US11422123B2

A field condition-based experimental apparatus for an ecological indicator of vegetation includes a plurality of isolation units arranged at intervals and an auxiliary mechanism detachably connected to the isolation unit. The isolation units include a plurality of isolation boxes arranged at intervals and respectively having a hollow structure, and a support frame respectively disposed at four corners of the isolation box. The auxiliary mechanism is detachably connected to the support frame. A soil layer is disposed in the isolation box. The experimental apparatus has a reliable structure and is easy to use. An appropriate number of isolation units are buried under field conditions based on experimental needs. Auxiliary mechanisms of different structures are mounted based on experimental conditions. This implements reliable detection of an ecological indicator of vegetation under the field conditions and effectively improves authenticity and reliability of detection results. The auxiliary mechanism facilitates disassembly and assembly.
US11422109B2

A sensor device for detecting a target species in an aqueous media and/or measuring the concentration of a target species in an aqueous media, the sensor device comprising: (a) an active semiconductor comprising an organic semiconductor material that exhibit substantially the same transfer curve for a period of at least 24 hours when first exposed to air; and (b) a structure for directing an aqueous media into contact with the sensor device.
US11422107B2

The disclosure relates to an apparatus for the analysis of biological liquid samples, the apparatus having a measurement chamber defining a sample volume with an inlet and an outlet; a fluid handling system adapted for feeding a liquid to the sample volume through the inlet and for removing the liquid through the outlet; a thermostatic sample heater device adapted for controlling a sample temperature of a liquid sample in the measurement chamber; and a processor unit. An analyte sensor output may be corrected on the basis of the initial temperature thus determined. A corresponding method for the analysis of biological liquid samples is provided. Furthermore, a method of performing a quality control procedure using the apparatus or the method is disclosed.
US11422106B2

Biosensors utilizing 4-acetoxyphenol are described. The biosensors typically include 4-acetoxyphenol in a substrate and utilize one or more enzymes to detect the presence of pollutant agents. Also described are related methods using the biosensors to detect the presence of pollutant agents in water such as As(III).
US11422105B2

A humidity sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, an insulating film, an interconnect layer formed above the semiconductor substrate via the insulating film, a protective film that covers the interconnect layer, a moisture sensitive film formed above the protective film, and a metal oxide film formed between the protective film and the moisture sensitive film.
US11422097B1

An RF test hat. The RF test hat may comprise: a body having a substantially rectangular portion with open forward and aft ends, an end cap, arm and strap assembly, absorber material, a receiving antenna, lens, and upper and lower mesh screens. The end cap may couple to the open forward end of the body. The arm and strap assembly may hingedly couple to the open aft end of the body. The absorber material may be within the end cap. The receiving antenna may be disposed within the first absorber material and may measure the intensity of a beam of electromagnetic radiation. The lens may be located within the middle portion of the body and may spread the beam across a larger surface area of the absorber material. The upper and lower mesh screens may be disposed between the end cap and lens and may comprise openings that are substantially hexagonal in shape.
US11422095B2

A metrology system may receive a model for measuring one or more selected attributes of a target including features distributed in a selected pattern based on regression of spectroscopic scatterometry data from a scatterometry tool for a range of wavelengths. The metrology system may further generate a weighting function for the model to de-emphasize portions of the spectroscopic scatterometry data associated with wavelengths at which light captured by the scatterometry tool when measuring the target is predicted to include undesired diffraction orders. The metrology system may further direct the spectroscopic scatterometry tool to generate scatterometry data of one or more measurement targets including fabricated features distributed in the selected pattern. The metrology system may further measure the selected attributes for the one or more measurement targets based on regression of the scatterometry data of the one or more measurement targets to the model weighted by the weighting function.
US11422086B2

One example provides a system for reading birefringent data. The system comprises one or more light sources, a first polarization state generator positioned to generate first polarized light from light of a first wavelength band output by the one or more light sources, a second polarization state generator positioned to generate second polarized light from light of a second wavelength band output by the one or light sources, an image sensor configured to acquire an image of the sample region via the first polarized light and the second polarized light, a polarization state analyzer disposed between the sample region and the image sensor, a first bandpass filter configured to pass light of the first wavelength band onto the image sensor, and a second bandpass filter configured to pass light of the second wavelength band onto the image sensor.
US11422081B2

Various embodiments include a sensor for use in an exhaust gas stream of an internal combustion engine comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode electrically insulated from the first electrode by an insulation; and a connection arrangement secured to the first electrode and the insulation by a solder connection. The connection arrangement is configured to position the first electrode relative to the second electrode. The solder connection is arranged at least partly outside an electric field generated during measurement operation of the sensor by applying a first electrical potential to the first electrode and applying a second, different, electrical potential to the second electrode.
US11422069B2

A sensor device includes an element cover at the tip end of a housing, retaining a sensor element. An outer cover is provided with outer side holes, with the tip position of the outer side holes being farther toward the tip end than is the tip position of an inner cover, and a first flow passage having a gas flow direction that is at right angles to the axial direction is formed at the inner side of the outer cover. An inner side hole in the inner cover is open to a second flow passage provided between the side surfaces of the inner cover and the outer cover, and a detection surface of the sensor element is located on an extension line in an extension direction of a guide member which extends obliquely into the interior of the inner cover from the tip-position edge of the inner side hole.
US11422067B2

A method for quantifying dynamic response characteristics of a real-time damper includes positioning the damper between a stationary member and a moveable member of a shock press having a force transducer, and transmitting motion control signals to the shock press, via a test controller, to stroke the moveable member and cause the damper to move with a constant velocity between extremes of stroke. A test drive signal is transmitted to the damper for a calibrated test duration. The test drive signal has a calibrated discrete frequency, frequencies, or a frequency sweep range. The method includes measuring, via the force transducer, a force component of the damper while transmitting the test drive signal, and quantifying the response characteristics of the damper over the test duration, including recording the response characteristics in a memory device. A test system includes a shock press, force transducer, and test controller.
US11422066B2

Testing the rolling resistance of a tire is a common procedure in tire testing. There is a tire testing machine 1 suggested, comprising a rolling device 4, a tire mounting device 3 and a driving assembly 2, whereby the driving assembly 2 is operable to rotate the rolling device 4 and/or the tire mounting device 3 according to a configurable driving cycle, whereby the rolling device 4 has a drum 5 with an outer peripheral surface 7, whereby the tire 14 is rotatable mountable on the tire mounting device 3, whereby the tire mounting device 3 is arranged that the tire 14 is engaged with the outer peripheral surface 7 of the drum 5, with a first torque measuring assembly 12, a second torque measuring assembly 18, and an angular velocity measuring assembly 12, whereby the first torque measuring assembly 12 is operable to measure a drum drive torque of the drum 5 and the second torque measuring assembly 18 is operable to measure a tire drive torque of the tire (14), whereby the angular velocity measuring assembly 12 is operable to measure and/or calculate the angular velocity of the tire ωT and the angular velocity of the drum ωD.
US11422060B2

According to examples, a Brillouin and Rayleigh distributed sensor may include a first laser source to emit a first laser beam, and a second laser source to emit a second laser beam. A photodiode may acquire a beat frequency between the two laser beams. The beat frequency may be used to maintain a predetermined offset frequency shift between the two laser beams. A modulator may modulate the first laser beam. The modulated first laser beam is to be injected into a device under test (DUT). A coherent receiver may acquire a backscattered signal from the DUT. The backscattered signal results from the modulated first laser beam injected into the DUT. The coherent receiver may use the second laser beam as a local oscillator to determine Brillouin and Rayleigh traces with respect to the DUT based on the predetermined offset frequency shift.
US11422047B1

Systems, devices and methods enable generation and monitoring of support platform structural conditions in a manner that overcomes drawbacks associated with conventional approaches (e.g., load cells) for generating and monitoring similar operating condition information. In preferred embodiments, such systems, devices and methods utilize fiber optic strain gauges (i.e., fiber optic sensors) in place of (e.g., retrofit/data replacement) or in combination with conventional load cells. The fiber optic sensors are strategically placed at a plurality of locations on one or more support bodies of a support platform. In preferred embodiments, the fiber optic strain gauges are placed in positions within a hull and/or one or more pontoons of an offshore platform. Such positions are selected whereby resulting operating condition data generated by the fiber optic strain gauges suitably replaces data received by conventionally constructed and located load cells of an offshore platform (e.g., a TLP).
US11422045B2

A strain sensor comprising a conductive member having a plurality of elements arranged adjacent to one another, and a non-conductive and elastically deformable material encapsulating the conductive member, wherein, in an equilibrium state, compressive forces cause at least one of the plurality of elements to contact at least a portion of an adjacent element, and wherein, when a strain is applied, a resulting elastic deformation causes at least one of the plurality of elements to space apart from an adjacent element such that the contacted portion decreases or is eliminated. A multi-axis force sensor comprising a sensing array comprising at least two planar sensors arranged radially on a planar substrate in antagonistic pairs, and a compressible member positioned between the substrate and a central portion of the sensing array, the compressible member acting to displace the central portion of the sensing array away from the substrate.
US11422044B2

A bridge driver circuit applies a bias voltage across first and second input nodes of a resistive bridge circuit configured to measure a physical property such as pressure or movement. A sensing circuit senses drive current, bias current and common mode current for the bridge driver and sums the sensed currents to generate a source current. The source current is processed to determine a normalized resistance and temperature of the resistive bridge circuit and from which a temperature dependent sensitivity of the resistive bridge circuit is determined. A voltage output at first and second output nodes of the resistive bridge circuit is processed to determine a value of the physical property. This processing further involves applying a temperature correction in response to the determined temperature dependent sensitivity.
US11422036B2

Method for capturing a thermal pattern by a sensor comprising a plurality of pixels each comprising a heat-sensitive measuring element, the method comprising, for each pixel: heating the measuring element; first reading of the electrical charges outputted by the pixel during a first measurement duration and giving a first measurement value x1; second reading of the electrical charges outputted by the pixel during a second measurement duration and giving a second measurement value x2; calculating a difference x1−α·x2, where α is a positive real number, and wherein more than half of the heating duration is implemented during the first measurement duration and less than half of the heating duration is implemented during the second measurement duration.
US11422033B2

Disclosed herein are a method for diagnosing a disease of a body tissue by using LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) comprising: preparing a laser device including: a laser projection module, outputting the laser to a suspicious region of the body tissue, a light receiving module, receiving a plurality of light, a spectrum measurement module, and a guide unit; and projecting the laser to generate plasma by inducing tissue ablation in the suspicious region; wherein the laser projected to the suspicious region has a target area, and wherein the target area has smaller size than the suspicious region such that the target area is located inside the suspicious region.
US11422031B2

A method for collecting and processing terahertz spectral imaging data includes: scanning an object to generate terahertz spectral data having a hyper- or low-spectral resolution respectively at a plurality of pixel points; collecting the terahertz spectral data and recording coordinate data of each pixel point, thereby obtaining a mixed data including a hyper-spectral data and a low-spectral data corresponding to different pixel points; constructing a hyper-spatial and low-spectral imaging data-cube from the mixed data; extracting a hyper-spectral data-set from the mixed data; and reconstructing a hyper-spatial and hyper-spectral imaging data-cube from the hyper-spatial and low-spectral imaging data-cube based on the hyper-spectral data-set. A terahertz spectral imaging apparatus is further provided.
US11422022B2

A cast load cell comprising a load sensing portion integrally cast with a first mounting portion. The load sensing portion has a flexure portion spaced apart from the first mounting portion by a flexure gap. The load sensing portion has at least one sensor cavity above at least a portion of the flexure gap. A second mounting portion is integrally cast with the load sensing portion above the flexure gap. A load sensor is connected to the load sensor portion and positioned within the sensor cavity above a portion of the flexure gap. The first mounting portion, the load sensing portion, and the second mounting portion define an integral, low-profile, weld-free, substantially homogenous unitary cast member.
US11422020B2

A rail vehicle includes a truck having wheels for engaging a railroad track, a bolster supported by the truck, and a tank supported by the bolster for storing a lading. A measurement system measures the level of the lading within the tank and includes gauges and a controller. The gauges are disposed at selected points on the bolster for sensing at least one of lateral and longitudinal localized displacement experienced by the bolster during motion of the rail vehicle. The controller calculates the level of the lading within the tank and compensates for changes in the level of the lading during motion of the rail vehicle in response to signals generated by the gauges.
US11422019B1

A system, methods, and apparatus for preventing receptacle overfilling are presented. The system can include a sensor member configured to couple with a receptacle and sense a material level within the receptacle, such as via a sight glass of the receptacle. The system can include a controller in operable communication with the sensor member and configured to instantiate the shutoff of material flow from a material dispensing system if a particular material level is detected by the sensor member. The system can include an intermediate member configured to relay communications between the sensor member and the controller. The intermediate member can be coupled to a fluid line and can further act as a holster for the sensor member, such as by facilitating the coupling of the sensor member to the intermediate member and/or the fluid line.
US11422014B2

A flow meter includes at least two spaced-apart measuring sensors, preferably ultrasonic sensors, wherein the coupling in and out of the measurement signals in or out of a fluid occurs via a coupling part which is inserted into a circumferential wall of a measuring channel produced via hydroforming. Alternatively, the coupling in and out of the measurement signals can also occur through a wall of the measuring channel.
US11422012B2

A sensor-cluster apparatus includes: sensors configured to detect and collect external environment information, the sensors including one or more kinds of sensors; a body member having one surface onto which the sensors are mounted; a case on which the body member is fixed, the case including: an inner space in which the body member is mounted; and an opening defined in one surface thereof exposing the inner space, the sensors are exposed through the opening; and a cover configured to open and close the opening of the case, wherein, the sensors are configured to be detached from the body member through the opening of the case with the body member fixed to the case.
US11422011B2

Two photoelectric circuit sets each have a light source, two light switches, optical fibers, photoelectric sensor and computer. The light source emits visible light to the first switch, which is continuously deflected and reflected by a torsional micro-mirror. The light respectively irradiates each of the optical fibers in a composite material optical fiber prepreg layer. If the material is normal, the optical fiber is not damaged, the visible light passes through the optical fiber and irradiates the second switch, and is continuously deflected and reflected by a second torsional micro-mirror, the light irradiates the photoelectric sensor. The sensor outputs an electric signal to the computer. If the material is damaged, the optical fiber here is damaged, another corresponding optical fiber path at an intersection point is also damaged without electric signal output. The computer gives breaking position coordinates at the intersection point of two paths of optical fiber arrays.
US11422007B2

A magnetic sensor includes first and second bridge circuits. The first bridge circuit includes a first group of magnetoresistive elements connected in a bridge. The first bridge circuit outputs a first detection signal corresponding to a magnetic field detected by the magnetoresistive elements in the first group. The second bridge circuit includes a second group of magnetoresistive elements connected in a bridge. Each magnetoresistive element of the first and second bridge circuits is formed by a sensor element bent in a serpentine manner. The second bridge circuit outputs a second detection signal corresponding to a magnetic field detected by the magnetoresistive elements in the second group and having a waveform that has a sine-cosine relationship with the first detection signal. The sensor elements of the first and second bridge circuits are arranged along a circumference of part of a circle about a center of the sensor elements.
US11422004B2

A method for initializing an inertial measurement unit (IMU). The IMU is associated with an accelerometer frame. The accelerometer frame corresponds to an inertial frame. The method includes generating variations in rows of a gravity disturbance matrix of the IMU by rotating the IMU about a rotation axis and estimating an optimal transformation matrix from the accelerometer frame to the inertial frame by minimizing the variations of the rows of the gravity disturbance matrix. The rotation axis passes through a center of the accelerometer frame. A column of the gravity disturbance matrix includes a gravity disturbance vector at an initialization moment of an initialization time. The gravity disturbance vector is associated with a gravity vector of Earth.
US11422002B2

A navigator includes: a data transceiver configured to receive and transmit changed map data including a gateway list and difference data corresponding to information related to a boundary between divided regions; a DB manager configured to separately store and manage map data for each divided region and configured to update the map data for each divided region under the control of a controller; and a controller configured to control the update of the map data for each divided region based on the gateway list transmitted from the data transceiver.
US11421994B2

An embodiment of the invention provides a method and apparatus for partitioning an electronic fence, relating to the technical field of computers. The method in the embodiment of the invention comprises: partitioning a coordinate system of a planimetric map, and taking one vertex of each partition in the same direction as a base point; generalizing, according to a predetermined rule, a station to the base point corresponding to the partition where the station is located; mapping, according to the predetermined rule, a vehicle position to the base point corresponding to the partition where the vehicle position is located, wherein all the stations included in the base point are stations where a vehicle may appear; and acquiring electronic fence information of the stations where the vehicle may appear, and comparing vehicle position information with the electronic fence information of the stations where the vehicle may appear so as to determine whether the vehicle enters or leaves the stations. In the embodiment of the invention, by partitioning the coordinate system of the planimetric map, and comparing the vehicle position information with the electronic fence information of the stations where the vehicle may appear, time complexity of a determination program is reduced, and occupation of hard disk read resources is reduced at the same time.
US11421985B2

A method for inspecting a membrane electrode structure (1) which includes a first step in which detection medium capable of detecting elements of a first electrode catalyst layer (12) and a second electrode catalyst layer (22) and an element of a metal foreign matter (40) is sent along a thickness direction from the side of a first electrode layer (10) to a second electrode layer (20) side to obtain a thickness direction profile of a detection signal, and a second step in which an analysis unit identifies a thickness direction position of the metal foreign matter (40), from intensity of the detection signal in the thickness direction profile, and in which the analysis unit identifies thickness direction positions of the first and second electrode catalyst layer (12)(22), or a thickness direction position of an electrolyte membrane (30), from the intensity of the detection signal in the thickness direction profile.
US11421982B2

A system is provided for estimating a tread depth of a tire supporting a vehicle. The tire includes a pair of sidewalls that extend to a circumferential tread. The system includes a drive over reader, which includes a housing. At least one sensor is mounted in the housing to generate an image of the tire, which may be an image of the tire footprint or an image of the tread along a lateral line or section, and the tread depth is determined from the image. At least one piezoelectric actuator is mounted on the housing and is electrically connected to the at least one sensor to actuate the at least one sensor. A method for estimating a tread depth of a tire supporting a vehicle is also provided.
US11421978B2

An optical coherence tomography imaging device (OCT device) splits laser light emitted from a light source into measurement light for irradiating an object and reference light for irradiating a reference mirror, then analyze the interference light formed by combining scattered measurement light reflected back from the object and reflected reference light reflected from the reference mirror in order to generate tomographic images. An OCT device includes a probe, which is used for irradiating the object with measurement light and collecting scattered measurement light that is reflected back from the object, and an OCT main unit, which includes a light source for emitting measurement light. The probe is arranged on an odonto-therapy unit equipped with an instrument hanger, and includes a probe-connection optical fiber for transmitting measurement light and scattered measurement light. The probe-connection optical fiber is detachably connected to the OCT main unit.
US11421977B2

A method is disclosed for operating an endpoint detection system of a processing chamber having a ceiling formed therein, a substrate support located internal to the processing chamber, and a substrate resting on the substrate support. A transparent panel is located in the ceiling of the processing chamber, the panel oriented at a first acute angle relative to the substrate and the substrate support. The transparent panel receives an incident light beam from the endpoint detection system at a second acute angle relative to the panel. The transparent panel transmits the incident light beam to the substrate within the processing chamber at an angle perpendicular to the substrate and the substrate support.
US11421968B2

An archery arrow end includes a main body that has a first end and a second end. The main body defines a longitudinal axis. The archery arrow end includes a tip positioned at the first end. The tip has a blunt end. The archery arrow end includes an arrow shaft connector positioned at the second end. The arrow shaft connector is configured to be attached to an arrow shaft. The archery arrow end includes flexible wings that extend from the main body in a direction at least partially toward the second end. Each wing has a free end configured to move toward and away from the longitudinal axis.
US11421962B2

A defense structure and methods of use for penetrating the defense structure with a projectile from a first side and preventing a projectile from penetrating the defense structure from a second side. The defense structure comprising a plurality of wedges arranged to rotate and abut each other using a tensioning member, such as a spring. Ballistic and resilient members are provided on a rear surface of the plurality of wedges to prevent a projectile from penetrating the defense structure through deflection and/or adsorption of the projectile. A gap is formed between at least two of the plurality of wedges when a projectile is urged between the plurality of wedges from the first side. The tensioning member urges the plurality of wedges to rotate and abut each other after the projectile passes through the gap. The defense structure may be partially concealed within a structural element.
US11421961B2

The present invention relates to target acquisition and related devices, and more particularly to telescopic gunsights and associated equipment used to achieve shooting accuracy at, for example, close ranges, medium ranges and extreme ranges at stationary and moving targets.
US11421950B2

The present disclosure relates to a heat transfer tube having rare-earth oxide deposited on a surface thereof and a method for manufacturing the same, in which the rare-earth oxide can be deposited on the surface of the heat transfer tube to implement a superhydrophobic surface even under the high temperature environment and a plurality of assembled heat transfer tubes can be coated by coating a complex shape by depositing rare-earth oxide using a method for dipping a surface of the heat transfer tube and coating the same, thereby reducing or preventing the heat transfer tubes from being damaged during the assembling of the heat transfer tubes after the coating.
US11421945B1

Heatsink has a plurality of cross-connected pathways that create areas of turbulent airflow which is useful for quickly dissipating heat in the heatsink. The cross-connected pathways can include vertically extending pathways that extend from the baseplate to the top surface of the single piece of material with an increasing volume away from the baseplate toward the top surface of the single piece of material and horizontally extending pathways are oriented in a plurality of rows where a diameter of the horizontally extending pathways increases in each row of the plurality of rows from the baseplate.
US11421942B2

A vapor chamber that includes a housing defining an internal space, and a working medium and a wick structure in the internal space of the housing. As viewed in a plan view, the vapor chamber has a first region with a first thickness and a second region with a second thickness, the second thickness being smaller than the first thickness.
US11421935B2

The invention relates to a box (10) for preservation of food. The box comprises a food storage compartment (16). The box also comprises a dry unit (20) adapted to dry the air inside the food storage compartment. The sealable box is formed as one stand-alone unit. Hereby an appliance for keeping food at dry conditions is provided. The appliance can be easily installed and can be moved around to any suitable location including inside a kitchen cabinet.
US11421934B2

A method for controlling a refrigerator includes determining whether an ice bin accommodated in an ice making compartment that receives cold air from the first storage compartment is full of stored ice, determining, by a controller, whether an algorithm that prevents the ice stored in the ice bin from melting needs to be performed upon determining that the ice bin is full, and performing the algorithm.
US11421927B2

A refrigerator appliance is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a fresh food compartment, an ice storage compartment within the fresh food compartment and insulated from the fresh food compartment, a sealed system configured to circulate a refrigerant through a refrigerant conduit; an ice maker positioned in the fresh food compartment and being in direct thermal communication with the sealed system, and an insulated door configured to open and close the ice storage compartment to selectively allow ice from the icemaker to enter the ice storage compartment. Methods of using the refrigerator appliance are also provided.
US11421918B2

A refrigeration system includes a rotary pressure exchanger fluidly coupled to a low pressure branch and a high pressure branch. The rotary pressure exchanger is configured to receive the refrigerant at high pressure from the high pressure branch, to receive the refrigerant at low pressure from the low pressure branch, and to exchange pressure between the refrigerant at high pressure and the refrigerant at low pressure, and wherein a first exiting stream from the rotary pressure exchanger includes the refrigerant at high pressure in the supercritical state or the subcritical state and a second exiting stream from the rotary pressure exchanger includes the refrigerant at low pressure in the liquid state or the two-phase mixture of liquid and vapor.
US11421916B2

An electrical connector includes a main body portion, connection portions, a first temperature sensing element and a second temperature sensing element. The connection portions allow the main body portion to be electrically connected to a charged element provided in a flow channel. The main body portion includes a first side and a second side which are parallel to a flow direction of fluid. The first temperature sensing element and the second temperature sensing element are provided at mutually opposite positions on the first side and the second side in an electrically insulated manner. A fluid state test device having the electrical connector and a fluid heat exchange system are further provided. Thus, the original flow field where the electrical connector of the electrode of the electric heater is located may not change, and destruction to the flow field is avoided.
US11421915B2

