US09989578B2

A sealing gasket for an electrical connector system includes a resilient element configured to seal an interface between a header surface and a connector surface. The sealing gasket further includes thin-film sensing elements in contact with the resilient element that are configured to define a resistance of an electrical network based on a force applied to the sealing gasket. In some configurations, the sensing elements are arranged in a series electrical network and establish a conductive path when the force is greater than a predetermined force at each of the sensing elements. The thin-film sensing elements may be coupled to a controller that is configured to output a diagnostic based on a state of the electrical network.
US09989570B2

A method for evaluating a device including a plurality of electric circuits has: a step of finding a first malfunction frequency property for individual electric circuits included in the device, the first malfunction frequency property representing the magnitude of a critical noise signal at which each electric circuit causes a malfunction; and a step of finding a second malfunction frequency property based on the first malfunction frequency property found for each of the electric circuits, an equivalent circuit of the entire device, and an equivalent circuit of each of the electric circuits, the second malfunction frequency property representing the magnitude of a critical noise signal at which the entire device causes a malfunction.
US09989554B2

The invention relates to an acceleration sensor, especially a duplex acceleration sensor, an arrangement and a method for detecting a loss of road grip of a vehicle wheel (3). The acceleration sensor comprises a tube (5) having a longitudinal axis forming a circular arc segment, and two closed ends. A mass (15; 315) is arranged inside the tube (5) such that is able to move inside the tube (5) in the longitudinal direction thereof. A magnet arrangement (17; 203; 205; 317) is designed to counteract, by way of a magnetic force exerted on the mass (15; 315), a movement of said mass (15; 315) from an idle position (25), and a read-out unit (608) is designed to detect a movement of said mass (15) from the idle position (25).
US09989550B2

In an automated analyzing apparatus, problems arise when a reagent container is carried in during analysis, since it is necessary to stop all accesses of mechanisms etc. to a location of the apparatus where the reagent container is placed and, in a situation in which measurements have been already started, it is impossible to carry the reagent container after waiting about several minutes. To address the problems, when a remaining amount of a reagent corresponding to a predetermined item becomes equal to or less than a first threshold value, a pause cycle of reagent suction is generated in which the reagent dispensing mechanism does not suction the reagent from inside of a reagent container of a reagent disc at regular intervals, and a reagent container containing the same kind of reagent in the reagent disc by the reagent container carrying mechanism is automatically carried in the pause cycle.
US09989548B2

The present disclosure relates to an automatic analyzer for determining a parameter of a sample fluid, including a dosing device comprising at least one dosing chamber, a first fluid flow path connecting a sample receiving vessel to the dosing chamber via a first pump, a tank containing a dilution medium, a second fluid flow path connecting the tank to the dosing chamber via a second pump, a measuring cell in communication with the dosing chamber via a third fluid flow path via a third pump, and a measuring and control system connected to and configured to control the pumps, wherein the first, second, and third fluid flow paths can selectively be blocked or unblocked by at least one valve unit and the measuring and control system is configured to control the at least one valve unit to block or unblock the first, second, and third flow paths.
US09989547B2

A laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The system comprises sample container carriers carrying a sample container and comprising a magnetically active device. The system also comprises a transport plane supporting the sample container carriers and comprises drive modules comprising first line shaped conductors extending in a first direction and arranged parallel to each other and second line shaped conductors extending in a second direction and arranged parallel to each other. The system comprises a driver electrically connected to each of the first and second conductors of the drive modules. The driver selectively applies a drive current and/or voltage to the first and second conductors such that a conductor current results in the conductors driven by the drive current and/or voltage. The conductor current selectively causes a drive force to the sample container carriers such that the sample container carriers move along individual transport paths on the transport plane.
US09989545B2

There is described an apparatus for depositing and retrieving large volumes of test tubes in/from a warehouse, comprising an input/output module of a first and a second container with a plurality of test tubes, a multiple pick up device of test tubes, a single pick up device of test tubes, a first and second station for the provisional allocation of said containers and a motorized traveling lift able to carry said first and second container simultaneously on two distinct coplanar locations.
US09989538B2

Provided include a human IgE antibody that binds to a sweat allergy antigen protein and a human high-affinity IgE receptor but does not induce degranulation in a reaction with the sweat allergy antigen protein, and a composition for treatment or diagnosis of sweat allergy comprising the same.
US09989534B2

Methods, devices, and systems are disclosed for performing high throughput analysis of conformational change in biological molecules or other biological entities using surface-selective nonlinear optical detection techniques.
US09989533B2

The invention features diagnostic and therapeutic methods and compositions featuring Anti-TNF Induced Apoptosis (ATIA). ATIA is useful as a diagnostic marker for cancer, in particular for glioblastoma. ATIA is also a therapeutic target in diseases such as cancer. The invention encompasses combination therapies where knockdown of ATIA is used in combination with other treatment. The invention also features kits for use in the diagnostic and therapeutic methods.
US09989532B2

The present invention provides a method of identifying a coagulation inhibitor in a sample, comprising: a) contacting a first portion of the sample with a substrate and thrombin; b) contacting a second portion of the sample with a substrate and a2M-thrombin (thrombin caged in alpha-2-macroglobulin); c) contacting a third portion of the sample with a substrate and coagulation factor Xa; d) contacting a fourth portion of the sample with a substrate and a2M-Xa (factor Xa caged in alpha-2-macroglobulin); and e) assaying for cleavage of the substrate in (a), (b), (c) and (d) above, wherein cleavage of the substrate in (b) and (d) and no cleavage in (a) and (c) identifies heparin in the sample; cleavage of the substrate in (a), (b) and (d) and no cleavage in (c) identifies low molecular weight heparin in the sample; cleavage of the substrate in (a) and (b) and no cleavage in (c) and (d) identifies rivaroxaban in the sample, and cleavage of the substrate in (c) and (d) and no cleavage in (a) and (b) identifies dabigatran in the sample.
US09989526B2

A method and device for multiplexing and calibrating rapid quantification of biomolecules present in a nanofluidic biosensor composed by a nanoslit. A novel concept defining multiple different local structured areas containing biomarkers. Local structured areas can also be structured to decrease the biomarkers density in the nanoslit. Such enables the multiplexed quantification biomolecular interactions of interest in the same nanofluidic biosensor.
US09989517B2

The present invention is generally related to methods and compositions for uniquely marking individual urine samples to be identifiable to a particular subject either individually or from among a group of subjects.
US09989513B2

An oil content measurement device includes a fluid device which mixes water to be treated containing oil content with a solvent and extracts the oil content into the solvent, a sensor unit which has a casing storing a quartz crystal oscillator therein with a ring-like spacer in between, a dispensing nozzle which is disposed above the oscillator at a predetermined gap there between and feeds a predetermined amount of the solvent after the oil content has been extracted on the oscillator, a sensor circuit which measures a resonance frequency of the oscillator, and controller which controls at least the fluid device and the sensor circuit. Provided is a arithmetic logical unit, based on a change amount of the received resonance frequency of the oscillator in the sensor unit to which the solvent after the oil content has been extracted has been fed, measures the oil content remaining on the oscillator.
US09989508B2

A scanning system is for trace detection. The scanning system includes a main body enclosing a scanning chamber, the main body including a chamber inlet; a transport system configured to move an article through the scanning chamber along a scanning path; and a door mechanism provided along the scanning path. The door mechanism includes: a door frame mounted about the scanning path; at least one door panel movable relative to the door frame and being made of a radiation-shielding material; and a trace detector integrated into the at least one door panel. A method for trace involves using trace detectors integrated into the door mechanism for trace detection while the object is moving along a scanning path passing through a scanning chamber of a scanning system.
US09989503B2

Provided is an apparatus for quantitatively analyzing one or more gas components contained in a gas sample. More particularly, an apparatus for quantitatively analyzing gas components with an automatic feed control function of a gas, includes a multi-position valve, a pump, and a control part controlling the multi-position valve and the pump, such that the apparatus for quantitatively analyzing gas components may allow a professional worker performing analysis to secure an efficient research time while ensuring accuracy at the level equivalent to analysis results by a highly skilled professional worker regardless of proficiency of a newly employed person being in charge of quantitative analysis of the gas components of the gas sample in a sample bag.
US09989501B2

A method and apparatus for analyzing an object using acoustic emissions. Load data is received for the object. Acoustic waveform data is received for the object from an acoustic sensing system. The acoustic waveform data represents acoustic emissions emanating from the object and is detected using the acoustic sensing system. A plurality of bins is created for the load data. A plurality of frequency distribution functions is generated for the plurality of bins using the acoustic waveform data. A set of learning algorithms is applied to the plurality of frequency distribution functions and the acoustic waveform data to generate an output that allows an operator to more easily and quickly assess a structural integrity of the object.
US09989498B2

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for nonlinear ultrasonic testing. In one aspect there is provided a method, which may include generating at least one ultrasonic wave to enable the at least one ultrasonic wave to propagate through a solid; detecting the at least one ultrasonic wave propagating through the solid; and determining a stress of the solid based on at least one of an imaginary component of a wavenumber, a wave amplitude, a wave strength, a statistical moment in a time domain, or a statistical moment in a frequency domain of the at least one ultrasonic wave.
US09989497B2

Pulse-echo imaging systems and methods are provided, including a transmit code sequencer and a pulse generation circuit, The transmit code sequencer is configured to input a transmit code sequence to the pulse generation circuit. A transducer is configured to receive electrical signals provided as pulses using coded excitation according to the transmit code sequence, and to transduce the electrical signals to pulses of energy other than electrical signals. The transducer is further configured to receive echoes of the pulses of energy other than electrical signals and convert the echoes to received electrical signals generate using coded excitation. A receive circuit is configured to receive the received electrical signals generate using coded excitation, perform analog sampling of the received electrical signals generate using coded excitation, and provide a weighted, summed digital signal by processing the analog samples. At least one example of a pulse imaging system described is configured for ultrasonic pulse-echoes. At least one example of a pulse imaging system described is a medical diagnostic imaging system.
US09989494B2

A method for manufacturing a chip that includes a microchannel is described, wherein the method includes the steps of: fixing a cationic polymer having a quaternary onium group to at least one surface of each of a pair of resin substrates; and joining the resin substrates together on the surfaces on which the cationic polymer has been fixed.
US09989490B2

A diagnostic Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) procedure is applied to measure values of impedance-related parameters for one or more sensing electrodes. The parameters may include real impedance, imaginary impedance, impedance magnitude, and/or phase angle. The measured values of the impedance-related parameters are then used in performing sensor diagnostics, calculating a highly-reliable fused sensor glucose value based on signals from a plurality of redundant sensing electrodes, calibrating sensors, detecting interferents within close proximity of one or more sensing electrodes, and testing surface area characteristics of electroplated electrodes. Advantageously, impedance-related parameters can be defined that are substantially glucose-independent over specific ranges of frequencies. An Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) enables implementation of the EIS-based diagnostics, fusion algorithms, and other processes based on measurement of EIS-based parameters.
US09989483B2

An imaging system for generating three dimensional image data using X-ray backscattering from one side of a structure is provided. The imaging system includes at least one X-ray source, at least one rotating collimator coupled to the at least one X-ray source, an X-ray detector, and a controller coupled to the at least one X-ray source, the at least one rotating collimator and the X-ray detector. The controller is configured to emit X-rays from the at least one X-ray source through the at least one rotating collimator towards the one side of the structure. Additionally, the controller is configured to detect backscattered X-rays from the one side of the structure, using the X-ray detector, at a plurality of depths within the structure. Additionally, the controller is configured to generate three dimensional image data of the structure based on the detected backscattered X-rays.
US09989482B2

The present disclosure generally relates to methods for radiographic and computed tomography (CT) inspection of workpieces having increasingly complicated internal geometry. The disclosed methods are capable of distributing a contrast agent within the detailed internal geometry of, for example, an AM workpiece or precision cast turbine blade, followed by complete removal of the contrast agent and all residues thereof after inspection.
US09989478B2

A method of inspecting packaging welds comprises the steps of creating a light beam that produces at least one light transition (t) and acquiring a raw matrix image (B(N)) covering the light transition. For each image (B(N)) obtained, a measurement of the diffusion of the light transition is stored. For each of N successive scanning increments, the raw matrix image (B(N)) is used to create an image line in which each pixel receives as its value the measurement in the raw matrix image (B(N)) of the diffusion of at least the light transition. The at least N image lines are stored in succession to obtain a matrix image and the matrix image is analyzed to determine that the weld along said fraction is in conformity when its transverse width remains, at all points, greater than a given minimum.
US09989468B2

A fluorescence detecting apparatus includes an excitation light applying section that applies excitation light to a protective film containing an absorbing agent. A photomultiplier tube detects fluorescence emitted from the absorbing agent due to absorption of the excitation light. A fluorescence passing filter removes light having wavelengths other than the wavelength of the fluorescence emitted from the absorbing agent, and a reflecting mirror having a reflecting surface reflects the fluorescence emitted from the protective film toward the photomultiplier tube. This reflecting surface is formed by a part of a curved surface forming a spheroid having first and second foci. The first focus is positioned at a target area of the protective film where the excitation light is applied, and the second focus is positioned at a light detecting element included in the photomultiplier tube.
US09989466B2

Disclosed herein is a method for improving the precision of a test result from an instrument with an optical system that detects a signal. The method comprises including in the instrument a normalization target disposed directly or indirectly in the optical path of the optical system. Also disclosed are instruments comprising a normalization target, and systems comprising such an instrument and a test device that receives a sample suspected of containing an analyte.
US09989464B2

A non-destructive method for detecting charged particles, includes measuring a reference value of at least one physical parameter of an ion cloud confined in an ion trap; performing an injection of a sample in the ion cloud confined in the ion trap, the sample crossing the ion cloud and getting out the ion cloud without being trapped inside the ion trap; measuring a first experimental value of the at least one physical parameter of the ion cloud; and comparing the first experimental value with the reference value in order to determine the presence of at least one charged particle in the sample, or the absence of any charged particle in the sample.
US09989463B2

Material classification of an object is provided. Parameters for classification are accessed. The parameters include a selection to select a subset of angles for classification, a selection to select a subset of spectral bands for classification, a selection to capture texture features, and a selection to compute image-level features. The object is illuminated and a feature vector is computed based on the parameters. The material from which the object is fabricated is classified using the feature vector.
US09989456B2

A system for the determination of retroreflectivity values for reflective surfaces disposed along a roadway repeatedly illuminates an area along the roadway that includes at least one reflective surface using a light source. Multiple light intensity values are measured over a field of view which includes at least a portion of the area illuminated by the light source. A computer processing system is used to identifying a portion of the light intensity values associated with a reflective surface and analyze the portion of the light intensity values to determine at least one retroreflectivity value for that reflective surface.
US09989454B2

Methods and systems are provided to measure the optical anisotropy properties of a film on glass or other substrates. This technique is suitable for production environments, and is not strongly affected by the TFT or CF active area on LCD panels, even for very high pixel density displays. A method is provided for measuring a magnitude and orientation of optical anisotropy. These methods and systems include an optical anisotropy measurement apparatus for measuring anisotropic materials in a reflection or transmission configuration. The methods and systems may measure a Mueller matrix, diattentuation orientation, or retardance of a sample at one or more rotation angles to calculate anisotropic magnitude and orientation.
US09989440B2

Method for indicating attacks on a tire (1) for a heavy vehicle of the civil engineering type. This method comprises a first step of applying a retroreflective covering material (7) to at least part of at least one tire lateral face (6) allowing visual detection in an environment of darkness of that part of at least one tire lateral face (6), a second step of using the tire (1) in a mechanically aggressive environment, a third step of identifying, in an environment of darkness, the attacked zones (8) of the part of at least one tire lateral face (6) initially covered with the retroreflective covering material (7) and now devoid of the said retroreflective covering material (7) as a result of the mechanical attack experienced by the tire (1) in use.
US09989431B2

A pressure sensor comprises a deformable measuring diaphragm, and a mating body connected in a pressure-tight manner and forms a measuring chamber in which a reference pressure is present. A pressure can be applied to an outside of the measuring diaphragm. The pressure sensor has a capacitive transducer having at least one mating body electrode and at least one diaphragm electrode. Above a pressure limit value for the pressure, at least one central surface section of the measuring diaphragm rests against the mating body with a contact surface area, the size of which is dependent on the pressure. The pressure sensor also has a resistive transducer for converting a pressure-dependent deformation of the measuring diaphragm, when pressed in a range of values above the pressure limit value, into an electrical signal using an electrical resistance which is dependent on the contact surface area of the measuring diaphragm on the mating body.
US09989430B2

The invention relates to a test bench (10) for testing a test specimen (14), comprising a load device for generating a load for the test specimen, a test specimen holder (16) for holding the test specimen and for introducing the load onto the test specimen, and a cooling gas inflow device (32) for cooling the test specimen by means of a cooling gas stream exiting an outlet opening (48) of the cooling gas inflow device. In this case, the cooling gas inflow device is designed such that the cooling gas flow inside the cooling gas inflow device is divided into at least two part cooling gas streams in at least one section of the cooling gas inflow device.
US09989429B2

The present invention relates to an arrangement for measuring a force and/or a torque on a machine element extending in an axis, using the inverse magnetostrictive effect. The machine element has at least one permanent magnetization. The permanent magnetization extends along a closed magnetization path. The magnetization path runs preferably at least partially along the surface of the machine element. The arrangement further includes at least one magnetic field sensor which is arranged opposite the machine element. The magnetic field sensor serves to determine a magnetic field and is designed to measure at least one vector component of a magnetic field coming from the machine element, which field is produced on the one hand by the permanent magnetization and on the other hand by the force and/or by the torque. According to the invention, the orientation of the permanent magnetization relative to the axis changes along the magnetization path.
US09989422B2

An exemplary system, method and computer-accessible medium for constructing information regarding a distribution of thermal properties of an object(s), can be provided. For example, data related to a temperature of the object(s) can be received at multiple points in time and space at which a portion(s) of the object(s) is heated or cooled. The information can be constructed using the data based on a bio-heat equation.
US09989416B2

A portable color measurement device 10 is described. The device 10 has a body 20 including a light source 30 and a sensor 40. The body 20 includes a measurement zone 21 to accommodate, within the body 20, an element 100 to be measured for color. The light source 30 is configured to emit light along a path within the body 20 to the sensor 40. The measurement zone 21 is substantially in the path. The portable color measurement device is configured to measure properties of an accommodated element 100 in dependence on one or more outputs of the sensor 40.
US09989414B2

An optical measurement method in which a series of light pulses are generated using a pulsed laser having a set of different mode hop sequences (e.g., an external-cavity quantum cascade laser (EC-QCL)), the light pulses are detected with the detector to generate a respective pulse data set for each of the light pulses, and the pulse data sets are sorted into classes based on correlation coefficients. Sorting the pulse data sets into classes allows the pulse data sets originating from each of the mode hop sequences of the pulsed laser to be treated independently of the pulse data sets originating from others of the mode hop sequences in subsequent processing.
US09989410B2

A photo-detector device may include a substrate having a bottom surface. The photo-detector device may further include a photocell secured to the bottom surface of the substrate. The photo-detector device may further include a metallic block having a top portion secured to a bottom surface of the substrate to enclose the photocell, wherein an opening is formed within the metallic block that extends from the top portion of the metallic block to a bottom portion of the metallic block to form an aperture for light to travel through the metallic block to the photocell. The photo-detector device may further include a member insertable into the metallic block to vary an open area of the aperture.
US09989408B2

A photodetector includes a semiconductor substrate; a light receiving part for signal detection and an infrared light receiving part which are formed in the semiconductor substrate and are covered at least by first color filters having a common color; and second color filters which overlap with the first color filters on the infrared light receiving part and are configured to block light in a wavelength range transmitting through the first color filters.
US09989407B2

(Object) To provide an optical receiver and a control method thereof that enable equalization of both the quantum efficiencies and the dark count probabilities of multiple photon detectors.(Solving Means) An optical receiver includes multiple photon detectors, a first equalizing means that equalizes either dark count probabilities or quantum efficiencies of the multiple photon detectors, and a second equalizing means that equalizes the other ones without affecting the equalization by the first equalizing means.
US09989404B2

A portable terminal includes: an acceleration measuring unit that measures acceleration of the portable terminal; a calculating unit that calculates a first feature value for in-plane directions in which the portable terminal is in contact with an object and a second feature value for an out-of-plane direction on the basis on the acceleration measured by the acceleration measuring unit in a state in which the portable terminal is put on the object, when the portable terminal is vibrated; and a specifying unit that specifies a material of the object on the basis of the first feature value and the second feature value.
US09989403B2

A weighing device (101) has a weighing unit (102), a control unit and at least one application unit (110). The application unit is positioned within a secondary unit (104) that also has a receiving unit. The control unit has a unit for transmitting data. The weighing unit comprises load receivers (106) and a power transmitting unit. The secondary unit is placed on the load receivers, leaving a gap between the top side of the weighing unit and the bottom side of the secondary unit. The weighing unit transmits a power signal from the power transmitting unit to the receiving unit of the secondary unit through the gap and a control signal is transmitted from the data transmitting unit to the receiving unit of the secondary unit through the gap. The secondary unit, and in turn the application unit, is powered and controlled in a contactless manner.
US09989401B2

A measuring device featuring ascertaining and monitoring optimized orientation of the measuring device. Thus, the invention provides a measuring device for determining and/or monitoring limit level or fill level of a medium in a container, comprising at least one sensor unit and a measurement transmitter unit, wherein at least one inclination sensor is integrated in the measuring device for ascertaining orientation of the measuring device and/or the sensor unit on the container.
US09989397B1

In some implementations, a system obtains activity data for a sump pump associated with a property where the obtained activity data indicates a present operational status of the sump pump. The system obtains water level data associated with the property where the water level data indicates a level of water within the property, determines that the activity data indicates that the sump pump is operating and that the water level within the property satisfies a water level risk threshold, and, in response to the determination that the activity data indicates that the sump pump is operating and that the water level within the property satisfies a water level risk threshold, provides a notification that the property is at risk of suffering water damage.
US09989396B2

A method of characterizing gas flow within a housing includes: positioning one or more gas flow sensors in the housing; introducing a gas flow into the housing; using the one or more gas flow sensors to generate two or more gas flow measurements at spaced-apart locations within the housing; and recording the two or more measurements to create a gas flow map.
US09989386B2

A position detecting sensor is mounted in a sensor attachment groove of a cylinder device. The sensor attachment groove includes a wide portion on the side of a groove bottom surface, and a narrow portion on the side of a side surface of the cylinder device. The position detecting sensor includes a mounting member having a width dimension larger than a groove width of the narrow portion. The mounting member includes a first engagement part and a second engagement part, which are flexible and are arranged in confronting relation, opening with a gap mutually therebetween in a widthwise direction of the sensor attachment groove.
US09989381B2

An angle sensor is disclosed. The angle sensor has a disc, a first magnetic pattern disposed on a side of the disc and including a number N1 of first portions of spirals regularly distributed in a first ring, and a second magnetic pattern disposed on a side of the disc and including a number N2 of second portions of spirals regularly distributed in a second ring. The numbers N1 and N2 are coprime and N1 is different from N2, N2−1, and N2+1.
US09989379B2

Disclosed are various systems and methods related to improving the accuracy of resource usage counting of a metered resource by a computing device. The computing device disables interrupts used by the processor to count pulses received from a utility meter on respective first and second wires of a cable. A data level for the first wire attached to the one or more sensors of the computing device is detected and recorded. The data level indicating whether a pulse is presently being received on the first wire. The computing device then disconnects a common ground in the cable between the computing device and the utility meter, and initiates performance of a test of the cable. The computing device then restores the individual interrupts and the common ground in a defined sequence based upon detection of a pulse in one of the two wires.
US09989377B2

A display system for an aircraft includes a controller in communication with a display. The controller receives a category associated with a phase of flight of the aircraft. Information related to operation of the aircraft and associated with the received category is displayed on the display.
US09989370B2

A real-time multimodal travel estimation and routing system having a first mode for air-based travel and a second mode for ground-based travel, and a method for estimating a time of arrival to a ground-based destination having a first mode for air-based travel and a second mode for ground-based travel is disclosed. The real-time multimodal travel estimation and routing system is configured to receive an input designating a ground-based destination, a request for an available ground-based travel option, and display an estimated time of arrival to the ground-based destination based on first data stored on-board the aircraft for the second mode and real-time flight information for the aircraft for the first mode. The system is further configured to receive an update of real-time information for the available ground-based travel option and update the first data stored on-board the aircraft.
US09989367B2

A technique is described for providing travel information for route segments repeatedly covered by a vehicle, wherein the travel information is indicative of map data changes extractable from map data update information. A method aspect comprises the steps of determining whether the vehicle is likely to travel along repeatedly covered route segments; selecting map data changes that are associated with the repeatedly covered route segments the vehicle is likely to travel; and generating travel information on basis of the selected map data changes and providing the travel information to a driver. Provided are also a computer program product and a device implementing the described method.
US09989359B2

Enhanced measurement of thickness in bulk dielectric materials is disclosed. Microwave radiation is partially reflected at interfaces where the dielectric constant changes (e.g., the back wall of a part). The reflected microwaves are combined with a portion of the outgoing beam at each of at least two separate detectors. A pair of sinusoidal or quasi-sinusoidal waves results. Thickness or depth measurement is enhanced by exploiting the phase and amplitude relationships between multiple sinusoidal or quasi-sinusoidal standing waves at detectors sharing a common microwave source. These relationships are used to determine an unambiguous relationship between the signal and the thickness or depth.
US09989355B1

A linear stage moves a laser along the collection plate of an electrospinning device. The stage supports the laser that is moved through the electrospinning/electrospraying deposition field by a continuous rotation servo motor. Stage movement is controlled by a control unit. Signal voltages collected are sectioned into concentric layers so that the extinction coefficient for each layer can be calculated without including the extinction coefficient from the previous layer. The extinction coefficients were used in the Beer-Lambert law to determine the diameter of fibers being deposited on the collection plate as well as the concentration of fibers deposited indicating deposition speed.
US09989352B2

A collision detection system configured to determine when a ball or other object impacts against a playing surface, record the location of the object's impact, and compare the object's impact location against one or more preset virtual target areas to determine whether or not the object was successfully hit into a desired area of the playing surface and immediately reward the player with various types of audible and/or visual responses for hitting the target.
US09989348B2

A method of operating an articulated arm CMM is provided. Instructions for the CMM can be inputted to the CMM arm by an action chosen from the group consisting of placing the arm in a predefined position and moving the arm in a predefined manner.
US09989345B2

There is provided a linear displacement measuring apparatus which notifies a user when being installed defectively. A slider includes a traveling body which travels along a main scale on the main scale, a carriage part mounted on an object, and coupling means which couples the traveling body with the carriage part. The coupling means allows relative displacement between the traveling body and the carriage part and biases the traveling body towards the main scale. The coupling means has a connecting rod arranged so as to couple the traveling body with the carriage part via a ball joint. The slider further has misalignment detecting means which detects that the relative displacement between the traveling body and the carriage part exceeds a prescribed allowable range. The misalignment detecting means is a pair of projecting pieces arranged in a vicinity of the connecting rod so that the displacement of the connecting rod is regulated within a predetermined range.
US09989340B2

A stun grenade includes a cartridge having an explosive charge in communication with a fuse and a housing including a closed end, an open end, a longitudinal axis and including an internal cavity which accommodates the cartridge. An end cap is attachable to the open end of the housing, the end cap including an end wall and a side wall. A plurality of spaced first vents are defined in the end wall of the end cap. A plurality of spaced second vents is defined in an end wall of the housing. The output from an explosive charge is optimized by vents having a straight flow path. The vents have a first end in fluid communication with the cavity and a second end in fluid communication with an exterior periphery of the housing.
US09989333B2

To parry a blast caused by an explosive object, absorb explosive energy, and improve durability. An armor to be installed on a bottom surface of a vehicle, including: a bottom plate formed to have a shape in which a central portion protrudes downward, and a porous metal member-disposed on the upper side of the bottom plate.
US09989320B2

Disclosed herein is a once-through evaporator comprising an inlet manifold; one or more inlet headers in fluid communication with the inlet manifold; one or more tube stacks, where each tube stack comprises one or more inclined evaporator tubes; the one or more tube stacks being in fluid communication with the one or more inlet headers; where the inclined tubes are inclined at an angle of less than 90 degrees or greater than 90 degrees to a vertical; one or more outlet headers in fluid communication with one or more tube stacks; and an outlet manifold in fluid communication with the one or more outlet headers; and a baffle system comprising a plurality of baffles; the baffle system being disposed adjacent to a tube stack so that the baffle system contacts a tube.
US09989315B2

A cold storage heat exchanger has refrigerant pipes fins, and cold-storage-medium containers. The cold-storage-medium container is arranged next to the refrigerant pipe. A cold storage medium is accommodated in the cold-storage-medium container in order to leave an air cell, and to provide a filling ratio of less than 90%. The cold-storage-medium container has a plurality of depressions at an inside of the cold-storage-medium container. The depression is a dimple. The plurality of depressions are joined each other at top parts and provide high rigidity. The cold-storage-medium container is positioned on the refrigerant pipe by an engaging projection. An open end of an open depression is covered by the refrigerant pipe. The cold storage medium can flow into the open depression. Therefore, the cold storage medium may directly contact the refrigerant pipe, and is directly cooled with the refrigerant.
US09989314B2

A heat exchanger assembly, by means of which compressed charge air for an internal combustion engine is cooled by way of a liquid, includes a housing with a heat exchanger that has a stack of pairs of plates and fins which are arranged between the pairs, and has two longitudinal sides and two transverse sides. Flow plates are arranged in the plate pairs and, toward the longitudinal sides, expose in each case one edge channel within the plate pairs. An inlet and an outlet are connected to the edge channels, and a liquid flows through the flow plates between the edge channels, the liquid flowing in counterflow with respect to the charge air which flows in on one side of the housing, through the fins, and leaves the housing again on an opposite other side.
US09989311B2

Multi-chamber furnace for vacuum carburizing and quenching of gears, shafts, rings and similar components has at least two process chambers connected in parallel, with a continuous feeding mechanism for individual workpieces. Those chambers—the first one being a heating chamber, the second being a carburizing chamber and the third one diffusion chamber—are configured in a vertical arrangement, placed in a shared vacuum space with gas-tight division, whereas at the ends of each chamber there are incorporated heating chambers with thermal insulation, with a graphite heating system and stepping feeding mechanism incorporated in the core for the purpose of continuous feeding of individual workpieces. At the ends of those chambers the construction incorporates transport chambers featuring loading and unloading systems X-Y enabling cooperation with individual process chambers through thermal and gas-tight doors installed in chamber ends, while external access to the transport chambers is ensured through loading and unloading locks.
US09989306B2

The method and device according to the invention provide for recovery of high-pressure oxygen and high-pressure nitrogen by low-temperature separation of air in a distillation-column system. This system comprises a high-pressure column, a low-pressure column, and a main condenser. A first air feed stream is cooled at a first subcritical pressure in a main heat exchanger to approximately dew point and introduced at least partially into the high-pressure column. A second air feed stream is brought to a second, supercritical, pressure, cooled, depressurized, and introduced at least partially into the distillation-column system. A first partial stream of the second air feed stream is cooled in the main heat exchanger, and a second partial stream is cooled in a high-pressure heat-exchanger system. The first and second partial streams are then merged and work-expanded in a liquid turbine.
US09989290B2

Condenser control, systems, devices, and methods are described herein. One system includes a number of pressure sensors, wherein each of the number of pressure sensors is configured to sense a pressure associated with a condenser of a refrigeration system, a temperature sensor configured to sense an outdoor air temperature, and a controller configured to activate operation of a number of condenser fans and a number of split valves associated with the condenser based, at least in part, on the sensed outdoor air temperature upon a failure of each of the number of pressure sensors.
US09989289B2

A condenser unit including a compressor for compressing a refrigerant vapor to provide a superheated refrigerant vapor exerting a head pressure, and a condenser for receiving the superheated refrigerant vapor and condensing the superheated refrigerant vapor therein, the condenser being located in an uncontrolled space with air therein at an ambient temperature. The condenser unit also includes a flow control means for controlling flow of the superheated refrigerant vapor from the compressor into the condenser, a rotatable condenser fan for moving air past the condenser to dissipate heat from the condenser, and a controller for controlling the flow control means and the speed of rotation of the condenser fan based on at least one preselected parameter, to maintain the head pressure within a predetermined range thereof.
US09989275B2

A front movable louver is configured for one central horizontal fin axially supported to be turnable in the horizontal direction substantially at the up-down center inside an air outlet, while an upper auxiliary horizontal fin is axially supported so as to be storable and turnable in the horizontal direction in a storing recess provided on an upper wall surface inside the air outlet, and a lower auxiliary horizontal fin axially supported to be storable and turnable in the horizontal direction in a storing recess provided on a lower wall surface inside the air outlet. The central horizontal fin is axially supported to be turnable by pivots provided to project substantially at the centers of both sides. The upper auxiliary horizontal fin and the lower auxiliary horizontal fin are axially supported to be turnable in a manner of sticking out downstream-side end portions to a passage side.
US09989267B2

Embodiments related to moisture abatement during a heating operation of a climate control system are disclosed. In some embodiments, the climate control system includes a thermoelectric device (TED) or other thermal condition device having a hot side and a cold side. In certain embodiments, the thermal conditioning device is operated (e.g., by a processor or a condensate switch) to inhibit or prevent the occurrence of condensation, and/or to abate condensation that has already occurred, on the cold side of the thermal conditioning device during the heating operation.
US09989265B2

Technologies for use with a hot water recirculation system containing a hot water source, a flow sensor downstream from the source, a booster pump downstream from the sensor, and a plumbing fixture downstream from the pump are provided. The technologies enable a controller to couple to the sensor and the pump, and operate in a calibration mode and a control mode. Such operations can increase energy efficiency of the pump and increase operational longevity of the pump.
US09989264B2

A heating tile designed to be easily installed using standard construction methods and materials while providing a radiant heating method that is compatible with both computer controlled systems as well as simple thermostat controls, can be repaired without major floor rework, does not produce a significant magnetic field, is protected against overheating due to excessive exposed surface insulation, and is water and contaminant resistant even if there is minor cracking of the tile.
US09989258B2

A gas turbine combustor forms a combustion region R1 therein by burning a premixed gas obtained by previously mixing a fuel and combustion air. The gas turbine combustor includes: a burner cylinder (51) in which the premixed gas passes; a film air supply port (61) that is provided on the burner cylinder 51, and supplies a film air formed into a film shape and flowing along the inner wall surface (the inner circumferential surface) of the burner cylinder (51); and a cooling passage (71) in which a cooling air passes. The cooling air cools a back-step surface (65) facing the formed combustion region R1. The cooling passage (71) includes a side from which the cooling air flows out, and the side is connected to the film air supply port (61).
US09989257B2

A fuel system includes a fuel supply system. A plurality of fuel nozzles are connected in fluid communication with the fuel supply system to supply fuel from a fuel source to be issued for combustion from the fuel nozzles. A cooling system is included, wherein at least one of the fuel nozzles includes a cooling circuit in addition to a fuel circuit for issuing fuel from the fuel supply system for combustion. The cooling circuit includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is in fluid communication with the cooling system for circulation of coolant through the cooling circuit and back to the cooling system out the outlet of the cooling circuit for cooling the fuel circuit with the fuel circuit staged off.
US09989252B2

An exhaust adapter secures an exhaust tube relative to an exhaust pipe. The exhaust adapter is formed to have an annular shape enclosing a through hole, and is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the exhaust tube and on the inner peripheral surface of the exhaust pipe by inserting the exhaust tube into the through hole. When the exhaust adapter is being fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the exhaust tube, the inner peripheral surface of the exhaust adapter presses the outer peripheral surface of the exhaust tube, and when the exhaust adapter is being fitted on the inner peripheral surface of the exhaust pipe, the outer peripheral surface of the exhaust adapter presses the inner peripheral surface of the exhaust pipe.
US09989246B2

A method includes providing a furnace including a radiant heating zone having metal heating coils and burners, concurrently applying a combustion media, having a combustibility, and a diluent to the burners, the burners burning the combustion media producing flames heating the radiant heating zone, and the diluent reducing the combustibility of the combustion media for reducing heat generated by the flames for reducing heat degradation of the metal heating coils.
US09989236B2

A lighting module, in particular for illumination and/or signaling, comprising a heatsink on which is mounted a light emitting diode comprising a central axis (xx′), the heatsink comprising a body of which a front face is maintained in abutment against a rear face of the diode, the body comprising at least one orifice passing through the body and opening out on its front face through which pass one or more connection pins extending from the rear face of the diode. The central axis (xx′) of the diode does not pass via an orifice passing through the body and through which a connection pin extends.
US09989229B2

According to an exemplary embodiment, a dimmable circuit for operating a lighting fixture may be provided. The dimmable circuit may be capable of regulating the output intensity of a connected light source via the rotational angular displacement of an arm fixture. The dimmable circuit may include a housing, an arm fixture with at least one light source mounted thereto, a rotatable shaft that provides angular rotational movement of the arm fixture about the housing, an encoder, an electrical control unit, and a slip ring. The rotatable shaft may support multiple complete rotations of the arm fixture, as well as rotations below and beyond 360 degrees. Further, a programmable microprocessor may be used to manipulate various light characteristics of the light source according to predetermined dimming patterns.
US09989228B2

A system comprising track-mounted luminaires and track. In some embodiments, electrical power for illumination is accessed by a luminaire through electrified railing recessed within a relatively narrow slot of the track. In some embodiments, mounting means are provided separately from and/or additional to the power slot, comprising, for example, a magnetic mount. Optionally luminaires are orientable to select a direction of illumination, while secured by the magnetic mount. The track is optionally mounted flush and/or recessed with a mounting surface such as a ceiling and/or wall. In some embodiments, a recessed surface of the track is formed with an arc. Optionally luminaires conform with the curvature of the arc. Additionally or alternatively, the track is at least partially masked and/or decorated, for example by plastering and/or a face plate.
US09989223B1

A disclosed lighting apparatus includes a support structure having a sheet metal member. The sheet metal member has a first surface. An adhesive layer is directly attached to the first surface of the sheet metal member. A plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) components are attached to the sheet metal member by the adhesive layer. A plurality of wires are attached to the sheet metal member by the adhesive layer and are coupled to the plurality of LED components for providing power to the LED components.
US09989221B2

Provided is an insulated radiating rubber molded article that can be pre-installed in an electrical apparatus such as an LED package, can improve handling properties during attachment work, and moreover can exert superior insulating characteristics and radiating characteristics. To achieve the objective, the insulated radiating rubber molded article, which, by means of being interposed between a base and the electrical apparatus when attaching the electrical apparatus, which emits heat alongside the operation thereof, to the base, promotes radiating from the electrical apparatus and electrically insulates the electrical apparatus from the base, is characterized by having a 3D shape by means of being integrally provided with: a flat surface section disposed between the electrical apparatus and the base; and a lateral surface section disposed around the electrical apparatus.
US09989219B2

A light bulb is disclosed herein, which in general, includes a light transmitting bulb portion and a base portion. The light transmitting bulb portion includes a rotating light aperture. The base portion includes a motor for rotating the light aperture. The light transmitting bulb portion is rotated independently of the base portion to direct light produced by the light bulb in a direction defined by a rotational position of the light aperture. A controller, battery, and wireless transceiver are included in the light bulb.
US09989215B2

The present invention has as its object the provision of a fluorescence light source apparatus which has high reliability without a drop in reflectance over a long period of time. The fluorescence light source apparatus of the present invention includes a fluorescent plate that emits fluorescence under excitation light and has a front surface serving as an excitation light incident surface, a reflection layer that is disposed on a back surface side of the fluorescent plate, and a heat dissipation substrate, wherein a sealing layer covering a back surface and a peripheral side surface of the reflection layer is provided in close contact with a peripheral area of the back surface of the fluorescent plate via an adhesion layer, and a diffusion prevention layer formed by nickel plating is provided on the heat dissipation substrate via a bonding member layer.
US09989207B2

A light device comprises at least one light source (10) to generate light rays (201, 202, 203), an output lens (5), and lateral walls (7, 8) delimiting a space (27) for passage of the light rays after the lens and exiting out of the light device through a transparent cover (9) covering the space at the front. Between the light source and the output lens, a reflective diaphragm (11) is arranged that comprises fixed reflective lateral walls (11a, 11b), for spatial delimitation of the light rays between the lateral walls before they enter the output lens. The output lens has, in the vertical direction at the side facing the diaphragm, a convex shape and the lateral walls include, at the side facing the output lens, free ends (14) that have a rounded concave shape in the vertical direction, which is substantially complementary to the output lens convex shape.
US09989206B2

An enclosed lighting unit for use with light strips is provided to enable installation of architectural lighting. The lighting unit has cooperating base and cover which are assembled by hand. The unit encloses a channel supporting the light strips which maintain a clearance distance between the light sources and the cover.
US09989200B2

An LED lighting tube including a heat-dissipating tubular envelope having an LED assembly directly affixed to an inner surface of the heat-dissipating tubular envelope and a safety switch included on at least one end cap on an end of the heat-dissipating tubular envelope. A method of preventing shocks to an individual inserting or removing an LED lighting tube from an electrical socket by an individual inserting or removing the LED lighting tube including a safety switch on an end cap from an electrical socket, providing power to the LED lighting tube only when the safety switch is activated, and preventing shocks to the individual.
US09989198B2