A vent attachment facilitates attaching a coaxial air intake and exhaust vent of a tankless water heater to a Category I vent, such as B-vent. The vent attachment comprises a first end with a coaxial connector comprising a central exhaust pathway and a circumferential air intake pathway. The vent attachment also comprises a second end with a tubular exhaust vent connector in fluid communication with the central exhaust pathway. The vent attachment further comprises a frame that encloses the central exhaust pathway and comprises a mesh configured to provide fluid communication through the frame with the air intake pathway. Additionally, operation of the tankless water heater is modified to ensure that the exhaust generated is suitable for venting through a Category I vent. The tankless water heater maintains a high fuel consumption rate such that the temperature of hot water produced increases throughout each of a plurality of burner stages.
US11421914B2

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for high-efficiency thermal storage with a fluid-filled “battery” tank positioned within a fluid-filled “reservoir” tank. Fluid loops couple the tanks to a heat pump and a building. The heat pump can charge the battery tank or deliver thermal energy (cold or heat) to a building, using the reservoir tank or ambient air as a thermal energy source. The battery tank can discharge energy to the building jointly with the heat pump or, at periods of peak electricity usage, with the heat pump switched off. Operating modes allow significant savings in electricity usage and mitigate the “duck curve.” Low duty cycle usage of the reservoir enables efficient underground thermal storage with less digging than conventional geothermal technologies. Additional efficiency is achieved with phase change materials installed inside a tank or in a tank wall, providing temperature regulation. Control methods are disclosed.
US11421905B2

Provided is an information processing method executed by a computer. The information processing method includes detecting a cough or a sneeze of a person who is in a predetermined space; acquiring an image of the predetermined space captured when the cough or the sneeze is detected; recognizing a state around a mouth of the person from the image; generating, based on the recognized state around the mouth of the person, a control signal for controlling at least one of a direction or a volume of air that is to be sent from an airflow generation apparatus that generates an airflow in the predetermined space; and outputting the generated control signal.
US11421903B2

A bridge device operable in an air-quality control system is provided. The bridge device is connected to a plurality of sensor devices and includes a radio circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with the plurality of sensor devices over a wireless medium using an air-quality communication protocol; a transceiver configured to communicate with a remote server; a processing circuitry; a memory, the memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, configure the bridge device to: periodically discover the plurality of sensor devices connected to the bridge device; query each of the discovered senor devices to read at least one senor reading provided by each sensor device, the at least one senor reading is of at least an air-quality level in a vicinity of the sensor device; encapsulate the sensor readings from the plurality of sensor devices into a data frame; and send the data frame to the remote server.
US11421901B2

First and second IAQ sensors are located within a building and are configured to measure first and second IAQ parameters, respectively, the first and second IAQ parameter being the same one of: relative humidity; amount of particulate; amount of volatile organic compounds; and amount of carbon dioxide. A mitigation device is separate from an HVAC system and includes a control module configured to turn the mitigation device on and off based on the first IAQ parameter, the second IAQ parameter, and whether the HVAC system is on or off. A mitigation module is configured to selectively turn the HVAC system on and off based on the second IAQ parameter, the first IAQ parameter, and whether the HVAC system is on or off.
US11421899B2

A gas-fired atmospheric pressure steam humidifier having high efficiency and ultra-low NOx(3) emissions is disclosed. In some examples, the gas-fired humidifier can have an efficiency of greater than 90 percent and a NOx(3) output of less than 20 parts per million (ppm). In one aspect, the humidifier includes a secondary heat exchanger having a first heat exchange section for pre-heating combustion air and a separate second heat exchange section for pre-heating make-up water, wherein the first and second heat exchange sections are in heat transfer communication with exhaust gases generated by the gas-fired burner and combustion blower assembly. In some examples, the first heat exchange section includes orifices for enabling flue gas recirculation.
US11421898B2

Outdoor units for climate control systems and related methods are disclosed. In an embodiment, the outdoor unit includes a base pan including an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and at least one receptacle, wherein the at least one receptacle comprises an aperture. Additionally, the outdoor unit includes at least one coil locator coupled to the at least one receptacle of the base pan wherein the at least one coil locator comprises a tongue which extends through the aperture and a pair of horizontally spaced feet separate and distinct from the tongue and which are received in the aperture. Further, the outdoor unit includes a heat exchanger coil, and an outdoor fan configured to produce an airflow across the heat exchanger coil.
US11421893B2

A cooking appliance, in particular a commercial cooking appliance, comprising a housing in which a cooking space is arranged and which is provided with a housing outlet, a condenser connected with the cooking space, a cooling water supply device and an appliance outlet, wherein the condenser has a multi-chamber system and the cooling water supply device comprises at least one supply line leading into the chamber provided with the appliance outlet.
US11421885B2

A System for Aerodynamic Premixer for Reduced Emissions comprising a premixer is generally cylindrical in form and defined by the relationship in physical space between a first ring, a second ring, and a plurality of radial vanes. The first and second rings are found to be generally equidistant, one from the other, at all points along their facing surfaces. Radial vanes connect the first ring to the second ring and thereby form the premixer.
US11421877B2

A method for operating a gas turbine engine includes receiving data indicative of an operational vibration within a section of the gas turbine engine; and providing electrical power to a shaker mechanically coupled to one or more components of the section of the gas turbine engine to generate a canceling vibration to reduce or minimize the operational vibration within the section of the gas turbine engine.
US11421876B2

Methods for regulating a heating device, which includes a combustion chamber, into which combustion air is introduced via a controllable blower. An operating variable and a speed of the blower are measured. An operating coefficient is determined on the basis of the measured operating variable and the measured speed. A volume flow coefficient is determined on the basis of reference values for the operating coefficient. A volume flow of the combustion air being determined on the basis of the volume flow coefficient. A calibration of the reference values is carried out for the operating coefficient.
US11421875B2

A burner control system for improving burner performance and efficiency may determine fuel and air channel or manifold parameters. Determination of parameters may be performed with a sensor connected across the air and fuel channels. A signal from the sensor may control the parameters which in turn affect the amounts of fuel and air to the burner via a controller. Parameter control of the fuel and air in their respective channels may result in more accurate fuel and air ratio control. One or more flow restrictors in fuel and/or air bypass channels may further improve accuracy of the fuel and air ratio. The channels may be interconnected with a pressure or flow divider. Byproducts of combustion in the exhaust, temperatures of gas and air, flame quality and/or other items may be monitored and adjusted with control of the fuel and air ratio for optimum combustion in the burner.
US11421857B2

A method for decorating a translucent container including cleaning an exterior surface of the container and applying a silver layer to the exterior surface followed by a black layer applied over the silver layer. Portions of the silver and black layers are selectively removed to form one or more shapes using a laser. A translucent protective layer is applied over the entire exterior of the container.
US11421849B2

A lamp for an automobile and an automobile including the lamp. According to the present disclosure, among the light emitted from a light source, light incident into an inner lens through one side surface of the inner lens forms a first lighting image and a second lighting image having a different shape from the first lighting image. The first lighting image and the second lighting image are determined depending on a region of the inner lens through which the light is emitted out.
US11421838B2

Solar-powered lighting devices are described, the solar-powered lighting devices including a housing and an electronic cord coupled to the housing. The housing may include a first section coupled to a second section, the first section including a solar panel coupled to an outer surface. The lighting devices may also include a rechargeable battery, a microprocessor, and a user interface to receive user input and transmit the user input to the microprocessor. The electronic cord may be flexible and includes at least one light-emitting diode, wherein the microprocessor is configured to control at least one operating mode of the LED of the electronic cord based on the user input.
US11421835B2

The invention relates to a lighting device, a lighting system and a lighting method. The lighting device comprises a row of lighting units mounted in a first direction X on an elongated carrier wherein each lighting unit is mounted with a respective, fixed, unique, pre-determined orientation. Said lighting device is configured to directly project on a target plane P a row of light patches, said plane P extending in said first direction X and in a second direction Y transverse to said first direction. Said row of light patches extends in the second direction and wherein said lighting device is offset out of said plane P in a third direction Z. The lighting system comprises at least a first and at least one second lighting device substantially lying in line in the length direction. Optionally said first and at least one second lighting device may extend in two or three parallel rows. Said lighting system further optionally comprises a control unit for individual control/addressing of the lighting units of the at least first and further lighting device.
US11421832B2

The present disclosure generally relates to lights and flashlights, and more specifically to a handheld flashlight which has at least two LED light sources and the ability to change between the light sources by twisting the head portion of the flashlight.
US11421829B2

A light emitting device including a board, light emitting elements, a wavelength conversion member, and first and second metal plates. The board has a first surface and an opposite second surface, and is longer in a first direction than in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The light emitting elements are mounted on the first surface and are arrayed in a row along the first direction. The wavelength conversion member includes a first portion covering the light emitting elements and a second portion covering the second surface. The light emitting elements includes a first light emitting element located closest to the first metal plate, and a second light emitting element located closest to the second metal plate. The light emitting elements on the first surface are located between a first end surface of the first metal plate and a first end surface of the second metal plate.
US11421824B2

A pressure vessel includes: a vessel main body having a cylindrical straight body part, and domed parts respectively including hemispherical portions that have hemispherical shapes and are integrally formed at each end of the straight body part; a first reinforced section formed by winding reinforcing fibers around an outer circumferential surface of one domed part such that the reinforcing fibers are interlaced with each other; a second reinforced section formed by winding the reinforcing fibers helically around an outer circumferential surface of the straight body part, continuously from the first reinforced section; and a third reinforced section formed by winding the reinforcing fibers around an outer circumferential surface of the other domed part such that the reinforcing fibers are interlaced with each other, continuously from the second reinforced section.
US11421816B2

An angle adjustment mechanism includes a hollow cylindrical fine adjustment seat (1), a hollow cavity of the fine adjustment seat (1) are provided with a tapered fine adjustment screw (3) and a mounting seat (2) having a tapered surface (201), the tapered fine adjustment screw (3) and the mounting seat (2) are opposed to each other along the axial direction, the tapered surface (201) of the mounting seat (2) is provided with four strip-shaped planes (202) evenly spaced in the circumferential direction, two adjacent strip-shaped planes (202) are overlapped with the tapered surfaces of two tapered fine adjustment screws (3) respectively, the tapered fine adjustment screw (3) can move forward or backward in a cavity formed by an inner wall of the fine adjustment seat (1) and the tapered surface (201) of the mounting seat (2) along a strip-shaped plane (202) that coincides with the tapered fine adjustment screw (3).
US11421811B2

A hermetically sealing device has a sealing main-body and a rubber seal adhered to the sealing main-body. The rubber seal includes an inner lip, a slit and an outer lip. The inner lip extends along a periphery of the bored opening, and includes an outer-circumference surface that extends forward and inclines toward an inner-circumference side. The slit is formed on an outer-circumference side relative to the inner lip. An outer-surface-side edge of the bored opening enters the slit. The outer lip is formed on an outer-circumference side relative to the slit that is formed on an outer-circumference side relative to the inner lip, and transforms in such a manner that the outer lip extends toward an outer-circumference side to be hermetically in contact with an outer surface of the periphery of the bored opening.
US11421805B2

A telescoping fluid coupling (10,110) is provided for use with a fluid flow device (12) and includes a coupling body (14,114) having a fluid port (16,116) extending along a longitudinal axis (18,118). A retainer (20,120) is fixed to the body (14,114) and includes a retaining shoulder (26,126). A flange (22,122) is mounted to the fluid port (16,116) and includes a radially inwardly facing guide surface (36,136) that surrounds a mount surface (24,124) and extends longitudinally along the axis (18,118) to provide guided, sliding translation of the guide surface (36,136) relative to the mount surface (24,124) along the axis (18,118). The flange (22,122) further includes a stop shoulder (38,138) to engage the retaining shoulder (26,126) to limit the translation of the flange (22,122) along the axis (18,128).
US11421801B2

A double gripper for gripping and handling cable ends of two cables of a twisted cable harness in a fitting station for provisioning plug housings includes two gripper jaws each with an upper member arranged above a lower jaw member. The double gripper further includes two engagement members arranged between the upper and lower jaw members with which the cables are supported. The engagement members can be moved independently from the gripper jaws. A distance between the cables can be varied by moving the engagement members between the cables transverse to longitudinal axes of the cables. Each of the engagement members is formed as a wedge with at least one effective wedge surface.
US11421787B2

Systems and methods for bearing housings are disclosed. A labyrinth seal bearing housing includes: a first seal element that is structured and arranged to be connected to a wall of a mixing vessel; a second seal element that is structured and arranged to be connected to a rotatable shaft; and a bearing support that is structured and arranged to be connected to the first seal element. The second seal element is configured to rotate relative to the first seal element and the bearing support. The first seal element and the second seal element are structured and arranged to create a tortuous flow path between an exterior and an interior of the mixing vessel.
US11421784B2

Various systems and methods are provided for utilizing a crankshaft lip seal over the course of a first overhaul life and a second overhaul life. In one example, a method includes installing the crankshaft lip seal between a flywheel housing and a crankshaft of an engine and operating the engine with the crankshaft lip seal. The method further includes removing the crankshaft lip seal, re-machining a floating seal sleeve coupled to the crankshaft or the flywheel housing, and replacing a lip. The crankshaft lip seal is then re-installed between the flywheel housing and the crankshaft and the engine operated with the re-installed crankshaft lip seal.
US11421771B2

A drive pulley for a continuously variable transmission comprising a fixed sheave having a first sheave face, a movable sheave axially movable relative to the fixed sheave along an axis of rotation of the continuously variable transmission, the movable sheave having a second sheave face, the fixed sheave and the movable sheave rotating about the axis of rotation and a separation measured at a constant radial distance from the axis of rotation along an axial direction between the first sheave face and the second sheave face, the separation varying around the axis of rotation.
US11421768B1

A torque converter comprising a cover arranged to receive torque, an impeller having an impeller shell non-rotatably connected to the cover, and a turbine in fluid communication with the impeller and including a turbine shell is provided. In embodiments, the torque converter includes a piston plate; and a seal plate disposed axially between the piston plate and the turbine, wherein the piston plate is sealed to the seal plate at an outer diameter thereof. A pilot flow plate is disposed axially between the cover and the seal plate, wherein the pilot flow plate is fixed to the cover on a first axial side and fixed to the seal plate on a second, opposite axial side.
US11421765B2

An actuating mechanism has a main rotational drive and a roller screw mechanism coupled to the main rotational drive. The roller screw mechanism has a screw, a nut, and a plurality of rollers. One of the screw and the nut is coupled to the main rotational drive, while the other is movable relative to the rollers both translationally and rotationally. The roller screw mechanism also has an annular guide for circumferential and axial retention of the rollers. The annular guide contains a cylindrical sleeve that extends axially outward from one of the annular heels beyond the nut. The screw extends into a bore of the sleeve, and the sleeve is coupled to a secondary rotational drive.
US11421762B2

A rotary actuator for a hinged panel assembly, e.g., of a fixed-wing aircraft, includes ball bearings, an outer cylinder, a piston, and an inner shaft. The outer cylinder admits fluid pressure from a fluid pressure supply. The piston is circumscribed by the outer cylinder. The piston, outer cylinder, and ball bearings collectively forming an outer ball screw. The piston translates along a longitudinal center axis in response to the fluid pressure. The inner shaft is circumscribed by the piston, with the inner shaft, piston, and ball bearings collectively forming an inner ball screw that is concentric with the outer ball screw. The ball screws form an interlaced ball circuit with one or more shared ball paths. Piston translation rotates the piston and inner shaft, and to thereby recirculates the ball bearings between the outer ball screw and the inner ball screw through the interlaced ball circuit.
US11421754B2

A wedge socket device having an elongated member with one or more support members. Connected to the elongated member is a bracket adapted to receive a wedge socket and having a pair of vertical stops adapted to receive a cable therebetween. An extension member is slidably and telescopically received within an end of the elongated member. Connected to the elongated matter is a clamping member.
US11421750B2

Gas spring assemblies include a flexible spring member and a restraining cylinder. The flexible spring member includes a flexible wall extending longitudinally between first and second ends as well as peripherally about a longitudinal axis. The flexible wall includes an inside surface and an outside surface with the inside surface at least partially defining a spring chamber. The restraining cylinder includes a cylinder wall that extends longitudinally between first and second open ends as well as peripherally about the longitudinal axis. The cylinder wall includes an inside surface and an outside surface. The restraining cylinder is disposed longitudinally along the flexible spring member between the first and second ends thereof with at least a portion of the inside surface of the restraining cylinder permanently attached to the flexible wall along the outside surface thereof by way of a chemically-bonded joint. Methods of assembly are also included.
US11421739B2

An electrically conductive assembly is for a bearing disposed about a shaft and disposed within a housing. The conductive assembly includes an annular retainer coupleable with a bearing outer ring or with the bearing housing and having a centerline and an open inner end defining an annular groove. At least two and preferably several conductors each have a radially outer end disposed within the retainer groove and a radially inner end contactable with the shaft. Each conductor is formed of a plurality of conductive fibers arranged to extend radially inwardly from the retainer inner end. The at least two conductors are spaced apart circumferentially about the centerline so as to define at least two axial passages between the retainer and the shaft. Preferably, the conductors are separated by spacers formed of conductive fibers each having a length shorter than the length of the fibers of the conductors.
US11421716B2

A gas cylinder includes supply passages for supplying, to an accommodation chamber, a part of gas supplied to a second port. When the pressure in a first pressure chamber is equal to or lower than a prescribed pressure, a valve element closes a discharge flow passage by the biasing force of a spring member and the pressure in the accommodation chamber. When the pressure in the first pressure chamber exceeds the prescribed pressure, the valve element is moved by the pressure in the first pressure chamber, against the biasing force and the pressure in the accommodation chamber, to thereby open the discharge flow passage.
US11421715B2

To achieve reduction of fuel consumption and enhancement of operability, in a hydraulic control circuit provided with a bypass oil passage formed by being branched from a discharge line of a hydraulic pump and extending to an oil tank, and a bypass valve having variable opening area for controlling a flow rate of the bypass oil passage, and to accurately perform pump pressure control through opening area control of the bypass valve without being affected by a condition of each time. The hydraulic control circuit is configured to perform closed-loop control of the opening area of the bypass valve so that the pump pressure is maintained at a set pressure, during nonoperation of the operation lever; on the other hand, to perform open-loop control for reducing the opening area of the bypass valve depending on the operation input of the operation lever, during an operation of the operation lever, and further configured to correct on the basis of the opening area of the bypass valve during the closed-loop control, the correspondence relationship between the operation input of the operation lever and the opening area of the bypass valve during the open-loop control.
US11421712B2

A rotor for a fluid machine includes a wheel that is supported for rotation about an axis of rotation. The wheel includes a back wall with an outer rim edge. The rotor also includes a plurality of blades that are attached to the back wall and that are spaced apart about the axis of rotation. Moreover, the rotor includes an inter-blade area on the back wall between neighboring ones of the plurality of blades. Furthermore, the rotor includes a balancing feature that is included in the inter-blade area on the back wall. The balancing feature intersects and defines part of the outer rim edge.
US11421711B2

In a refrigeration unit for use in cooling a space, such as a walk-in cold space, or other system, an easy access fan motor assembly is provided. A motor mount holds the motor with a plurality of legs that couple to a front panel using stud inserts. In some instances the legs are curved and looked like spider legs. A fan guard member covers the fan and is also attached to the stud inserts. By removing fasteners on the stud inserts, the guard member may be removed and the fan motor assembly may be removed from a position exterior to the refrigeration unit for repair or serving. Other systems and methods are disclosed.
US11421710B2

An air moving device according to the present disclosure can include a housing and an installation hub. The housing can be connected to the installation hub via one or more adjustable supports. An impeller can be installed at least partially in the housing and configured to direct air out of the housing. In some embodiments, the adjustable supports can be adjusted to move the housing with respect to the installation hub. For example, the adjustable supports can be configured to modify the tilt of the housing and/or the overall distance between the housing and the installation hub. The installation hub can be installed on a ceiling, wall, or other mounting surface. Adjustment of the adjustable supports can permit vertical alignment of the air moving device housing, even when the installation hub is mounted to a slanted or sloped (e.g., non-horizontal) ceiling or wall.
US11421700B2

A rotary machine includes a plurality of shafts that extend in an axial direction, in which an axis extends, around the axis, are disposed such that at least parts of positions in the axial direction of the plurality of shafts overlap each other, and are rotatable relative to each other around the axis; a plurality of seal members that are disposed at intervals in the axial direction to seal gaps between the plurality of shafts in a radial direction with respect to the axis; and a seal gas supply unit configured to supply a seal gas from outside to a space surrounded by the plurality of shafts and the plurality of seal members.
US11421698B2

A ceiling fan assembly or similar air-moving device can include a motor for rotating one or more blades to drive a volume of air about a space. The ceiling fan assembly can include a housing including a first portion and a second portion, whereby the first portion selectively couples to the second portion. The housing can further include one or more sealing or deflecting components.
US11421697B2

A fan including fan frame, fan rotor, at least one light source and first light guide component. Fan frame includes frame body and first assembling structures. Frame body includes outer and inner walls. First assembling structures each comprise extending base and post. Extending base protrudes from outer wall, a part of extending base is spaced apart from outer wall so that a gap is formed therebetween, and post protrudes from a side of extending base located away from outer wall. Light source is disposed on fan frame. First light guide component is engaged with fan frame. A light emitted from light source is configured to be incident on first light guide component. First light guide component includes first wall and second assembling structures. Second assembling structures are connected to first wall and respectively and removably mounted on first assembling structures.
US11421678B2

A piston pump includes: a sleeve housing which is provided with a discharge hole and defines a bore; a piston which has an inlet flow passage for drawing oil into the bore and is reciprocally movably inserted into the bore; an inlet valve which is configured to open/close the inlet flow passage; an outlet valve cover which is coupled to the sleeve housing to surround a portion at which the discharge hole is formed; an outlet valve which is configured to open/close the discharge hole; and a sealing member which is interposed between the sleeve housing and the piston to provide a sealing therebetween. The sealing member is provided with a separation prevention protrusion against which the piston is blocked to prevent a separation of the piston.
US11421662B2

An integrally supported cooling device for mounting to a wind turbine nacelle having a first face with a longitudinal extension in a wind direction. The cooling device has at least one heat exchanger core configured to extend across the wind direction and to define a cooling area of the cooling device, the heat exchanger core having a first side and a second side arranged opposite the first side in relation to the heat exchanger core, a first manifold being arranged along the first side and a second manifold being arranged along the second side, each in fluid communication with the at least one heat exchanger core. The pair of manifolds extend parallel along the cooling area, whereby the second manifold has a suspension and the cooling device is configured to be mounted to the wind turbine nacelle by suspension of the second manifold to the first face of the wind turbine nacelle via the suspension.
US11421660B2

A video monitoring method and system for a blade of a wind turbine are provided. The method includes: calculating a pan value and a tilt value based on each of a plurality of circular arc angles when the blade of the wind turbine is in a stationary state, wherein the plurality of circular arc angles are set based on a circular arc curve on a rotational plane of the blade, which is formed with a first point as a center and a first distance as a radius; and setting the pan value and the tilt value of a video camera to the calculated pan value and tilt value, respectively, to capture the blade.
US11421656B2

A generative sensing system includes a plurality of fairings attached to a carrier via a plurality of mechanical links and further associated with a plurality of actuators in communication with a computing system and a memory in communication with the computing system storing a plurality of fairing groups. The computer system is configured to receive and input from a sensor and adjust the fairing groups to capture an agent flow which is transduced to a voltage and transferred to an electrical energy storage and/or distribution system.
US11421651B2

The present invention relates to a method of determining the direction of the wind by a LiDAR sensor (2). This method comprises performing measurements by the LiDAR sensor (2), deducing a Gaussian distribution of the longitudinal (u) and transverse (v) components of the wind speed, and determining wind direction (θ) by a spherical cubature approximation method and of the Gaussian distribution of the longitudinal and transverse components of the wind speed.
US11421650B2

The present disclosure is directed to towerless vertical-axis wind turbines with pre-tensioned rotors. The present disclosure is further directed to a vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) with supported blade ends (e.g., Darrieus type) which replaces the center tower with tensioned supports, such as tensioned guy wires, and blade pre-load.
US11421647B2

Provided is a beam for a wind turbine blade of a wind turbine, whereby the beam is made from a composite material including a matrix and a reinforcement. The beam includes at least one recessed longitudinal end section in which the beam includes at least one longitudinal recess arranged in a longitudinal direction or substantially a longitudinal direction of the beam extending from a longitudinal mid-section of the beam to a longitudinal end of the beam, so that the at least one longitudinal recess separates the beam into adjacent longitudinal beam portions, whereby the longitudinal beam portions are attached to the longitudinal mid-section.
US11421645B1