The present invention relates to a replacement LED light module with a plurality of LED lights on a PCB board is attached to a heat sink, providing good heat dissipation and provide an easy installation mechanism using magnetic supports that can be quickly put in place to difficult locations, such as ceiling, where there is suitable magnetic flat surface for the magnetic attraction to take effect. The power wires, along with the wire nuts, provide a sort of “back up” tensile support in the event where the magnetic connection may lose its pulling power.
US09989191B2

Deployment apparatus (10) including a deployment object (12), a deployment arm (16) with a first end (22) coupled to the deployment object and a second end (24) having a pivot (26), and a hinge assembly (18) rotatably attached to the pivot of the deployment arm. The hinge assembly (18) includes an enclosure (44) and a friction stop device (82) disposed within the enclosure such that the friction stop device includes a friction portion (80) configured to be pressed against a lateral surface of the pivot (26) of the deployment arm such that the friction portion provides a predetermined torque. The predetermined torque may be calculated based on maintaining a deployed angle of the deployment arm (16) such that the deployment object (12) is held in a raised deployed position.
US09989190B2

A tripod (1) for supporting a video camera includes a head element (4) and a plurality of supporting legs (2), whereby each leg (2) is attached at one end to the head element (4). The tripod includes an illumination means (6) which is arranged to illuminate a space beneath said head element (4).
US09989185B2

Socket tool for servicing fluid connectors. In one embodiment, a tool includes a body having a hollow recess at one end. The hollow recess has non-circular dimensions for rotating a head fitting of the fluid connector about an axis. The tool further includes a pin that mounts to a surface inside the hollow recess so that the pin is disposed in an axial direction along a center of the axis. The pin enters an aligned opening of a nozzle of the fluid connector and occupies a conduit space in the nozzle when the hollow recess is engaged with the head fitting of the fluid connector.
US09989177B2

A valve comprises a shell, a flexible valve member sealingly mounted within the shell, and a valve body mounted atop the flexible valve member within the shell. The flexible member is moveable between closed and open positions to allow the flow of fluid therethrough. The valve is engageable with a filling device having flow ports and a surrounding closure. The closure and/or the shaft is movable between (i) a first position wherein the closure closes the port(s), and (ii) a second position opening the port(s). Alternatively, the valve may comprise a portion of a female connector and the filling device may comprise a portion of a male connector to form an aseptic fluid connector for the aseptic transfer of fluid therethrough.
US09989174B2

A method of continuously forming an axially extensible and retractable hose comprising the steps of continuously forming an axially extending helix with axially spaced reinforcing coils from extruded thermoplastic material having a uniform cross-section along its length; and continuously bridging between an adjacent pair of the reinforcing coils with a continuous web of extruded thermoplastic material of substantially uniform width and relatively thin cross-section to form a continuous, helically extending sidewall, with the web having one of two opposite edge regions bonded continuously to a relatively flat outer bonding surface of a radially outwardly located portion of one of the adjacent pair of reinforcing coils, with the web having the other of the edge regions bonded continuously to a relatively flat inner bonding surface of a radially inwardly located portion of the other of the pair of reinforcing coils, and with the edge regions continuously radially separated from each other by the helix.
US09989168B2

Apparatus and methods related to pipeline freespan support are described. For example, some embodiments may contain an upper structure, which contains at least four legs connected to one another by a number of bracing members, and a number of attachment points through which the upper structure can be lifted, and a lower structure, which contains at least four posts that can be connected to, and disconnected from as needed, the four legs of the upper structure, two spaced mud mats on which the posts stand, and at least two horizontal arms that can be attached to the posts, rotate about the posts, connect to and be locked with the posts on the other mud mat, and be lifted to an appropriate height to provide suitable support at the pipeline freespan location.
US09989165B1

An electropneumatic proportional flow control device improves electropneumatic control of pneumatically operated valves. A single integrated valve incorporates a proportional valve component in operational and physical coordination with a pressure regulator valve component. The flow path of fluid is initially passed through the regulator component whereby pressure is regulated to within a manageable range for operation of a balanced type proportional valve component.
US09989164B1

In one example, a valve includes a body defining a chamber, and a spool disposed in the chamber and configured to move within the chamber, such that a first operating position of the valve is defined when the spool is in a first position in the chamber, and a second operating position of the valve is defined when the spool is in a second position in the chamber. The valve also includes a magnetic element connected to the spool and responsive to a magnetic field such that the spool is biased in a first direction when the spool is in the first position and the spool is biased in a second direction when the spool is in the second position, and the second direction is different from the first direction.
US09989163B2

Device for actuating a diaphragm valve, comprising a housing, wherein the housing is preferably formed of a top and bottom part, and further comprising an electric motor, a base board for the fastening of electrical components, a gear unit for actuating the diaphragm valve or the spindle nut of the diaphragm valve, and a position indicator for indicating the degree of opening of the diaphragm valve, wherein the position indicator is driven via the gear unit.
US09989160B2

A pump device 1 includes a relief valve 42 having a ball 45 and a valve seat 44. The valve seat 44 has a ring-shaped seat surface 52 having a wide portion 52a and a narrow portion 52b on which the ball 45 is seated. Upon valve opening, the ball 45 is pressed in a valve opening direction by a pressing force F1 according to a pressure P of working fluid while being pressed against the wide portion 52a. The ball 45 rolls on the seat surface 52 upon the valve opening while continuing or keeping contact with the wide portion 52a. At this time, the ball 45 is stably held with the ball 45 contacting the wide portion 52a of the seat surface 52. Noise of the relief valve 42 caused by vibration of the ball 45 is therefore suppressed.
US09989154B2

Exemplary embodiments are directed to butterfly valves, generally including a body assembly and handle assembly. The body assembly generally includes a body, a disc rotationally disposed inside an opening of the body, a cog, and a stem passing through the disc and the body. The handle assembly generally includes a handle body and a force ring. The stem can be rotationally interlocked relative to the disc and the handle assembly. The cog and the force ring can engage to rotationally secure the disc relative to the body. The handle assembly can include a lever and a grip, the force ring, the lever and the grip being pivotally secured relative to each other. The body can include a male radial protrusion and the body assembly can include a liner with a female radial groove. Methods of assembling and positioning a butterfly valve are also provided.
US09989153B2

A sealing ring for a seal assembly is described that comprises: a main body rotating about an axis; and a first surface, which is defined by the main body, extends transversely to the axis and is suitable for abutting against a further sealing ring in a direction parallel to the axis; the first surface comprises a plurality of grooves forming respective hydropads; the grooves are delimited by a first edge and a second edge facing one another; the first edge and the second edge delimit the grooves in a circumferential direction to said axis; at least one of the first edge and the second edge is shaped like an elliptical arc, which has coincident or separate foci;comprises first grooves and second grooves alternating with one another in a circumferential direction to said axis and staggered from each other in a radial direction to said axis.
US09989152B2

A wiper-seal assembly for a cylinder with a cylinder wall and with a relative movable rod/piston rod with a piston wall is arranged for mounting in a ring-shaped groove in a cylinder wall or a rod/piston rod wall in front of a sealing or a steering. The wiper-seal assembly includes a ring-shaped wiper with one or more wiper sealing lip portions against the opposite relatively moving cylinder wall or the rod/piston rod wall. The wiper is further arranged for fluid transport from a gap between the cylinder wall and the rod/piston rod wall outside the ring shaped groove through pressure releasing flow conduits and further to the gap between the cylinder wall and the piston rod wall outside and at the opposite side of the ring shaped groove, and where the wiper-seal assembly further includes one or more filters.
US09989151B2

A drum cam is connected to a first annular member in a ball cam provided on a rear wheel-side output shaft. Furthermore, linear motion of a second annular member in the ball cam provided on the rear wheel-side output shaft is transmitted to a front wheel-driving clutch via a first transmission mechanism.
US09989147B2

A method for a vehicle includes receiving a shift schedule for a transmission of a vehicle, the shift schedule indicating when shift events occur based on operation of the vehicle. The method further includes receiving vehicle operation data during operation of the vehicle. The method further includes determining a power to overcome vehicle losses based on the vehicle operation data. The method further includes determining an adjustment to the shift schedule to optimize a vehicle operating parameter based on the determined power to overcome vehicle losses and implementing the adjustment to the shift schedule.
US09989143B2

A bevel gear shroud assembly comprises a frustum shaped shroud portion, first and second rib portions and one or more fin portions. The frustum shaped shroud portion has a cut-out sector, the cut-out sector having opposing, radially extending first and second sides. The first and second rib portions project inwardly from an upper base of the shroud frustum and normal to the inner surface of the shroud portion, and are spaced apart from one another to form an annular trough therebetween. The or each rib portion projects inwardly from an inner surface of the frustum shaped shroud portion between the first and second rib portions, and the or each rib portion extends circumferentially around the shroud portion.
US09989139B2

An axle assembly having a bearing cap, an actuator, and a fork. The bearing cap may be disposed in a cavity defined by an axle housing and a differential carrier and may be fixedly disposed on the differential carrier. The fork may be disposed in the cavity and may couple the actuator to a clutch collar.
US09989133B2

A modular actuator (1) includes an actuation module (10), a gear module (20) and a telescoping module (30). The actuation module (10) includes a motor (11) and a drive worm (12) driven by the motor (11). The gear module (20) includes a gearbox (21) and a deceleration gear assembly (22) disposed in the gearbox (21). The deceleration gear assembly (22) includes a deceleration worm gear (221) engaged with the drive worm (12) and includes a deceleration worm (222) driven to rotate by the deceleration worm gear (221). The telescoping module (30) includes a drive worm gear (31), a lead screw (32) driven to rotate by the drive worm gear (31), and an extendable pipe (33) threadedly connected to the lead screw (32). The drive worm gear (31) is engaged with the deceleration worm (222), and the lead screw (32) is arranged parallel to the drive worm (13).
US09989132B2

Various mechanical drive devices, mechanical gears, combinations thereof and medical or dental treatment devices with such mechanical drive devices or gears are described. The mechanical drive devices and mechanical gears convert a unidirectional rotational movement received by a motor drive into a multidirectional movement, so that a tool-holding device of the treatment device can be induced to a multidirectional movement, in particular to a, preferably simultaneous, lifting and rotating movement or to a lifting and oscillating rotational movement with a reduced rotational speed.
US09989123B2

A transmission includes a main shaft having two or more main shaft clutches that couple gears to at least one countershaft, and an automated manual transmission coupled to the main shaft via the at least one countershaft. The automated manual transmission includes a front input shaft coupled directly to a main clutch and having a first clutch coupleable to the at least one countershaft, and a rear input shaft coupled to the front input shaft and having a second clutch coupleable to the at least one countershaft. The automated manual transmission is operable to selectively engage the first clutch and the second clutch.
US09989121B2

A rotating movement control mechanism including a worm, and a main driving side worm wheel and a driven side worm wheel disposed across the worm. Both end portions of the worm in an axial direction are axially supported by bearing parts. Respective teeth of the main driving side worm wheel and the driven side worm wheel contact both sides of the worm in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axial center with a backlash, and are supported thereby. When the second member is relatively rotated with respect to the first member, the worm rotates relatively with respect to the main driving side worm wheel. The driven side worm wheel rotates by a rotational force of the worm, and a rotational force of the driven side worm wheel is regenerated in the worm. Whirling vibrations of the worm are suppressed, and relative rotation is performed smoothly.
US09989117B2

A disc brake, in particular for a motor vehicle, has a brake application device, preferably with a brake rotary lever, at least one spindle unit having at least one threaded tube with an external thread that cooperates with an internal thread of a bridge, and at least one bidirectional wear adjustment device which is coupled to the brake application device, preferably to the brake rotary lever. The bidirectional wear adjustment device has an adjustment arrangement and at least one preloading arrangement which is designed to influence a flank position of a thread pairing of the external thread of the at least one threaded tube and the associated internal thread of the bridge.
US09989114B2

A brake assembly including a first brake piston; a second brake piston; and a parking brake assembly. The parking brake assembly includes a power transfer mechanism and a motor providing power to the power transfer mechanism. During a parking brake apply, the power transfer mechanism provides the power to both the first brake piston and the second brake piston so that both the first brake piston and the second brake piston are moved until a resistance of the second brake piston becomes higher than a resistance of the first brake piston. The power transfer mechanism then transfers the power from the second brake piston to the first brake piston so that the second brake piston ceases to move and additional power is supplied to the first brake piston.
US09989113B2

Disclosed herein is an electronic parking brake including: a carrier fixed to a body of a vehicle; a caliper housing that is slidably installed in the carrier; a motor that is disposed at an outside of the caliper housing and generates a rotational force; a decelerator that amplifies the rotational force of the motor; and a conversion unit that converts a rotational force transmitted from the decelerator into a rectilinear motion, wherein the decelerator includes a belt planetary gear part, and the belt planetary gear part includes: a solar gear rotated by receiving the rotational force of the motor; a belt gear engaged with the solar gear; a transmission plate that is connected to the belt gear and has belt support parts for supporting the belt gear so that the belt gear is rotatable; and a ring gear that is engaged with an outer surface of the belt gear and fixed to the belt gear so as to rotate the transmission plate.
US09989112B1

A caliper housing having a) an inboard side; b) an outboard side distanced from the inboard side so that a rotor gap is formed between the inboard side and the outboard side; c) a bridge structure which extends from both the inboard side and the outboard side over the rotor gap and connects the inboard side with the outboard side; d) a damper bore passing through the caliper housing from the inboard side into the bridge structure; and e) a mass damper residing within the damper bore; wherein the mass damper is adapted to dampen vibrations occurring during use of the caliper housing.
US09989111B2

The adjustable brake pad spreader (20) compresses a brake pad against a brake caliper with the brake pad having a first flank and a second flank at opposite edges of the brake pad. The adjustable brake pad spreader (20) comprises a pair of frames (122, 222) and a pair of rods (138, 238) with each of the rods (138, 238) extending through the rear of each of the frames (122, 222) and along a pair of spreading axes (A, B) parallel and spaced an adjustment length (L) from one another. The adjustable brake pad spreader (20) further comprises an adjustment mechanism (84) supporting each of the frames (122, 222) for adjusting the adjustment length (L) between each of the spreading axes (A, B) to engage a brake pad at various distances between the first flank and second flank of the brake pad.
US09989103B2

A decoupler having an input hub, an output member, a one-way clutch, and at least one isolation spring. Rotary power is transmitted in a predetermined rotational direction from the input hub, through the one-way clutch, through the isolation spring and to the output member. A method for forming a decoupler is also provided.
US09989101B2

Provided is a method of machining a sealing surface, the method being capable of finishing a sealing surface at low cost and in a short period of time, eliminating lead marks, and forming the sealing surface highly accurately. The method of machining a sealing surface comprises finishing a sealing surface (M), which is to be machined, by cutting the sealing surface (M) using a rotating cutting tool (81) while rotating a workpiece having the sealing surface (M) about an axis thereof. The cutting of the sealing surface (M) using the rotating cutting tool (81) comprises hardened steel cutting which generates no lead marks.
US09989098B2

In one aspect, there is provided a rotary blade movement system including a retaining member configured to receive a rotor blade, a graspable arm, and a coupling mechanism operable to removably couple the retaining member to the graspable arm. The rotor blade movement system is configured to enable a user to adjust the position of the rotor blade by moving the graspable arm. The coupling mechanism can be a ball and socket joint. In one aspect, there is a method of rotating a rotor blade using a rotary blade movement system.
US09989091B2

Provided is a fluid dynamic bearing device (1) including a rotary body (2A), a bearing member (22) (sleeve portion) made of a sintered metal arranged on the rotary body (2A), having end surfaces (22b, 22c), a thrust bearing gap formed by a lower end surface (22c) of the bearing member (22), filled with lubricating oil (11), and a thrust dynamic pressure generating portion (B). A dynamic pressure generating action is caused in the lubricating oil in the thrust bearing gap along with rotation of the rotary body (2A) to support the rotary body (2A) in one thrust direction in a non-contact manner. The bearing member (22) has an oil permeability of 4% or more with respect to a mass flow rate of the lubricating oil (11) flowing along the thrust dynamic pressure generating portion (B) during the rotation of the rotary body (2A).
US09989086B2

A sliding bearing includes at least one bearing inner ring and at least one bearing outer ring configured to rotate relative to each other about an axis (a), where the rings each include at least one sliding surface, the sliding surfaces being configured to slide along each other, and where the contact surface formed by the mutually contacting sliding surfaces has a maximum contact diameter (DK). At least parts of the sliding surfaces in a radial section have a radius of curvature (rB), the radius of curvature (rB) has a centerpoint (M) located at an offset (b) from the axis (a), and the offset (b) is at least 5% of the radius of curvature (rB).
US09989084B2

A slide bearing which can be manufactured at low cost is provided. The slide bearing (1) is provided with a cylindrical bearing main body (2) into which a shaft member is inserted, and an elastic ring (3) for urging the bearing main body (2) diametrically inward, the elastic ring (3) being mounted to the bearing main body (2). The bearing main body (2) has a sliding surface (21) which slides against the outer peripheral surface of the inserted shaft member, a plurality of first slits (25) running along the direction of an axis O from one end surface (23) toward another end surface (24), a plurality of second slits (26) running along the direction of the axis O from the other end surface (24) toward the one end surface (23), a plurality of first elastic ring interlocking parts (27) protruding diametrically outward at one end part (220) of the outer peripheral surface (22), and a plurality of second elastic ring interlocking parts (28) protruding diametrically outward at another end part (221) of the outer peripheral surface (22). The first elastic ring interlocking parts (27) and the second elastic ring interlocking parts (28) are positioned so as not to overlap each other seen in an imaginary plane P perpendicular to the axis O.
US09989079B2

An attachment assembly includes an elongate channel element and a male fastening element including a shank to fasten the channel element to another structural element. The elongate channel element has a substantially flat bottom, sidewalls extending from the bottom substantially at right angles and an upper side opposite the bottom. The upper side of the channel element includes flanges which extend from the respective sidewalls towards each other and delimit between them a longitudinal slot extending over the length of the channel element. The bottom has an aperture formed in it for passing through the shank of the male fastening element. The male fastening element has a head that has a circular groove in the side where the shank is located. The groove in the head is engageable with a collar surrounding the aperture so as to mutually lock the head and the bottom in position at the aperture.
US09989073B2

A centrifugal fan having improved efficiency and noise reduction includes a hub configured to have a central part combined with a rotary shaft, a shroud spaced apart from the hub, and a plurality of blades provided between the hub and the shroud. The shroud includes outer circumferential parts each connecting the trailing edges of a plurality of respective adjacent blades. Each outer circumferential part is asymmetrically formed based on the center of the outer circumferential part.
US09989071B2

The invention relates to a hydraulic unit including a motor housing for receiving components of an electric motor; having a pump housing for receiving components of a pump, which is driven in order to pump a pressure medium from the electric motor, the pump housing having at least one through-bore for fixing the motor housing to the pump housing by a screw; and having a control device which is arranged on the pump housing face opposite the motor housing. A retaining region for the screw is provided in the through-bore of the pump housing for the purpose of an efficient attachment, the retaining region having an inner thread which is cut or tapped into the retaining region by the thread of the screw during the screw-in process.
US09989059B2

A noise-reduction mechanism is coupled to a portion of an oil-pump system and includes various tunable components that are configurable to affect specific frequency ranges of noise within the system. The mechanism includes a series of channels that are coupled to a portion of the oil-pump system (e.g., outlet tube) and are coupled to a reservoir.
US09989050B2

A fuel injection pump is provided. The fuel injection pump includes a valve holder, a plunger, an inlet valve, an outlet valve, and a relief valve. The valve holder includes a pump chamber and a seat. The plunger configured to pressurize or depressurize the pump chamber. The inlet valve, the outlet valve, and the relief valve are arranged in an interior of the valve holder. The relief valve is provided on a downstream side of the outlet valve. The pump chamber is formed between the inlet valve and the outlet valve. The seat has a discharge passage and a return passage. The return passage is configured such that the fuel flows through the return passage from the downstream side of the outlet valve to an upstream side of the relief valve. The discharge passage and the return passage are formed offset from each other in the seat.
US09989046B2

A roundel structure for a five-compressing-chamber diaphragm pump includes a cylindrical or inverted frustoconical eccentric roundel in an eccentric roundel mount. The cylindrical or inverted frustoconical eccentric roundel includes an annular positioning groove or indentation, a vertical or inverted frustoconical flank and a sloped top ring extending from the annular positioning groove or indentation to the flank. The sloped top ring eliminates the oblique high frequency pull and squeezing phenomena that occurs in a conventional tubular eccentric roundel arrangement.
US09989044B2

A fluid end (15) for a multiple reciprocating pump assembly (12) comprises at least three plunger bores (61) or (91) each for receiving a reciprocating plunger (35), each plunger bore having a plunger bore axis (65) or (95). Plunger bores being arranged across the fluid head to define a central plunger bore and lateral plunger bores located on either side of the central plunger bore. Fluid end (15) has suction valve bores (59) or (89), each suction valve bore receiving a suction valve (41) and having a suction valve bore axis (63) or (93). Discharge valve bores (57) or (87), each discharge valve bore receiving a discharge valve (43) and having a discharge valve bore axis (63) or (93). The axes of at least one of suction and discharge valve bores is inwardly offset in the fluid end from its respective plunger bore axis.
US09989038B2

The wind turbine includes a wind driven turbine wheel rotatable about a central axis that has sail wings that catch the wind and rotate the turbine wheel. An anchor has its anchor line attached to the turbine wheel at its axis of rotation to prevent tilting the wind turbine in response to high wind conditions. A set of streamers attached to the spokes at one end and including a free end wherein the free end is disposed in a space defined between two adjacent spokes when the turbine wheel is rotating. A trolley removably and slidably attached to a main anchor line, a secondary anchor line attached to the trolley and a secondary anchor; and, a drop line removably attached to the secondary anchor configured to lower the anchor to the main anchor so that the trolley, secondary anchor line and secondary anchor is configured to provide an anchor support structure for the main anchor.
US09989034B2

A wind turbine controller for controlling power production of a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine is arranged within a wind farm coupled to a public power network via a point of common coupling. The wind turbine controller has a receiving unit for receiving a measured value of a property of the wind farm taken at the point of common coupling and for receiving a reference value for the property, and a control unit for controlling the power production of the wind turbine by regulating a local property of the wind turbine based on the received measured value and the received reference value such that the measured value of the wind farm taken at the point of common coupling corresponds to the reference value. Further, a wind turbine having such a controller, a wind farm and a method for controlling a power production of a wind turbine are provided.
US09989030B2

A system for starting an engine is disclosed herein. The system includes a fluid powered turbine with a variable geometry stator. The variable geometry stator includes moveable members operable to selectively block fluid flow to the turbine.
US09989017B2

A method of operating a cryogenic fuel system for supplying fuel to an engine is provided herein. A cryogenic fuel pump is operated to pump fuel to be supplied to the engine. At least a portion of the pumped fuel is diverted to be supplied to an accumulator, when a fuel demand of the engine is less than a discharge output of the cryogenic fuel pump. Further, the supply of the pumped fuel from the cryogenic fuel pump to the engine and the accumulator is stopped, when a pressure within the accumulator reaches a first predefined pressure limit. Furthermore, the fuel is supplied to the engine from the accumulator, when supply of the pumped fuel from the cryogenic fuel pump to the engine and the accumulator is stopped.
US09989011B2

A bypass housing receives a fan and defines a front end. An airflow path delivers air into an inlet duct over a limited circumferential extent of the bypass housing. An airflow path passes across a low pressure compressor rotor. An airflow path passes through a core engine, which includes a high pressure compressor rotor, a combustor, and a high pressure turbine rotor. Products of combustion downstream of the high pressure turbine rotor pass into an intermediate duct and then across a low pressure turbine rotor. The low pressure turbine rotor is positioned closer to the front end of the engine than is the high pressure turbine rotor. The low pressure turbine rotor is positioned axially intermediate the low pressure compressor rotor and the fan. The low pressure turbine rotor drives both the fan and the low pressure turbine rotor. An aircraft is also disclosed.
US09989007B2

A method for controlling variable oil pressure to a piston squirter based on piston temperature according to an exemplary embodiment includes a temperature estimation module and an oil pump pressure control module. The temperature estimation module estimates a piston temperature associated with a cylinder based on engine operating conditions. The oil pump pressure control module controls the oil pressure level delivered to at least one of piston squirter associated with the cylinder to selectively spray oil on the piston based on temperature estimations.
US09989000B2

To provide a control device capable of setting a plurality of combustion parameters changing a combustion state of an internal combustion engine to appropriate values and improving a fuel consumption rate regardless of an operation state. An engine ECU 70 sets a combustion parameter (main injection timing, pilot injection timing, fuel injection pressure, turbocharging pressure, or the like) such that a center-of-gravity position of a heat generation rate becomes a constant target crank angle regardless of a load of an engine 10, In addition, the ECU 70 estimates the center-of-gravity position of a heat generation rate based on an output of an in-cylinder pressure sensor 64 and feedback-controls the combustion parameter such that the estimated center-of-gravity position of a heat generation rate becomes equal to the target crank angle.
US09988996B2

A method of controlling a supercharger includes: an information conversion step, a map deducing step, a boost amount deducing step, and a RPM deducing step. In the information conversion step, a sensor detects information of a vehicle, and a control unit converts the information into a factor and saves. The map deducing step includes deducing a total boost amount for driving an engine, and deducing a map for a target boost amount of a supercharger using a boost pressure of a turbocharger. A correction value deduced in the boost amount deducing step is calculated according to vehicle environment information, and a target RPM of the supercharger is calculated based on the target boost amount of the supercharger, and a boost pressure by the supercharger. In particular, the target boost amount of the supercharger is deduced based on the correction value, the converted factor, and the deduced map.
US09988991B2

Systems and methods for controlling operation of dual fuel internal combustion engines in response to cylinder pressure based determinations are disclosed. The techniques control fueling contributions from a first fuel source and a second fuel source to achieve desired operational outcomes in response to the cylinder pressure based determinations.
US09988985B2

A rigid raft is provided for a gas turbine engine. The raft has an electrical system and/or a fluid system embedded in the material of the raft. The raft further has one or more first mounts for mounting the raft to the gas turbine engine, and one or more second mounts for mounting a gas turbine engine component to the raft. The raft further has one or more tethers which extend between respective first and second mounts and are embedded in the material of the raft.
US09988984B2

A turbo-charging system of an engine comprising: a central body on which a turbine and a compressor, both keyed on a same shaft, are mounted; and at least two flange diffusers connected to two Venturi tubes comprised in the central body and ending with nozzles. The turbocharging system is interposed between the engine air filter and the engine throttle unit, the turbine receiving from the nozzles the engine intaking air at the output of the air filter whose flow determines the handling of the turbine and, through the shaft, of the compressor.
US09988983B2

A power generation system including a gasifier for receiving and converting coal-water slurry to a fuel stream, and a quench device for cooling the fuel stream to generate a cooled down fuel stream. The quench device includes a water quench ring, which is able to spray water to cool the fuel stream passing therethrough. The system further includes a separating device, which includes a separator and a high temperature filter for removing rough and fine particles from the cooled down fuel stream respectively, an expander for receiving and utilizing energy in the fuel stream with solids removed to generate power, during which temperature and pressure of the fuel stream drop and an expanded fuel stream is generated, an acid gas removal unit for removing acid gases from the expanded fuel stream, and a gas turbine combine cycle for generating power from the fuel stream with acid gases removed.
US09988978B2

A four-cycle multi-cylinder engine includes a crankcase, a cylinder block, a crankshaft, and a gear-shift input shaft. The crankcase is vertically divided into an upper case and a lower case. The cylinder block is integrated with the crankcase. The crankshaft and the gear-shift input shaft are journaled to a contact surface of the crankcase. The cylinder block is inclined rearward such that an extended line intersects with a cylinder axis line of the cylinder block at an acute angle in an engine side view. The extended line connects respective central axes of the crankshaft and the gear-shift input shaft.
US09988969B2

A fluid management system for a cooling module of a vehicle air conditioning system. The cooling module includes a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with a liquid cooling system of the vehicle and a second heat exchanger disposed upstream of the first heat exchanger and in fluid communication with the vehicle air conditioning system, wherein the fluid management system minimizes an inlet fluid temperature of the second heat exchanger of the cooling module.
US09988968B2

An engine cooling system including a refrigerant circulation flow channel passing through an engine, an electric refrigerant pump, an electromagnetic valve arranged in the refrigerant circulation flow channel, and a control unit. In the engine cooling system, when the electric refrigerant pump is stopped and the voltage application to the electromagnetic valve is shut off when the electromagnetic valve is closed and the electric refrigerant pump is in operation, the voltage application to the electromagnetic valve is shut off when a first predetermined time period has passed after the electric refrigerant pump is stopped. When the engine is intermittently stopped during warming up of the engine, current application to the electromagnetic valve is shut off while the closed state of the electromagnetic valve is maintained.
US09988964B2

An ebullient cooling device includes: an internal combustion engine cooled by boiling a coolant flowing through a coolant passage formed within the internal combustion engine; a gas-liquid separator that separates a coolant discharged from the internal combustion engine into a liquid-phase coolant and a gas-phase coolant; a condenser that is disposed on a downstream side of the expander, and cools the gas-phase coolant having passed through the expander so as to be changed into a liquid-phase coolant; a first passage that supplies the liquid-phase coolant from the condenser to the coolant passage formed within the internal combustion engine; a second passage that is branched from the first passage, and is connected to the gas-liquid separator; and a control valve that controls a supply state of a liquid-phase coolant supplied to the gas-liquid separator from the condenser through the second passage.
US09988955B1

A drive unit, method, and control system are provided that warm drive unit fluid in a drive unit having a main pump, a scavenge pump, and an electric motor for powering an axle of a vehicle. The control system and method are configured to fill a main sump of the drive unit with drive unit fluid to a predetermined fill level. In a warm-up mode, the method and control system operate the electric motor to heat the drive unit fluid within the main sump while the vehicle is stationary and the electric motor is at least partially disposed in the drive unit fluid within the main sump. Further in the warm-up mode, the method and control system are configured to operate the scavenge pump to pump the drive unit fluid from the main sump into an auxiliary reservoir after the drive unit fluid has been heated by the electric motor.
US09988948B2

A continuous variable valve duration apparatus may include: a camshaft; first and second cam portions on which a cam is formed respectively, the camshaft inserted to the first and second cam portions of which relative phase angles with respect to the camshaft are variable; first and second inner brackets transmitting rotation of the camshaft to the first and second cam portions respectively; a cam lifter in which the first and second inner brackets are rotatably inserted, and a cam lifter guide slantly formed on the cam lifter; a cam cap rotatably supporting the first and the second cam portions, and the cam lifter slidably mounted to the cam cap; a control portion including a screw shaft parallel to the camshaft; and an adapter engaged with the screw shaft, on which an adapter guide slidably engaged with the cam lifter guide and moving a relative position of the cam lifter.
US09988946B2

A system for recycling heat or energy of a working medium of a heat engine for producing mechanical work is described. The system may comprise a first heat exchanger (204) for transferring heat from a working medium output from an energy extraction device (202) to a heating agent to vaporize the heating agent; a second heat exchanger (240) for transferring further heat to the vaporized heating agent; a compressor (231) coupled to the second heat exchanger (240) arranged to compress the further-heated heating agent; and a third heat exchanger (211) for transferring heat from the compressed heating agent to the working medium. A heat pump is also described.
US09988944B2

The present invention provides a novel turbo-generator unit, which at least comprises a boiler and a superheater and a reheater provided in the boiler. On the boiler, the positions corresponding to the header of the steam inlets and outlets of the superheater and reheater form the header-connection area; the steam pipe system at least comprises the pipes that connect the boiler with the HP cylinder and the IP cylinder and are used to transmit the HTHP steam; the HP cylinder and the generator constitute the high-level shafting, and the high-level shafting is positioned outside of boiler and close to the header-connection area. The present invention can also comprise a low-level shafting positioned at a low level. Since the high-level shafting and the low-level shafting are arranged at different levels, the lengths of costly HTHP steam pipes in the pipe system and the pressure drop and heat radiation loss of the pipe system are significantly reduced, and the work capability of the unit is improved. Furthermore, the quantity of the steam stored in the reheat system and the adjustment inertia of unit is reduced, and the economical efficiency of the double-reheat unit is sufficiently realized.
US09988943B2

A fitting according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a main body portion having a first axial end and a second axial end opposite the first axial end, an inlet provided at the first axial end, and an outlet adjacent the second axial end. The outlet includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart slots formed through the main body portion, and each slot has an area within a range of 0.52 and 0.59 square inches.
US09988938B2

The present invention describes a jet engine with a device for spraying oil into an air-oil volume flow guided inside a flow cross-section limited by a wall area. The air-oil volume flow is guidable through an oil separator in order to separate the oil. In accordance with the invention, the oil can be sprayed into the air-oil volume flow in the area of the device via an outlet area rigidly connected to the wall area.
US09988937B2

The disclosed subject matter relates to a hydraulic and electrical interface ring for a turbine engine, characterized in that said ring comprises fluid transfer pipes which axially pass therethrough and having axial ends that form axial interlocking means, the supporting means of at least one electrical device, and at least one electrical linking connector of the device, said connector being configured to engage by axial interlocking with a complementary electrical connector of another part.
US09988935B2

A gas turbine engine may include an axial high pressure compressor having an air flow pathway positioned between the inner and outer rim of the rotor section. The air flow pathway includes an inlet port, a transition segment, an axial segment, and an outlet port. The pathway may be a tube having an ovoid cross sectional shape and is substantially co-planar to the outer surface of the outer rim. The pathway may traverse the rotor section from the first rotor segment to the rear hub.
US09988932B2

Bi-cast turbine nozzles and methods for cooling the same are provided. The bi-cast turbine nozzle comprises an endwall. A vane is coupled to the endwall. The vane comprises an end portion and a leading edge and a trailing edge interconnected by a pressure sidewall and a suction sidewall. A slip joint is provided between the end portion and the endwall. A plurality of cooling holes is defined through the endwall. The plurality of cooling holes is disposed adjacent the periphery of the slip joint along the pressure sidewall of the vane and in proximity to the leading edge of the vane.
US09988927B2

A housing for a gas turbine is disclosed. At least one wall element is housed on the housing so as to move, which limits a flow channel of the housing in the radial direction from a rotational axis of a rotor of the gas turbine toward the exterior. The housing includes at least one variably adjustable guide blade which extends through the wall element into the flow channel. The wall element can be moved between a sealing setting, in which the wall element makes contact at least in a partial area of a side of a blade leaf of the guide blade facing toward the wall element, and an open setting, in which the blade leaf and the wall element are spaced some distance apart from one another. A gas turbine as well as a process for operating a gas turbine is also disclosed.
US09988917B2

A turbine nozzle disposed in a turbine includes a suction side having a bulge, and a pressure side. The suction side and the pressure side extend opposite one another between a leading edge and a trailing edge in an axial direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the turbine nozzle, and extends a radial direction along the longitudinal axis. The bulge is disposed on the suction side protruding relative to the other portion of the suction side in a direction transverse to both the radial and axial directions. The turbine nozzle has a first periphery defined at a first cross-section at a first location along the height of the turbine nozzle by selected coordinate sets listed in Table 1.
US09988914B2

An environmental severity measurement tool measures acceleration along 3 axes to determine shock and vibration affecting a downhole tool in which the environmental severity measurement tool is disposed. The environmental severity measurement tool includes a replaceable battery and electronics disposed within an external housing. A pin provides a way to ensure the environmental severity measurement tool is oriented in a known orientation. Data sampled by the tool can be downloaded from the tool to an external device through a connector port of the electronics. Software in the tool controls the operation of the tool and can be configured from an external device.
US09988884B2

Screen sections have opposed open ends near the threaded connection of a base pipe and on opposed ends. The base pipes have premium threads for connection. A shroud is placed over the premium bases pipe connection that spans from one open ended screen section to another that is adjacent. Collectively a long annular space is created under the screens and alternating shrouds with access to within the base pipes provided preferably at opposed ends. The valve on one end takes returns during gravel packing and the other takes production to the surface.
US09988881B2

A method for developing a subterranean field includes: receiving a representation of a rock surface in the subterranean field, the representation having a boundary; defining a set of grid planes over the representation; defining a plurality of core nodes at intersections of the grid planes that are within the boundary; defining core lines to connect each core node with each adjacent core node along the set of grid planes; defining a plurality of plane nodes on the grid planes where each grid plane intersects the boundary; defining plane lines to connect each plane node with each adjacent plane node along the grid planes; defining outlier nodes at each vertex of the boundary; and defining boundary lines connecting each of the plane nodes and each of the outlier nodes along the boundary. The method further includes operating equipment using at least one definition in order to develop the subterranean field.
US09988877B2

A device for cleaning water wells comprises a downhole tool composed of an electrohydraulic unit (7) with an oscillatory circuit and an ultrasonic unit (4) with an electroacoustic transducer (3) arranged successively in a single housing, sensors of pressure (10) and flow (11), a hydrophone (12), a pump, an ultrasonic generator (13), a pulse generator (14), monitoring equipment (15) for the sensors, a downhole tool control unit (16) equipped with a synchronizer of operation of the electrohydraulic unit (7) and the ultrasonic unit (4), and also with a device for controlling pulse width, beating frequency and spectrum of the signal of the oscillatory circuit of the electrohydraulic unit in order to change the treatment zone. Furthermore, a discharge chamber (8) and a protective cap (9) are arranged in the bottom part of the downhole tool.
US09988867B2

A technique that is usable with a well includes deploying a seat assembly into a tubing string; releasing the seat assembly at a downhole location inside the tubing string; pumping the seat assembly to a restriction in the tubing string at a second downhole location; and using an untethered object received in a seat assembly to form an obstruction in the tubing string.
US09988864B2

A coiled tubing transport unit includes a coiled tubing reel unit, a first mechanism for shifting the coiled tubing reel unit lengthwise along the coiled tubing transport unit, an injector head, and a second mechanism for shifting the injector head lengthwise along the coiled tubing transport unit.
US09988858B1

The disclosure relates to an end fitting attachable to an end of a sucker rod. The end fitting includes a generally cylindrical body including a receptacle portion and a coupling portion along a longitudinal axis. The receptacle portion includes a receptacle extending inwardly from an open end surface of the body along the longitudinal axis for receiving the sucker rod end therein. The receptacle includes a plurality of wedge portions disposed therein and the coupling portion extends from a coupling end surface of the body opposite the open end surface. The wedge portions each have a peak portion, a first angled portion and a second angled portion. Each second angled portion has an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis wherein each angle of the second angled portions increases from the open end surface of the receptacle portion toward the coupling portion of the end fitting.
US09988857B2

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a superior 13Cr friction-welded drillrod, the method comprising the following steps: manufacturing a superior 13Cr tube body; manufacturing a superior 13Cr internally threaded coupler and a superior 13Cr externally threaded coupler, respectively; connecting the superior 13Cr internally threaded coupler and the superior 13Cr externally threaded coupler respectively to the two ends of the superior 13Cr tube body by means of frictional butt welding; after heating seam areas to 950° C.-1000° C., cooling same to below 200° C. by ejecting compressed air onto the surfaces of the seam areas, and then cooling the seam areas to room temperature by spraying water; and tempering the seam areas by heating same to 640° C.-700° C. By the present method, a superior 13Cr friction-welded drillrod can be manufactured, which, in the case of the exploration of a gas filed containing a relatively high level of CO2, can be not only used as a drillrod in an earlier stage of nitrogen well-drilling operation, but also used as an oil tube in a later stage of well completion with oil tube.
US09988855B2

An electromagnetic telemetry signal generating assembly comprises a first section of drill string, a second section of drill string, a gap sub configured to insulate the first section from the second section, and a power source configured to provide a first voltage to a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to drive a second voltage between the sections of drill string. The gap sub provides a gap of at least 12 inches (30 cm). The second voltage may be different than the first voltage.
US09988848B2

A floating, offshore drilling and/or production platform is equipped with a rail-mounted transport system that can be positioned at a plurality of selected positions over the well bay of the vessel. The transport system can move a drilling riser with a drilling riser tensioner system and a blowout preventer from one drilling location to another without removing them from the well bay of the vessel. Using the transport system, the drilling riser is lifted just clear of a first well head and positioned over an adjacent, second well head using guidelines. The transport system may then move the upper end of the drilling riser (together with its attached tensioner and BOP) to a second drilling location. A dummy wellhead may be provided on the seafloor in order to secure the lower end of the drilling riser without removing it from the sea while production risers are being installed.
US09988844B2

A ram accelerator device may utilize rails arranged within a guide tube that may be emplaced downhole. The rails may serve to direct a hypervelocity projectile along the length of the guide tube. The rails may carry utilities or provide other services to operate the system. For example, electrical wiring for power, control signaling, and so forth, may be placed within the rails. In another example, gasses may be delivered by the rails.
US09988834B2

A window balance assembly may include a spring member, a mounting bracket, and a carrier. The spring member may include a first portion and a second portion. The mounting bracket may engage the first portion of the spring member. The carrier may include an upper body portion supporting the second portion of the spring member and removably engaging the mounting bracket, a lower body portion rotatably supporting a cam, and an elongated central portion extending between the upper body portion and the lower body portion. The elongated central portion may be resiliently flexible to allow movement of the lower body portion relative to the upper body portion.
US09988831B2