An energy capture, storage, and conversion device, including a housing, a rotor rotatably arranged in the housing, a stator fixedly secured to the housing and concentrically arranged around the rotor, a spring arranged in the housing and connected to the rotor, and an oscillating weight assembly operatively arranged in the housing to wind the spring.
US11421641B2

The disclosure is directed to a system and method for providing supplemental power to start one or more cranking motors. The supplemental starting system includes a starting-signal isolator configured to connect to one or more electrical starting-signal wires providing starting signal to one or more cranking motors, a resetting relay electrically connecting to the starting-signal isolator, a programmable logic controller (PLC) electrically connecting to the resetting relay, a supplemental battery relay electrically connecting to the starting-signal isolator and the PLC, a supplemental battery electrically connecting to the supplemental battery relay, and a positive output-terminal electrically connecting to the supplemental battery relay. When an output of the starting-signal isolator is higher than a threshold voltage, the resetting relay and the supplemental battery relay are configured to be in a close state, so that the supplemental starting system is configured to provide electricity to one of the one or more cranking motors.
US11421636B2

A fuel injection valve includes a valve body, a fixed core, a movable core, a spring, and a cup. The spring is elastically deformed according to valve opening operation of the valve body, and exerts a valve closing elastic force for closing the valve body. The cup contacts a valve closing contact surface of the valve body, and transmits the valve closing elastic force to the valve body. At a start of predetermined-distance movement of the movable core together with the cup, the cup is in contact with the valve closing contact surface, and the valve body or the cup has a supply flow channel through which fuel is supplied to the valve body closing contact surface which is in a state contacting the cup.
US11421635B2

An electromagnetic fuel injection valve includes: a valve body having a rod connected to a valve part; a movable core fitted onto the rod slidably between valve-open side and valve-closed side stoppers; a fixed core having an attracting face opposing the movable core; a valve spring urging the valve body in a valve-closing direction; and an auxiliary spring exhibiting a spring force that urges the movable core to separate from the valve-open side stopper and abut against the valve-closed side stopper when a coil is unenergized. A first curved face part is protruded from a surface, opposing the movable core, of the fixed core, and a second curved face part is provided in an outer peripheral part of a surface, opposing the movable core, of the valve-open side stopper, the first and second curved face parts each having an arcuate cross-section and being capable of abutting against the movable core.
US11421629B2

A reforming system includes a vaporizer configured to vaporize liquid fuel to produce fuel gas; a reformer configured to reform the fuel gas produced by the vaporizer to produce a reformed gas containing hydrogen; an air supplier configured to supply air to the reformer; a fuel gas supplier configured to supply the fuel gas to the reformer; a heater configured to increase a temperature of the reformer; a reformed gas flow passage through which the reformed gas produced by the reformer flows; a cooler disposed in the reformed gas flow passage and configured to cool the reformed gas; a circulation passage connecting the vaporizer with the cooler and through which refrigerant flows through the vaporizer and the cooler; and a circulation pump disposed in the circulation passage and configured to circulate the refrigerant through the circulation passage.
US11421626B2

A nozzle assembly is provided and includes an outer cowl, an inner nozzle sleeve disposable within the outer cowl, nested support rings by which the outer cowl and the inner nozzle sleeve are coupled, sets of rivets to respectively connect the nested support rings to the inner nozzle sleeve, the nested support rings together and the nested support rings to the outer cowl and an elongate washer configured to reinforce three or more rivets of one or more of the sets of rivets.
US11421625B1

Systems and generating power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation to supply electrical power. In embodiments, an inlet temperature of a flow of gas from a source to an ORC unit may be determined. The source may connect to a main pipeline. The main pipeline may connect to a supply pipeline. The supply pipeline may connect to the ORC unit thereby to allow gas to flow from the source to the ORC unit. Heat from the flow of gas may cause the ORC unit to generate electrical power. The outlet temperature of the flow of the gas from the ORC unit to a return pipe may be determined. A bypass valve, positioned on a bypass pipeline connecting the supply pipeline to the return pipeline, may be adjusted to a position sufficient to maintain temperature of the flow of gas above a threshold based on the inlet and outlet temperature.
US11421621B2

Systems and methods for operating an engine and controlling engine parameters over a range of ambient temperature conditions are provided. A method for an engine includes selecting one or more of an engine speed, an engine load, a base timing, and a fuel common rail pressure from a pre-calibrated engine map corresponding to a selected throttle level and modifying the one or more of the engine speed, the engine load, the base timing, and the fuel common rail pressure based on sensed environmental conditions.
US11421618B2

A method for detecting valve leakage of a least one valve at a cylinder intake manifold or exhaust manifold of a vehicle engine, the method comprising: acquiring a set of pressure data points indicative of the pressure in the cylinder intake manifold or exhaust manifold for crankshaft angular positions covering crankshaft angular rotation degrees such that each of the at least one valve has opened at least one time; and determining at least one test value based on the set of pressure data points, wherein a valve leakage is detected based on a comparison of the at least one test value to a threshold value.
US11421617B2

An injection control device includes a boost controller performing boost control of a boosted voltage until a boosted voltage, which is generated in a boost capacitor, rises to a full-charge threshold when the boosted voltage falls below a charge start threshold. A drive unit supplies electric current to a fuel injection valve from a start timing t1 of an injection instruction period. A power interruption controller interrupts electric current supplied to the fuel injection valve by the drive unit. A regeneration unit regenerates electric current generated in the fuel injection valve which is caused by interruption control by the power interruption controller to the boost capacitor of the booster circuit.
US11421616B2

Methods and systems for calculating a plurality of aging factors in a system operating an engine. The calculated aging factors may include one or more of fuel injector drift, exhaust gas recirculation valve obstruction, and mass air flow sensor bias. Mass flow throughout the system, and pressures and temperatures within the system, are observed in an approach that relies on mass preservation concepts to estimate drift, obstruction and bias estimates.
US11421612B2

When first switching of switching from a first purge of supplying evaporated fuel gas to an intake pipe through a first purge passage to a second purge of supplying the evaporated fuel gas to the intake pipe through a second purge passage occurs and then second switching of switching from the second purge to the first purge occurs, a purge concentration-related value is corrected to a value closer to a first stored value that is the purge concentration-related value immediately before the first switching than to a second stored value that is the purge concentration-related value immediately before the second switching.
US11421598B2

A heat exchanger array includes a first row of heat exchangers, a second row of heat exchangers, and side curtains. The first row heat exchangers are spaced apart to define first gaps. The second row heat exchangers are spaced apart to define second gaps and are positioned downstream of and staggered from the first row heat exchangers such that the second row heat exchangers are aligned with the first gaps and the first row heat exchangers are aligned with the second gaps. Each side curtain is in close proximity to a first row heat exchanger and a second row heat exchanger. The side curtains define a neck region upstream of and aligned with each first row heat exchanger and each second row heat exchanger. Each neck region has a neck area that is less than a frontal area of the heat exchanger with which it is aligned.
US11421591B2

Provided is a rotor system, including a rotating shaft, a shaft body of the rotating shaft being of an integrated structure and the rotating shaft being horizontally arranged; and a motor, an air compressor, a turbine, a thrust bearing and at least two radial bearings which are arranged on the rotating shaft. The thrust bearing and the at least two radial bearings are all non-contact bearings. The thrust bearing is arranged at a preset position on one side of the turbine close to the air compressor. The preset position is such a position that the center of gravity of the rotor system can be located between two radial bearings that are farthest apart among the at least two radial bearings.
US11421588B2

A variable compression ratio engine is provided, which includes a connecting rod including a small end connected to a piston through a piston pin, and a big end connected to a crankshaft through a crank pin, a gear eccentric sleeve installed on at least one of the piston pin and the crank pin, and at least one rack engaged with a gear formed on an outer circumferential surface of the gear eccentric sleeve at one side thereof.
US11421570B2

A particulate filter, including: a pillar-shaped honeycomb structure portion having a plurality of first cells extending from a first end face to a second end face, the first end face being open and the second end face being plugged, and a plurality of second cells extending from the first end face to the second end face, the first end face being plugged and the second end face being open, in which the first cells and the second cells are alternately arranged adjacent to each other with porous partition walls interposed therebetween; and a low thermal conductive layer covering a part or the whole of an outer peripheral side surface of the pillar-shaped honeycomb structure portion, the thermal conductivity in a thickness direction of the low thermal conductive layer being 0.6 W/(m·K) or less.
US11421568B2

A muffler for receiving exhaust gas from a combustion engine is disclosed. The muffler includes a casing and a pipe. The casing includes a shell coupled to first and second end caps that cooperate to define an internal volume. The pipe is disposed within the internal volume and extends substantially a length of the shell. Each of the first and second end caps includes a circumferentially extending flange engaging an outer surface of the pipe to provide support for the pipe. Each circumferentially extending flange extends at an acute angle relative to a shell axis of the shell. Each circumferentially extending flange is coaxial along a pipe axis of the pipe.
US11421564B2

When an EDU determines that a motor is in a control unstable state where the motor cannot be controlled to a target rotation speed due to a drive voltage output duty value being smaller than a threshold value, the EDU performs a control point shifting operation to shift a control point between a first control point, which is in the control unstable state, and a second control point, which is a control stable state outside the control unstable state. Thus, even when the motor is in a stepping rotation state, it is possible to control the target rotation speed regardless of influence of a cogging torque, and appropriately control the cam phase of the intake camshaft to a target phase when the engine is stopped.
US11421555B2

A flange includes a flange body and a scallop feature. The flange body is annularly disposed about a longitudinal axis. The flange body includes a first radial side and a second radial side radially opposite the first radial side. The flange body defines a first fastener hole and a circumferentially adjacent second fastener hole. Each of the first fastener hole and the second fastener hole are formed through the flange body. The scallop feature is formed through the flange body and disposed circumferentially between the first and second fastener holes. The scallop feature extends radially from the first radial side through at least a portion of the flange body. The scallop feature includes a first side and a second side, parallel to the first side.
US11421545B2

A clearance control system for a gas turbine engine may include a rotor blade, an outer structure disposed radially outward from the rotor blade, a heating element, a hybrid electric power source, and a controller. The heating element is configured to cause the outer structure to be heated in response to electric current being supplied to the heating element. A gap between the rotor blade and the outer structure is at least one of increased, decreased, and maintained in response to the outer structure being heated. The hybrid electric power source is configured to supply the electric current to the heating element. The controller is configured to regulate the electric current being supplied to the heating element.
US11421544B2

A gas turbine engine includes a shroud with an abradable section and a non-abradable section that cooperatively define a shroud surface. The gas turbine engine also includes a rotor that is supported for rotation within the shroud to generate an aft axial fluid flow. The rotor includes a blade with a blade tip that is crowned and that opposes the abradable section and the non-abradable section of the shroud surface. A crown area of the blade tip opposes the abradable section. A casing treatment feature is provided in the non-abradable section of the shroud to oppose the blade tip of the rotor.
US11421542B2

There is disclosed a turbine comprising a stator vane ring 122 downstream of a rotor ring 116 of shrouded rotor blades 118. In vanes of the stator vane ring, an upstream portion of a mean camber line 136 diverges from a profile of the mean camber line at a half-span location, particularly to receive a tip leakage flow over the shrouded rotor blades 118.
US11421541B2

A turbine nozzle for a gas turbine engine includes an outer endwall, and an inner endwall spaced apart from the outer endwall. The turbine nozzle includes at least one airfoil coupled between the inner endwall and the outer endwall, and a compliant joint defined in at least one of the outer endwall and the inner endwall. The compliant joint includes at least one partially-fused seal that is configured to restrict a flow of fluid through the at least one of the outer endwall and the inner endwall and to form a slip-joint above a predetermined threshold stress. The slip-joint is configured to maintain a radial position of the at least one of the outer endwall and the inner endwall.
US11421538B2

A composite aerofoil may include an aerofoil body defining a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the body comprises a composite material including a plurality of relatively higher-modulus reinforcement elements, a plurality of relatively tougher polymer-based reinforcement elements, and a matrix material substantially encapsulating the plurality of relatively higher-modulus reinforcement elements and the plurality of relatively tougher polymer-based reinforcement elements. The plurality of relatively higher-modulus reinforcement elements are different from the plurality of relatively tougher polymer-based reinforcement elements. The disclosure also describes techniques for forming composite aerofoils.
US11421533B2

Tapered stator designs are engineered in a positive displacement motor (PDM) power section to relieve stator stress concentrations at the lower (downhole) end of the power section in the presence of rotor tilt. A contoured stress relief (i.e. a taper) is provided in the stator to compensate for rotor tilt, where the taper is preferably more aggressive at the lower end of the stator near the bit.
US11421527B2

A system and technique for obtaining two or more distributed measurements from an optical sensing fiber deployed along a desired measuring path are disclosed. Interrogating probes from two or more different distributed measuring systems are combined and launched into the sensing fiber. Backscattered light generated in response to the combined interrogating probes is separated into portions and each portion is provided to a respective distributed measuring instrument. In this manner, distributed measurements corresponding to different parameters of interest, such as temperature and pressure, along the measuring path can be measured simultaneously using the same sensing fiber.
US11421514B2

Embodiments may take the form of a perforating gun of modular assembly. The perforating gun may include at least one centralizing member at an interface between a loading tube and a carrier. Among modular components, the gun may also include an initiator assembly module that is electrically coupled to a modular feedthrough with a connector. The insert and the centralizing member may enhance axial cohesiveness of the modular gun. A shock absorbing mount may be located within the carrier and may receiving the initiator assembly module to provide added axial cohesiveness to the modular gun.
US11421508B2

Fracturing systems with frac valves having gates for controlling flow of fracturing fluid are provided. In one embodiment, a fracturing apparatus includes a frac valve having a housing with a cavity transverse to a bore. A gate is positioned in the cavity and is movable between open and closed positions to selectively block flow through the bore. The gate includes a seal assembly positioned to seal against a sidewall of the cavity to surround the bore and block flow through the frac valve when the gate is in the closed position. The seal assembly can be actuated between a less-energized state and a more-energized state following movement of the gate within the cavity from the open position to the closed position. Additional systems, devices, and methods for fracturing are also disclosed.
US11421505B2

A wellbore packer system includes a mandrel positionable within a wellbore. The system further includes a wellbore packer positionable around the mandrel. The wellbore packer includes an expandable metal sealing element positionable around a first portion of the mandrel to form a long-term seal within the wellbore in response to exposure of the expandable metal sealing element to wellbore fluid. Additionally, the wellbore packer includes an elastomeric sealing element positionable around a second portion of the mandrel to form a short-term seal in response to receiving a seal-setting force. Moreover, the wellbore packer includes a setting piston positionable to apply the seal-setting force on the elastomeric sealing element.
US11421503B2

A control system for controlling disconnection of riser system that extends between a vessel and a subsea location that comprises a wellbore, the riser system configured to receive a string in use, the control system being configured to disconnect the riser system according to a sequence of operations, the sequence of operations comprising disconnecting the riser system prior to or simultaneous with cutting the string and sealing the well bore.
US11421495B2

An apparatus for providing a nonlabor-intensive process for sealing an opening formed in the ground with a chemically-inflatable bag is provided. The chemically-inflatable bag contains two or more chemical reactants, one of which is a liquid reactant that is initially stored in a liquid-containing device. The liquid-containing device has a removable cap, which upon removal or breakage of the cap permits the liquid reacting agent to contact and react with another reacting agent. The chemical reaction produces carbon dioxide, which expands the chemically-inflatable bag from a collapsed condition to an inflated condition. In the inflated condition, the chemically-inflatable bag fills and protects the integrity of the formed cavity.
US11421466B2

A hinge with a function of electrically opening and closing a door is disclosed, including a main body and a trigger flexibly articulated to the main body. An accommodation slot exists in the main body, a lever and a bracing are mounted in the accommodation slot, one end of the lever is flexibly articulated to the trigger, the other end of the lever is articulated to the bracing, the other end of the bracing is flexibly disposed in the accommodation slot through a guide pin, a spring is disposed in the accommodation slot, one end of the spring is connected to the lever, and the other end is connected to the main body. An electric drive apparatus is mounted on the main body, and is connected to the bracing, and the electric drive apparatus drives the bracing to move in the accommodation slot, and indirectly drives the trigger to swing. Beneficial effects of the present disclosure are: by driving the lever to move in the accommodation slot, the electric drive apparatus indirectly drives the trigger to swing, so as to implement the opening and closing of a cabinet door.
US11421464B2

An aircraft door, and, more particularly, to an electromechanical door system for operating an aircraft door that closes an opening in the outer hull of an aircraft, as well as to a method of operating an electromechanical door system of an aircraft door that closes an opening in the outer hull of an aircraft. The electromechanical door system may be adapted for operating in a normal opening mode, an emergency opening mode, and a closing mode. If desired, the electromechanical door system may include a lifting and lowering lever, a lifting and lowering electric motor, and a gearbox that transmits a force from the lifting and lowering electric motor to the lifting and lowering lever.
US11421461B2

A soft-closer device has a housing installable in door rail, a roller and latch assembly in the housing and movable relative to the housing between first and second positions. A locking mechanism is adapted to secure the roller and latch assembly against movement to hold a sub-housing in a required position. The assembly includes a soft-closer actuator in the sub-housing operable to extend and contract, with latch mounted to project through and move along an opening of the housing as the actuator extends and contracts, and a journal on the sub-housing at which the roller is rotatable.
US11421457B2

A hinge supports a door panel having a door edge in a door frame having a frame edge in a closed position of the door. A door part fixed to the door edge defines first and second parallel door axes in the gap between the door edge and frame edge, and a frame part fixed to the frame edge defines first and second parallel frame axes recessed in the door frame. A first link has one end pivoted on the door panel at the first door axis and an opposite end pivoted on the frame part at the first frame axis, and a second link separate from the first link has one end pivoted on the door part at the second door axis and an opposite end pivoted on the frame part at the second frame axis.
US11421456B2

Apparatuses, methods, and systems for providing a locking apparatus for resisting movement of an openable element are described. The locking apparatus includes a body, an actuator, a lifting member, at least a portion of the lifting member being configured to be raised or lowered relative to the body according to an output of the actuator, the lifting member comprising a contact surface configured to restrict movement of the openable element, and a strap coupled to the body and to the lifting member, the strap configured to permit the lifting member to flex based at least in part upon contact between the lifting member and the openable element and to transfer energy received at the lifting member into the body of the locking apparatus into a surface to which the locking apparatus is mounted.
US11421450B2

A door handle device for a vehicle includes a handle body configured to be rotationally operated, an output lever configured to be operated in a plane parallel to a rotation axis of the handle body, a clutch member; and a detection member. The clutch member is configured to move translationally in a plane parallel to an operating surface of the output lever, configured to be driven by the handle body in a rotational operation direction of the handle body, and configured to move between a connected location and a disconnected location along a rotation axis of the handle body.
US11421444B2

Systems and methods are disclosed that operate a door latch of a door of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system electronically based on operating a locking engagement device. The locking engagement device may be disposed on an outer portion of a door, the latch may be part of a latching system disposed on an inner portion of the door, and the locking engagement device may transmit a signal indicating that the locking engagement device is in an open or closed position to the latching system via a conductor electronically coupling the locking engagement device and the latching system. In some embodiments, the locking engagement device may transmit a signal indicating that the locking engagement device is in an open or closed position to a controller, which may then instruct the latching system to open or close the latch based on receiving the signal.
US11421425B2

A joining system for floor panels includes a groove and a tongue on opposite floor panel sides. The tongue is shaped for vertical locking engagement with the groove of an adjoining floor panel in a direction perpendicular to the sides of the panels and parallel to a horizontal floor plane. Two locking recesses are formed in a lower portion of the groove. A first recess is located in an internal portion and a second is located in a lip portion. Two locking lugs are formed in a lower portion of the tongue for engagement with the recesses. A first lug extends downwardly from a tip portion of the tongue and a second lug extends downwardly from a root portion. The first recess and the first lug have curved surfaces. The second recess and the second lug have inclined surfaces.
US11421421B1

This invention, in embodiments, relates to a device and a method of attaching a roofing membrane to a building surface that prevents and/or reduces overspray of adhesive onto a welding seam area. The device includes an insertion mechanism configured to hold a roofing membrane as the roofing membrane is being attached to a building surface via an adhesive, and an extension frame attached to the insertion mechanism, the extension frame including a channel that is configured to support and to hold at least one board, to thereby reduce the adhesive from spraying onto a welding seam area as the roofing membrane is being applied to the building surface.
US11421420B2

A gutter downspout extension support is used to support the free end of a downspout extension above the ground. The gutter downspout extension support has a clip with a first and second connected legs that are disposed overlapping and at a spaced distance from one another thereby providing a narrow gap therebetween that is configured to removably receive in a friction fit a bottom wall of the downspout extension. A ground engaging support stake having a first end and a tapered second end and a pivot coupling connecting the first end of the ground engaging support stake to the clip such that the ground engaging support stake is pivotable toward and away from the clip.
US11421417B2

A fire-rated component for a fire-rated joint, such as a head-of-wall assembly, includes an elongate body having at least a first layer, which can be in the form of a polymer profile. A second layer can be or include a foil lining and a third layer can be or include an intumescent material. The elongate body, such as the first layer, defines an air gap. The foil lining and/or the intumescent material can be positioned within the air gap. A planar lower portion of the first layer of the elongate body is positioned between a header track and a wallboard in the fire-rated joint. A non-planar upper portion of the first layer of the elongate body is positioned at least partially within a deflection gap of the wall assembly and sealingly engages the ceiling.
US11421416B2

Disclosed is a prefabricated module including, in one piece: a shower compartment, with a shower; a toilet compartment, with a toilet seat, the shower compartment and the toilet compartment being arranged longitudinally opposite one another; a kitchen compartment, which included a sink and a cooking appliance; a technical compartment, which included: a domestic water supply and a water heater, supplying domestic water to the shower and sink; an energy supply, supplying energy to the cooking appliance and the water heater; the kitchen compartment and the technical compartment being arranged between the shower compartment and the toilet compartment, which are transversely opposite one another, of the prefabricated module.
US11421403B2

According to some implementations, a magnetic sensor may include a communication device; a magnetic switch; and a controller configured to: determine whether the magnetic switch is actuated by a magnet associated with the bucket tooth; generate, based on determining whether the magnetic switch is actuated, a message concerning an attachment status of the bucket tooth; and cause the communication device to wirelessly transmit the message.
US11421399B2

A load sensitive ride system and method is disclosed for a vehicle with an implement movably attached by a boom cylinder. The system includes a payload weight measuring system that measures payload weight and generates a signal indicative of the payload weight, a ride control circuit that adjusts hydraulic flow to and from the boom cylinder; and a controller that receives the signal indicative of the payload weight, and sends compliance commands to adjust ride control compliance based on the signal indicative of the payload weight. The system can include a tire inflation system that adjusts tire pressure. The controller can send inflation commands to adjust tire pressure based on the signal indicative of the payload weight. The compliance commands can depend on the components and compliance adjustment methods of the ride control circuit.
US11421396B2

A shovel includes a traveling lower body; a revolving upper body mounted on the traveling lower body; an attachment attached to the revolving upper body; and a control device mounted on the revolving upper body and configured to drive the attachment. The control device controls an angle of a teeth end of a bucket with respect to a target excavation ground, in accordance with hardness of the target excavation ground.
US11421391B2

A snow plow blade assembly allows substantially rigid blades to shift in response to surfaces and obstacles without placing undue stress on the blade assembly as a whole. The assembly includes a flexible bushing that is received in a bushing hole of a blade, the bushing further having at least one bushing hole to receive at least one stem. The blade is disposed between first and second plates that cooperate with the stem and a fastener to removably secure all of the elements together. A kit contains replacement blades and bushings, a flexible bushing or variable density, a wear block assembly on the blade trailing edge, a protuberance on the bushing that is received in one of the plates and a bushing hole formed as two connected lobes for receiving a like shaped bushing.
US11421386B2

A moisture-retaining, quality-preserving and aroma-keeping vacuum aluminum-plated inner liner for cigarettes and method of making the inner liner, the inner liner including a raw paper layer, an upper surface of the raw paper layer being provided with a hot melt sealing layer, a water-based sealing layer, a vacuum aluminum-plated layer, and a water-based protective layer, where a lower surface of the raw paper layer is provided with a moisture returning layer and the inner liner further includes a moisture-retaining and aroma-keeping layer disposed on the upper surface or the lower surface of the raw paper layer.
US11421384B2

Provided are tissue webs and products that have a modest degree of surface texture, but are still soft. In certain instances the tissue products and webs may also have good sheet bulk and low stiffness. For example, the tissue products may have good softness, such as a TS7 value (measured using the EMTEC Tissue Softness Analyzer) less than 11.0, and a textured surface, such as an R2 value from about 11,000 to about 20,000 (measured using an OpTiSurf tester). The foregoing tissue products may have a sheet bulk greater than about 8.0 cc/g and a Stiffness Index less than about 15.0. In certain instances the tissue product and webs may be through-air dried and may be either creped or uncreped.
US11421380B2

A method for manufacturing a flame-resistant textile material for protective clothing is characterized in that at least one textile layer is subjected to a treatment step wherein at least one fibre component is at least partially detached from the textile layer such that air chambers (5) are formed.
US11421378B2

A fluorine-free composition includes at least one polycarbodiimide compound derived from a carbodiimidization reaction of a carbodiimidization reaction mixture comprising at least one oligomer, wherein the oligomer comprises at least one isocyanate end group and at least two repeating units, wherein each of the at least two repeating units comprises at least one hydrocarbon group having at least 16 carbon atoms. The composition may also include at least one paraffin wax. Such compositions are useful for treating fibrous substrates to enhance their water-repellency.
US11421366B2

A method of controlling a washing machine includes: sensing a laundry amount accommodated in a drum; performing water supply into the drum according to the sensed laundry amount; rotating a pump motor at a certain initial rotation speed and transferring washing water discharged from the drum to at least one nozzle for spraying water into the drum; sensing a water level in the drum; performing a re-supply of water at least once until the sensed water level reaches a set water level; and increasing the rotation speed of the pump motor whenever the re-supply of water is performed, so that as the rotation speed of the pump motor is increased, the reaching range of the water stream sprayed through the nozzle gradually expands from the lower side of the circumferential surface of the drum to the rear surface of the drum.
US11421365B2

The present disclosure discloses a control method of a multi-drum washing machine. The control method includes setting an oscillating program in the multi-drum washing machine. The oscillating program is a program in which oscillation generated by at least one washing device is used as an oscillating source to drive washing water and laundries in another at least one washing device to generate an interaction and achieve a washing effect. When at least one washing device oscillates, another at least one washing device and washing water and laundries in the washing device are driven to oscillate; and the vibration or jumping of the washing water in a drum is used to realize a function of soft washing of laundries and solve the problem of washing damage to soft laundries due to agitating type washing or beating type washing.
US11421359B2

A nanofiber nonwoven product is disclosed which comprises a polyamide with a relative viscosity from 2 to 330, spun into nanofibers with an average diameter of less than 1000 nanometers (1 micron). In general, the inventive products are prepared by: (a) providing a polyamide composition, wherein the polyamide has a relative viscosity from 2 to 330; (b) melt spinning the polyamide composition into a plurality of nanofibers having an average fiber diameter of less than 1 micron, followed by (c) forming the nanofibers into the product.
US11421358B2

The present invention relates to a switch for sorting, deflecting, and supplying ferromagnetic elements. Here, the switch comprises at least two electromagnets, which are embodied curved or circular. The magnets may be installed fixed in the switch, on the one hand, or supported on an axis, on the other hand. The ferromagnetic elements are moved by a conveying element through the switches. Advantageously the switch can also be used to control bobbins in a braiding machine. Here, the bobbin can be transferred to another impeller. This way new options are generated with regard to flexibility of braids. Further, this invention offers a considerable reduction of braiding time in case of complex braids.
US11421353B2

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a knitted component comprising a course with a plurality of loops. An inlaid strand formed of a second yarn may be included in the knitted component. A first portion of the course may be formed with a first yarn and a second portion of the course may be formed with the second yarn. The inlaid strand may be inlaid within the first portion of the course.
US11421348B2

Embodiments of the invention relate to flame resistant fabrics containing fibers having at least one energy absorbing and/or reflecting additive incorporated into the fibers. Inclusion of such fibers into the fabric increases the arc rating/fabric weight ratio of the fabric while still complying with all requisite thermal protective requirements.
US11421331B2

Apparatus for seawater acidification including an ion exchange, cathode and anode electrode compartments and cation-permeable membranes that separate the electrode compartments from the ion exchange compartment. Means is provided for feeding seawater through the ion exchange compartment and for feeding a dissociable liquid media through the anode and cathode electrode compartments. A cathode is located in the cathode electrode compartment and an anode is located in the anode electrode compartment and a means for application of current to the cathode and anode is provided. A method for the acidification of seawater by subjecting the seawater to an ion exchange reaction to exchange H+ ions for Na+ ions. Carbon dioxide may be extracted from the acidified seawater. Optionally, the ion exchange reaction can be conducted under conditions which produce hydrogen as well as carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide and hydrogen may be used to produce hydrocarbons.
US11421330B2

A method of carbon dioxide hydrogenation comprises introducing gaseous water to a positive electrode of an electrolysis cell comprising the positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a proton-conducting membrane between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The proton-conducting membrane comprises an electrolyte material having an ionic conductivity greater than or equal to about 10-2 S/cm at one or more temperatures within a range of from about 150° C. to about 650° C. Carbon dioxide is introduced to the negative electrode of the electrolysis cell. A potential difference is applied between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrolysis cell to generate hydrogen ions from the gaseous water that diffuses through the proton-conducting membrane and hydrogenates the carbon dioxide at the negative electrode. A carbon dioxide hydrogenation system is also described.
US11421318B2

Methods and apparatus for increasing reflectivity of an aluminum layer on a substrate. In some embodiments, a method of depositing an aluminum layer on a substrate comprises depositing a layer of cobalt or cobalt alloy or a layer of titanium or titanium alloy on the substrate with a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, pre-treating the layer of cobalt or cobalt alloy with a thermal hydrogen anneal at a temperature of approximately 400 degrees Celsius if a top surface of the layer of cobalt or cobalt alloy is compromised, and depositing a layer of aluminum on the layer of cobalt or cobalt alloy or the layer of titanium or titanium alloy with a CVD process at a temperature of approximately 120 degrees Celsius. Pre-treatment of the layer of cobalt or cobalt alloy may be accomplished for a duration of approximately 60 seconds to approximately 120 seconds.
US11421313B2

An article, at least a surface of the article being made of or containing an organic material, and a thermally sprayed layer of coating material on the surface.
US11421310B2

A precipitation hardenable aluminum alloy is disclosed along with a precipitation hardened form of the aluminum alloy and a method of manufacturing an aluminum alloy article from the precipitation hardenable aluminum alloy. The disclosed precipitation hardenable aluminum alloy has a composition that includes, on a weight percent (wt %) basis, 8%-13% zinc, 1.5%-5% magnesium, 0%-5% copper, 0%-2% of zirconium, chromium, or zirconium and chromium in total, and the balance aluminum with no more than 0.5% impurities. The alloy composition is adaptable to a wide range of manufacturing processes including additive manufacturing. The composition of the aluminum alloy also enables the dispersion of strengthening precipitate phases selected from an η-phase precipitate, a θ-phase precipitate, and a T-phase precipitate, while being free of a S-phase precipitate, when precipitation hardened.
US11421308B2

The present invention relates to an air conditioner. The air conditioner according to the present embodiment has a refrigeration capacity of 2 kW to 7 kW, inclusive, and uses R410a as a refrigerant circulating therein, and since a refrigerant pipe therein includes a ductile stainless steel pipe made of a material containing, at least, chrome (Cr), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu), the refrigerant pipe can maintain strength and hardness as good as or better than those of a copper pipe, while also maintaining good processability.
US11421307B2

Provided is a cemented carbide having superior wear resistance and fracture resistance. A cemented carbide containing 50.0 mass % or more and 94.5 mass % or less of tungsten carbide, 5.0 mass % or more and 12.0 mass % or less of Co, and 0.5 mass % or more and 4.0 mass % or less of Ru, the cemented carbide comprising a WC phase that includes tungsten carbide as a main component, and a binder phase that binds the WC phase, wherein the binder phase contains Co, the lattice constant of Co in the binder phase is 3.580 Å or more and 3.610 Å or less, and the saturation magnetization of the cemented carbide is 40% or more and 58% or less.
US11421303B2

The present disclosure relates to new titanium alloys and methods for making the same. The new titanium alloys generally include 4.75-6.75 wt. % Al, 6.5-8.5 wt. % (Nb+Ta), 1.5-3.5 wt. % Sn, up to 5.0 wt. % Zr, and up to 2.5 wt. % Mo, the balance being titanium, optional incidental elements, and impurities. Due to their composition and methods of manufacture, the new titanium alloys may find use in several applications, such as aerospace and/or automotive applications.
US11421291B2

A process for the local hardening of a workpiece by means of local induction hardening includes performing a local perlitization grain transformation on the workpiece after a local inductive diffusion heat treatment and before a local induction hardening on the workpiece.
US11421284B2

The present invention features methods, devices, and kits for detecting expression in a patient having cancer or determining responsive of a patient having cancer to a treatment, such as irofulven. The invention further includes methods of treating a patient having cancer by administering, e.g., irofulven.
US11421282B2

The present invention provides methods of assessing an individual subject's risk of developing prostate cancer, comprising: a) analyzing a nucleic acid sample obtained from the subject and determining a genotype for the subject at a plurality of biallelic polymorphic loci, wherein each of said plurality has an associated allele and an unassociated allele, wherein the genotype is selected from the group consisting of homozygous for the associated allele, heterozygous, and homozygous for the unassociated allele; and b) calculating a cumulative relative risk (CRR) for the subject based on the genotype determined in step (a). A CRR of greater than 1.00 identifies a subject as having an increased risk of developing prostate cancer and also can identify a subject who is a candidate for early PSA screening, prostate biopsy and/or chemoprevention.
US11421271B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to nucleotides labeled with photoswitchable compounds. Also provided herein are methods and kits of using these labeled nucleotides for sequencing applications.
US11421269B2

The invention comprises methods and compositions for enriching for a target nucleic acid with a single primer extension and low-bias limited amplification.
US11421268B2

Methods, compositions, reaction mixtures, kits, and/or systems for producing a complementary sequence to a region in a target polynucleotide in a sample are provided. In some aspects, the methods, compositions, reaction mixtures, kits, and/or systems comprise subjecting the sample to a nucleic acid amplification reaction in a reaction mixture under conditions to yield the complete sequence to the region of the target polynucleotide. In some aspects, the complementary sequence produced is amplified.
US11421260B2

Provided is a method for detecting the presence of bacterial spores by measuring adenosine diphosphate (ATP) production over time. Spores are detected by converting adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) to ATP.
US11421258B2

In various aspects, the present invention is directed to a scalable method of producing rhamnolipids by bacterial fermentation with higher product concentrations, yields and productivities and preventing excessive foaming during the cell growth phase when the cell respiration rate is higher. It has been found that by slowing the growth rate of the bacteria by altering the ratio of the nitrogen source to the non-nitrogen source in the initial fermentation medium and supplementing the nitrogen source, excessive foaming in the growth phase can be prevented. Further, by using the non-nitrogen source as the limiting nutrient that initiates the stationary phase and then supplementing fermentation broth with the nitrogen and carbon sources, the length of the standing phase, and with it the time during which rhamnolipid production occurs can be greatly extended.
US11421252B2

[Problem] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for collecting seawater that contains plankton and generating DHMBA (dba), which is an antioxidant, from the plankton contained in the seawater. [Solution] The present invention is characterized in that: collected seawater containing plankton is filtered using a filter, the cell contents are removed from the plankton remaining on the filter, the removed cell contents are subsequently heated, and 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol is produced from the heated product; and the plankton are assumed to be diatoms.
US11421250B2

The invention provides for systems, methods, and compositions for targeting nucleic acids. In particular, the invention provides non-naturally occurring or engineered RNA-targeting systems comprising a novel RNA-targeting CRISPR effector protein and at least one targeting nucleic acid component like a guide RNA.
US11421248B2

The present disclosure relates to methods for transiently activating temperature-sensitive agents in one or more cells, for example by contacting one or more cells with a temperature-sensitive agent and transiently incubating the cells at a permissive temperature for inducing an activity of the temperature-sensitive agent in the cells. Additionally, the present disclosure relates to methods of contacting one or more cells in a subject with a temperature-sensitive agent and then lowering the subject's core body temperature to a permissive temperature for inducing an activity of the temperature-sensitive agent in the cells. The disclosure also relates to methods of contacting one or more cells in a subject with a temperature-sensitive agent, maintaining the subject's surface body temperature at a permissive temperature for inducing an activity of the temperature-sensitive agent in the cells. Further disclosed are methods of treating a subject with a temperature-sensitive therapeutic agent.
US11421243B2

Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and products for enhancing the rate of photosynthesis in a plant. In addition, certain embodiments relate to transgenic plants and progeny thereof which comprise an exogenous Rieske Iron Sulphur protein.
US11421231B2

Provided herein are methods, compounds, and compositions for reducing expression of huntingtin mRNA and protein in an animal. Such methods, compounds, and compositions are useful to treat, prevent, delay, or ameliorate Huntington's disease, or a symptom thereof.
US11421225B2

In an embodiment, a device for modulating intracellular gene expression, the device having a calcium actuator component and a transcription reprogramming component. In another embodiment, a method for modulating intracellular gene expression, where the method includes inducing a system having a calcium actuator component and a transcription reprogramming component with at least one of light and a chemical, causing an increase in Ca2+, and translocating the transcription reprogramming component from cytosol to the nucleus. In a further embodiment, a method for modulating gene intracellular expression, where the method includes inducing a system having an NIR-stimulable optogenetic platform with at least one of light and a chemical, where the NIR-stimulable optogenetic platform facilitates Ca2+ release and the NIR-stimulable optogenetic platform is LOV2-SOAR, causing an increase in Ca2+, and translocating a calcium-responsive dCas9 fusion construct from cytosol to the nucleus, where the calcium-responsive dCas9 fusion construct is NFAT1-460-dCas9-VP64.
US11421209B2

The present application relates to the field of glyco-engineering, more specifically to glyco-engineering of Fc-containing molecules, such as antibodies. It is shown herein that Fc-containing molecules with a specific glycosylation pattern have a considerably longer circulating half-life in vivo, without having an altered binding affinity for their respective antigen. This has therapeutic implications in reducing the frequency with which these molecules need to be administered, without affecting therapeutic efficacy. Also, cells are provided that can produce the Fc molecules with the desired glycosylation pattern.
US11421208B2

Materials and methods for gene editing using improved targeted endonucleases and endonuclease systems (e.g., Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) endonuclease systems) are provided herein.
US11421205B2

The present invention relates to laccase variants and uses thereof as eco-friendly biocatalysts in various industrial processes. More in particular, the invention relates to a polypeptide with laccase activity comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of Alanine, Proline, Aspartic acid, Isoleucine, Proline, Proline, Threonine and Proline at a position corresponding to of positions 253, 128, 384, 364, 292, 450, 33 and 322 in SEQ ID NO: 1 respectively.
US11421197B2

An apparatus for controlling fermentation of natural material. The apparatus includes one or more sensors configured to measure at least one property of natural material, a container configured to contain a chemical reactive agent reducing or limiting a fermentation process of the natural material; a valve coupled with the container; and a controller configured to process the measured at least one property of the natural material, and, if the processing meets a predetermined condition, control the valve to open so that the chemical reactive agent is released into the natural material in order to limit the fermentation process of the natural material.
US11421196B2

Disclosed herein is a high-density distributed three-dimensional electrode device and an associated electroporation method. The method includes applying an electric pulse of a first polarity to a first group of electrodes while simultaneously applying an electrical pulse of a second polarity to a remaining group of electrodes, and then applying an electric pulse of the first polarity on a second group of electrodes while simultaneously applying an electric pulse of the second polarity to the remaining groups of electrodes. The electrodes receiving the electric pulse of the first polarity being surrounded by the electrodes receiving the electric pulse of the second polarity, and the first polarity and the second polarity are opposite.
US11421193B2

A method for reducing beverage loss during loading of beverage into an ethanol concentration system having a set of reverse osmosis pressure vessels, each pressure vessel having a feed inlet, a retentate outlet, and a permeate outlet. The method includes feeding deaerated water into the feed inlet of a first pressure vessel, feeding the beverage into the feed inlet of the first pressure vessel, monitoring an alcohol percentage at the retentate outlet of a second pressure vessel, the second pressure vessel coupled directly or indirectly to the first pressure vessel, and coupling a retentate from the retentate outlet of the second pressure vessel to a feed tank coupled to the feed inlet of the first pressure vessel when the alcohol percentage is within a first target range of 0.5 to 18% alcohol-by-volume (ABV).
US11421186B2

Solid detergent compositions designed to maintain solid integrity throughout production of the pressed solid, during mechanical conveying and during ejection from molds, are disclosed. Solid detergent compositions having unexpected immediate block hardness without a curing step are provided by inclusion of a hardness additive composition comprising a synergistic ratio of polycarboxylic acid polymer chelants to aminocarboxylate chelants. Methods of making solid detergent compositions and solid detergent compositions having at least substantially similar cleaning performance to solid detergent compositions without the hardness additive composition are also provided.
US11421185B2

The present invention is a solid rinse aid composition and methods of making and using the same. Applicants have surprisingly found that the crystal modifier sodium xylene sulfonate (short chain alkyl benzene or alkyl naphthalene sulfonates) at higher percentage can act as a solidification agent. The solid rinse aid composition generally includes a short chain alkyl benzene or alkyl naphthalene sulfonates solidification agent and an effective amount of a surfactant which can include a sheeting agent component, defoamer component and/or association disruption agent. The solid rinse aid composition may be phosphate-free, aminocarboxylate-free, and GRAS if desired.
US11421179B2

Low-friction fluorinated coatings are disclosed herein. A preferred low-friction material contains a low-surface-energy fluoropolymer having a surface energy between about 5 mJ/m2 to about 50 mJ/m2, and a hygroscopic material that is covalently connected to the fluoropolymer in a triblock copolymer, such as PEG-PFPE-PEG. The material forms a lubricating surface layer in the presence of humidity. An exemplary copolymer comprises fluoropolymers with average molecular weight from 500 g/mol to 20,000 g/mol, wherein the fluoropolymers are (α,ω)-hydroxyl-terminated and/or (α,ω)-amine-terminated, and wherein the fluoropolymers are present in the triblock structure T-(CH2—CH2—O)—CH2—CF2—O—(CF2—CF2—O)m(CF2—O)n—CF2—CH2—(O—CH2—CH2)p-T where T is a hydroxyl or amine terminal group, p=1 to 50, m=1 to 100, and n=1 to 100. The copolymer also contains isocyanate species and polyol or polyamine chain extenders or crosslinkers possessing a functionality of preferably 3 or greater. These durable, solvent-resistant, and transparent coatings reduce insect debris following impact.
US11421178B2

Provided is a lubricating oil composition for air compressors containing a polyalkylene glycol-containing base oil (A) and a rust-preventive agent (B), wherein the content of the polyalkylene glycol is 65.0% by mass or more based on the total amount of the composition. The lubricating oil composition is excellent in oxidation stability and also in rust prevention and storage stability. Also provided are an air compressor lubricating method and an air compressor using the lubricating oil composition.
US11421177B2

Provided are a sliding member for sealing and a seal device that exhibit good sealing performance even when used in an environment where silicon oxide is likely to be deposited; the sliding member for sealing includes a sintered body consisting of 1.0 to 12.5 wt.% of cerium oxide, a combination of 20 to 50 wt.% of graphite and graphitizable carbon, and a remainder of non-graphitizable carbon; and, the sliding member for sealing is used as, for example, a rotary seal ring or a stationary seal ring.
US11421175B2

Disclosed are a gear oil composition for automobiles containing at least (A) a base oil, (B) a sulfur-based extreme pressure agent, and (C) a phosphorus-based extreme pressure agent and satisfying specific requirements (i) and (ii), which is excellent in seizing resistance and wear resistance and also in fuel-saving performance, and a lubrication method using the gear oil composition.
US11421174B2

The disclosed technology relates to a dispersant composition comprising the reaction product of a polyolefin acylating agent and a polyamine having a sterically hindered head group. In addition, the technology relates to lubricating compositions containing the dispersant composition and an oil of lubricating viscosity, as well as methods of employing the lubricating composition in an engine and engine oils. Lubricating oils containing the dispersants of the disclosed technology simultaneously achieves seal compatibility, wear, deposit, varnish and corrosion control while also maintaining fuel economy performance over a broad temperature range.
US11421170B2

Provided are a mineral base oil satisfying the following requirements (I) to (IV), which is excellent in safety and environmental aspects and has good compatibility with resin; a molded article formed of a resin composition containing the mineral base oil and a resin; and a method for producing the mineral base oil. Requirement (I): The flash point is 200° C. or higher. Requirement (II): The pour point is 0° C. or lower. Requirement (III); The aromatic content (% CA) is 2.6 or more. Requirement (IV): The toluene content, as measured according to JIS A1965:2015, is more than 0 μg/m3 and less than 500 μg/m3.
US11421164B2

An ebullated bed hydroprocessing system is upgraded using a dual catalyst system that includes a heterogeneous catalyst and dispersed metal sulfide particles to improve the quality of vacuum residue. The improved quality of vacuum residue can be provided by one or more of reduced viscosity, reduced density (increased API gravity), reduced asphaltene content, reduced carbon residue content, reduced sulfur content, and reduced sediment. Vacuum residue of improved quality can be produced while operating the upgraded ebullated bed reactor at the same or higher severity, temperature, throughput and/or conversion. Similarly, vacuum residue of same or higher quality can be produced while operating the upgraded ebullated bed reactor at higher severity, temperature, throughput and/or conversion.
US11421157B2

Compositions useful for the selective removal of silicon nitride materials relative to polysilicon, silicon oxide materials and/or silicide materials from a microelectronic device having same thereon are provided. The compositions of the invention are particularly useful in the etching of 3D NAND structures.
US11421156B2

A composition for etching and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method including an etching process of using the composition for etching, are provided. The composition for etching includes a first inorganic acid; any one first additive selected from the group consisting of phosphorous acid, an organic phosphite, a hypophosphite, and mixtures thereof; and a solvent. The composition for etching is a high-selectivity composition for etching that can selectively remove a nitride film while minimizing the etch rate for an oxide film and does not have a problem such as particle generation, which adversely affects device characteristics.
US11421151B2

A light emitting device including a semiconductor nanocrystal and a ligand bound to a surface of the semiconductor nanocrystal, wherein the ligand includes an organic thiol ligand or a salt thereof and a polyvalent metal compound including a metal including Zn, In, Ga, Mg, Ca, Sc, Sn, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Cd, Ba, Au, Hg, Tl, or a combination thereof, and a display device including the light emitting device.
US11421141B2

A polymer composite hydrogel includes a polymer composite, water, an organic crosslinker, and a salt. The polymer composite includes a nanosheet filler dispersed throughout a polymerized polyacrylamide. The nanosheet filler includes one or more of zirconium hydroxide, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, graphene oxide, non-functionalized graphene, and hexagonal boron nitride. Further, a weight ratio of the nanosheet filler to the polymerized polyacrylamide is between 1:99 and 1:9. The polymer composite hydrogel includes 0.5 to 6 weight percent of the polymer composite and 0.25 to 5 weight percent of the salt, the salt being a monovalent salt, a divalent salt, or a combination of monovalent and divalent salts. A method of preparing a polymer composite, a method of preparing a polymer composite hydrogel for water shutoff applications, and the associated method of forming a barrier to shut off or reduce unwanted production of water in a subterranean formation is also provided.
US11421140B2

A high-temperature resistant, high-strength, and thixotropic gel plugging agent is composed of 8-20% of acrylamide monomer, 0.05-0.5% of reactive polymer, 0.1-1.0% of organic polymer cross-linker, 3.0-8.0% of resin toughening agent, 1.0-5.0% of flow pattern regulator, 0.01-0.5% of cross-linking regulator by the weight in the water. The gel solution shows a low apparent viscosity during the shear flow and is easy to be pumped into the wellbore and then into the formation leakage layer; after the pumping stops, the gel solution shows rapidly increased viscosity and strong adhesive force, and form a high-strength barrier between the wellbore and the formation, preventing the drilling fluid from further leaking.
US11421123B2