A rotary latch assembly for a galley cart compartment door is disclosed comprising a barrel member rotating on a spindle and a handle connected to the barrel member. An interfering block outside the barrel member can prevent rotation of the barrel member when engaged with the barrel member, and be displaced by a lock button diametrically opposed with the interfering block. The handle of the rotary latch bears against the door in a locked position to prevent the door from opening, and the button when depressed releases the barrel member to rotate and the handle to pivot out of the path of the door.
US09988819B2

The present disclosure provides a roof ventilation system and method that provides ventilation for a roof while further providing simpler ventilation installation, prevention of ice dams, a non-slip surface to walk on, and a secondary membrane to prevent moisture intrusion into the living space or walls. The roof ventilation system provided by the invention includes vertical side walls having a top portion. A roof extends outwardly and beyond the vertical side walls. The roof has a top surface facing away from the vertical side walls. A web of extruded polymer monofilaments is secured to the top surface of the roof. The polymer monofilaments are heat welded at junctions to form a matrix of tangled monofilaments. The method for ventilating a roof of a building provided by the invention includes installing a web of extruded polymer monofilaments on a top surface of the roof.
US09988816B2

Metal roofing includes metal roof-covering sheets or tiles having apertures along longitudinal end edges for coupling a pair of the sheets in an overlapping condition. One fastening arrangement comprises a fastener having a shaft extending in a longitudinal direction and fastening features at longitudinally spaced positions along the shaft. The fastening features may comprise a fastening peg or an opening receiving a fastening member therethrough. The pegs and openings may be combined in such a manner that at least two of the features cooperate with the apertures of the respective sheet in opposing transverse directions so as to longitudinally offset the apertures in the overlapping condition. Another fastening arrangement comprises a roof-covering sheet locating fastenings pegs which are spaced inward of the apertures in a longitudinal direction of the sheet so as to form the longitudinal offset between the respective sets of apertures.
US09988813B2

The present invention relates to a formwork plate comprising a flat rectangular central body extended in a first direction by a first series of flat tabs and in a second opposing direction by a second series of flat tabs, the tabs extending in the plane of the body while leaving a spacing between tabs of the same series, the plate having first and second sets of angled tabs, with each angled tab extending into the spacing between two flat tabs respectively from the first or second series, the tabs being angled while extending the body each having an angled portion and a flat distal end portion extending parallel to the flat tabs. The invention also relates to a formwork made from several plates.
US09988812B2

A system for interconnecting multiple panel assemblies comprising a first bracketing body having a first bearing member and at least one planar member; a second bracketing body having a second bearing member pivotally engaged with the first bearing member and at least one planar member; a third bracketing body having at least one planar member; a fourth bracketing body having at least one planar member; a first panel receiving volume at least partially defined by the at least one planar member of the first and third bracketing bodies; a second panel receiving volume at least partially defined by the at least one planar members of the second and fourth bracketing bodies; and wherein the at least one planar members of the second and fourth bracketing bodies at least partially define a second panel receiving volume. According to another aspect of the present invention, a first thermal insulating body is positioned between and separates the first and third bracketing bodies, and a second thermal insulating body positioned between and separates the second and fourth bracketing bodies. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a fastenerless connection is provided between surfaces of the system and the panel assemblies.
US09988806B2

A field-deployable construction set for the assembly of a Relocatable Habitat Unit (RHU), used for simulating real world environments without costly construction expenses. The various panels, supports, and accessories used to construct an RHU provide the user with innumerable options for floor plans and building design, further providing significant options for reconfiguration of floor, ceiling, and wall panels without having to disassemble the structure. The exterior composition of the expanded polymer foam is customizable to provide a realistic environment for high quality training in a versatile system that is deployable by truck or aircraft and can be assembled with only a single tool.
US09988805B1

A clearspan structure including component systems, and methods of forming a clearspan structure including component systems, for mitigating hazards to personnel or equipment from explosions, fires, toxic material release, and other hazards in hazardous locations. The exemplary clearspan structure is also capable of withstanding environmental conditions such as snow loads and wind. The exemplary clearspan structure is, for example, a tent or fabric structure which includes a plurality of frame members forming a support system for the clearspan structure, and fabric roof portions and walls for enclosing the clearspan structure.
US09988794B2

A flow rate setting system of a working machine, includes: an attachment configured to be attached to the working machine; a control part configured to control a flow of hydraulic operation fluid based on a maximum flow rate of the hydraulic operation fluid being to be supplied to the attachment, the control part being mounted on the working machine; and a mobile terminal configured to communicate in wireless communication, the mobile terminal including: a first obtaining part configured to obtain identification information, the identification information being used for identifying the attachment; a second obtaining part configured to obtain the maximum flow rate of the attachment; and an output part configured to output the identification information and the maximum flow rate to the working machine in the wireless communication, the identification information being obtained by the first obtaining part, the maximum flow rate being obtained by the second obtaining part.
US09988792B2

A hydraulic apparatus based on a confluence control mode includes a load sensing unit provided with first and second reversing valves, and a throttle governing unit provided with a fourth reversing valve. A confluence valve and a one-way valve, which communicate with the load sensing unit and the throttle governing unit, are arranged on a parallel oil path arranged in parallel with the fourth reversing valve. The confluence valve includes a confluence channel that controls opening and closing of the parallel oil path to shunt fluid of the throttle governing unit to the load sensing unit. A first pilot pressure acting on the first reversing valve and a second pilot pressure acting on the second reversing valve act on the confluence valve independently or simultaneously to change a position of the confluence channel, thus implementing reversing of the confluence valve.
US09988782B2

A method for skimming a target liquid floating on water involves a first step of providing a body having a first compartment and a second compartment. The body has floats, such that the body floats on the water. The body has an opening through which liquids enter the first compartment. The body has a target liquid transfer apparatus to transfer the target liquid from the first compartment to the second compartment. A second step involves setting the target liquid transfer apparatus a predetermined distance above a water level in the first compartment to selectively transfer only the target liquid floating on the water from the first compartment to the second compartment.
US09988780B2

A material spreading system including a spreader and a tote, and related methods, are disclosed. The spreader may include a frame attachable to a loading machine such as a skid loader, an inlet for receiving a material, one or more connector members, and a discharge mechanism configured to selectively discharge the material onto the ground. The tote may include a container for storing the material and one or more connector members. The connector members of the tote may be configured to matingly engage the connector members of the spreader such that an opening in the container aligns with the inlet of the spreader. Accordingly, the material in the container may be transferred from the container to the spreader. Furthermore, the material spreading system may be used in various application including those involving the spread of granular and/or liquid de-icing material over the ground.
US09988778B2

A barrier wall element of a vehicle restraint system includes a coupling part having a first leg which has a free end forming a first hook extension and a sliding surface arranged on a side of the first leg. The side faces away from the first hook extension, and a second leg has a free end forming a second hook extension. When coupling the coupling part to an identical coupling part of another barrier wall element, the first hook extension rests in a first contact region on the second hook extension of a further coupling part. The second hook extension rests in a second contact region on the first hook extension of the further coupling part. The first and second contact regions are spaced from one another in a tensile direction of the tension member by a distance which is smaller than a width of the first leg.
US09988777B2

A road guide post includes: a supporter which is fixed to the ground by being coupled to an anchor bolt; a guide post body which has a post shape that is screw-coupled to or fitted into the supporter; reflective sheets, multiple layers of which are attached to the concave groove part of the guide post body; and a bracket which is inserted and fixed into the bottom surface of the supporter.
US09988774B2

A cutting device adapted to be pulled by a trailer. The cutting device comprises a frame which supports an engine and a cutting drum assembly powered by the engine. The cutting drum assembly comprises a self-aligning mount that allows movement of its drum relative to the frame. The engine is positioned such that its weight is provided to the cutting drum assembly to maintain a consistent depth of the cutting drum. A linear actuator, such as a hydraulic cylinder, allows the frame to pivot internally, so that the cutting drum assembly may be raised and lowered relative to the ground while translating the frame on wheels.
US09988772B2

The present disclosure provides various aspects for mobile and automated processing utilizing additive manufacturing and the methods for their utilization. In some examples, the mobile additive manufacturing apparatus may perform surface treatments that support the building of walls. Other examples may involve the support of creating and repairing advanced roadways.
US09988769B2

A method of forming an upwardly facing surface around a conduit that is embedded in ground material and defines a passageway. The conduit has an open upper end, through which access can be gained to the passageway, and an outer perimeter. The method includes the steps of: obtaining a riser assembly; placing the riser assembly in operative relationship with the open upper end of the conduit wherein the riser assembly is supported at least partially by the ground material around the outer perimeter of the conduit and defines an entry opening to the passageway; and with the riser assembly in the operative relationship with the open upper end of the conduit, forming at least one material around the conduit to a desired vertical thickness on which the upwardly facing surface is defined.
US09988759B2

A surface treatment agent, which can impart the excellent water- and oil-repellency, soil resistance and feeling to the substrate, is obtained from a fluorine-containing polymer which contains: (A) a monomer which comprises; (A1) a fluorine-containing monomer of the formula: CH2═C(—X)—C(═O)—Y—Z—Rf wherein X is a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic group, or a halogen atom, Y is —O— or —NH—, Z is a direct bond or a divalent organic group, and Rf is a fluoroalkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and (A2) a (meth)acrylate monomer having a cyclic hydrocarbon group, and (B) at least one functional organopolysiloxane selected from the group consisting of a mercapto-functional organopolysiloxane, a vinyl-functional organopolysiloxane, a (meth)acrylamide-functional organopolysiloxane and a (meth)acrylate-functional group.
US09988758B2

Woven and knit fabrics containing expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) fibers and at least one other fiber are provided. The ePTFE fiber may be woven or knit as a single, non-twisted fiber, as part of a multifilament fiber, or may be twisted or braided with another fiber. The ePTFE fiber, whether alone or in combination with a weave fiber(s), may be utilized in either the warp and/or the weft direction. The woven and knit fabrics are concurrently breathable, lightweight, durable, drapable, and fast drying. The ePTFE fibers have a substantially rectangular configuration. In some embodiments, the woven or knit fabric is flame resistant. In addition, the woven and knit fabrics are quiet, soft, and drapable. Treatments may be provided to the surface of the ePTFE fiber and/or the fabrics to impart one or more desired functionality, such as, for example, oleophobicity, anti-microbial, contamination resistance, or UV stability.
US09988757B2

The invention relates to an accommodating device for a removable filter in a domestic appliance, having an accommodating opening for accommodating the filter at least in part, and having a seal which, with the filter inserted, seals the accommodating opening in relation to the filter. In order for fluff, hair and other deposits and contaminants both adhering to the filter and deposited in the vicinity of the accommodating opening to be reliably kept away from the accommodating opening when the filter is being removed, the seal is arranged at the accommodating opening and has at least one sealing element which, when the filter is being removed, passes out of a sealing operating position into a screening position, in which it encloses at least part of the accommodating opening with screening action.
US09988753B2

A method of operating a laundry treating appliance includes controlling rotation of a drum during a cycle of operation by a controller communicably coupled to a motor, sending an excitation signal to a controller that randomly fluctuates an acceleration command to affect acceleration of the motor, determining, by the controller during excitation, one or more inputs sensed from the motor, and estimating with a parameter estimator parameter values of a laundry load in the drum based on the inputs. The cycle of operation can then be adjusted based on the estimated parameter values of the laundry load.
US09988752B2

Provided are a washing machine motor including: an outer shaft connected to a washing tub; an inner shaft rotatably disposed inside the outer shaft and connected to a pulsator; an inner rotor connected to the outer shaft; an outer rotor connected to the inner shaft; a stator disposed between the inner rotor and the outer rotor with an air gap; and a planetary gear setmounted on the inner shaft so as to reduce a rotational speed. The washing machine motor includes the planetary gear set which increases a torque by reducing a rotational speed in the inner shaft connected to the pulsator to thereby allow implementation of a large-capacity washing machine.
US09988747B2

A thread aspirating device (1) for circular knitting machines, comprising a body (2) of the thread aspirating device having a lower side (3), defining an inlet opening (4) enabling inlet of one or more threads in the thread aspirating device, and an up per side (5), provided with an engaging portion (6) delimiting a passage opening (7) in the upper side. The thread aspirating device comprises a mouthpiece (10) extending between an open lower end (11), defining a mounting portion (12) complementarily shaped to the engaging portion, and an upper end (13) provided with an aspirating opening (14). The mouthpiece is superiorly mounted on the body of the device so that the mounting portion corresponds to the engaging portion; the mouthpiece and the body internally define an aspirating space (20) of the threads between the inlet opening and the aspirating opening. The mouthpiece and the body overall form, in mounting condition, a thread aspirating device in a single body.
US09988742B2

The present disclosure provides a fiber-forming process that includes: providing a centrifugal electrospinning apparatus that includes: an emitter that includes a rotating element having a rotational speed of 10,000 rpm or less; and a collector; and providing a spinning solution including at least one polymer dissolved in at least one solvent; supplying the spinning solution to the emitter; and directing the spinning solution from the emitter toward the collector under conditions effective to form separate fibrous streams from the spinning solution, vaporize the solvent, and produce polymeric fibers on the collector.
US09988738B2

A method for manufacturing a SiC epitaxial wafer includes: a first step of, by supplying a Si supply gas and a C supply gas, performing a first epitaxial growth on a SiC bulk substrate with a 4H—SiC(0001) having an off-angle of less than 5° as a main surface at a first temperature of 1480° C. or higher and 1530° C. or lower; a second step of stopping the supply of the Si supply gas and the C supply gas and increasing a temperature of the SiC bulk substrate from the first temperature to a second temperature; and a third step of, by supplying the Si supply gas and the C supply gas, performing a second epitaxial growth on the SiC bulk substrate having the temperature increased in the second step at the second temperature.
US09988735B2

An electrochemical deposition system is described. The electrochemical deposition system includes one or more electrochemical deposition modules arranged on a common platform for depositing one or more metals on a substrate, and a chemical management system coupled to the one or more electrochemical deposition modules. The chemical management system is configured to supply at least one of the one or more electrochemical deposition modules with one or more metal constituents for depositing the one or more metals. The chemical management system can include at least one metal enrichment cell and at least one metal-concentrate generator cell.
US09988731B2

The present invention relates to a colored metal film comprising a metal article and a plurality of pores. The plurality of pores further comprises a high layer, an intermediate layer, and a low layer, in which the three layers together forms an embossed image. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing colored metal films. The method is used to manufacture a flat image or an embossed image on a metal article. The method comprises a finishing process, a first coating process, a color adjustment, a first printing process, an etching process, a second coating process, a second printing process, a sealing process, and a cleaning process.
US09988729B2

In order to provide a coating facility for coating workpieces, which includes a dip tank, into which the workpieces are introducible in order to coat them, a current conversion system for providing a coating current, which is feedable through the dip tank to coat the workpieces, and an electrode, which is configured to be arranged in the dip tank and which is electrically connected to the current conversion system, which coating facility is configured to be flexibly and reliably operated, it is proposed that the current conversion system comprises a current conversion unit, which includes a power switch and an isolating transformer, the power switch being connectable on the input side to a supply current source and being connected on the output side to the isolating transformer and the isolating transformer being connected on the input side to the power switch and on the output side to an electrode.
US09988728B2

The present invention relates to an anode assembly for use in an electrolytic cell for recovery of metal. The assembly includes a hanger bar, a first perimeter bar, a second perimeter bar, optionally one or more center conductor bars, a base bar, a first tab coupled to the first perimeter bar and/or the base bar, and a second tab coupled to the second perimeter bar and/or the base bar. The assembly may also include insulating separators coupled to the tabs and/or insulators coupled to an active area of the anode assembly. A system includes the anode assembly, a cathode assembly, and a tank.
US09988725B2

An electronic device having a metal housing includes an external housing including a first face facing a first direction, a second face facing a second direction which is the opposite direction of the first direction, and a lateral face at least partially surrounding a space formed between the first and second faces, and a display exposed through the first face of the external housing, wherein the external housing includes a metal substrate having a first part at least partially forming the second face and a second part at least partially forming the lateral face, the second part being integrally extended from the first part; and a non-metallic material coated on the first part, and wherein the second part includes micro dimples having a repeated pattern on the lateral face.
US09988716B2

An apparatus for depositing a coating on a part comprises: a chamber; a source of the coating material, positioned to communicate the coating material to the part in the chamber; a plurality of thermal hoods; and means for moving a hood of the plurality of thermal hoods from an operative position and replacing the hood with another hood of the plurality of hoods.
US09988714B2

A process for producing polysilicon, includes a) depositing polycrystalline silicon on filaments using reaction gas containing silicon-containing component (SCC) containing trichlorosilane, and hydrogen, wherein molar saturation of SCC based on hydrogen is at least 25%; b) feeding offgas from the deposition into a cooling apparatus, i) wherein condensed offgas components containing SiCl4 are conducted to an apparatus which enables distillative purification of the condensate, and ii) non-condensing components are conducted to an adsorption or desorption unit; c) obtaining a first stream of non-condensing components purified by adsorption and containing hydrogen; and d) obtaining, during adsorption unit regeneration, a second stream of non-condensing components, containing SiCl4 which is then preferably supplied to a converter for conversion of SiCl4 to trichlorosilane. A process for depositing polysilicon on filaments with a reaction gas includes a SCC and hydrogen, wherein molar saturation of SCC based on hydrogen is at least 25%.
US09988702B2

The present invention provides a component for a plasma processing apparatus, the component comprising: a base material; an underlayer covering a surface of the base material; and an yttrium oxide film covering a surface of the underlayer, wherein the underlayer comprises a metal oxide film having a thermal conductivity of 35 W/m·K or less, the yttrium oxide film contains at least either particulate portions made of yttrium oxide or non-particulate portions made of yttrium oxide, the particulate portions being portions where a grain boundary demarcating an outer portion of the grain boundary is observed under a microscope, and the non-particulate portions being portions where the grain boundary is not observed under a microscope, the yttrium oxide film has a film thickness of 10 μm or more and a film density of 96% or more, and when a surface of the yttrium oxide film is observed under a microscope, an area coverage ratio of the particulate portions is 0 to 20% in an observation range of 20 μm×20 μm and an area coverage ratio of the non-particulate portions is 80 to 100% in the observation range.
US09988699B2

Hard particles are incorporated as a starting material in a sintered alloy. The hard particles may contain 20 to 60 mass % Mo, 3 to 15 mass % Mn, and more than 0.01 to 0.5 mass % C, the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities.
US09988693B2

Various compositions and methods are provided for identifying and selecting plants with enhanced resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN). Further provided are transgenic plants, plant parts, and seed and methods of their use comprising a heterologous polynucleotide operably linked to a promoter active in the plant are provided, as are methods of making such plants and methods of use, wherein said heterologous polynucleotide comprises at least one, or any combination thereof, of Glyma18g2580, Glyma18g2590, Glyma18g2600, Glyma18g2610; and Glyma18g2570 or an active variant or fragment thereof. Expression of the heterologous polynucleotide enhances the resistance of the plant to cyst nematode.
US09988686B2

Provided are stimulus-sensitive microparticles and their use, e.g., in tracking the efficiency of recovery of a rare cell population (e.g., circulating tumor cells) from a mixture of cells; and in supplying control nucleic acids to index a molecular assay independent of the rare cell selection steps.
US09988680B2

A composition for monitoring DNA damage includes a 3-ethynyl-5-nitroindolyl-2′-deoxyribose compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a detectable moiety with a click-reactive functional group that is complementary to the alkyne group of the compound.
US09988679B2

Provided herein are Mycobacterium smegmatis porin nanopores, systems that comprise these nanopores, and methods of using and making these nanopores. Such nanopores may be wild-type MspA porins, mutant MspA porins, wild-type MspA paralog porins, wild-type MspA homolog porins, mutant MspA paralog porins, mutant MspA homolog porins, or single-chain Msp porins. Also provided are bacterial strains capable of inducible Msp porin expression.
US09988672B2

To provide a method for selectively detecting the methylation of particular cytosines in genomic DNA using a methylcytosine detection method using an anti-methylcytosine antibody to improve quantitativity and reliability. A method for detecting the methylated state of cytosine at a specific position contained in a nucleic acid, includes fragmenting the nucleic acid using a restriction enzyme; forming a double-stranded nucleic acid between the fragmented nucleic acid and a single-stranded nucleic acid having a base sequence capable of hybridizing with the fragmented nucleic acid but incapable of resulting in the formation of a base pair with cytosine at a specific position in the fragmented nucleic acid and a solid phase-binding site; binding the double-stranded nucleic acid on a solid phase using the solid phase-binding site; and measuring the amount of an antibody binding to the double-stranded nucleic acid on the solid phase.
US09988652B2