An example of a dispersion includes cesium tungsten oxide nanoparticles, a zwitterionic stabilizer, and a balance of water. An example of a jettable composition includes cesium tungsten oxide nanoparticles, a zwitterionic stabilizer, a surfactant, a co-solvent, and a balance of water. A method for improving the stabilization of a jettable composition includes incorporating a zwitterionic stabilizer in the jettable composition, which includes the cesium tungsten oxide nanoparticles, the surfactant, the co-solvent, and the balance of water.
US11421120B2

An ink composition contains: water; and a particle including a photopolymerizable monomer and a polymer having a blocked isocyanate group having an unblocking temperature of 150° C. or less.
US11421110B2

Provided herein are dyes, dye-sensitized solar cells, and sequential series multijunction dye-sensitized solar cell devices. The dyes include an electron deficient acceptor moiety, a medium electron density π-bridge moiety, and an electron rich donor moiety comprising a biaryl, a substituted biaryl, or an R1, R2, R3 substituted phenyl where each of R1, R2, and R3 independently comprises H, aryl, multiaryl, alkyl substituted aryl, alkoxy substituted aryl, alkyl substituted multiaryl, alkoxy substituted multiaryl, OR4, N(R5)2, or a combination thereof; each R4 independently comprises H, alkyl, aryl, alkyl substituted aryl, alkoxy substituted aryl, or a combination thereof; and each R5 independently comprises aryl, multiaryl, alkyl substituted aryl, alkoxy substituted aryl, alkyl substituted multiaryl, alkoxy substituted multiaryl, or a combination thereof. The solar cells include a glass substrate, a dye-sensitized active layer, and a redox shuttle. The devices include at least two dye-sensitized solar cells connected in series.
US11421104B2

New hydrogenated styrenic block copolymers, in particular styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene copolymers (SEBS copolymers), with improved performance in thermoplastic elastomer compositions (TPE compositions), process for preparing said hydrogenated styrenic block copolymers, reprocessable TPE-S compositions made thereof, method for producing an article from said reprocessable TPE-S compositions and articles made of said reprocessable TPE-S compositions, in particular suitable for medical applications.
US11421103B2

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a graft copolymer powder, which includes: performing emulsion polymerization of a conjugated diene polymer, an aromatic vinyl monomer and an alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer to prepare a graft copolymer latex; coagulating the graft copolymer latex; aging the coagulated graft copolymer; preparing a wet powder of the graft copolymer by dehydrating the aged graft copolymer; and adding poly(oxyalkylene)diglycolic acid to the wet powder of the graft copolymer.
US11421083B2

A PETx polymer including a main backbone which is a first poly-L-lysine, and a side chain which is sequentially connected with a first polyethylene glycol and a second poly-L-lysine, where the second poly-L-lysine is saturately connected with a second polyethylene glycol and a third polyethylene glycol with no remaining amino groups, and the third polyethylene glycol is connected with a functional group at its end, where the first poly-L-lysine and the second poly-L-lysine have the same or different chain lengths, and the first polyethylene glycol, the second polyethylene glycol and the third polyethylene glycol have the same or different chain lengths. Preferably, the PETx polymer is PLL-g-{PEGk-PLL-g-[(PEGj-biological recognition group)y %(PEGi)1-y %]}x %, where i, j, k, m, and n are all integers greater than or equal to 1, j is not equal to i, and x and y are all greater than 0 and less than 100.
US11421082B2

Some variations provide a polysulfide-based copolymer containing first repeat units comprising S8-derived sulfur atoms bonded via sulfur-sulfur bonds; and second repeat units comprising an organic, non-aromatic thiol molecule. Other variations provide a polysulfide-based copolymer containing first repeat units comprising S8-derived sulfur atoms bonded via sulfur-sulfur bonds; and second repeat units comprising an organic, non-aromatic unsaturated molecule, wherein the polysulfide-based copolymer has a total sulfur concentration of about 10 wt % or greater. Other variations provide a polysulfide-based copolymer containing first repeat units comprising S8-derived sulfur atoms bonded via sulfur-sulfur bonds; second repeat units comprising an organic, non-aromatic thiol molecule; and third repeat units comprising an organic, non-aromatic unsaturated molecule. Other variations provide a polysulfide-based copolymer containing first repeat units comprising S8-derived sulfur atoms bonded via sulfur-sulfur bonds; and second repeat units comprising an organic, non-aromatic thioether molecule. The disclosed polysulfide-based copolymers provide broadband transparency, fracture toughness, fluid resistance, and low cost.
US11421077B2

A cleaned biobased polyoxyalkylene glycol polyol, wherein the cleaned biobased polyoxyalkylene glycol polyol is completely primary hydroxyl-tipped or end-grouped, further wherein the cleaned biobased polyoxyalkylene glycol polyol comprises less than 15 ppm sodium and potassium metals, and further wherein the cleaned biobased polyoxyalkylene glycol polyol comprises less than 0.5% water by weight.
US11421075B2

A curative for epoxidized plant-based oils and epoxidized natural rubber is created from the reaction between a naturally occurring polyfunctional acid and an epoxidized plant-based oil is disclosed. The curative may be used to produce porosity-free castable resins and vulcanize rubber formulations based on epoxidized natural rubber. Materials made from disclosed materials may be advantageously used as leather substitutes.
US11421066B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel polymer composition for stereolithography that is capable of suitably providing an elastic molded product by stereolithography. A polymer composition for stereolithography containing a liquid polymer and a monomer, the polymer composition for stereolithography having a viscosity of 3,000 mPa·s or less, the viscosity being measured in an environment of a temperature of 25° C. and a relative humidity of 50% using an E-type viscometer under conditions of a cone plate diameter φ of 25 mm and a shear rate of 100 sec−1.
US11421064B2

The present invention relates to a process for the production of modified polyethylene comprising adding a free radical initiator composition and a polar monomer in extrusion of polyethylene materials with a melt mass flow rate (MFR) as determined in accordance with ISO 1133-1 (2011) at 190° C. under a load of 2.16 kg of between 0.5 and 75 g/10 min characterized in that the free radical initiator composition is added in quantities between 0.01 wt % to 5 wt % compared to the total weight of the polyethylene material wherein the extrusion is performed at a temperature between 230° C. and 350° C. Such process allows for the production of modified polyethylenes, such as having an amount of grafted polar monomer, such as maleic anhydride, of >3 wt %, with low amount of free, unreacted monomer whilst maintaining or not significantly modifying melt properties such as melt mass flow rate.
US11421056B2

The present disclosure is generally directed to polyolefin polymers, such as polypropylene homopolymers, and propylene-ethylene copolymers that have improved flow properties. In one embodiment, the polymers can be produced using a solid catalyst component that includes a) dissolving a halide-containing magnesium compound in a mixture, the mixture including an epoxy compound, an organic phosphorus compound, and a hydrocarbon solvent to form a homogenous solution; b) treating the homogenous solution with an organosilicon compound during or after the dissolving step; c) treating the homogenous solution with a first titanium compound in the presence of a first non-phthalate electron donor, and an organosilicon compound, to form a solid precipitate; and d) treating the solid precipitate with a second titanium compound in the presence of a second non-phthalate electron donor to form the solid catalyst component, where the process is free of carboxylic acids and anhydrides.
US11421053B2

A conjugated diene-based polymer catalyzed with a lanthanide rare earth element, and having high linearity and improved compounding properties, and a method for preparing the same are provided. The conjugated diene-based polymer catalyzed with a lanthanide rare earth element has high linearity, and if applied to a rubber composition, may show excellent processability, tensile strength and viscoelasticity.
US11421050B2

The present disclosure provides the use of quinolinyldiamido transition metal complexes, an activator and a metal hydrocarbenyl chain transfer agent, such as an aluminum vinyl-transfer agent, to produce long chain branched propylene polymers.
US11421045B2

Methods of producing a chitin composition by which the properties of the chitin composition derived from krill, such as molecular weight (chain length) and degree of acetylation are reproducible, are claimed. Such reproducible production methods allow for a wide use of the chitin composition end products in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. The methods also allow for the production of chitin compositions which preserve the native state of chitin.
US11421044B2

Several embodiments of NO releasing structures are disclosed. In some embodiments, the structures are covalently modified to store and release nitric oxide. Some embodiments pertain to methods of making and use of these structures. The covalently modified polymer structures may be tailored to release nitric oxide in a controlled manner and are useful for treatment of various medical conditions.
US11421040B2

The present invention provides antibodies that specifically bind to FLT3 (Fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3). The invention further provides bispecific antibodies that bind to FLT3 and another antigen (e.g., CD3). The invention further relates to antibody encoding nucleic acids, and methods of obtaining such antibodies (monospecific and bispecific). The invention further relates to therapeutic methods for use of these antibodies for the treatment of FLT3-mediated pathologies, including cancer such as Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
US11421030B2

This invention relates generally to antibodies or antigen binding fragments that bind to human B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) and uses thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to agonistic antibodies that bind human BTLA and modulate its activity, and their use in treating inflammatory, autoimmune and proliferative diseases and disorders.
US11421025B2

The present invention provides a vaccine against IL-17A, which uses, as an immunogen, a polypeptide containing the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, or an amino acid sequence derived from a non-human mammal, which corresponds to SEQ ID NO: 1, a prophylactic or therapeutic agent containing the vaccine for diseases involving IL-17A as an aggravation factor, and the like.
US11421019B2

Disclosed is producing recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in a pre-fusion state, using furin knock out or knockdown mammalian cells (such as HEK293, CHO or other mammalian cells) and using them to generate antibodies and related binding agents. The antibodies/binding agents can be used in SARS-CoV-2 detection assays or in diagnosis of active or prior infection with SARS-CoV-2; in prophylaxis or as a therapeutic; or for prophylactic or therapeutic use against coronaviruses related to SARS-CoV-2.
US11421014B2

A trifunctional molecule comprising a target-specific ligand, a ligand that binds a protein associated with the TCR complex and a T cell receptor signaling domain polypeptide is provided. Engineering T cells with this novel receptor engenders antigen specific activation of numerous T cell functions, including cytokine production, degranulation and cytolysis.
US11421004B2

Provided are isolated polypeptides which are at least 80% homologous to SEQ ID NOs: 182-184, 186-202, 204-216, 219-223, 225, 227-232, 235-236, 238, 240-260, 262-268, 270-275, 277-287, 289-297, 3651-3671, 3686, 3720-3721, 3724, 3727, 3735, 3754, 3774, 3795-4304, 4316, 4374, 4425, 4464, 4481-4813, 4824, 4833, 4843-4844, 4867-4869, 4888, 4890-4891, 5005-5050, 5053-5070, 5093, 5217, 5231, 5233, 5239, 5246, 5255, 5257-5296, 5412, 5415-5429, 5447-5456, 5465-5673, 5675-5686, 5688-5695, 5697-5698, 5700, 5702-5707, 5709-5715, 5717-5785, 5831, 5869, 5980, 6010-6043, 6045-6053, 6055-6093, 6132, 6383, 6405, 6493, 6523, 6533-6537, and 6563-6589, isolated polynucleotides encoding same, nucleic acid constructs comprising same, transgenic cells expressing same, transgenic plants expressing same and method of using same for increasing yield, abiotic stress tolerance, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, photosynthetic capacity, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, and/or nitrogen use efficiency of a plant.
US11420994B2

Carbon monoxide-releasing organic molecules are described herein. The molecules can be synthesized prior to administration (e.g., ex vivo) or formed in vivo. In those embodiments where the molecules are formed in vivo, reactants are administered under physiological conditions and undergo a cycloaddition reaction to form a product which releases carbon monoxide. In applying such reactions for therapeutic applications in vivo, the cycloaddition and CO release typically occur only under near-physiological or physiological conditions. For example, in some embodiments, the cycloaddition reaction and/or release of carbon monoxide occur at a temperature of about 37° C. and pH of about 7.4. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for release carbon monoxide are also described.
US11420980B2

Salts of the compound represented by formula (I) or crystals thereof have a potential use as drug substances for pharmaceuticals.
US11420978B2

The present invention relates to a method for synthesizing a 3-phenyl-2,8-dihydropyrano[2,3-f]chromene derivative, which may be usefully used for synthesizing a pyranochromenyl phenol derivative, and when the derivative is used, the 3-phenyl-2,3,4,8,9,10-hexahydropyrano[2,3-f]chromene derivative may be effectively prepared.
US11420970B1

The present invention provides a compound of Formula (I): or an enantiomer, an enantiomeric mixture, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein the variables are as defined herein. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; and methods of using such compounds for treating a disease or condition mediated by nuclear SET domain-containing protein 2 (NSD2).
US11420966B2

The present invention relates to new pyrrolopyridine compounds having the structures of Formula (I)-(IV), wherein the R groups, A, B, C, D and n are as defined in the detailed description, and compositions and their application as pharmaceuticals for the treatment of disease. Methods of inhibition of JAK kinase activity in a human or animal subject are also provided for the treatment diseases such as pruritus, alopecia, androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, vitiligo and psoriasis.
US11420956B2

The present disclosure relates to novel compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and their use in prevention and treatment of cancer and related diseases and conditions. In some embodiments, the compounds disclosed herein exhibit androgen receptor degradation activity.
US11420953B2

Novel co-crystal and eutectic crystal of kojic acid and a co-former that are excellent in physical properties are provided. In one aspect, novel co-crystals of kojic acid and a co-former that is maltol or ethyl maltol are provided. In another aspect, novel crystal of a eutectic mixture of kojic acid and a co-former that is selected from the group consisting of, maltol, ethyl maltol, methyl paraben and propyl gallate are provided. Methods for producing the novel co-crystal or eutectic crystal are also described. The novel co-crystals and eutectic crystals may be included in a pharmaceutical composition, a health food product or a medical food product for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a neuropsychiatric disorder.
US11420948B2

The present application relates to a synthesis method for cariprazine, comprising performing an acylation reaction between a compound represented by formula (I) and dimethylcarbamoyl chloride in a reaction solvent in the presence of an aqueous solution of an inorganic base, so as to obtain the cariprazine compound represented by formula (II). The synthesis method overcomes defects in the prior art such as a long reaction time, large size impurities and the difficulty of purification, and provides a new method suitable for commercial production wherein the reaction is fast, impurity sizes are small, the product is easily purified, the purity of the product can reach 99.0% or more, and the yield is high.
US11420942B2

The present invention relates to crystalline forms of [3-(4-{2-butyl-1-[4-(4-chloro-phenoxy)-phenyl]-1H-imidazol-4-yl}-phenoxy)-propyl]-diethylamine (“COMPOUND I”) useful in the treatment of RAGE mediated diseases.
US11420937B2

A urea production process comprising concentrating a first urea solution in a first vacuum evaporator in an evaporation section to give a urea melt and a first vapor, and condensing the first vapor in a first condensation section, wherein the first condensation section is a chilled condensation section, and a urea production system comprising the chilled condensation section.
US11420934B2

Provided herein are compounds and compositions useful in increasing PPARδ activity. The compounds and compositions provided herein are useful for the treatment of PPARδ related diseases (e.g., muscular diseases, vascular disease, demyelinating disease, and metabolic diseases).
US11420933B2

This invention provides for a compound of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1-R4, L1, n and p are defined herein. The compounds of formula (X) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are cationic lipids useful in the delivery of biologically active agents to cells and tissues.
US11420931B2

Compositions and methods useful in administering nucleic acid based therapies, for example association complexes such as liposomes and lipoplexes are described.
US11420929B2

Phenoxy acetic acids and phenyl propionic acids and their use in improving mitochondrial energy output in a subject are provided herein. The present compounds are activators of PPARδ and may be useful for treating conditions mediated by the same.
US11420927B2

The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of an alkylfluoroacrylate starting from alkylfluoroacetate and an oxalic acid ester, wherein an alkane liquid under the reaction conditions is applied as the solvent in one of the reaction steps.
US11420926B2

Method of making a second olefin using a first olefin, comprising steps (A) and (B): (A) performing a metathesis reaction with the first olefin in the presence of a metal complex configured to catalyse said metathesis reaction; (B) epoxidizing an olefin contained in the reaction mixture obtained in step (A) to form an epoxide; and deoxygenizing said epoxide to form said second olefin.
US11420924B2

Provided is a method for purifying organic acids, including: a first extraction which includes separating an aqueous solution of organic acids into a first organic layer and a first aqueous solution layer by adding a solvent containing an amine and an alcohol; removing the alcohol from the separated first organic layer; and a second extraction which includes separating the first organic layer from which the alcohol has been removed into a second organic layer and a second aqueous solution layer by adding water.
US11420923B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for producing an α-fluoroacrylic acid ester compound. This problem is solved by a method for producing a compound represented by formula (1), wherein R1 and R2 are identical or different, and each represents an alkyl group or the like; and R3 is an alkyl group or the like, the method comprising step A of reacting a compound represented by formula (2) with R3—OH (3) and carbon monoxide in the presence of palladium, a double bond-containing compound (α), a diphosphine compound (β), and a base, to obtain the compound represented by formula (1) above.
US11420918B2

The invention relates to a method for producing a specific hydroxyl compound by decarboxylating a specific carboxylic acid compound or a salt of said carboxylic acid compound in the absence of a catalyst and to a method for producing a bisphenol.
US11420916B2

The present disclosure pertains to methods and systems for separating olefins from a mixture that includes olefins and non-olefins. The methods include associating the mixture with a support that is embedded with an ionic liquid and a metal ion. The ionic liquid prevents the substantial reduction of the metal ion by reducing agents while the metal ion mediates the transport of the olefin through the support by selectively and reversibly coupling with the olefin. In some embodiments, the support may be in the form of supported ionic liquid porous membranes, and the ionic liquid may be held within the pores of the support by capillary forces. In some embodiments, the support may be in the form of a composite, and the ionic liquid may be dispersed throughout the composite. In some embodiments, the metal ion may be dissolved in the ionic liquid and dispersed throughout the support.
US11420909B2

According to the present invention there is provided a method for enantiomeric enrichment of a mixture of two enantiomers of a chiral compound, the method comprises the application of the mixture of two enantiomers of a chiral compound onto a surface of a support material for producing a coated support, the determination a first value of an optical activity (OA0) of the coated support, the irradiation of the coated support with a light beam having an intensity at least higher than a desorption threshold of one of the enantiomers from the coated support, wherein, if the support material is achiral, the light beam is circularly polarized and, if the support material is chiral, the light beam is unpolarized, linearly polarized or circularly polarized, and the determination of a second value of the optical activity (OAe) of the coated support after said irradiation, wherein the second value of the optical activity (OAe) differs from the first value of the optical activity (OA0).
US11420905B2

The present invention focuses on a silicon nitride substrate having high mechanical strength, high thermal conductivity and the like, and takes advantage of such properties to provide: a ceramic substrate capable of providing improvement in a bonding property between a silicon nitride substrate and a ceramic layer which uses a dielectric ceramic material capable of being simultaneously sintered with a low-resistance conductive material such as a low-melting metal (Ag or Cu); and a method for producing the ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate of the present invention is obtained by stacking and bonding a silicon nitride substrate and a ceramic layer composed of a dielectric ceramic material, wherein: the dielectric ceramic material contains Mg, Al, and Si as main ingredients, and Bi or B as an accessory ingredient; and the ceramic layer includes a region with a high Si element concentration at a bonding interface with the silicon nitride substrate.
US11420898B2

An ultrathin glass article has a thickness of less than or equal to 0.5 mm. The glass has a low TTV and a large threshold diffusivity. The glass has a working point T4 of more than 1100° C. and a linear thermal expansion coefficient CTE of more than 6*10-6/° C. in the temperature range between 25° C. and 300° C. A method for producing the article as well as the use of the article is also provided. The glass article can be chemically strengthened and forms surface compressive stress layers on surfaces and center tension layer in the center. The toughened ultrathin glass sheet is more flexible and has extraordinary thermal shock resistance which makes it easier to handle for processing.
US11420894B2

A brittle object cutting apparatus and the method thereof are disclosed. Wherein, the brittle object cutting apparatus comprises a first heating laser unit, a second heating laser unit, a scribing laser unit, two cooling units and a processing module. A heating laser from the heating laser units respectively located on opposite sides of a scribing laser from the scribing laser unit, and a coolant of the cooling unit followed behind the heating laser. In the moving process of the brittle object, the processing module controls the scribing laser for a scribing operation, and controls one of the heating lasers and the coolant form one of the cooling units to heat and cool the brittle object. As a result, the machining time of dicing the brittle objects may be effectively reduced.
US11420893B2

Systems for producing articles from glass tube include a converter having a base with a plurality of processing stations and a turret moveable relative to the base. The turret indexes a plurality of holders for holding the glass tubes successively through the processing stations. The systems further include a gas flow system or a suction system for producing a flow of gas through the glass tube during one or more heating, forming, separating or piercing operations. The flow of gas through the glass tube produced by the gas flow system or suction system may be sufficient to evacuate or purge volatile constituents of the glass from the glass tube and/or pierce a meniscus formed on the glass tube during separation, thereby reducing the Surface Hydrolytic Response (SHR) of the interior surface of the glass tube and articles made therefrom.
US11420890B2

A method of processing enhanced biosolids from a wastewater treatment plant to produce an output mixture. The method includes providing one or more volumes of an input mixture that has an input mixture viscosity. The input mixture includes the enhanced biosolids, which have been subjected to shear forces and mixed in a mixing vessel. The enhanced biosolids are partially hydrolyzed biosolids with an input solids content between 4% and 16% by weight of the input mixture. The input mixture also includes sufficient process liquid to result in the output mixture having an output solids content between 3% and 13% by weight of the output mixture. The input mixture is stored in a storage vessel in which the input mixture is subjected to anaerobic conditions and hydrolysis over a predetermined tie period, to form the output mixture having an output mixture viscosity that is less than the input mixture viscosity.
US11420889B2

The Invention discloses an ecological remediation method for controlling sulphur pollution in black and odorous sludge of rivers. Firstly, the sludge from pollution layer of the rivers will be dredged and stacked on the banksides with slope protection built along the outer edge of the sludge storage site; then innocent pretreatment will be conducted for the sludge. Specific steps comprise solarization and ploughing, and mixed ameliorant of certain proportion will be added for modification between first solarization and intermittent ploughing. Then, large emergent aquatic plants will be planted on the stacked sludge after pretreatment. The technical method provided by the Invention may control the release of acid-volatile sulfide in the contaminated sludge on one hand and reduce concentration of volatile organic sulfide in the waters on the other hand. With simple technical process and strong operable technology, the Invention meets the current requirements for controlling sulphur pollution in black and odorous sludge of rivers in China and facilitates realizing the goal of long-term control of sulphur pollution in the deposit of the waters.
US11420888B2

The present invention discloses a treatment process for a submerged lifting circulation type bio-membrane filter, wherein the treatment process comprises the following steps: two groups of symmetrically staggered filter curtains (2A and 2B) are adopted; the two groups of filter curtains (2A and 2B) are periodically lifted up and down in a reciprocating manner in a biofilter (1) under the action of a lifting mechanism (4), so that bio-membranes on the two groups of filter curtains (2A and 2B) are in contact with the atmosphere and sewage in turns, absorb organic matters in the sewage when lifting down for submerging, absorb oxygen when lifting up and exposing into to the atmosphere, and bring oxygen into the sewage and cause sewage turbulence in a water tank when lifting down for submerging again, so that the dissolved oxygen is uniformly distributed, thereby purifying the sewage.
US11420884B2

The invention provides an irradiation device (1) designed to be mounted to an irradiation reactor (20), comprising: an irradiation source (2), preferably an UV-LED, mounted on a heat conductive substrate (3); a disk-like heat sink (4) configured to removably receive the conductive substrate (3) such that heat transfer from the substrate (3) to the heat sink (4) is possible at a contact surface (4a) and such that the irradiation from the irradiation source (2) can pass through an opening (5) of the heat sink (4) into aninterior volume (21) of the irradiation reactor (20) when the irradiation device (1) is mounted to the irradiation reactor (20), wherein the opening (5) of the heat sink (4) is closed by a quartz window (6); fixation means (7) releasably biasing the substrate (3) against the contact surface (4a) of the heat sink (4); and a fluid channel (8) extending along and/or through the heat sink (4), wherein the fluid channel (8) is arranged to communicate with a fluid inlet or outlet port (22) of the irradiation reactor (20) and with one or more outlet openings (9) for discharging the fluid into the interior volume (21) of the irradiation reactor (20) or with one ore more inlet openings (9) for feeding the fluid from the interior volume (21) of the irradiation reactor (20) into the fluid channel (8).
US11420878B2

Systems and methods for impurity removal to limestone using modifications to the typical calcination process of turning calcium carbonate into calcium oxide. Specifically, substantially increasing the temperature to 1100° C. or higher and increasing soak time can result in reductions in certain undesirable impurities, particularly with regards to lead and lead compounds.
US11420873B2

Provided are graphene nanosheets having a polyaromatic hydrocarbon concentration of less than about 0.7% by weight and a tap density of less than about 0.08 g/cm3, as measured by ASTM B527-15 standard. The graphene nanosheets also have a specific surface area (B.E.T.) greater than about 250 m2/g. Also provided are processes for producing graphene nanosheets as well as for removing polyaromatic hydrocarbons from graphene nanosheets, comprising heating said graphene nanosheets under oxidative atmosphere, at a temperature of at least about 200° C.
US11420869B2

A pressure swing adsorption process is provided to remove oxygen from a hydrogen stream through the use of a copper material in combination with layers of adsorbent to remove water, C2 and C3 hydrocarbons, as well as other impurities. The feed gas comprises more than 70 mol % hydrogen, at least 1 mol % methane and more than 10 ppmv oxygen. The purified product hydrogen stream comprises greater than 99 mol % hydrogen, with less than 1 ppmv oxygen.
US11420868B2

Method for the preparation of synthesis gas combining electrolysis of carbon dioxide, autothermal reforming and 5 optionally tubular steam reforming of a hydrocarbon feed stock.
US11420857B2

The invention relates to a fork adjuster, forklift truck provided therewith and method for adjusting forks. The fork adjuster according to the invention comprises: a frame provided with coupling means configured to operatively couple the fork adjuster to the forklift truck; an adjusting mechanism arranged in or on the frame and configured to adjust the forks; a drive mechanism which can be connected operatively to the adjusting mechanism for driving the adjusting mechanism, wherein the drive mechanism is provided with contact means such that the adjusting mechanism is driveable by contact of the contact means with a ground surface.
US11420854B2

In combination, a storage unit storable within a three-dimensional storage system and a storage/retrieval vehicle navigable through the three-dimensional storage system to storage locations therein at which the storage unit is selectively storable and retrievable. The storage/retrieval vehicle comprises a frame conveyable through the three-dimensional storage system, a platform atop the frame for receipt of the storage unit on the platform, and a loading/unloading mechanism operable to load and unload the storage unit to and from the platform at four different sides thereof. The storage unit and the storage/retrieval vehicle are configured to enable unloading of the storage unit from the platform in any one of four different directions at four different respective sides of the vehicle regardless of an original orientation in which the storage unit was previously loaded onto the platform and without reorienting the storage unit from the original orientation.
US11420846B2

An elevator system is provided. Aspects includes an elevator car, a sensor, and a projector affixed to the elevator car, wherein the projector is operated by a controller and the controller is configured to receive an indication of a presence of a passenger in the elevator car. A car operating panel is projected, by a projector, in the elevator car, wherein the car operating panel comprises a virtual element. An activation of the virtual element from the passenger is sensed by a sensor and an action is initiated based at least in part on sensing the activation of the virtual element.
US11420841B2

A sheet stacker includes a housing, a fence, a first distance measurement sensor, and a second distance measurement sensor. The fence is movable in a fence moving direction on the housing and is configured to regulate a position of an end of a sheet. The first distance measurement sensor is configured to measure a distance between the fence and a first portion of the housing, the first portion being on one side of the housing with respect to the fence in the fence moving direction. The second distance measurement sensor is configured to measure a distance between the fence and a second portion of the housing, the second portion being on another side of the housing with respect to the fence in the fence moving direction.
US11420837B2

A sheet placement device includes a placement member on which a sheet is placed; a limiter that is movable with respect to the placement member to limit a position of an end of the sheet placed on the placement member; a contact member provided in the limiter and to be displaced by contacting with the end of the sheet; and a detector that detects displacement of the contact member. The detector is provided in the placement member.
US11420836B2

A recoding medium conveying device includes a conveyance belt, a first sensor, a second sensor, and circuitry. The conveyance belt has an endless loop shape and a length capable of conveying a plurality of recording media in one rotation. The first sensor is disposed upstream from the conveyance belt in a conveyance direction of a recording medium and is configured to detect the recording medium. The second sensor is configured to detect a home position of the conveyance belt. The circuitry is configured to adjust a rotation speed of the conveyance belt, while the conveyance belt makes one rotation, to eliminate an amount of deviation between a first detection timing of the recording medium detected by the first sensor and a second detection timing of the home position of the conveyance belt detected by the second sensor.
US11420835B2

A sheet storage device for storing sheets includes a supporting unit, a regulation unit, and a moving unit. The supporting unit supports stored sheets. The regulation unit is movably arranged on the supporting unit, and regulates a position of an edge portion of a sheet. The moving unit moves the regulation unit. The moving unit includes moving members to move in a direction parallel to a moving direction of the regulation unit. The moving members are moved by rotation of a rotation member in a case where the rotation member is in contact with the moving members. In a case where a fixing member attached to the sheet storage device in place of the rotation member, movement of the moving members is regulated by placing the moving members into contact with the fixing member.
US11420833B2

A linear sorter sorts piece goods. The linear sorter contains a closed circulation of tracks having a plurality of cross-belt elements, in which the piece goods are transported on an upper run on the cross-belt elements and are sorted by unloading to corresponding destination points, and the cross-belt elements return on a lower run. The cross-belt elements are driven by linear motors. In order to simplify the maintenance and to have to keep fewer cross-belt elements available as replacement components, the linear motors for the cross-belt elements are controlled such that, as the cross-belt elements return on the lower run, the speed of the cross-belt elements is higher than the speed of the cross-belt elements while travelling on the upper run.
US11420832B2

Provided is a transport fixing jig that has a high gripping force, hardly contaminates an object to be processed (object to be transported), and is excellent in heat resistance. The transport fixing jig of the present invention includes: a first base material; a carbon nanotube aggregate; and an adhesive layer arranged between the first base material and the carbon nanotube aggregate, wherein the first base material and the carbon nanotube aggregate are bonded to each other via the adhesive layer, and wherein a ratio (adhesive layer/base material) between a linear expansion coefficient of the first base material and a linear expansion coefficient of the adhesive layer is from 0.7 to 1.8.
US11420827B2

A belt scraper having a scraper element to be brought into abutment with a belt. The scraper element is pivotably arranged with reference to a pivoting axis. A spring element generates a torque acting on the scraper element. A sensor for determining a pivoting angle of the scraper element is a contactless sensor with an index part and a detecting part for detecting the position of the index part. The index part is arranged, at a distance from the pivoting axis, on a movable element that is coupled to the scraper element.
US11420823B1

An inventory management system can include a mobile sorting assembly for sorting and transporting items to storage locations. The mobile sort assembly can receive and sort an item, move the item to storage location, and transfer the item to the storage location. The mobile sorting system can include a platform for receiving and positioning the items and one or more sorting shelves for receiving the items.
US11420819B2

An automated waste collection has a housing, within which is disposed a deployment mechanism for receiving a waste receptacle. The waste receptacle may be placed onto the deployment mechanism through an access opening traversing through the housing and selectively obstructed by an access closure. Waste may be deposited within the waste receptacle through a lid opening at a top of the housing. The deployment mechanism may be displaced by a deployment actuator between a stored position within the housing and a deployed position external to the housing. In order to do so, the deployment mechanism traverses through a deployment opening selectively obstructed by a deployment closure. A housing controller operates according to a predetermined waste collection schedule, actuating the deployment actuator at any scheduled waste collection times. The waste receptacle further has a set of motorized wheels that enable autonomous navigation from the housing to a collection position.
US11420807B2

A magnetic object holder is a device for releasably attaching an object to a ferromagnetic surface. The device can include an insulated flexible sleeve defining an interior space in which the object is removably receivable. The sleeve grips the object in an interference fit when the object is received in the interior space. One or more magnets secured to a portion of the sleeve enables the sleeve to be releasably attached to the ferromagnetic surface while the object is received in the interior space.
US11420796B2

Front and back panels have side seams that fix the panel side edges of the front panel to the panel side edges of the back panel and each extend a full vertical length of the respective panel side edges. A label formed from a separate piece of film covers one of the face panels between the side edges thereof, is disconnected from the one face panel between the panel side seams, has label side edges generally at the respective side panel edges, and secures the label to the one face panel. Respective secondary side seams are provided between the side edges of the label and the side edges of the one panel, and respective tear lines are formed in the label closely adjacent and generally parallel to each of the label side edges. There is printing on the label only between the tear lines.
US11420792B2

Provided is a handle including an annular part configured to fit in a neck part of a container, a first extension part provided so as to be continuous with the annular part, and a first holding part provided so as to be continuous with the first extension part, in which the annular part includes a second contact part capable of coming into contact with a first contact part provided to the neck part, and the first extension part is configured to be positioned with respect to the container by the contact between the first contact part and the second contact part.
US11420780B2

A binding machine includes a wire feeding unit configured to feed a wire to be wound on an object to be bound, a binding unit configured to twist the wire wound on the object to be bound, a curl guide configured to curl the wire being fed by the wire feeding unit, an inductive guide configured to guide the wire curled by the curl guide toward the binding unit, and a retraction guide part configured to retract the wire to a downstream side of the binding unit with respect to a feeding direction of the wire that is fed by the wire feeding unit in a direction of curling the wire by the curl guide.
US11420775B2

To reduce space debris and decrease risks for future space flights and currently operating satellites, NASA requires all satellites to have an end of life deorbiting plan to prevent satellites from having long and indefinite orbit lifespan. Accordingly, disclosed herein are systems and methods for deploying a deorbiting drag device to dramatically decrease the orbit lifespan of satellites. One of the methods comprises: providing power, using a photovoltaic panel, to a central processing unit (CPU) of the satellite; determining, using a health sensor, a health status of the satellite by monitoring activities of the CPU; and releasing a deorbiting drag device based on the health status by diverting power from the photovoltaic panel to a release actuator.
US11420766B2

A spheroidal framework having sensors is mounted to a multi-rotor aircraft with elastic members and adjustable aircraft mounts whereby transmission of vibration from the aircraft to the framework is dampened and whereby the framework's position relative to the aircraft's center of gravity may be changed by selectively tensioning the elastic members and by adjusting the position of the aircraft mounts.
US11420765B2

A lightning strike protection (LSP) system minimizes or eliminates both the direct and indirect effects of lightning strikes on aircraft with composite fuselages without adding excessive weight to the aircraft. The LSP system comprises an external current return network and an internal current return network. The internal current return network comprises a wide plane of conductive foil material adhered to, or embedded within, an innermost surface of the fuselage and other portions of the aircraft formed primarily of composite materials. The conductive foil material is provided in wide planar sheets, and in one embodiment, is formed of expanded copper foil mesh. The internal current return network is installed in all areas or zones of the aircraft where cables and wires are routed.
US11420760B2

A seal system for coaxially aligned shafts includes an input shaft and an output shaft coaxially aligned with the input shaft. The seal system includes a seal adapter support housing coupled to the output shaft and a seal positioned between an end of the input shaft and an end of the seal adapter support housing. The input shaft is configured to rotate at a speed that is different than a speed of the output shaft.
US11420759B2

[Object] To provide a supersonic aircraft and a method of reducing sonic booms, by which sonic booms due to engine exhaust can be reduced. [Solving Means] A supersonic aircraft includes: a pair of engine nacelles 12R, 12L mounted on a fuselage 11 of an airframe 10; fins 13R, 13L as a pair of shielding plates that inhibits engine exhaust 15 discharged from jet engines (not shown) accommodated in the engine nacelles 12R, 12L from wrapping downward around the airframe 10; and a pair of horizontal tails 14R, 14L disposed behind the engine nacelles 12R, 12L. The fins 13R, 13L are disposed on the horizontal tails 14R, 14L so as to sandwich the engine exhaust 15, respectively.
US11420758B2

A method of reducing noise generated by a tilt-rotor aircraft includes transitioning the tilt-rotor aircraft into an airplane mode from a helicopter mode, and reducing a speed of a first pair of fans of the tilt-rotor aircraft to be less than a speed of a second pair of fans that are positioned in-line with the first pair of fans. A flight control system configured to reduce a noise level of a tilt-rotor aircraft includes a flight control computer comprising a processor, a propulsion system communicatively coupled to the flight control computer, a first pair of fans and a second pair of fans communicatively coupled with the flight control computer and the propulsion system. The processor is operable to implement a method that includes transitioning the tilt-rotor aircraft into an airplane mode from a helicopter mode, and reducing a speed of the first pair of fans to be less than a speed of the second pair of fans that are positioned in-line with the first pair of fans.
US11420753B2

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for operating a gliding parachute/kite. The gliding parachute/kite has a wing with a flexible material, and a set of suspension lines adapted for coupling a load to the wing, such that the coupling is configurable in any one of a plurality of possible states based on relative lengths of the suspension lines. In some implementations, the possible states include a first state enabling gliding in a first direction, and a second state enabling gliding in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. Reversing direction is possible with the first and second states. Additionally, or alternatively, the possible states include a spinning state enabling spinning of the gliding parachute/kite. Adjusting a rate of decent is possible with the spinning. Reversing direction and/or spinning operations can be used to improve control of trajectory.
US11420745B2

An oxygen mask container assembly that includes a container that defines a container interior and includes a container opening, an oxygen mask assembly disposed in the container interior, a mask ejector in operative communication with the mask assembly, a cover assembly that is movable between a closed position where the cover assembly covers the container opening and an open position where the mask can be ejected through the container opening and from the container interior, and a latch assembly. The oxygen mask assembly includes a mask and a lanyard. The cover assembly includes a light assembly therein that is configured to shine light below the cover assembly. The latch assembly is configured to move the cover assembly between the closed position and the open position.
US11420744B2

An automated drone-based surface treatment material delivery system includes a drone having a body, at least one propeller rotatably supported by the body, at least one propeller motor supported by the body and configured to selectively apply motive power to the at least one propeller, and a controller supported by the body and configured to control a flight path of the drone at least by manipulating a speed of the at least one propeller. The drone also has a rotary atomizer supported by the body for movement therewith. The rotary atomizer includes a rotating dispersion structure configured to disperse a surface treatment material from a material supply.
US11420742B2

A content-driven and content delivery UAV system. The UAV system includes a content source to provided pressurized content to the UAVs via a content transmission media. The pressurized content is utilized to drive a mechanical propulsion and steering system to keep the UAV aloft and direct it to a particular location. The pressurized content received by the UAVs can be directed back to the content source, to another UAV and or discharged from the UAV to a desired target. Thus, the UAVs may include a nozzle or valve for discharging the content and thus delivering the content to a desire location.
US11420741B2

A remote controller for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a user input component configured to receive user input from a user and a communication circuit configured to transmit an instruction to operate at least one of the UAV or a load carried by the UAV based on the user input. The remote controller is configured to transform between (1) a single-hand operation mode that enables the user to control an operation of the at least one of the UAV or the load using the user input from a single hand while being held by the single hand, and (2) a multi-hand operation mode that enables the user to control the operation of the at least one of the UAV or the load using at least two hands while holding the remote controller using the at least two hands.
US11420736B1

In an aspect, a system for vibration monitoring of an electric aircraft. A system include a propulsor. A system includes a sensor coupled to a propulsor. A sensor is configured to measure a vibration datum of a propulsor and transmit the vibration datum to a flight controller. A flight controller is configured to receive a vibration datum from a sensor. A flight controller is configured to generate a throttle datum as a function of a vibration datum. A flight controller is configured to transmit a throttle datum to a propulsor.
US11420735B2

A method of reducing noise generated by a tilt-rotor aircraft includes transitioning the tilt-rotor aircraft into an airplane mode from a helicopter mode, and reducing a speed of a plurality of rotor blades of a first pair of rotors of the tilt-rotor aircraft to be less than a speed of a plurality of rotor blades of a second pair of rotors that are positioned forward of and in-line with the first pair of rotors. A flight control system configured to reduce a noise level of a tilt-rotor aircraft includes a flight control computer comprising a processor, a propulsion system communicatively coupled to the flight control computer, a first pair of rotors and a second pair of rotors communicatively coupled with the flight control computer and the propulsion system. The processor is operable to implement a method that includes transitioning the tilt-rotor aircraft into an airplane mode from a helicopter mode, and reducing a speed and/or pitch of a plurality of rotor blades of the first pair of rotors to be less than a speed and/or pitch of a plurality of rotor blades of the second pair of rotors that are positioned forward of and in-line with the first pair of rotors.
US11420734B2

A propeller, a propeller kit, a power assembly, a power kit and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The propeller includes a hub and at least two blades connected to the hub. The hub is detachably mounted on a corresponding drive apparatus by a mounting member corresponding to the hub, so that the propeller is mounted on the corresponding drive apparatus. A surface, facing the mounting member, of the hub is provided with a first fitting portion. A surface, facing the hub, of the mounting member is provided with a second fitting portion corresponding to the first fitting portion. The first fitting portion matches the second fitting portion. In the foregoing manner, a user can be prevented from incorrectly mounting a forward propeller and a counter-rotating propeller during the use of a quick-detachable propeller in the embodiments of the present application.
US11420733B2

An airfoil component assembly for an aircraft includes an additively manufactured flyaway tool including an infill support core and an interface sheet surrounding the infill support core, a spar formed from one or more layers of composite material disposed on the interface sheet of the flyaway tool and a skin formed from one or more layers of composite material disposed on the spar and the interface sheet of the flyaway tool. The flyaway tool, the spar and the skin form the airfoil component assembly for use by the aircraft in flight.
US11420732B2

An aircraft includes a frame body that includes an attaching unit on an upper portion thereof, that is formed into a frame-shape structure, and that couples an object to a lower portion thereof, the attaching unit being configured to be capable of adjusting a position in an up-down direction of the attaching unit. A main body including a flying mechanism is positioned on an upper portion of the frame body. A control unit controls a position in the up-down direction of the attaching unit such that a flying posture of the object is controlled in accordance with a posture of the flying mechanism.
US11420731B2

A nose structure of an aircraft includes an airframe. A wheel well assembly is coupled to the airframe and forms a portion of a nose landing gear bay. The wheel well assembly includes a pressure deck that extends from a right side of the airframe to a left side of the airframe and that forms a portion of a pressure boundary delimiting a pressurized space and a non-pressurized space. A floor-panel support is supported by the pressure deck in the pressurized space. The pressure deck and the floor-panel support form a portion of a flight deck floor of a flight deck of the aircraft. A plurality of transport elements is located between the floor-panel support and the pressure deck. The plurality of transport elements is associated with at least one high-level system of the aircraft.
US11420729B2

Systems and methods for determining a vehicle elevation height for launching an unmanned aerial vehicle may include performing a quantitative balancing analysis using baseline factors, establishing optimal values for operational goals of a vehicle based on the quantitative balancing analysis, determining a vehicle elevation height that achieves the established optimal values for the operational goals of the vehicle by evaluating vehicle delivery parameters using normalized values, and initiating on a winch system elevation of the unmanned aerial vehicle to the determined vehicle elevation height for launching.
US11420727B2

An airfoil arrangement which allows an increased reliability and increased aerodynamic performance of airfoils. A catching bracket is provided which is mounted in a track device opening to reduce the area of the track device opening and, when there is a failure of at least one support roller, the catching bracket engages the track device.
US11420718B2

An aircraft tail assembly includes an aft fuselage section secured to a forward fuselage section, and includes a stiffener-reinforced pivot bulkhead defined by separate parts secured together by a first set of splices. A longeron extends longitudinally along the aft and forward fuselage sections, and includes a discontinuity adjacent a peripheral edge of the pivot bulkhead. The aircraft tail assembly includes a second set of splices that overlie the discontinuity. One of the second set of splices extends laterally over the longeron to bridge the discontinuity adjacent the peripheral edge of the pivot bulkhead, and another of the second set of splices extends longitudinally along the longeron to secure the longeron to the pivot bulkhead adjacent the discontinuity. A chord engages the peripheral edge of the pivot bulkhead to facilitate transfers of force loads from the bulkhead along a load path that includes the longerons and the splices.
US11420714B1

A personal flotation system provides a horseshoe shaped float that is buoyant and can be used in a number or positions to float a person on the water and retain a beverage. The horseshoe shaped flotation device has a left and right armrest that extend out from an arced shaped closed end and dual cup holder, on the extended end of the armrest, has an cup cylinder to retain a beverage in the vertical orientation and an end cup holder to retain a beverage in an orthogonal orientation to the cup cylinder. The flotation device may have an extending strap that couples the left and right armrests together to secure the horseshoe shaped float around a person's torso.
US11420711B2

A pontoon boat is provided that includes at least two pontoons running longitudinally beneath the boat and providing buoyancy thereto; a deck framework mounted above and connected to the pontoons; a deck mounted on the deck framework; a recessed deck portion extending downwardly through the deck and the deck framework, the recessed deck portion forming a cavity into the deck including a bottom and side walls forming a basin extending into and beneath the deck; and at least one seat adjacent the recessed deck portion and mounted to the deck.
US11420699B2

Frontal splashguard member assemblies and related methods. In some embodiments, one or more splashguard members may be coupled to a frontal portion of a bicycle frame, such as a down tube, by way of one or more splashguard retention members and a plurality of fasteners, which fasteners may extend through openings formed in the one or more splashguard members and around the splashguard retention member.
US11420698B2

A saddle type electric vehicle (1) includes a charging cord (245) that is connectable to an external power supply, a cord accommodating section (230) configured to accommodate a charging cord (245), and a step floor (9) on which an occupant places his/her legs, a center tunnel (CT) bulging above the step floor (9) is provided in front of a front end of a seat (8) and below a handle (2), and the cord accommodating section (230) is disposed in the center tunnel (CT).
US11420694B2

The present disclosure provides a robot gait planning method and a robot with the same. The method includes: obtaining, through the sensor set, force information of feet of the robot under a force applied by a target object; calculating coordinates of zero moment points of the feet of the robot with respect to a centroid of a body of the robot based on the force information; and determining a gait planning result for the robot based on the coordinates of the zero moment points with respect to the centroid of the body. The present disclosure is capable of converting the force of the target object to the zero moment points, and using the zero moment points to perform the gait planning, so that the robot follows the target object in the case that the robot is subjected to a force of the target object.
US11420692B2

A moving robot has at least one surface wave transducer or a transmitter and receiver, to identify defects on or in a surface on which the robot moves, and provide data indicative of the location, size and/or orientation of the defects from robot position data.
US11420685B2

The disclosure provides a vehicle body capable of well preventing the deformation of a side door even if the weight of the vehicle itself increases. The vehicle body includes a front pillar upper which extends rearward and upward along a side edge of a windshield, a front pillar lower which is joined to a lower end of the front pillar upper to support a front end of the side door, a dash upper side which connects an upper member to the front pillar lower while being joined to the front pillar upper at a rear extension part, and a front pillar upper stiffener which reinforces the bending rigidity of the front pillar upper. A distance is set between the rear extension part of the dash upper side and a front end of the front pillar upper stiffener above the front pillar lower.
US11420678B2

A traction assist apparatus includes a memory and a hardware processor coupled to the memory. The hardware processor is configured to: acquire first coupling information representing a current coupling posture of a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle and acquire second coupling information representing a future coupling posture of the towed vehicle where the towing vehicle moves backward at a current steering angle; and display a first indicator and a second indicator on a display device in a comparable mode, the first indicator indicating the towed vehicle corresponding to the first coupling information, the second indicator indicating the towed vehicle corresponding to the second coupling information.
US11420668B2

A shopping cart handle cover comprises layers of fabric that wrap around the circumference of a shopping cart handle. An inner layer of high friction gripping fabric is in direct contact with the shopping cart handle, preventing the cover from moving around the handle when attached. Affixed along one edge of the inner layer of fabric are narrow strips of one of hook and loop fabric. Overlaying the inner layer is a layer of batting material to provide padding for comfort of the user when gripping the cover around the cart handle. An outer layer of durable fabric overlays the other layers of the cover. Affixed to the outer layer are moderately sized strips of the hook-and-loop counterpart to the strips on the inner layer, the strips on the outer layer affixed to an edge of the cover opposite the edge where strips are affixed to the inner layer.
US11420660B2