The present invention is directed to cellulytic host cells. The host cells of the invention expressing heterologous cellulases and are able to produce ethanol from cellulose. According to the invention, host cells expressing a combination of heterologous cellulases can be used to produce ethanol from cellulose. In addition, multiple host cells expressing different heterologous cellulases can be co-cultured together and used to produce ethanol from cellulose. Furthermore, the invention demonstrates for the first time the ability of Kluveryomyces to produce ethanol from cellulose. The yeast strains and co-cultures of yeast strains of the invention can be used to produce ethanol on their own, or can also be used in combination with externally added cellulases to increase the efficiency of saccharification and fermentation processes.
US09988644B2

The present invention provides methods and compositions for improving the efficacy of viral transduction of cells. More particularly, the present invention provides methods and materials useful for safely and reliably improving the efficiency of methods for transducing cells, such as human hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), with viruses and/or viral vectors. The compositions and methods are useful for therapeutic indications amenable to treatment with hematopoietic stem cell gene therapies.
US09988628B2

The invention teaches antisense agents and RNA interference agents useful for treating diseases and conditions the treatment of which can benefit from reducing the expression of double homeobox 4 and/or double homeobox 4c, more particularly facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Further elaborated are methods, uses and further products employing such agents.
US09988626B2

The present invention relates to an inhibitor of neurocalcin delta (NCALD) for use in a method for the treatment or prevention of a patient suffering from a disorder associated with a pathological calcium homeostasis. Furthermore, the present invention refers to the use of such inhibitor of NCALD for inducing axon proliferation in vitro and to a method for the differentiation and/or maturation of neuronal stem cells (NSCs) in vitro and to the use of such inhibitor of NCALD to restore impaired endocytosis being a consequence of disturbed Ca2+ homeostasis in synaptic terminals essential for development, maturation and maintenance of synapses and neuromuscular junctions (NMJs).
US09988622B2

Devices and methods for detecting microbial contaminants, such as bacteria and fungi, in fluids such as drinking water, pharmaceutical solutions and tissue culture media are provided. More particularly, provided are filtration devices for capture and processing of microorganisms from fluids, and improved methods for recovery, lysis and detection of microorganisms based on a combination of physical disruption with small beads and lysis solutions.
US09988604B2

Disclosed herein are cell culture compositions, for example, pancreatic cell culture compositions, derived from dedifferentiated human reprogrammed pluripotent stem cells, such as induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, and methods for producing and using such cell culture compositions.
US09988598B2

A bioreactor system is provided for continuous fermentation of a gaseous substrate, said system comprising two or more primary bioreactors and one or more secondary bioreactors connected by a central bleed line. Further provided is a process for inoculating multiple bioreactors utilizing a central bleed line, said process comprising passing fermentation broth from a first primary bioreactor to other primary bioreactors and/or secondary bioreactors via a central bleed line. Further provided is a process for maintaining stable fermentation of a gaseous substrate across multiple bioreactors, said process comprising providing fermentation broth from one or more operational primary bioreactors to one or more secondary bioreactors via a central bleed line.
US09988593B2

A rapid drying cleaning solution comprises a chelating agent, a detergent, base, alcohol, and water. This cleaning solution can optionally contain fragrances and coloring agents, and can clean a variety of surfaces including natural and engineered wood, ceramic, cement, natural stone, man-made composites, porcelain floors, and other surfaces such as steel, stainless steel, other metallic compositions, ceramic, porcelain, wood and engineered wood countertops, followed by rapid drying of the surface being cleaned.
US09988591B2

An ethanol-free perfumed composition includes a fragrance and: a) at least one crypto anionic surfactant, b) at least one ethoxylated nonionic surfactant having a molecular weight greater than 1700 containing at least 40% of ethylene oxide, d) at least one glycol having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, and e) water; wherein the weight ratio of the fragrance to the surfactants and glycols is from 1/1 to 1/6.
US09988589B2

The present invention relates to novel acid-free quaternized nitrogen compounds, to the preparation thereof and to the use thereof as a fuel and lubricant additive, more particularly as a detergent additive, as a wax antisettling additive (WASA) or as an additive for reducing internal diesel injector deposits (IDID); to additive packages which comprise these compounds; and to fuels and lubricants thus additized. The present invention further relates to the use of these acid-free quaternized nitrogen compounds as a fuel additive for reducing or preventing deposits in the injection systems of direct-injection diesel engines, especially in common-rail injection systems, for reducing the fuel consumption of direct-injection diesel engines, especially of diesel engines with common-rail injection systems, and for minimizing power loss in direct-injection diesel engines, especially in diesel engines with common-rail injection systems.
US09988577B2

The invention discloses a sleeve-type coal material decomposition apparatus which includes a kiln body. The inside of the kiln body is set with coal material decomposition-promoting layers and circular heating layers centered on the axis of kiln body; the circular coal material decomposition-promoting layers and circular heating layers are isolated from each other; both ends of the circular coal material decomposition-promoting layer are respectively connected to the coal inlet and coal outlet on kiln body and are also connected to the decomposition gas collecting mechanism on kiln body. The coal material decomposition-promoting layers and circular heating layers are isolated from each other, which is helpful for the acquisition of pure coal decomposition gas. The heat released from circular heating layers is fully absorbed by adjacent set coal material decomposition-promoting layers via conduction and radiation forms; the full absorption of pulverized coal brings better effect of complete decomposition.
US09988576B2

A liquid crystal display device comprises a display panel including a first base substrate, a switching element disposed on the first base substrate, a color filter layer disposed on the switching element, and a pixel electrode disposed on the color filter layer; a counter display panel including a second base substrate and a common electrode disposed on the second base substrate and facing the display panel; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the display panel and the counter display panel and having negative dielectric anisotropy, wherein the liquid crystal layer includes at least one compound represented by Formula 1 below, and the liquid crystal layer does not include a compound represented by Formula A below; and a light-blocking spacer disposed on the display panel and including an area overlapping the switching element, and maintaining the thickness of the liquid crystal layer.
US09988574B2

Process and station for stabilizing an aqueous solution of an iron salt of an organic acid with a ferric component and a ferrous component of less solubility than the ferric component, such as the aqueous solution based on the Fe3+ salt of meso-tartaric acid. To stabilize the content of the dissolved ferric salt, the solution is at least partly subjected to electrolytic oxidation.
US09988572B2

This lighting apparatus is provided with a blue LED chip having a maximum peak at a wavelength of 420-480 nm and a fluorescent material-containing resin layer disposed on the front of the blue LED chip in the light emission direction. The fluorescent material-containing resin layer is obtained by mixing and dispersing a LuAg fluorescent material, which is represented by the formula Lu3Al5O12:Ce3+ and in which the Ce activation rate is 2 mol. % or lower relative to Lu, and a double fluoride fluorescent material represented by the formula A2(B1−xMnx)F6 (in the formula, A is at least one type of element selected from among the group consisting of Li, Na, K and Cs, B is at least one type of element selected from among the group consisting of Si, Ti, Nb, Ge and Sn, and x is an integer that falls within the range 0.001≤x≤0.1) in a resin. The present invention is capable of achieving a higher sense of brightness, high visibility and a sense of brightness across a wide range under scotopic conditions or mesopic conditions with an emitted light color close to black body radiation.
US09988571B2

The present disclosure provides a surfactant formulation for use in treating and recovering fossil fluid from a subterranean formation. The surfactant formulation includes a primary surfactant, a formulation stability agent and injection water. The surfactant formulation may be injected into one or more injection wells located within the subterranean formation and fossil fluids can then be subsequently recovered from one or more producing wells.
US09988569B2

An invert emulsion drilling fluid, and a method of drilling with such fluid, having improved rheology at low mud weights and high temperatures. The improved rheology is effected with addition of a rheology additive of the invention comprising fatty dimer diamines or dimer diamines and an organic acid or ester of the acid. A nonlimiting example of such a rheology additive comprises a C36 fatty dimer diamine and adipic acid or dimethyl adipate.
US09988568B2

The present invention generally relates to one or more compositions and methods for inhibiting the formation of gas hydrate agglomerates in a fluid. The fluid may be contained, for example, in an oil or gas pipeline or refinery.
US09988561B2

The present invention relates to a rubber-based adhesive composition containing: a styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) rubber; a hardener; and an adhesion enhancer, the adhesion enhancer being contained in 50 to 100 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) rubber, and to a rubber-based adhesive tape for an automobile using the same.
US09988555B2

Polymers are disclosed that incorporate large portions of elastomeric polyamide oligomers connected with polyisocyanates. These polymers have enhanced properties over similar polyurethanes due to better hydrolysis resistance of polyamides over polyesters and better UV resistance of polyamides over polyethers. Polyurea linkages can also improve properties over polyurethane linkages. Composites and hybrids of these polymers and other polyamides with vinyl polymers are also disclosed and claimed.
US09988546B2

The present invention concerns an extrudable, unexpanded color pencil lead, comprising, by weight relative to the total weight of the lead: between 25 and 45%, and advantageously between 30 and 40%, of a polyolefin; between 25 and 50%, and advantageously between 30 and 40%, of a colorless mineral filler; between 4 and 20%, and advantageously between 5 and 15%, of a pigment coated with or mixed with a polyolefin wax; between 0 and 10%, and advantageously between 2 and 10%, of an additive, and between 10 and 30%, and advantageously between 15 and 25%, of stearate chosen from magnesium stearate, calcium stearate and the mixture of same. It further concerns the color pencil comprising a lead according to the invention.
US09988540B2

An aqueous particle-free inkjet ink composition has a pH of 7 to 9, and consists essentially of: (A) water-soluble dye colorants present in a total amount of 2-10 weight %, (B) a water-soluble polymer present in an amount of 1-4 weight %, and an aqueous medium consisting essentially of water. The water-soluble polymer has an acid number ≥130 and a molecular weight of 5,000 to 20,000. It comprises: (a) 55-80 mol % of recurring units derived from ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomers selected from substituted or unsubstituted styrenes, (meth)acrylates, and combinations thereof, each (meth)acrylate comprising either a pendant phenyl group or an alkyl ester group having 12 to 20 carbon atoms; and (b) 20-35 mol % of recurring units comprising (meth)acrylic acid, all based on total water-soluble polymer recurring units. The one or more water-soluble dye colorants are chosen singly or collectively to provide a hue other than black.
US09988535B2

The thiol group-containing colored compound includes a chromophore having absorption in a visible light region, a thiol group, and a spacer provided between the chromophore and the thiol group. The spacer is a chain alkylene group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms, a cyclic alkylene group having 3 to 30 carbon atoms, or a derivative of either alkylene group in which the number of carbon atoms in an additional structure of the alkylene group is equal to or less than the number of carbon atoms in the alkylene group.
US09988534B2

A polyimide precursor composition includes a solvent mixture containing an alcohol solvent and a water-insoluble solvent that is at least one selected from the solvent group consisting of water-insoluble ketones and water-insoluble ethers; and a polyimide precursor dissolved in the solvent mixture.
US09988530B2

A polycarbonate resin composition and a molded product produced from the same includes (a) polycarbonate resin; (b) polycarbonate-polysiloxane copolymer; (c) aromatic copolyester resin; and (d) glass fiber.
US09988528B2

The present invention relates to a hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive (HMPSA) composition. The composition includes: a) 25 to 50% of a styrene block copolymer chosen from the group comprising SIS, SIBS, SEBS and SEPS block copolymers; b) 35 to 75% of a compatible tackifying resin having a softening temperature of between 80 and 150° C. and an acid number of less than 20; and c) 0.5 to 20% of one or more carboxylic acids, the hydrocarbon chain of which includes 6 to 22 carbon atoms. The present invention also relates to a multilayer system including an HMPSA layer, a printable support layer, and an adjacent protective layer. Further, the present invention also includes a corresponding self-adhesive label and process for recycling a labeled article which entails debonding of the label by immersing the article in a hot basic aqueous solution.
US09988516B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a rubber composition which can further improve abrasion resistance without deterioration in energy efficiency, and a pneumatic tire using the rubber composition. The rubber composition comprises a polymer mixture obtained by modifying a polymer composed of at least one of a conjugated diene compound and an aromatic vinyl compound with a compound having at least one of an ester group and a carboxyl group; at least one of triamines; and silica, the polymer mixture having a weight-average molecular weight of 1.0×103 to 1.0×105, and the triamines being a compound represented by the following formula (I): wherein each of RA, RB, RC, RD and RE independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and each of ALK1 and ALK2 independently represents an alkylene group.
US09988511B2

Composite resin particles including: a polyethylene-based resin and a polystyrene-based resin, wherein the polyethylene-based resin and the polystyrene-based resin are included in the ranges of 50 to 20% by mass and 50 to 80% by mass respectively, with respect to the total of these resins, the polyethylene-based resin is composed of: a first polyethylene-based resin having a medium density to a high density in the range of 925 to 965 kg/m3; and a second polyethylene-based resin which is linear and which has a lower density than the first polyethylene-based resin, and the first polyethylene-based resin and the second polyethylene-based resin are included in the ranges of 90 to 30% by mass and 10 to 70% by mass respectively, with respect to the total of these resins.
US09988507B2

Provided is a polyvinyl acetal film which, when used as an intermediate film for a laminated glass, can provide a laminated glass that exhibits a low degree of yellowness and excellent surface appearance, and which is thus useful as a sealing material or intermediate film that can prolong the life of a laminated glass provided with a solar cell or a functional unit. Further, the content of corrosion-causing substance in the polyvinyl acetal film is low, so that the polyvinyl acetal film permits high-temperature lamination and thus ensures excellent productivity. Also provided are a solar cell module and a laminated glass prepared using the polyvinyl acetal film. A plasticized polyvinyl acetal film which comprises 15 to 60 parts by mass of a plasticizer having a total number of 28 or more of carbon atoms and oxygen atoms constituting a molecule based on 100 parts by mass of a polyvinyl acetal resin, and which has an acid value of 5.0 meq/kg or less.
US09988499B2

A production method for a liquid high purity sugar derivative-modified silicone or a composition thereof is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: 1) capturing hydrophilic impurities in solid particles by causing an impurity containing composition containing liquid sugar derivative-modified silicone and the hydrophilic impurities derived from a sugar derivative to contact the solid particles, the sugar derivative being a hydrophilic modifier of the sugar derivative-modified silicone, and the solid particles being able to capture the hydrophilic impurities; and 2) separating the sugar derivative-modified silicone and the solid particles. The method is useful for production of the liquid high purity sugar derivative-modified silicone and the composition thereof on a commercial scale.
US09988497B2

A multi-layer or single layer antifouling coating system. A multi-layer coating system comprises (a) a base coating for coating a substrate, and (b) an antifouling coating composition adapted to be disposed over the base coating, the antifouling coating composition comprising a hydroxyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane, a curable polyether-containing silane of the Formula (1): (R1O)a(R1)(3-a)Si—R2—(Si(R1)2O)p—Si(R1)2—R2—O—(CH2—CHR1—O)q—R1  (1) where a is 1-3; R1 is H or alkyl radical from C1-C10; R2 is alkylene from C2-C10; p is 1-100; and q is 1-50. The base coating composition can comprise an epoxy modified adhesion promoter. A single layer coating composition comprises a compound of Formula (4): (R1O)a(R1)3-a—Si-M-(Si(R1)2O)r—(Si(R1)(O1/2)(O))t—(Si(X)(O1/2)(O))v—Si(R1)2-M-Si(OR1)a(R1)3-a  (4) where R1 is H or an alkyl radical M is R2 or oxygen; r is 0-1000; t is 1 to 20; v is 0 to 20; X is —R2—(N(R1)1-b(Y)b—R2)c—N(R1)2-b(Y)b; b is 0-2; c is 0-5; Y is R1 or an organic radical with an epoxide at one terminal; and R2 is an alkylene from C2-C10, with the proviso that at least one Y is an organic radical with an epoxide at one terminal. The respective compositions are such that the antifouling coating composition sufficiently adheres to the base coating composition without the need for a tie coat layer.
US09988491B2

Alternating co-polymers of cyclic dicarboxylic acids and cyclic diamines may be used to produce nylon 6,6. Di-substituted furan compounds may be used as the raw material for producing furan-dicarboxylic acids and/or furan-diamines. The furan-dicarboxylic acids and furan-diamines may be copolymerized to produce polymer precursors for nylon 6,6. The polymer precursors may be hydrogenated and/or deoxygenated to produce nylon 6,6.
US09988490B2

Provided is a method of producing a polycarbonate that enables efficient drying of a polycarbonate powder and has no risk of deteriorating the quality of a polycarbonate molded article to be obtained. The method of producing a polycarbonate includes: a step of causing an alkali aqueous solution of a dihydric phenol and phosgene to react with each other in the presence of an organic solvent to produce an organic solvent solution containing a polycarbonate; a powdering step of powdering the organic solvent solution containing the polycarbonate to provide a polycarbonate powder; and a pre-drying step of drying the polycarbonate powder to remove the remaining organic solvent, in which a drying temperature in the pre-drying step is set to a temperature lower than the glass transition temperature of the polycarbonate containing 1.5 mass % of the organic solvent by from 5° C. to 15° C.
US09988487B2

Compositions comprising sulfur-containing prepolymers such as polythioether prepolymers, polyepoxides, and a blocked 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene bicarbonate catalyst useful as aerospace sealants are disclosed. The compositions exhibit extended working time and the curing rate can be tailored for specific applications.
US09988484B2

A reaction system for forming polyurethane elastomers includes a cardanol modified epoxy polyol. In particular, the reaction system has an isocyanate-reactive component that includes the cardanol-modified epoxy polyol and an isocyanate component that includes at least one polyisocyanate. The cardanol-modified epoxy polyol is a reaction product of an epoxy component and an epoxy-reactive component at a ratio of epoxy groups to epoxy reactive groups from 1:1 to 1:5, and the epoxy-reactive component includes a cashew nutshell liquid having a cardanol content of at least 85 wt %, based on a total weight of the cashew nutshell liquid.
US09988482B2

A catalyst containing at least one amidine or guanidine group of formula (Ia) or (Ib), which is bound to a silicon atom of a siloxane residue. At room temperature, the catalyst is liquid and odorless. It is particularly suitable as a cross-linking catalyst for curable compositions, in particular for silane group-containing compositions. It is particularly good at accelerating the hardening of such compositions without impairing stability in storage, and displays little volatility but good compatibility. As a result, the compositions do not tend towards separation or migration or evaporation of the catalyst.
US09988477B2

A (meth)acrylic block copolymer includes a methacrylic polymer block including at least one structural unit derived from a dimethacrylate according to formula (2): where R1 is a methyl group, R2 and R3 are each independently a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and n is an integer of 1 to 5, and a (meth)acrylic polymer block having no active energy ray curable groups. A method of preparing the (meth)acrylic block copolymer and an active energy ray curable composition are provided.
US09988473B2

A polyethylene composition comprising at least 95 percent by weight of the units derived from ethylene; less than 5 percent by weight of units derived from one or more α-olefin comonomers; wherein said polyethylene composition has a density in the range of 0.930 to 0.945 g/cm3, a molecular weight distribution characterized by the ratio of the z-average molecular weight to the weight average molecular weight (Mz/Mw) less than 5, a melt index, I2 (measured at 190° C., 2.16 kg), in the range of 0.08 to 0.5 g/10 minutes, and a high flow melt index, I21 (measured at 190° C., 21.6 kg), in the range from 10 to 20 g/10 minutes; and wherein the polyethylene composition is produced utilizing a chromium oxide catalyst is provided.
US09988472B2

A composition includes a product of a condensation reaction between a thermal cross-linking agent and a product of hydrolysis and condensation polymerization of a compound represented by Chemical Formula 1: In Chemical Formula 1, the definitions of the substituents are the same as in the detailed description. Further, an electronic device and a thin film transistor include a cured material of the composition.
US09988471B2

Disclosed are novel hafnium-based metallocene catalyst compounds with the following characteristics: 1) 4,5-dialkyl substitutions on a fluorenyl ligand, and optionally additional substitutions, 2) a cyclopentadienyl ligand, optionally with substitutions, and 3) a bridging group from group 14 of the Periodic Table. Also disclosed are catalyst systems comprising such catalyst compounds and their uses thereof, and polymers produced using such catalyst systems.
US09988466B2

Disclosed in the present invention is a benzocrown ether graft polymer with a lithium isotopic separation effect and a preparation method thereof. The polymer is a benzocrown ether graft polymer formed by the linkage of chemical bonds, which takes the main chain of a polymer containing chloromethyl group, chloroformyl group or hydroxyl group as main chain, and takes a benzocrown ether as pendant group. The preparation process of the polymer comprises the following steps: preparing polymer solution with certain concentration by dissolving a polymer containing chloromethyl group, chloroformyl group or hydroxyl group in a solvent; then blending a catalyst and a benzocrown ether containing carboxyl group or aldehydyl group and dissolving in the polymer solution containing hydroxyl group, or blending an acid-binding agent and a benzocrown ether containing amino group or hydroxyl group and dissolving in the polymer solution containing chloromethyl group or chloroformyl group, reacting at a certain temperature and for a certain time, linking the benzocrown ether to the main chain of polymer by chemical bonds, and precipitating by adding a precipitating agent to obtain the graft polymer. The grafting polymer has excellent characteristic of lithium isotopic separation.
US09988459B2