The invention relates to a luminous device (5) and a method for managing said device (5), comprising LED lighting means (51), a dissipative electric load (52) adapted to increase an electric power dissipated by the device (5) when the LED lighting means (51) are emitting light, and current interrupting means (53) configured for dynamically interrupting the flow of current through said dissipative load (52) when the LED lighting means (51) are emitting light, so as to reduce the electric power dissipated by said device (5).
US11420653B2

An autonomous driving apparatus and method, in which the apparatus includes a sensor unit detecting a surrounding vehicle around an ego vehicle that autonomously travels, an output unit, a memory storing map information, and a processor controlling the autonomous driving of the ego vehicle based on the map information. The processor is configured to generate an actual driving trajectory and expected driving trajectory of the surrounding vehicle based on driving information of the surrounding vehicle detected by the sensor unit and the map information, determine whether a driving mode of the surrounding vehicle is an autonomous driving mode and an autonomous driving risk of the ego vehicle based on a trajectory error between the actual driving trajectory and expected driving trajectory of the surrounding vehicle, and output a warning to a passenger through the output unit at a level corresponding to the determined autonomous driving risk.
US11420649B2

A method is provided for gathering probe data and using the gathered data to creating map intersection turn paths. Methods may include: receiving probe data from a plurality of probes passing through an intersection; identifying a turn maneuver of the intersection including at least an incoming and an outgoing road link; map matching probe data from the plurality of probes passing through the intersection to the turn maneuver, where probe data map matched to the turn maneuver includes turn maneuver probe data; identifying a plurality of seed points, where the plurality of seed points are iteratively created from the turn maneuver probe data; generating a curve representing a geometric shape of a turn path corresponding to the turn maneuver using the seed points; fitting a spline to vertices of the curve representing a geometric shape of the turn path; and providing for guidance of a vehicle based on the spline of the turn path.
US11420648B2

Systems, methods, tangible non-transitory computer-readable media, and devices associated with trajectory prediction are provided. For example, trajectory data and goal path data can be accessed. The trajectory data can be associated with an object's predicted trajectory. The predicted trajectory can include waypoints associated with waypoint position uncertainty distributions that can be based on an expectation maximization technique. The goal path data can be associated with a goal path and include locations the object is predicted to travel. Solution waypoints for the object can be determined based on application of optimization techniques to the waypoints and waypoint position uncertainty distributions. The optimization techniques can include operations to maximize the probability of each of the solution waypoints. Stitched trajectory data can be generated based on the solution waypoints. The stitched trajectory data can be associated with portions of the solution waypoints and the goal path.
US11420647B2

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for classifying detected objects as static or dynamic. A device may determine first light detection and ranging (LIDAR) data associated with a convex hull of an object at a first time, and determine second LIDAR data associated with the convex hull at a second time after the first time. The device may generate, based on the first LIDAR data and the second LIDAR data, a vector including values of features associated with the first convex hull and the second convex hull. The device may determine, based on the vector, a probability that the object is static. The device may operate a machine based on the probability that the object is static.
US11420630B2

The described techniques relate to modifying a trajectory of a vehicle, such as an autonomous vehicle, based on an overlap area associated with an object in the environment. In examples, map data may be used, in part, to generate an initial trajectory for an autonomous vehicle to follow through an environment. In some cases, a yield trajectory may be generated based on detection of the object, and the autonomous vehicle may evaluate a cost function to determine whether to execute the yield or follow the initial trajectory. In a similar manner, the autonomous vehicle may determine a merge location of two lanes of a junction, and use the merge location to update extents of an overlap area to prevent the autonomous vehicle from blocking the junction and/or provide sufficient space to yield to the oncoming vehicle while merging.
US11420627B2

A driving assistance device is configured to perform deceleration control in such a way that a vehicle stops at a target position determined by a deceleration target ahead of the vehicle. The driving assistance device is configured to calculate a predicted vehicle speed of the vehicle at the target position when the deceleration control is performed, based on the current vehicle speed of the vehicle, the distance to the target position, and the deceleration that varies depending on the type of the deceleration target. When the predicted vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined value, the driving assistance device is configured not to perform the deceleration control or to reduce the deceleration in the deceleration control.
US11420625B2

A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to collect a plurality of images of one or more targets at an intersection, input the images to a machine learning program to determine a number of the targets to which a host vehicle is predicted to yield at the intersection based on time differences between the plurality of images, and transmit a message indicating the number of the targets.
US11420624B2

When there is a possibility of collision between a host vehicle and objects positioned in a detection region in front of the host vehicle, an ECU implements collision avoidance control for preventing the host vehicle from colliding with an object. The ECU detects the objects positioned in the detection region and judges whether, among the detected objects, there is an object that the host vehicle has overtaken and that is capable of moving within a prescribed range in the vehicle width direction of the host vehicle. If it is judged that the host vehicle is turning to the left or to the right after it has been judged that the host vehicle has overtaken an object, the actuation timing of the collision avoidance control is advanced.
US11420623B2

Determining object importance in vehicle control systems can include obtaining, for a vehicle in operation, an image of a dynamic scene, identifying an object type associated with one or more objects in the image, determining, based on the object type and a goal associated with the vehicle, an importance metric associated with the one or more objects, and controlling the vehicle based at least in part on the importance metric associated with the one or more objects.
US11420596B2

A connecting device for interconnecting a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type and an oscillating arm pivotally connectable to the connecting device about a pivot axis near one end thereof. The windscreen wiper device comprises an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped. The wiper blade includes at least one groove, in which a longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed. The connecting device comprises a first part arranged to be connected to the windscreen wiper device, as well as a second part arranged to be interposed between the first part and the oscillating arm. The second part is arranged to be pivotally connected to the first part optionally around a first pivot axis or around a second pivot axis.
US11420589B2

Trailer localizing systems and methods include a trailer to be coupled to the tow vehicle for towing and comprising solar panels and a tracking device communicatively coupled with a location determination device to transmit a current real time position of the trailer when active. The system is configured to determine whether the trailer is electronically connected to the tow vehicle, whether the solar panels are active upon a determination that the trailer is not electrically connected to the tow vehicle, activate the tracking device along with the location determination device upon a determination that the trailer is electronically connected to the tow vehicle, the plurality of solar panels are active, or both, generate an alert that the tracking device is active upon activation of the tracking device, and transmit the current real time position of the trailer with the alert to track the trailer.
US11420586B2

An airbag assembly may include an airbag and an inflator that provides inflation gas to inflate the airbag. A filter module may be positioned such that inflation gas exiting the inflator must first pass through the filter module. The filter module may be formed of a sheet of metal that is wrapped into a generally spiraling tubular shape. The filter module may have an inner layer, an intermediate layer, and an outer layer. The intermediate layer generally encircles the inner layer, and the outer layer generally encircles the inner layer and the intermediate layer in a spiraling fashion. The inner layer, the intermediate layer, and the outer layer each may have a pattern of holes and dimples that are separate from and/or displaced from each other. The dimples may protrude toward an adjacent layer to maintain spacing to enable relatively unrestricted gas flow from the holes of the inner layer through unaligned holes of the intermediate layer and the outer layer. The resulting tortuous gas flow path may help to slow, cool, and/or purify the gas before it exits the inflator.
US11420585B2

A cover device of an airbag including a cover unit formed with first tear lines, and able to be torn along the first tear lines; and a housing unit formed to extend in a direction from a rim of the cover unit, and formed with second tear lines. Portions of the housing unit are torn along the second tear lines and rotate by the cover unit, which is torn and rotates.
US11420577B2

Radar transparent decorative plate for the front grille of a motor vehicle, of the monobloc type with a first layer of PMMA transparent to light, like a smooth lens with decorative elements in relief on the back, and an overmoulded second layer of opaque ABS-PC or opaque ABS that compensates for the height thereof simultaneously realizing a support with integrated fastening elements and a masking background. On the back is a particular decorative treatment having an ultra-thin metallization layer with a thickness of less than 0.05 micrometres, on which a shadowing layer with an anti-transparency effect is superimposed. Embodiment variants are provided in which the decorative elements have a three-dimensional appearance obtained from a mould by means of cavities in the head or with a shading optical effect.
US11420559B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a display method for use in a vehicle. The method comprises: obtaining first and second images showing adjacent or overlapping regions external to the vehicle, the first and second images being captured at different points in time; obtaining (904) at least one image property for each of the first and second images; calculating (914) an image correction factor as a function of the at least one image property for each of the first and second images; adjusting (914) the appearance of the first image and/or the second image according to the calculated image correction factor; generating (908) a composite image from the first image or an adjust first image and the second image or an adjusted second image; and displaying at least part of the composite image; wherein for at least one of the first and second image, the at least one obtained image property is in respect of a group of images including the first or second image. A corresponding display apparatus, for use in a vehicle, to implement the method is also provided, along with a computer program product storing computer program code which is arranged when executed to implement the method and a vehicle including the apparatus.
US11420555B2

An audio notification system for an autonomous vehicle (AV) determines that the AV is within range of a user and emits a sound though a speaker of the AV to notify that the user that the vehicle has arrived. The audio notification system may include a sensor for sensing that the user has accessed the AV, and turns off the sound in response to the user accessing the AV. The audio notification may be generated according to one or more audio options, e.g., volume, pitch, or audio pattern.
US11420549B1

One embodiment of exhaust component (30) contains a shield (40). The shield being opaque allows indefinite designs to be cut out. These designs are illuminated by illumination assembly (36), which enhances cutouts (44), thereby allowing them to remain visible under all conditions. Another embodiment of the exhaust component without the shield contains illumination modules (58). These modules illuminate the exhaust component's mouth (32) through base (22) or outer wall (34), and this allows the shape of the exhaust component to be the design feature. The illumination of the mouth both enhances the shape and allows it to remain visible under all conditions. These embodiments can occur alone or together for both maximal design enhancement and additional visibility of the vehicle thereby increasing safety.
US11420545B2

A manual valve device including: a plurality of air bags provided inside a vehicle seat; a valve main body including a plurality of flow passages communicating with the plurality of air bags, respectively; a plurality of valve bodies movable inside the valve main body so as to open and close the plurality of flow passages, respectively; a plurality of valve shafts coupled to the plurality of valve bodies, respectively, and configured to be manually operated to move the plurality of valve bodies in a stroke; and an operation lever configured to press any one of the plurality of valve shafts or any combination of the plurality of valve shafts in an axial direction, in which the operation lever includes an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust an air flow rate per unit time flowing in the plurality of flow passages by changing a stroke amount in the axial direction.
US11420536B2

The vehicle seat may include a fixed portion, a moveable portion, a gearbox, and a reinforcement bracket. The gearbox may be fixed to either the fixed portion or the moveable portion and may be configured to move the moveable portion with respect to the fixed portion. The reinforcement bracket may include a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion that may extend therebetween. The first end portion may define a first U-shaped opening, the second end portion may form a second U-shaped opening, and the medial portion may form a third U-shaped opening that may receive the gearbox.
US11420531B2

A battery station, for use by at least one mobile robot, includes a battery charging unit configured to perform at least one of: holding at least one battery, and charging at least one battery. A battery load/unload position is configured to facilitate loading and unloading of a battery to and from a mobile robot. A battery handling mechanism is configured to operate on a reaching range, comprising at least one of the following: (i) the battery of the mobile robot positioned in the battery load/unload position, and (ii) the battery charging unit. A localization element is configured to at least one of detect and locate at least one of: at least one battery of the mobile robot, wherein the mobile robot is positioned in the battery load/unload position, and/or at least one battery positioned in the battery charging unit.
US11420529B2

An example operation includes one or more of identifying a transport in need of energy and in proximity to a charging station, prioritizing the transport to receive the energy before at least one other transport when the transport will provide a first portion of the energy to an entity, and providing the transport with the first portion of the energy, a second portion of the energy to travel to the entity, and a third portion of the energy to travel to a destination identified by the transport.
US11420524B2

A method for wirelessly or conductively (non-wireless) providing AC or DC power in AC or DC load applications and bidirectional applications.
US11420519B2

Provided is a movable system including a movable body to be used by a plurality of users, and a server device. When the server device receives identification information of a user from the movable body, the server device acquires setting information to set the form of the movable body based on the identification information of the user and transmits it to the movable body. The movable body includes a form changing unit configured to change the outer shape or the appearance of the movable body based on the setting information thus received.
US11420518B2

Disclosed is a user interface device for vehicles, the user interface device including a communication device configured to wirelessly exchange a signal with at least one server, at least one display, and at least one processor configured to receive prior information of a service provided at a first point from a first server through the communication device while a vehicle moves to the first point, to output the prior information through the display, to acquire user input corresponding to the prior information, and to transmit user data based on the user input to the first server through the communication device.
US11420516B2

Disclosed is a wheeled vehicle. The wheeled vehicle includes various features for operation by a rider, such as a throttle actuation assembly and various components for operation and manipulation of the vehicle.
US11420511B2

The disclosure relates to a drive device for a vehicle axle, especially a rear axle, of a two-track vehicle, wherein the vehicle axle includes an axle differential, which can be connected at the input end to a primary drive machine and at the output end to flange shafts arranged on either side with vehicle wheels of the vehicle axle, wherein the vehicle axle is associated with a shiftable superimposing gear, which can be shifted to a torque distribution mode by a torque distribution shift element, in which a drive torque generated by an additional drive machine in a first load path can be coupled to one of the flange shafts in order to change a torque distribution on the two vehicle wheels, and the drive torque generated by the additional drive machine can be coupled to the input side of the axle differential in a second load path.
US11420510B2

A battery-mounted vehicle according to an example of the present disclosure accommodates one or a plurality of batteries under the floor panel. The battery-mounted vehicle includes a battery-cooler unit, a condenser, a refrigerant liquid pipe, and a plurality of refrigerant gas pipes. The refrigerant liquid pipe guides the refrigerant liquid from the condenser to the battery-cooler unit. The refrigerant gas pipe guides the refrigerant gas generated by vaporization of the refrigerant liquid from the battery-cooler unit to the condenser. The plurality of refrigerant gas pipes include a first and a second refrigerant gas pipes. The first refrigerant gas pipe extends in a first direction from the battery-cooler unit to the condenser, and connects the condenser and the battery-cooler unit. The second refrigerant gas pipe extends from the battery-cooler unit in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and is connected to the condenser by being bended or curved.
US11420500B2

A variable air vent is provided. The air vent includes a housing that is mounted on a vehicle and has an open center. A ball housing is coupled to the housing and has an inner side surface that is formed in a curved surface. A ball configured has front and rear surfaces opened and a side surface that is inserted into the ball housing in a curved surface form corresponding to the ball housing. A first knob and a second knob are vertically disposed on the front and rear surfaces of the ball and a plurality of discharge range adjusting wings have a first rotating shaft that is integrally formed at one end of a flat plate. A first side of the first rotating shaft is inserted into the ball and a second side thereof includes a first wing gear inserted into the second knob.
US11420499B2

An electric heating device and a method for manufacturing an electric heating device with at least two plate pairs forming a fluid passage through which fluid can flow, which plate pairs are assembled from two plates and form a fluid passage between the two, wherein the plate pairs take on a predefined distance from one another and form a free space, wherein at least one heating unit is arranged in the free space between at least two of the plate pairs, which heating unit has at least one heating element and contact electrodes electrically connected thereto for making electrical contact with the at least one heating element. The invention also relates to such an electric heating device.
US11420498B2

The present disclosure provides a photosensor structure including a left photosensor located at the left side of a front windshield of a vehicle viewed from the outside of the vehicle, and a right photosensor located symmetrically to the left photosensor. For example, the left photosensor includes two light reception windows located in a width direction of the vehicle to set a lateral incidence angle having a maximum incidence amount in a left-and-right direction of a light source, a dummy portion located on at least one of the two light reception windows between the two light reception windows to set an incidence altitude having a maximum incidence amount in an upward-and-downward direction of the light source, and light reception units located on lower ends of the light reception windows to measure the amount of light received from the light source through the light reception windows.
US11420493B2

A front lower suspension connection for a space frame comprises a U-shaped base and upper suspension control arm support sections on the U-shaped base. The U-shaped base can have a cross-beam section and suspension column support beam sections positioned at opposite ends of the cross-beam section, where each suspension column support beam section may include lower suspension control arm pivot joint supports located at opposite ends of the suspension column support beam sections. Each upper suspension control arm support section can have a first support column and a second support column spaced from the first support column, where the first support column may include a first upper suspension control arm pivot joint support, and the second support column may include a second upper suspension control arm pivot joint support and a front mounting surface. A rear mounting may be provided on a rear surface of the front lower suspension connection.
US11420492B2

An actuator device (1) for an adjustable roll stabilizer (2) of a motor vehicle, with a housing (4) that extends in the direction of a rotational axis (3) and an actuator (5) arranged in the housing. The actuator device (1) can be operated to twist two stabilizer sections (7a, 7b) relative to one another about the rotational axis (3) and the two stabilizer sections (7a, 7b) are attached to opposite ends (6a, 6b) of the actuator device (1). An engagement contour (8) is formed on the housing (4), which is suitable for immobilizing the housing during the application of torque (M1) to the housing (4) in a direction around the rotational axis (3).
US11420479B2

A pneumatic vehicle tire having a tread divided by circumferential grooves, which have a profile depth (T), into block rows running in encircling fashion in a circumferential direction and/or profile ribs which are structured in the manner of profile blocks. Block rows are divided by transverse grooves into blocks and, like the profile ribs structured in the manner of profile blocks, are equipped with blind grooves proceeding from the circumferential grooves. Transverse and/or blind grooves are provided which, owing to a connection of blocks adjacent in the circumferential direction and/or of the block-like structures, have a depth smaller than profile depth (T). The connection has at least two connection steps of different heights, the lowest is formed in each case at the region in which the transverse grooves and/or blind grooves open into the circumferential grooves.
US11420472B2

In a pressing step, a first forged product is pressed by a first die, and thereby, a second forged product including a rough flange having a thickness-changing portion is produced. The thickness-changing portion includes a front part protruding frontward from a side of a rough web part and a rear part protruding rearward from the side of the rough web part. Each of the front part and the rear part includes a first part, and a second part that is thicker than the first part and is located farther from the rough web part than the first part. In the pressing step, at least a part of the rough flange that is above or below the web part (thick part) is pressed by the first die, whereby the material of the first forged product in the part is caused to flow frontward and rearward, and the thickness-changing portion is formed.
US11420463B2

Provided is an ink jet recording method using an ink jet recording apparatus having an ink jet head, the method including: a colored ink adhesion step of discharging an aqueous colored ink composition containing a coloring material from an ink jet head to adhere to a recording medium; and a clear ink adhesion step of discharging an aqueous clear ink composition from an ink jet head to adhere to the recording medium, in which the aqueous clear ink composition contains wax particles, the ink jet recording apparatus has a circulation path for circulating the aqueous clear ink composition, and in the clear ink adhesion step, the aqueous clear ink composition circulated in the circulation path is discharged.
US11420460B2

A printing device includes: a housing; a print head extending in a first direction; a cassette receiving portion; and a movable cover. The cassette receiving portion is open in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The cassette receiving portion can selectively receive a first cassette or a second cassette whose size is greater than that of the first cassette. The movable cover is movable between a closed position and an open position for covering and exposing the cassette receiving portion in the second direction. The cassette receiving portion provides: a first cassette receiving portion for receiving the first cassette with the movable cover at the closed position; and a second cassette receiving portion for receiving the second cassette with the movable cover at the open position. A portion of the second cassette receiving portion is overlapped with the movable cover at the closed position in the first direction.
US11420459B2

A printhead for a thermal transfer printer comprising a plurality of printing elements, each of the printing elements being configured to transfer ink from an ink carrying ribbon to a substrate, and at least one sensor arranged to sense ink carrying ribbon. The at least one sensor comprises at least one emitter arranged to emit radiation towards the ribbon and a plurality of receivers. Each of the plurality of receivers is arranged to receive a respective reflected signal reflected by the ribbon, each reflected signal is based upon radiation emitted by the at least one emitter.
US11420458B2

A liquid discharge head is provided which comprises a head body, a casing and a thermal insulator. The head body comprises a surface having one or more holes configured to discharge liquids therethrough. The casing, disposed on the head body, comprises a heat generator configured to generate heat and a heat sink configured to dissipate the heat. The thermal insulator is between the heat sink and the head body.
US11420457B2

An apparatus includes a gap adjuster that adjusts a gap in a vertical direction between a recording head and a supporting surface for supporting a medium. The gap adjuster adjusts the gap by engagement of a carriage, a slide member, and a cam member that is provided therebetween and has a stepped portion with an alternate-arrangement structure in a width direction. The gap adjuster includes a coil spring that urges the carriage with respect to the slide member in the direction that is the opposite of the transportation direction. A slide contact member is provided on an end of the coil spring.
US11420451B2

A printing apparatus includes a conveyance unit to convey a printing sheet in a conveyance direction, a printing unit to print on the conveyed printing sheet, a print unit, and a carriage to move in a direction crossing the conveyance direction. A detection unit detects a sheet edge of the print sheet based on output from a light receiving unit, and a control unit controls a borderless printing by the print unit that includes an extra-printing from the sheet edge to outside of the sheet. When the control unit performs the borderless printing, the control unit obtains an instruction to perform the borderless printing, and then causes the light receiving unit to obtain the output by causing the light emitting unit to emit the light, and thereafter the control unit sets an extra-printing amount by which printing extends off the sheet edge based on the obtained output.
US11420444B2

An interface structure connectable to a separate liquid reservoir, to connect that liquid reservoir to a receiving station, comprising a liquid interface to fluidically connect to at least one liquid needle of the receiving station, a liquid channel, to fluidically connect the liquid interface to the reservoir, a support wall supporting an integrated circuit laterally next to the liquid channel, the integrated circuit having contact pad contact surfaces, and a front push area adjacent the liquid, the front push area terminating at a front edge that defines a profile height of the interface structure, between said front edge and an opposite distal edge.
US11420443B2

An image recording apparatus includes a cartridge installing unit for detachably installing a plurality of ink cartridges. The cartridge installing unit includes: a base having a placing surface and aligning the plurality of ink cartridges in a first direction on the placing surface; a moving force applying unit moving an ink cartridge of the plurality of ink cartridges from an installation position to a removal position separated from the installation position in a movement direction including a component of the first direction; and a regulating unit regulating the movement of the ink cartridge from the installation position to the removal position. The moving force applying unit moves the ink cartridge from the installation position to the removal position in a case that the ink cartridge is released from the regulation by the regulating unit.
US11420442B2

A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge device configured to discharge a liquid onto a discharge target from nozzles on a discharge surface of the liquid discharge device in a liquid discharge direction, an adhesion part including an adhesion surface to which mist of the liquid discharged by the liquid discharge device adheres, and a detector including a detection surface facing the adhesion surface of the adhesion part, the detector configured to detect a surface state of the adhesion surface of the adhesion part. The detection surface of the detector is above the discharge surface of the liquid discharge device in the liquid discharge direction, and the adhesion part is configured to move to change the adhesion surface facing the detection surface of the detector.
US11420438B2

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a print head including a drive element; a first circuit substrate electrically coupled to the print head; a second circuit substrate electrically coupled to the first circuit substrate; and a fixing portion that fixes the second circuit substrate to the first circuit substrate, wherein the first circuit substrate includes a coupling terminal electrically coupled to the print head, and a first substrate on which the coupling terminal is provided, wherein the second circuit substrate includes a drive signal output circuit that outputs a drive signal for driving the drive element and a second substrate on which the drive signal output circuit is provided, and wherein the fixing portion also serves as a output terminal through which the drive signal is output to the first circuit substrate.
US11420430B2

It is provided that a polypropylene-based laminated film having high heat resistance and stiffness. A polypropylene-based laminated film comprising: a base layer (A) that is formed of a polypropylene-based resin satisfying following conditions 1) to 4) and contains an antifogging agent; and a heat seal layer (B) formed on one or both surfaces of the base layer (A) and formed of a polyolefin-based resin, wherein a lower limit of a plane orientation coefficient of the film is 0.0125, 1) a lower-limit mesopentad fraction is 96%, 2) an upper-limit amount of a copolymerization monomer other than propylene is 0.1 mol %, 3) mass average molecular weight (Mw)/number average molecular weight (Mn) is 3.0 or more and 5.4 or less, and 4) a melt flow rate (MFR) measured at 230° C. and 2.16 kgf is 6.2 g/10 min or more and 9.0 g/10 min or less.
US11420424B2