The invention provides anti-IFNAR1 antibodies with reduced affinity for Fc receptors and/or ligands and methods of making and using such antibodies.
US09988453B2

The present disclosure provides isolated monoclonal antibodies, particularly human monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to O8E with high affinity. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the antibodies of this disclosure, expression vectors, host cells and methods for expressing the antibodies of this disclosure are also provided. Immunoconjugates, bispecific molecules and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies of this disclosure are also provided. This disclosure also provides methods for treating cancer.
US09988451B2

A method for inducing an immune response against HIV in a subject includes the step of preparing an HIV-1 gp120 envelope protein coding sequence particle having an N425K mutation, introducing the HIV-1 gp120 protein coding sequence particle having an N425K mutation into an expression construct using yeast homologous recombination, transfecting a cell with the expression construct, wherein the HIV-1 particle is secreted by the cell, and administering the secreted HIV-1 particle and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to the subject, wherein the secreted HIV-1 particle stimulates an immune response in the subject.
US09988444B2

The invention relates to polypeptides that comprise a portion of filamentous bacteriophage gene 3 protein (g3p) sufficient to bind to and/or disaggregate amyloid, e.g., the N1-N2 portion of g3p and mutants and fragments thereof, wherein that g3p amino acid sequence has been modified through amino acid substitution to be substantially less immunogenic than the corresponding wild-type g3p amino acid sequence when used in vivo. The polypeptides of the invention retain their ability bind to and/or disaggregate amyloid. The invention relates furthermore to the use of these variant g3p-polypeptides in the treatment and/or prevention of diseases associated with misfolding or aggregation of amyloid.
US09988434B2

Novel collagen-mimetic peptides are disclosed comprising the formula (Xaa-Yaa-Gly)n, where the amino acid at one of the Xaa positions is substituted with a homocysteine residue. Also disclosed are multi-stranded novel collagen-mimetic peptides comprising a first strand as described above that is covalently bonded with a disulfide bridge to a second strand comprising the formula (Xaa-Yaa-Gly)m, where the amino acid at one of the Yaa positions is substituted with a cysteine residue. Disulfide formation between the terminal thiol sulfur of the homocysteine residue of the first strand and the terminal thiol sulfur of the cysteine residue of the second strand reveals unstrained bridges that enhance the structure and substantially improve the stability of collagen triple helices as compared to other possible disulfide or thioether bridges. Thus, the disclosed collagen mimetic peptides have improved stability, and can be used to produce optimized collagen-like fibrillar assemblies for wound healing and other biomedical applications.
US09988429B2

The invention provides materials and methods for the treatment of obesity and excess weight, diabetes, and other associated metabolic disorders. In particular, the invention provides novel glucagon analog peptides effective in such methods. The peptides may mediate their effect by having increased selectivity for the GLP-1 receptor as compared to human glucagon.
US09988428B2

Described herein are bioactive peptides that are modified at one or more positions with a PEG moiety. An example of such a PEGylated bioactive peptide is a GHRH analog that is modified at one or more positions with a PEG moiety. Also described are pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such analogs or salts thereof, as well as methods, kits and uses thereof, for example for inducing or stimulating growth hormone secretion in a subject and for diagnosing, preventing or treating GH-deficient conditions in a subject.
US09988426B2

The present invention is drawn to conjugates and vaccine compositions comprising a Pseudomonas flagellin or an antigenic fragment or derivative thereof linked to one or more Klebsiella surface polysaccharide antigens, such as Klebsiella pneumoniae O polysaccharide from serovars O1, O2a, O2a,c, O3, O4, O5, O7, O8 and 012. The present invention also provides serovar reagent strains to produce the conjugates and vaccine compositions and methods of inducing an immune response with the conjugates and vaccine compositions.
US09988423B2

The present invention relates to organogels and emulsions based on ultrasmall self-assembling peptides. It further relates to methods for producing such organogels and emulsions as well as to the use of the organogels and emulsions in biological and non-biological applications.
US09988421B2

The compounds of the present invention are represented by the following compounds having Formula (I) where the substituents R1-R10, X, Y, k, m, n, q, and s are as defined herein. These compounds are used in the treatment of cancer, immunologic disorders, autoimmune disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, or inflammatory disorders or for providing immunosuppression for transplanted organs or tissues.
US09988420B2

Disclosed herein are novel cytotoxic peptides of formula (I) as described herein: and the use of such peptides in making immunoconjugates (i.e Antibody Drug Conjugates) Also described herein are immunoconjugates (i.e Antibody Drug Conjugates) comprising such novel cytotoxic peptide linked to an antigen binding moiety, such as an antibody; where such immunoconjugates are useful for treating cell proliferative disorders. The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising these immunoconjugates, compositions comprising the immunoconjugates with a therapeutic co-agent, and methods to use these immunoconjugates and compositions for treating cell proliferation disorders.
US09988415B2

The invention provides a glucoside compound, which is capable of providing a phosphoramidite, which can be produced at low cost and can produce a nucleic acid in high yield and with high purity. The glycoside compound has the formula wherein B, R1, R2, and R3 are as described herein.
US09988413B2

The present invention discloses one pot process for the conversion of hemicellulose into C5 sugars using ionic liquids in water media.
US09988412B2

The present invention relates to fractions of high purity lignin which are thermally stable, and to methods of producing said fractions from lignocellulosic material.
US09988411B2

In the method of the present invention for producing a thin film, including introducing, onto a substrate, a vapor that has been obtained by vaporizing a thin-film-forming material including a molybdenum imide compound represented by the following formula (I) and that includes the molybdenum imide compound; and then forming a thin film including molybdenum on the substrate by decomposing and/or chemically reacting the molybdenum imide compound. (In the formula, R1 though R10 each represent a hydrogen atom or a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and R11 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.)
US09988403B2

The technology described herein relates to dimethyl boronate esters of the following formula for the treatment of cancers expressing abnormally high levels of SREBP1:
US09988390B2

The present invention relates to compounds having the general formula (Ia) or (Ib), optionally in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, polymorph, codrug, cocrystal, prodrug, tautomer, racemate, enantiomer, or diastereomer or mixture thereof, which are useful in treating, ameloriating or preventing a viral disease, in particular influenza.
US09988387B2

The present invention relates to imidazo[1,2-b][1,2,4]triazines that are inhibitors of c-Met and are useful in the treatment of c-Met associated diseases including cancer.
US09988380B2

The invention relates to compounds for use as quorum sensing inhibitors, and in particular, to quorum sensing inhibitors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
US09988378B2

The present invention relates to the use of novel compounds of formula (I), wherein all variable substituents are defined as described herein, which are SYK inhibitors and are useful for the treatment of auto-immune and inflammatory diseases.
US09988376B2

A compound of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, compositions, combinations and medicaments containing said compounds and processes for their preparation. The invention also relates to the use of said compounds, combinations, compositions and medicaments, for example as inhibitors of the activity of the estrogen receptor, including degrading the estrogen receptor, the treatment of diseases and conditions mediated by the estrogen receptor.
US09988374B2

The present invention provides compounds having the general structural formula (I) (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, as described generally and in classes and subclasses herein, and additionally provides pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods for the use thereof for the treatment of any of a number of conditions or diseases involving fibrosis and proliferation, and where anti-fibrotic or anti-proliferative activity is beneficial.
US09988361B2

Disclosed is a novel anti-enterovirus 71 (EV71) 1,2,5-thiadiazolidine-1,1-dioxide derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and specifically, a compound represented by formula (II) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US09988359B2

The invention relates to benzoic acid amides of general formula (I) as herbicides. In formula (I) X, Z and R represent radicals such as alkyl and cycloalkyl. Q represents a 5-membered heterocycle.
US09988358B2

The present invention relates to a chemical compound or a salt or solvate thereof being an 1-amino-phenazine derivative and to uses thereof. The present invention further relates to a chemistry matrix and to a test element comprising the aforesaid chemical compound. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for determining the amount of an analyte in a sample, comprising contacting said sample with a chemistry matrix according to the present invention, estimating the amount of electrons liberated or consumed by the chemistry matrix in the presence of said liquid sample, and thereby determining the amount of an analyte in a liquid sample.
US09988354B2

Provided are omecamtiv mecarbil dihydrochloride salt forms, compositions and pharmaceutical formulations thereof, and methods for their preparation and use. Omecamtiv mecarbil (AMG 423, CK-1827452), having the structure:
US09988344B2

The present invention relates to metallic zinc cluster compounds which are suitable as catalysts in the reaction of amines with dialkyl carbonates to produce carbamates. The invention is also directed towards a method for the alkoxycarbonylation of amines. The cluster compound has a general formula which may be written as [M(O2C—R)2]x.[MO]y.[H2O]z, wherein M is Zn, R is an unsubstituted or substituted aromatic, cycloaliphatic, linear aliphatic, or other organic rest, x is 1, y is ≥x is 1, y is ≥0.03 to ≤26.0 and z is >0.00 to ≤17.0.
US09988315B2

A sintered body of the present invention is a sintered body including a first material and cubic boron nitride. The first material is partially-stabilized ZrO2 including 5 to 90 volume % of Al2O3 dispersed in crystal grain boundaries or crystal grains of partially-stabilized ZrO2.
US09988313B2

We provide a method for the in situ development of graphene containing silicon carbide (SiC) matrix ceramic composites, and more particularly to the in situ graphene growth within the bulk ceramic through a single-step approach during SiC ceramics densification using an electric current activated/assisted sintering (ECAS) technique. This approach allows processing dense, robust, highly electrical conducting and well dispersed nanocomposites having a percolated graphene network, eliminating the handling of potentially hazardous nanostructures. Graphene/SiC components could be used in technological applications under strong demanding conditions where good electrical, thermal, mechanical and/or tribological properties are required, such as micro and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS), sensors, actuators, heat exchangers, breaks, components for engines, armors, cutting tools, microturbines or microrotors.
US09988311B2

Disclosed are ceramic bodies comprised of a tialite phase and at least one silicate phase with a rare earth oxide and zirconium additions and methods for the manufacture of the same.
US09988294B2

This desalinization system, which obtains industrial-use water and drinking water from seawater and wastewater, is provided with: a purification device that purifies wastewater by removing activated sludge therefrom; a first RO membrane that removes salt from the output of the purification device by transferring said salt to first concentrated water, thereby producing industrial-use water; a UF membrane that seawater passes through and that removes particulates from said seawater; a second RO membrane that removes salt from the treated output of the UF membrane by transferring said salt to second concentrated water, producing drinking water; an agitation device to which the second concentrated water from the second RO membrane and the first concentrated water from the first RO membrane are sent to be agitated; and a third RO membrane removing salt from the liquid mixture agitated by the agitation device by transferring said salt to third concentrated water, producing industrial-use water.
US09988288B2

Systems and methods for controlling mixing between one or more fluids are provided. The systems and methods may utilize a vessel comprising one or more zones where the zones are configured to minimize mixing between one or more fluids. Certain systems and methods may utilize a vessel comprising a tortuous flow path. Other systems and methods may utilize a vessel comprising one or more zones.
US09988281B2

Activated aluminum sesquichlorohydrate (AASCH) powders and method of making are disclosed. The method of making the active comprises (a) diluting the concentrated aluminum sesquichlorohydrate (ASCH) solution to from about 10% to about 25% by weight and (b) heating the diluted solution to obtain a Band III polymer concentration of at least about 20% and a Band IV polymer concentration of at least about 15%, and (c) drying the heated solution to powders and (d) optionally screen or light mill the powders to free flowing spherical particles.
US09988258B2

Provided is a tube fitment used in a fitment valve assembly having a vertical cylindrical housing and a horizontal cylindrical channel connected to each other in a T-shape, the vertical housing having a top section, a middle section, and a lower section, the top section of the housing having a front wall and a partially open back wall, where the opening is the locus for connecting a spout valve assembly; the horizontal cylindrical channel having a first opening at the first end proximate to the joint of the T-shaped tube fitment and at the top of the horizontal cylindrical channel; having an activator pin and an O-ring situated in the second section of the vertical cylindrical housing that is narrower that said first section of said vertical cylindrical housing.
US09988255B2

An apparatus for processing containers includes a container-filling system having filling-point pairs in which each filling point has a filling element. Each filling element has a channel formed in a housing, a liquid valve in the channel that controls flow through a dispensing opening. The filling system also has internal and external gas-paths that are internal and external relative to the filling elements. These gas paths connect to each other. A gas-path control-valve controls the external path. Nothing controls the internal path. A stand-alone control module contains part of the external gas-path and the gas-path control-valve.
US09988249B2

A clutch comprises an input shaft, an output shaft and a biasing member. The biasing member is arranged to provide a biasing force that allows torque transfer from the input shaft to the output shaft via one or more input friction plates and one or more output friction plates. Rotation of the output shaft may cause the biasing force to vary to adjust the maximum torque setting of the clutch during reeling-in or reeling-out of a winch cable around a winch drum. A retainer may be included in the clutch which retains the biasing member in operative connection with the output shaft and translates axially relative to the input shaft upon rotation of the output shaft. The axial translation may cause the biasing force to vary by varying the compression of the biasing member.
US09988242B1

A method of monitoring component health is provided. The method includes moving a health monitor over a scattering surface of the component, emitting light of various wavelengths toward the scattering surface from a light source of the health monitor, observing one or more responses of the scattering surface to the light of the various wavelengths at a detector of the health monitor and identifying a condition of the scattering surface from the observed one or more responses of the scattering surface to the light of the various wavelengths.
US09988234B2

An image processing system includes an image forming unit, an image decoloring unit, a first sheet stacking unit, a second sheet stacking unit, a first detector for the first sheet stacking unit, a second detector for the second sheet stacking unit, and a control unit. The control unit controls a transport path of a sheet discharged from one of the image forming unit and the image decoloring unit.
US09988220B2

Items of laundry are fed from an input machine to a mangle or some other laundry-treatment arrangement. Operating personnel are employed to feed the input machine with the items of laundry. This is costly in terms of time and personnel. The invention makes provision for determining surface profiles of the items of laundry by means of imaging installations. From these surface profiles a location for the automatic gripping of the item of laundry or of a corner of same, and preferably also the position of the location or corner, is determined by electronic image processing, whereby the location or corner of the item of laundry can be securely gripped in an automatic and targeted manner. By virtue of the described measures, hitherto manual activities in front of the input machine can be easily performed in a reliable and fully-automatic mode.
US09988216B1

Disclosed are various embodiments for a vertically recirculating gantry system operating in parallel with multiple actuators on multiple gantries. A plurality of items are retrieved from a plurality of picking locations via a plurality of actuators disposed on a gantry spanning a width of the plurality of conveyors. The gantry is moved along a track toward a plurality of stowage locations. Individual items are deposited in respective stowage locations via the plurality of actuators as the gantry moves over the stowage locations.
US09988212B2

A method of order fulfilling by making order and/or product units available from a storage facility in a desired sequence at a picking station is provided herein. The storage facility may include a plurality of multilevel storage racks in which order and/or product units are stored, an automatic storage and retrieval device, such as a shuttle, which retrieves and stores orders and/or product units, and lifts used to transfer the order and/or product units to at least one storage-exit conveyor, wherein each lift is directly connected to a picking station in a picking level by the storage-entry conveyor and the storage-exit conveyor.
US09988208B2

A container comprising a metal frame or pallet box for holding product therein during shipment and being returned for reuse has a base and opposed sides, straight tracks, and a plurality of padded dunnage supports extending between the tracks. One type of padded dunnage support comprises end members and a tubular middle member, the end members being movable along the tracks. The padded dunnage supports support dunnage, such as pouches.
US09988207B2

The invention relates to a transport bag comprising a base, a top portion, and side walls extending between said base and top portion in such a way that a volume for storing granule, fluid, viscous, or semi-fluid materials is formed, wherein the transport bag comprises at least one narrowed portion extending through a middle axis of said side wall from a upper edge to a bottom edge of the side wall.
US09988204B1

A food container for storing irregularly shaped preferably pie shaped foods having a central, inner cavity or compartment defined by a pie-shaped bottom surface, vertically extending side walls and a circumferential wall, along with a hinged top surface. The container may be built for further individual compartments or cavities and these may be stacked one on the other to separately store individual pieces of pie or pizza without one piece contacting another piece and, yet, storage space and footprint of the container is minimized, to advantage. A set of pie shaped cavities are provided for sliding receipt within a cabinet for food storage.
US09988200B2

A packaged food product includes a bottom receptacle having a lower portion defining an interior and an upper portion extending about the upper periphery of the interior; a food product provided within the interior; a top film sealed to the upper portion of the bottom receptacle via a seal portion extending substantially along the upper periphery of the interior and comprising at least one substantially straight side. The seal portion may be configured to release steam at approximately the midpoint of the substantially straight side of the seal portion.
US09988196B2

An assembly for holding a transaction card, such as a gift card, upon the wall of an open-ended container, such as a Christmas stocking or Easter basket, using cooperating inner and outer panels connected to one another via a foldable extension member.
US09988195B2

The present invention is a novel, theft-resistant, and senior-friendly packaging for consumer and retail products that is cheap and easy to manufacture. The packaging is designed to prevent individuals from gaining access to the enclosed product through tampering with the packaging while at the same time meeting or exceeding federal child-resistant and senior-friendly guidelines. The packaging incorporates plastic material and multiple cuts to be tear-resistant and to halt the propagation of a tear, if one should occur.
US09988184B2

A method of manufacturing a composite insert includes forming a polymer mold from a polymer sheet which may have a glass transition temperature of 70 to 160° C., the polymer mold either includes a cavity or may form a cavity disposed between the polymer mold and the carrier. The method proceeds by depositing a liquid reactive composite insert composition, which may be a two-component composition including a first part comprised of an isocyanate-epoxy blend and a second part comprised of an alcohol-epoxy blend, into the cavity under low pressure conditions of 0-10 bar and low temperature conditions of 15-100° C. The composition is then allowed to become dimensionally stable either within the polymer mold or between the polymer mold and the carrier.
US09988182B2

A bulk material shipping container including a pallet, a compartment mounted on the pallet, a material unloading assembly, and a material loading assembly.
US09988177B1

A bottle assembly includes a cap assembly, a bottle body, a base assembly and a filter assembly. The cap assembly includes a straw. The bottle body is removably connectable to the cap assembly. The base assembly is removably connectable to the bottle body. The filter assembly is connectable to the bottle body, and the filter assembly includes an aperture configured for passage of a portion of the straw. The aperture includes a mechanism that is closable when the portion of the straw is not in the aperture. A method of using a bottle includes removing the cap assembly from an upper opening of the bottle body and introducing fluid into the upper opening of the bottle body and through a filter assembly, the filter assembly including an aperture configured for passage of a portion of the straw. The method also includes closing the aperture.
US09988172B2

A bag holder is capable of holding a bag in an upright position with the use of expanding arms and a unique two stage hinge and clamp mechanism, which allows the expanding arm apparatus to enter and clamp a refuse bag quickly and efficiently. The operation utilizes a hook mechanism and a clamp, which allows the operator to use one hand to manipulate the expanding arm apparatus and the other hand to position the refuse bag. In addition, the bag holder functions as transport cart for refuse bags. Also, the unique cart structure, allows storing of two garden tools and multiple refuse bags. The bag holder is able to fold onto itself and be stored on a hook, by the unique handle. The bag expander and clamp mechanism is detachable which can be adapted to existing dolly's or hand truck.
US09988169B2

A deep-drawing packaging machine includes a sealing device that clamps and seals a top film and a bottom film by an upper mold and a lower mold, clamping tabs that clamp both-side edges of at least one of the top film and the bottom film, and a carrying device that carries at least one of the top film and the bottom film clamped by the clamping tabs. The clamping tabs are configured such that a gap is generated between the clamping tabs and the top film and the bottom film, positioned in a range clamped by the upper mold and the lower mold, when the upper mold and the lower mold of the sealing device are closed.
US09988162B2

A method to control a sunlight acquisition phase of a spacecraft with a nonzero angular momentum of an axis DH. The spacecraft includes a solar generator configured to rotate about an axis Y. The spacecraft actuators are controlled to place the spacecraft in an intermediate orientation in which the axis Y is substantially orthogonal to the axis DH. The solar generator is controlled to orientate the solar generator towards the sun. The spacecraft actuators are controlled to reduce the angular momentum of the spacecraft. The actuators of the spacecraft engine are controlled to place the spacecraft in an acquisition orientation in which the axis Y is substantially orthogonal to the direction of the sun with respect to the spacecraft.
US09988161B2

In a method of loading checked luggage on unit load devices corresponding to an aircraft having a passenger compartment, each piece of checked luggage is associated with a unique identifier. Each piece of checked luggage is weighed and its weight is associated with its corresponding unique identifier. A best possible luggage placement is calculated considering a distribution of passenger weight, thereby allowing the passengers to sit at their preferred location rather than by pre-allocation. A desired placement of the checked luggage is calculated based on the weight of each piece of checked luggage, the acceptable distribution of weight in the passenger compartment and overall fuel state over mission profile. Loading personnel are allowed to place luggage in the unit load devices and are instructed to stop loading the selected ones of the unit load devices when a deciding point is dynamically achieved by a recalculation of center of gravity shift each time a bag is loaded onto one of the unit load devices so as to achieve the best possible placement of check luggage. The recalculation of the center of gravity shift is done based on placement of the unit load devices in the aircraft luggage compartments.
US09988160B1

A fire detection system includes a heat detector controller and a multiplicity of heat detectors. The heat detectors are positioned at predetermined locations along a ceiling of a cargo compartment and/or on an exterior side of a cargo compartment liner from an interior of the cargo compartment. Each of the multiplicity of heat detectors are configured to measure temperature and to transmit temperature measurements to the heat detector controller. The heat detector controller is configured to determine that a fire has breached the cargo compartment liner based on the temperature measurements.
US09988156B2

A cylindrical case includes a case main body, and a groove disposed annularly at one end of the case main body. A peripheral wall of the case main body is formed by alternately laminating a biaxial fabric layer, which includes a biaxial fabric of a non-crimp structure composed of reinforcing fiber bands having an orientation angle of ±45°, and a roving layer. A groove wall of the groove is formed by alternately laminating the biaxial fabric layer, which continues to the case main body side, and a triaxial fabric layer, which includes a triaxial fabric of a non-crimp structure composed of reinforcing fiber bands having an orientation angle of ±45° and a reinforcing fiber band having an orientation angle of 0°.
US09988146B2

A balancing apparatus for a rotary element is provided and includes a central hub portion and radial elements extending outwardly from the central hub portion. The balancing apparatus includes a conduit extending along the radial elements via the central hub portion, a mass movable within the conduit between the radial elements via the central hub portion and a mass balancing system which directs a movement of the mass within the conduit into and out of the central hub portion and along the radial elements.
US09988141B2

A fluid interface device, such as an airfoil assembly, can include a device structure and at least one moveable band oriented such that the band moves in a direction of fluid flow. The at least one moveable band can be supported on the device structure such that an outer surface of the moveable band is exposed along the device structure and is capable of movement relative thereto such that a relative velocity can be maintained between the outer surface and the device structure. The fluid interface device can have a cross section that includes first and second boundary layer collision points disposed along one side of the device structure with at least one of said first and second boundary layer collision points formed by the endless band. An airplane, a wind turbine and a method are also included.
US09988138B2

A method and apparatus for operating an airfoil system. A gas may be generated. The gas may be sent into an inflatable airfoil system comprising an inflatable air foil and a section. The inflatable airfoil may have an inner end and an outer end in which the inflatable airfoil may be comprised of a number of materials that substantially pass electromagnetic waves through the inflatable airfoil. The section may have a number of openings in which the inner end of the inflatable airfoil may be associated with the section. The section may be configured to be associated with a fuselage. The number of openings may be configured to provide communications with an interior of the inflatable airfoil. The section with the number of openings may be configured to reduce reflection of the electromagnetic waves encountering the section.
US09988130B2

The present invention relates to a human-powered boat that a user can easily operate with his/her own manual power even though the boat is in a form causing large resistance to propulsion, and the human-powered boat is equipped with a propulsion apparatus that imitates the tail fin of a fish. The propulsion apparatus, in which an oscillating foil mechanism is applied to an “L-shaped oar”, enables a rider to perform forward-facing rowing and can easily change a direction and prevent damage due to a collision with an underwater obstacle. Typically, the human-powered boat of the present invention has the following three limitations in order to maximize simplicity while maintaining propulsion efficiency, compared with prior arts in the same technical field: First, a rider has a specific limitation in tilting the propulsion apparatus through an up-down movement of his/her arm. Second, the foil of the propulsion apparatus does not make contact with the longitudinal axis of the boat body in a predetermined range of motion. Third, the propulsion apparatus has a predetermined level of limitation in generating a propulsion force below the submerged portion of the boat body.
US09988124B2

A suspension assembly is disclosed. The suspension assembly is configured for movement under compression when installed for use in a vehicle providing at least one wheel. The assembly comprises a leg; a compression rod assembly comprising a compression rod movable within the leg; a piston assembly comprising a seal and a piston; and an isolator configured to deform under compression to provide isolation between the compression rod assembly and the piston assembly. The compression rod can translate under compression with deformation of the isolator before movement of the piston. The suspension assembly may be configured to provide a response to a force such as compression. An isolation member between the compression rod assembly and the piston assembly may be configured so that a force imparted on the compression rod assembly compresses the isolation member without translation of the piston. A spring system comprises a leg, a piston assembly comprising a piston, a compression rod assembly comprising a compression rod, a gas chamber adjacent to the piston assembly, and an isolator configured to deform under compression of the compression rod without translation of the piston.
US09988121B2

In an off road vehicle having a cradle type vehicle body frame, an electrical component is arranged forwardly of rider's legs. A vehicle body frame includes a head pipe, a main frame, a pivot frame, a down frame and a lower frame so as to be formed in a cradle of a closed loop shape in a side view. An engine is supported inside the cradle, and a fuel tank is arranged above the cradle. A vehicle body cover for covering the engine and the fuel tank includes a tank shroud, a side cover and an under cover. A portion of the side cover swells laterally and has an apex located within the cradle on the lateral side of a cylinder section. A fuel pump or an ABS unit as a heavy electrical component is arranged on the inside of the apex.
US09988115B2

The apparatuses and methods disclosed herein may be towed forwards and backwards by a motor vehicle. Thus, implementations of the transport device disclosed herein may have functions akin to a goose-neck trailer, yet may provide easier, more efficient and/or more cost effective transportation and loading functions over prior art trailer transportation systems. Furthermore, in some implementations, the transport device disclosed herein includes at least three, non-aligned wheels and therefore can function like a cart. Still further, in some implementations, the transport device disclosed herein can have the functions of a wagon, yet still back and maneuver like a trailer. In some implementations, the transport device includes a frame for positioning hay for feeding live stock.
US09988114B1

A trailer configured to couple to a self-balancing personal transporter, the trailer including a seat, at least one wheel rotatably coupled to the seat and oriented in an axial direction, the seat configured and positioned to support a user in a seated position with the user's feet in contact with a foot rest of the self-balancing personal transporter, and a yoke including a first end coupled to the seat and a second end configured to couple with a central portion of the self-balancing personal transporter, wherein the yoke extends in the same axial direction as the at least one wheel.
US09988113B2

A heavy-load modular vehicle having at least one axle, one steering, and coupling device not only can be coupled with at least one further heavy-load module and/or further transport apparatuses, but optionally also can be pulled out, particularly also telescoped. It has a central longitudinal support having at least one open face side, in which a pull-out support is guided. The metal cover sheet of the loading surface can take on the function of the upper belt of the central longitudinal support and leads to a self-supporting construction. A box-shaped lower belt counteracts twisting or torsions of the vehicle frame in the case of a trough-shaped design. A universal coupling head, particularly a bolt/tab coupling, makes it possible to couple on heavy-load modules having a different width, different tires and/or a different height, without an additional adapter.
US09988112B2

A mounting structure for a rig may include a base configured to support the mounting structure on an operating surface and a plurality of transport systems operatively connected to the base and configured to lift the mounting structure off of the operating surface. An elevated rig platform may be connected to the base by a plurality of support struts, wherein at least some of the support struts comprise a mounting connection that is configured to pivot to lower the elevated rig platform toward the base and place the mounting structure in a partially collapsed state. Additionally, a connecting member may be attached to one or more of the plurality of transport systems, wherein in response to the elevated rig platform being lowered to the partially collapsed state, the connecting member may be configured to displace at least a portion of the one or more transport systems.
US09988100B2

A front vehicle body structure includes: lower side members extended in a length direction of a vehicle, and disposed at left and right sides in a width direction of the vehicle; a dash lower cross reinforcement member extended in the width direction of the vehicle, and to which a rear end of each of the front lower side members in the length direction of the vehicle is coupled; and joints to which the rear ends of the left and right front lower side members and the dash lower cross reinforcement member are coupled, which can result in enhanced structural rigidity of the vehicle front body.
US09988083B1

A wheel end assembly comprising upper and lower arms and a tie rod coupled to a wheel carrier at an outer tie rod joint. A pin member is disposed between upper and lower mounting extensions of the wheel carrier or extends from a single mounting extension. The pin member comprises a first end, a second end and an expanded ball portion between the first and second end. The expanded ball portion is offset toward one of the first and second ends. The tie rod joint is defined by a pivotal coupling of the tie rod end to the pin member. A pivot point is defined between the tie rod end and the expanded ball portion, wherein the pivot point is closer to one of the first and second ends of the pin member to align the tie rod with the arms in a substantially parallel orientation to reduce bump steer.
US09988078B2

A steering control apparatus is provided which allows mitigation of an adverse effect of a technique for fixing a regulation member to a vehicle body on a phenomenon resulting from execution of steering operation control on steered wheels. An axial-force acquisition processing circuit calculates a rack axial force based on currents iu, iv, and iw flowing through a steering operation motor. A correction processing circuit corrects a target steered angle based on the rack axial force to obtain a target steered angle. A steered angle control processing circuit calculates a torque command value as the amount of operation for adjusting a steered angle to the target steered angle through feedback control. An operation signal generation processing circuit controllably adjusts a torque of a steering operation motor to the torque command value.
US09988074B2

A steering control apparatus controls steering characteristics by controlling a motor to output assist torque, which is generated corresponding to a steering torque applied to a steering shaft. The steering control apparatus includes a torque deviation generator generating a torque deviation between the steering torque applied to the steering shaft and a target steering torque and a command value generator generating an assist torque command value for controlling the motor based on a basic command value. The basic command value controls the torque deviation to become zero. The command value generator includes an integrator integrating and outputting the torque deviation and an output limiter setting an output limit to an immediately previous basic command value obtained immediately before the basic command value. The output limiter generates the assist torque command value using the immediately previous basic command value to which the output limit is set.
US09988070B2

A steering device with an impact absorbing mechanism includes an upper column tube configured to support a steering shaft, a lower column tube configured to be movable relative to the upper column tube and an upper fixing bracket to be coupled to the upper column tube and including a cut on the side of a steering wheel. The impact absorbing mechanism includes a bracket fixing portion fixed to the upper fixing bracket, a capsule portion fixed to a vehicle body and engaged with the cut, and a breaking portion connecting the bracket fixing portion and the capsule portion and configured to be broken by relative movements of the upper fixing bracket and the capsule portion. A connected position of the breaking portion to the capsule portion is near a front side of the vehicle body.
US09988064B2

Provided herein is a baby stroller, which has an expanded mode and a folded mode, and includes a lower arm set, a connection part, a front wheel frame, a slide block, a rear wheel set, an upper frame, a first link rod set, a handling tube, a supporting rod set, two seat supports, and two second link rods. Due to the couplings between the slide block, the handling tube and the upper frame and the coupling between the slide block and the rear wheel rocker arms, the baby stroller may easily be folded so that it occupies considerably less space, and thereby improve its portability and facilitate its stowage and transportation.
US09988034B2

A pneumatic spring brake cylinder is provided for brake systems of vehicles, including a housing in which a spring brake piston loaded by an accumulator spring and connected to a spring brake piston tube is guided in a movable manner, and an emergency release device for the emergency release of the spring brake piston in the event of a drop in pressure. The emergency release device contains a spindle which can be rotated relative to the spring brake cylinder and which can be screwed in a nut that is held in a rotationally fixed manner in the spring brake piston tube by a form-fitting connection. The nut interacts with an axial stop on the spring brake piston in order to trigger a release movement against the effect of the accumulator spring. The formfitting connection is formed between an outer polygonal profiled section of the outer circumference of the nut in a circumferential direction and a complementary circumferential inner polygonal profiled section on the inner circumference of an intermediate bushing and between an outer polygonal profiled section of the outer circumference of the intermediate bushing in the circumferential direction and a complementary circumferential inner polygonal profiled section on the inner circumference of the spring brake piston tube.
US09988031B2

A hydraulic braking system having: at least one wheel brake cylinder; a primary brake pressure generator that is disconnectably hydraulically coupled to the at least one wheel brake cylinder and is embodied to impinge upon the at least one wheel brake cylinder with pressure by way of a hydraulic fluid; a brake master cylinder that has at least one first pressure chamber and to which at least one wheel brake cylinder is hydraulically coupled; and a secondary brake pressure generator that is coupled to the first pressure chamber of the brake master cylinder and is embodied to impinge upon the first pressure chamber of the brake master cylinder with pressure, the secondary brake pressure generator being controllable independently of the primary brake pressure generator. Also disclosed is a related method.
US09988029B2

A vehicle braking force control device includes a braking force control unit. The braking force control unit is configured to shift to a drive state so as to use an auxiliary power source when a main power source fails, and to limit current outputted to an electric actuator of a braking device for producing braking hydraulic pressure when a transition is made to the drive state using the auxiliary power source. The braking force control unit has two current limit values used during actuation of the electric actuator by the auxiliary power source, the current limit values being a first current limit value for ensuring increased-braking-hydraulic-pressure characteristics, and a second current limit value for ensuring a necessary minimum braking hydraulic pressure, the second current limit value being less than the first current limit value.
US09988022B2

A sensor device for detecting a displacement of a master brake cylinder piston of a master brake cylinder situated on and/or in a hydraulic unit includes: a sensor element; an evaluation electronics system; a first molded part on or in which the at least one sensor element is situated, the first molded part including at least one first electrical contact element; and a second molded part. The at least one first electrical contact element contacts at least one second electrical contact element of the second molded part which is at least partially introduced into the second opening.
US09988020B2

A washer nozzle for a screen wash system of a motor vehicle has a pre-assembled structural unit of a jet insert and a check valve. This structural unit is pressed into a shaft of a housing. This makes the washer nozzle particularly easy to install.
US09988011B2

A vehicle includes a pedestrian protection device having a car hood that can be opened on at least one edge facing the windscreen when a collision of a person against the vehicle is recognized. The device also includes at least one airbag, which in the triggered state, extends across a region of a windscreen pillar and a region of the windscreen adjacent to this.
US09988005B2

A bumper beam is roll formed so that it gets a closed cross section with, along the length, constant cross section having at least two closed chambers (15, 16) separated by an essentially horizontal partition wall (14). Each chamber has a side (19), which is turned away from the vehicle, with at least one longitudinal concave portion (20, 21; 22, 23) extending along the entire length and one side (24), which is facing the vehicle, with at least one longitudinal convex portion (25, 26; 27, 28) extending along the entire length. After the roll forming, some portions (32) of the cross section are pressed together vertically or horizontally in order to adapt the deformation properties.
US09988003B2

A vehicle steering wheel comprising a metallic hub, a rim, and at least one branch including a mechanical connection piece attaching the rim to the hub. The vehicle steering wheel additionally includes at least one second branch of polymer injected between the hub and the rim without a mechanical connection piece attaching the rim to the hub, the at least one second branch including at least one energy conductor. The steering wheel further comprising positioning means for positioning the at least one energy conductor before the injection of the polymer of the branch in such a manner as to guarantee a minimal distance between the at least one energy conductor and a surface of the polymer once it is injected.
US09987999B2

A vehicle entertainment system includes a cradle disposed in a headrest of a vehicle and having a slot, and a vehicle entertainment unit including a display and a locking mechanism. Upon placing the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle, the locking mechanism is inserted into the slot to fixedly lock the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle. Upon fixedly locking the vehicle entertainment unit in the cradle, a space aligned with the locking mechanism is disposed between a first side of the cradle and a first side of the vehicle entertainment unit. The space is shaped and dimensioned to receive a removal tool that contacts the locking mechanism through the space to disengage the locking mechanism from the slot.
US09987995B2

An assembly for a storing and releasing a ladder comprising an outer lock that includes outer base extending along an axis and a pole extending transversely from the outer base to a pole end for disposition in a parallel and spaced relationship to the first drop-down arm in the cradle position for preventing the rail of the ladder from falling off the outer lock. A pole anchor connects the pole to the outer base for adjustment to various adjusted positions along the axis. A latch defines a catch for engaging the outer base in the latched position to retain the outer base in the cradle position and a locking hole for receiving a secondary lock to maintain the latch in the latched position.
US09987990B1

A vehicle body structure defines a cargo area. With a rear door in a closed orientation the rear door blocks access to the cargo area. In an open orientation, the rear door exposes the cargo area. A first cover is supported within the vehicle body structure above and spaced apart from a floor proximate a forward end of the cargo area. The first cover is movable between a retracted orientation exposing the cargo area and an extended orientation at least partially concealing the cargo area. A second cover is attached to the rear door along an interior surface thereof such that with the rear door in the closed orientation and the first cover in the extended orientation, the first cover abuts the second cover such that the first cover and the second cover conceal the cargo area.
US09987980B2

A covering device to be fastened opposite an opening of a motor vehicle and comprises at least one element which is fastened on the circumference of the opening, wherein a covering unit is displaced in an expansion direction between a storage position, in which the covering unit is released from the opening, and a covering position, in which the covering unit is extended opposite the opening, wherein the covering unit comprises a network of optical fibers having lateral light scattering. The network of optical fibers is supplied with light by at least one light source which is fastened on the element and, in order to supply the network of optical fibers with light, can illuminate ends of the optical fibers of the network in at least one illuminating position of the covering unit.
US09987975B2

A vehicle lamp has a circuit board on which a light emitting element is mounted, a housing for holding the circuit board, a first light guiding lens for guiding part of light emitted from the light emitting element in a predetermined direction, and a second light guiding lens for guiding at least the other part of the light emitted from the light emitting element in the other predetermined direction. The housing, the first light guiding lens and the second light guiding lens are formed integrally.
US09987974B2

A lighting system is provided herein. The lighting system includes a spotlight is mounted to a vehicle, a controller for operating the spotlight, and a pointer device for specifying an intended target. The controller aims the spotlight in the direction of the intended target based on input provided by the pointer device.
US09987970B2

A headlight socket with an antenna includes a base, cover, first antenna device and connection stand. The base includes a mounting portion. The cover is mounted on the base through the mounting portion and has a sidewall for annularly defining a receiving space. The first antenna device is received in the cover and includes a conductive end. The connection stand is coupled to the sidewall. The connection stand includes a connection port in contact and connection with the conductive end. The headlight socket is mounted on a vehicle. The first antenna device for receiving signals is disposed at the front of the vehicle, thereby enhancing the quality of signal reception. Conventional vehicular antennas are integrated into the headlight socket to manifest advantages of modularization so that an automobile assembly process is simplified, allowing internal circuits to be readily integrated.
US09987967B1

A removable locking apparatus includes a shaft body having an upper portion configured to receive tie-down equipment. A shaft socket is rotatably coupled to a lower portion of the shaft body, and a plurality of locking members are housed within the shaft socket. The locking members are configured to extend laterally from the shaft socket when the shaft body is rotated in a first direction relative to the shaft socket, and retract into the shaft socket when the shaft body is rotated in a second direction relative to the shaft socket. A clutch mechanism is coupled to the shaft socket and configured to slideably engage the shaft body. When disengaged, the clutch mechanism enables the plurality of locking members to extend or retract from the shaft socket. When engaged, the clutch mechanism prevents the plurality of locking members from extending and retracting from the shaft socket.
US09987964B1

The boat trailer having an inflatable bladder is a boat trailer with an inflatable bladder located under the rear end of the trailer. The bladder is coupled to an air hose that runs to a hose connecter at the front of the trailer. The bladder is retained in place by a combination of longitudinal and lateral support rails, which are part of the trailer frame and by a bladder barrier that covers the bladder and prevents it from rising above the top of the trailer. If the trailer is backed down the boat ramp and the wheels leave the boat ramp at an end-of-ramp drop-off, a source of compressed air may be used to inflate the bladder. This provides buoyancy to elevate the trailer wheels so that the tow vehicle may pull the trailer up the boat ramp.
US09987963B2

A device that may be mounted on a bed of a pickup truck to enable smaller vehicles, such as motorcycles, snowmobiles, or all-terrain vehicles to enter from the ground level upon a platform of the loading device. This is accomplished by the loading device having a ramp that can be pulled outwardly or rearwardly from said device, and a motorcycle can drive up the ramp to the platform. A dolly slide is pulled outwardly from the device, and extends above the tailgate. The ramp then extends downwardly from the dolly slide, so that no weight or load is displaced on the tailgate.
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