The price and performance of LED lighting have reached the point where LEDs are displacing more traditional lighting. Even though LED lifetimes are as high as 50,000 hours, they are still being designed as replaceable bulbs rather than being integrated as a permanent part of the lighting assembly. The invention provides for a means of economically producing laminated glass with integrated LED lighting designed to last the life of the vehicle. This is done by embedding the LED die into the plastic layer used to bond the glass layers of a laminate together, forming an embedded wire circuit from thin high tensile strength Tungsten wire to power the LEDs and by utilizing machine tool technology originally developed to produce integrated circuit assemblies such as RFID ID cards, tickets and passports.
US11420423B2

A laminated glazing includes two glass sheets adhesively bonded by an intermediate adhesive layer, which glazing is associated with a camera, the laminated glazing including an opaque decoration resulting from the superposition of a first decoration on the intermediate adhesive layer, containing a first zone without decoration placed in the field of the camera, and of a second decoration including an enamel formed into a dégradé edge zone and of an unapertured strip, bounding a free zone of dimension smaller than that of the first decoration, on which the latter is superposed during the assembly of the laminated glazing, the unapertured strip having a width comprised between 1 and 30 mm, and the smallest dimension of said free zone not being smaller than 50 mm; three processes for its manufacture and its use as a motor-vehicle windshield.
US11420418B2

Methods and apparatus for making scored mediums, particularly but not exclusively for use in the corrugated board arts, and articles of manufacture and compositions made there with and made there by. When at least one scored medium is used in a layered or laminated article, and particularly when selectively used as a liner member and/or fluted member in a corrugated board, whether as part of a corrugated board article of manufacture or a laminate with at least one other member, the article will possess mechanical qualities superior to those that would otherwise exist if a non-scored medium was/were used. To achieve these desired qualities, a major axis of the scores formed in the scored medium runs askew, and preferably perpendicular, to the direction of beam strength in any article or article intermediate to which the scored medium is to be associated.
US11420410B2

A sound absorbing body includes a cup-shaped main body and a porous sheet. The cup-shaped main body includes an opening portion and a bottom portion. The porous sheet covers the opening portion. The main body includes, between the opening portion and the bottom portion, at least one hole that is larger than pores of the porous sheet and extends through the main body.
US11420403B2

In manufacturing a contact lens, a contact lens mould arrangement in which the engagement between the mould halves is unconstrained and at least one mould half is sufficiently pliable or flexible that during the curing of the contact lens composition at one mold half may move or flex relative to the other to define a post-cure mould cavity of smaller volume than the precure mould cavity and during which the curvatures of the first and/or second mould surfaces are allowed to change provides a significantly more efficient manufacturing process and enables one mould half to be readily utilized as a blister cup for contact lens packaging.
US11420401B2

Laying die includes an attaching element having an inlet port for receiving positively pressurized gas; and a carrier body made from an elastically deformable material and attached on a lower side of the attaching element. The carrier body includes passages enabling a gas flow between the attaching element and the lower side of the carrier body opposed to the attaching element. The attaching element houses a flow path arranged to receive pressurized gas from the inlet port and a longitudinal pathway extending from the lower side of the attaching element towards an upper side of the attaching element. The flow path discharges into the longitudinal pathway at a junction section, which is arranged such that pressurized gas discharging into the longitudinal pathway creates a negative pressure and comprises a curved deflection surface curved towards the upper side of the attaching element.
US11420400B2

An apparatus for manufacturing a container that includes a side wall (5) in the form of a tube and a base (7) at one end of the tube. The apparatus includes a tube forming unit (15) for progressively folding a length of a sheet (19) of a side wall material into an elongate tube shape (21) having a forward end (23) for receiving a base (7) of the container and welding together lengthwise extending sides of the sheet to form the tube. The apparatus also includes a base attachment unit (17) for positioning a base of the container on the forward end of the tube.
US11420399B2

An assembly to connect together first and second sheet members. The assembly includes a pressure device that applies pressure to the sheet members while the sheet members are in an overlapping arrangement and positioned on a support platform. A sensing system that includes one or more thin film pressure sensors detects the positions of the leading and trailing edges. A connection device connects the members together in an overlapping arrangement.
US11420396B2

According to examples, a three-dimensional (3D) fabrication system may include fabrication components and a controller. The controller may control the fabrication components to fabricate parts of a 3D object in a build envelope, the parts to be assembled together to form the object, and in which the parts are fabricated at locations corresponding to relative positions of the parts with respect to each other in the assembled object. The controller may also control the fabrication components to fabricate a cage around the parts in the build envelope.
US11420394B2

A 3D printing system comprises a 3D printing arrangement operable to print a 3D object, a processing unit operable to analyse images captured by an infra-red camera to detect the state of the object being printed, a substrate upon which the 3D printed object is adhered during the 3D printing process; and an infra-red light source arranged to illuminate the substrate in such a manner so as to cause total internal reflection of the infra-red light to occur in the substrate when the 3D object is not adhered to the substrate, wherein the infra-red camera is arranged to view the surface of the substrate opposite to that which the 3D object is printed upon so that the camera may capture images of the 3D object when it is correctly adhered to the substrate; and the processing unit is operable to analyses the captured images to detect whether the 3D object is correctly adhered to the substrate.
US11420390B2

An additive manufacturing system is disclosed for use in fabricating a structure. The additive manufacturing system may include a support, and a print head configured to discharge a material and being operatively connected to and moveable by the support in a normal travel direction during material discharge. The print head may include a module located at a trailing side of the discharging material relative to the normal travel direction and being configured to compact the material and expose the material to a cure energy at a tool center point.
US11420386B2

A nozzle structure applying an RF heating device for a 3D printer, the structure includes: a nozzle unit for melting and discharging an inflowing material using heat transferred from the outside; a transfer unit for transferring the material to the nozzle unit; an RF nozzle heating unit for heating up the nozzle unit using a high frequency so that the material is melted in the nozzle unit; and a cooling unit for cooling down the heat discharged from the nozzle unit 100 to the outside.
US11420375B2

Disclosed is an extruder and a method for extruding cord reinforced tire components, wherein the extruder includes an extruder head with a die and a cord guide, wherein the die is provided with a cross sectional profile that defines a first cross section of the extrusion material in the die, wherein the cross sectional profile has a profile height, wherein the cord guide is arranged for guiding the cords into the die at a cord entry height, wherein the extruder head is provided with first heating elements, wherein the extruder comprises a control unit that is operationally connected to the first heating elements for generating an adjustable height temperature gradient in the extrusion material across the profile height to control swelling of the extrusion material relative to the cord entry height from the first cross section to a second cross section after the extrusion material leaves the die.
US11420368B2

The object of the invention can be a method of manufacturing a product in the form of a sandwich comprising a core and outer layers. The outer layers may be composed of composite material comprising a fiber-reinforced polymeric matrix. The method uses an insert of heat-resistant material, for example silicone. The object of this invention can be to provide a method of manufacturing a sandwich that dissociates the choice of material of the core of the sandwich from the choice of the material of the outer layers.
US11420363B2

Provided are a vehicular interior material manufacturing method and a vehicular interior material, the method comprising the steps of: forming a molded article including a surface having an uneven shape; and forming a printing layer on the surface of the molded article by using a predetermined blanket.
US11420362B2

Embodiments relate to automating removal of an untrimmed shell from a mold. In one embodiment, a shell removal device includes a body and a platform disposed within the body. The platform is configured to secure a mold that has an untrimmed shell formed over the mold. The shell removal device further includes a cover configured to secure the untrimmed shell to an upper surface of one or more sidewalls of the body and provide a seal between a lower surface of the untrimmed shell and the upper surface of the one or more sidewalls of the body. The shell removal device may include a media inlet in the body to permit pressurized media into the interior of the body to cause a pressure differential between an upper surface of the untrimmed shell and the lower surface of the untrimmed shell to cause the untrimmed shell to release from the mold.
US11420361B2

The present disclosure generally relates to nanostructure manufacturing. A method for fabricating an imprint template includes providing a first substrate including a first electrode layer on a first base layer and a plurality of first convex portions on a surface of the first electrode layer; providing a second substrate including a second electrode layer on a second base layer, a second resist layer on the second electrode layer, and a plurality of second convex portions on a surface of the second resist layer farthest from the second base layer, supplying electrical signals to the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer to produce an electric field between the plurality of first convex portions and the plurality of second convex portions; and forming the imprint template on the second substrate.
US11420360B2

A latching mechanism suitable for suppository molds, where the latching mechanism is designed to assist the separation of mold when the latch is released. In embodiments, the latching mechanism has a lever portion on a first mold half and a catch portion on a second mold half. The lever portion is configured to impinge upon the catch portion to provide a force to bias the first mold half away from the second mold half. Other embodiments include methods of utilizing such a catching mechanism with a suppository mold.
US11420359B2

A glass-plate working apparatus 1 includes a cutting section 2 serving as a processing position for forming cut lines on a glass plate 5, a grinding section 3 serving as a processing position for grinding peripheral edges of the glass plate 5, a bend-breaking section 4 serving as a processing position between the cutting section 2 and the grinding section 3, and a glass-plate transporting section 6 for transporting the glass plates 5, and further includes a feed conveyor 7 disposed on the side of carrying in to the cutting section 2 and serving as a glass-plate carrying-in section, as well as a discharge conveyor 8 disposed on the side of carrying out from the grinding section 3 and serving as a glass-plate carrying-out section.
US11420344B2

A sleeve apparatus for protecting a robotic kitchen arm from contamination. The sleeve includes a proximal end, a distal end, a passageway extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and an exterior surface. The passageway has an effective diameter less than the effective diameter of the robotic kitchen arm such that the exterior surface of the sleeve apparatus is substantially fold-free when the robotic arm is in the extended configuration. Methods of cleaning a robotic kitchen arm are also described.
US11420331B2

Controlling a robot may be performed by calculating a desired velocity based on an operator contact force and a robot contact force, calculating a transformation matrix based on an operator pose, a robot pose, a robot trajectory, the operator contact force, and the robot contact force, calculating a least square solution to Jf+{circumflex over (v)}f based on the desired velocity, calculating a scaling factor based on a current joint position of a joint of the robot, calculating a first trajectory based on the least square solution, the scaling factor, and the transformation matrix, calculating the robot trajectory, calculating a joint command based on the robot trajectory and the robot pose, and implementing the joint command.
US11420327B2

An approach for fully automating the use of robotic devices in a laboratory workflow includes defining sequences for automating tasks and equipment involved in such a workflow, and calculating a path for each sequence that resolves get, handoff, and placement procedures. The approach develops a schedule that executes resolved pathways in and between each device. The approach is provided with an easy-to-use interface, in which a user drags and drops devices to automatically configure them, defines operations to be performed by these devices, and then runs the laboratory workflow. The interface also provides the ability to monitor progress of the workflow, and make modifications and adjustments as needed.
US11420326B2

A horizontal articulated robot includes a base; a first arm coupled to the base and configured to turn around a first axis, a second arm coupled to the first arm and configured to turn around a second axis parallel to the first axis, a third arm coupled to the second arm and configured to turn around a third axis parallel to the first axis and move along the third axis, a supporting section provided in the second arm and configured to support the third arm, and a force detecting section provided between the second arm and the supporting section and configured to detect force applied to the third arm.
US11420322B2

A working device has a configuration with seven degrees of freedom, and is configured to perform work using an end effector. The working device includes: a linear motion unit having three degrees of freedom; a rotary unit having three degrees of freedom; and a rotary drive mechanism having one degree of freedom. The rotary drive mechanism is configured to rotate the rotary unit relative to the linear motion unit. The linear motion unit is mounted on a mount such that a base portion thereof is fixed to the mount. The rotary drive mechanism is mounted on an output portion of the linear motion unit. The rotary unit is mounted on an output portion of the rotary drive mechanism. The end effector is mounted on an output portion of the rotary unit.
US11420319B2

A platform extension mechanism includes at least a bumper, a rolling bearing, an adjuster, and an axle. The axle has a first end surface and a second end surface. The axle is elongated along a first axis. The axle includes interior wall portions that define a slot from the first end surface to the second end surface. The axle is structured to receive the bumper and the adjuster via the slot. The axle is structured to support the bumper and the adjuster in relation to a platform and a structural channel. The axle includes a mounting portion and a shaft portion. The mounting portion has a flange with a first side and a second side. The first side of the flange is mountable to a sidewall portion of the platform. The shaft portion protrudes outward from the second side of the flange. The shaft portion has a peripheral portion that is structured to support the rolling bearing at a designated location along the first axis and enable the rolling bearing to move along the structural channel. The shaft portion is structured to support the bumper and the rolling bearing in a coaxial arrangement. The adjuster is aligned with the bumper and configured to adjust a position of the bumper along the first axis of the axle.
US11420314B2

An impact tool includes a switch for driving the tool accessory, an operation member configured to be movable between an OFF position and an ON position, a first lock member configured to lock the operation member in the ON position, a second lock member configured to be movable between a lock position and a lock-release position in response to an external operation by a user, and a holding mechanism configured to hold the second lock member in the lock position and also in the lock-release position. The second lock member in the lock position is capable of locking the operation member in the OFF position, and the second lock member in the lock-release position is incapable of locking the operation member in the OFF position.
US11420309B2

A multi-section universal tool includes an assembling member, a connecting member, a working member and two elastic members. The assembling member has an assembling portion and a first receiving room. The connecting member includes a connecting ball joint and a second receiving room. The connecting ball joint includes a connecting elastic abutting member which has a tendency to radially move outwardly. The connecting ball joint is inserted into the first receiving room and movable relative to the first receiving room to be in a first connecting position or a second connecting position. The working member includes a working ball joint including a working elastic abutting member which has a tendency to radially move outwardly. The working ball joint is inserted into the second receiving room and movable relative to the second receiving room to be in a first working position or a second working position.
US11420304B2

A method of processing a polycrystalline diamond element includes forming a protective layer over a selected portion of a polycrystalline diamond element, the polycrystalline diamond element having a polycrystalline diamond table that includes a superabrasive face, a superabrasive side surface, and a chamfer extending between the superabrasive face and the superabrasive side surface. A portion of the superabrasive side surface is covered by the protective layer and the protective layer is not formed over the chamfer. The method includes exposing at least a portion of the polycrystalline diamond element to a leaching solution. A polycrystalline diamond element has a polycrystalline diamond table that includes a leached volume extending from the superabrasive face to a portion of the chamfer proximate to the superabrasive side surface, and the leached volume does not substantially extend along the superabrasive side surface.
US11420302B2

Cleaning turbine having a cylindrical shape with an axis or rotation and provided with a concave base surface facing toward the work zone, with an upper surface, opposite the base surface, and a circumferential surface interposed between the base surface and the upper surface. The cleaning turbine is provided circumferentially with a plurality of slits angularly distanced from each other, facing upward and passing through the base surface and the upper surface. The cleaning turbine is also provided with a plurality of lateral apertures each of which extends radially from the slits to the circumferential surface.
US11420300B2

A component fitting structure includes: a first component including an elastic column provided with an engaging piece; and a second component including a cutout capable of being engaged by the engaging piece, in which the engaging piece includes a first protrusion protruding laterally from the elastic column and a second protrusion protruding in a direction opposite to a protrusion direction of the first protrusion, and the cutout includes a first edge configured to oppose the first protrusion and a second edge configured to oppose a part of the second protrusion and open a remainder of the second protrusion, after the first component and the second component are assembled.
US11420297B2

A production method for a cylinder device includes a first liquid injection step of injecting a first predetermined amount of working fluid into the inner cylinder, a first piston rod insertion step of inserting an assembly of the piston rod and the piston into the inner cylinder to dispose the piston at a predetermined position inside the inner cylinder, a second liquid injection step of injecting a second predetermined amount of the working fluid into an upper side of the piston inside the inner cylinder, and a closing step of closing the opening of the outer cylinder with the closing member.
US11420289B2

A gas flow can be provided together with a liquid jet guided laser beam to remove accumulated liquid on the processing surface. The gas flow can be configured to have minimum interference with the liquid jet guided laser beam, while functions to blow away liquid generated by the liquid jet. Keeping the surface free from accumulated liquid can improve the efficiency of the liquid jet guided laser processing.
US11420281B2

An electric heating device includes a body and a heating head connected to the body. The heating head includes an electric heating wire and a heat storage member. The electric heating wire includes a first section and a second section connected to the first section. The first section is made of pure nickel. The second section is made of ferrochrome. The heat storage member is mounted around an outer radial periphery of the second section. The heat storage member is made of porcelain clay. The electric heating wire is connected by sections of three different materials so that the heating head can be raised to a very high temperature with extremely high heat generation efficiency, and the electric heating device is not easily damaged by high temperature.
US11420280B2

A closed socket brazed joint assembly is provided. The assembly comprises: a first member composed of a first base material; a second member composed of a second base material with a first end composed of a first profile with at least first and second faying surfaces; a socket formed in said first member configured to receive the first end of the second member with a faying surface with at least two portions separated by a first fillet; wherein the socket further is configured such that in a first state before the application of energy to the joint there is a gap with a width between the faying surfaces of the first member and the faying surfaces of the second member; and, in the first state a slug of brazing fill material is disposed between the first end of the second member and at least one faying surface of the socket; and, wherein a second state is created when upon application of energy the brazing fill material melts and flows from between first end of the second member and the at least one faying surface of the socket filling aforesaid gap between the faying surfaces of the first and second members.
US11420278B2

A system and method for more consistent joule heating of a material blank to a desired temperature. An electrical terminal delivers a current to an end portion of the blank. The terminal has a heat sink effect which would otherwise prevent the end portion from reaching the desired temperature. An active thermal buffer element is interposed between the terminal and the end portion. The buffer element includes a first surface which abuts the end portion and a second surface which abuts the terminal. The buffer element is joule heated with the blank, and a temperature gradient is created across the buffer element such that the first surface is at the desired temperature and the second surface is at a lower temperature due to the heat sink effect of the terminal. The buffer element thereby compensates for the heat sink effect and allows the end portion to reach the desired temperature.
US11420273B2

In one aspect, rotary cutting tools are described herein comprising sets of coolant channels having exit aperture in the flutes of the tools for efficient coolant delivery to multiple cutting surfaces. Briefly, a rotary cutting tool comprises a shank portion, and a cutting portion extending from the shank portion along a longitudinal axis, the cutting portion comprising flutes helically extending along the longitudinal axis and internal coolant channels comprising exit apertures in the flutes. A projection of an exit aperture of a first set of internal coolant channels intersects a rake face extending below a corner edge of the rotary cutting tool, and a projection of an exit aperture of a second set of internal coolant channels intersects a rake face below a radial cutting edge of the rotary cutting tool.
US11420267B2

A cutting insert may include a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, and a land surface. The first surface may include a first corner, a first side, and a second side. The land surface may be inclined relative to the first surface and the third surface. The land surface may include a first land surface connecting to the first corner. An imaginary flat surface orthogonal to a central axis connecting a center of the first surface and a center of the second surface may be a reference plane, a first inclination angle of a part of the first land surface which connects to a midportion of the first corner may be larger than a second inclination angle of a part of the first land surface which connects to an end portion at a side of the first side of the first corner.
US11420262B2

Systems and methods for co-casting of additively manufactured, high precision Interface Nodes are disclosed. The Interface Node includes an integrated structure including one or more complex or sophisticated features and functions. Co-casting of Interface Nodes by casting a part onto the Interface Node results in a hybrid structure comprising the cast part and the additively manufactured Interface Node. The interface node may include at least one of a node-to-tube connection, node-to-panel connection, or a node-to-extrusion connection. In an embodiment, engineered surfaces may be provided on the Interface Node to improve the blend between the Interface Node and the cast part during the co-casting process.
US11420255B2

A film-shaped firing material 1 is provided, including sinterable metal particles 10 and a binder component 20, in which a content of the sinterable metal particles 10 is in a range of 15% to 98% by mass, a content of the binder component 20 is in a range of 2% to 50% by mass, a shrinkage factor in a planar direction of the film-shaped firing material after being pressurized and fired under conditions of a temperature of 350° C. and a pressure of 10 MPa for 3 minutes is 10% or less with respect to the shrinkage factor before the firing, and a volume shrinkage factor thereof is in a range of 15% to 90% with respect to the volume shrinkage factor before the firing, and a contact ratio of the film-shaped firing material with an adherend after being pressurized and fired under conditions of a temperature of 350° C. and a pressure of 10 MPa for 3 minutes in a state in which the film-shaped firing material is in contact with the adherend is 90% or greater with respect to a contact area of the adherend.
US11420254B2

A 3D printer includes a build plate providing a surface on which an object is printed. Prior to printing, a sheet is fixed to the surface of the build plate. The sheet is composed of a material that adheres to a binder component of the feedstock used to print the object. During printing, the first layer of the printed object forms a bond with the sheet, which secures the location of the first layer and resists movement of the object during printing. Following printing and the object gaining sufficient rigidity, the object and sheet can be removed together from the printer. The sheet may then be peeled from the object, and the object can undergo debinding and/or sintering to create a finished object.
US11420253B2

An engine block formed according to a method that includes forming an insert, coating the insert with a bond material, placing the insert within a casting mold or die, purging the casting mold or die with an inert gas, filling the casting mold or die with molten metal to encapsulate the insert, diffusion bonding the molten metal to the insert to form a diffusion bonded insert, placing the diffusion bonded insert within a cavity of a secondary casting mold or die, filling the secondary casting mold or die with molten metal to form an engine block composite casting assembly, and casting and heat treating the engine block composite casting assembly is provided. The insert can be free of serrations for mechanical coupling between the insert and the engine block.
US11420247B2

Disclosed is a hot-pressed member that can exhibit very high tensile strength after hot pressing of 1780 MPa or more, excellent delayed fracture resistance, and high cross tensile strength after resistance spot welding by properly adjusting its chemical composition and its microstructure such that a prior austenite average grain size is 8 μm or less, a volume fraction of martensite is 90% or more, and at least 10 cementite grains having a grain size of 0.05 μm or more are present on average per 200 μm2 of a cross section parallel to a thickness direction of the member, and such that at least 10 Ti-based precipitates having a grain size of less than 0.10 μm are present on average per 100 μm2 of the cross section parallel to the thickness direction of the member in a range of 100 μm in the thickness direction from a surface of the member.
US11420241B2

A method for preparing an ultrafine-grained superalloy bar, the method including: 1) designing a rolling machine including two rollers and two guide plates, where each of the two rollers includes a first roller and a second roller; the first roller includes a first curve and the second roller includes a second curve; the first curve and the second curve form a generatrix of the two rollers; 2) disposing the two guide plates with two curved surfaces thereof opposite to each other; disposing the two rollers to be between the two guide plates; where the two rollers and the two guide plates form a deformation zone of the rolling machine; and 3) driving the two rollers to rotate around their central axes, heating and introducing a superalloy blank from a gap between two first rollers to the deformation zone of the rolling machine; advancing the superalloy blank towards two second rollers.
US11420236B2

Stable operation of an ultrasonic vibrator of an ultrasonic cleaner and scattering prevention of a washing liquid are provided. The ultrasonic cleaner includes a washing tank 206 in which a washing liquid is reserved; an ultrasonic vibrator 205; a vibration head 209 provided with a neck 304 extended from the ultrasonic vibrator to the washing tank and a tip end portion 210 having a cylindrical hole 211 whose longitudinal direction is oriented to a perpendicular direction; and a first cover 601 having an opening corresponding to the neck and the cylindrical hole, in which the first cover is arranged to a height in contact with a liquid surface of the washing liquid such that it covers the washing tank.
US11420233B2

A sorting apparatus includes a conveyance unit that conveys a plurality of packages and a sorting unit that is configured to sort the plurality of packages on the basis of a delivery destination, a size, and a weight such that the plurality of packages are sorted as first packages and second packages, and the sorting unit is configured to sort the packages lighter and smaller than the second packages as the first packages.
US11420226B2

An object achieved by the present invention is to provide a coated article having excellent appearance, corrosion resistance, weatherability, and chipping resistance obtained by a wet-on-wet coating. The present invention provides a method for forming a multilayer coating film comprising the steps of forming, on a substrate, an uncured coating film of a primer paint composition (A) containing an epoxy resin (a1) having a weight average molecular weight of 20000 or more and pigments, forming, on the uncured coating film, a top coating film of a top paint composition (B) containing an acrylic resin (b1) and the like, and simultaneously drying the films, wherein the uncured coating film of the primer paint composition (A) during application of the top paint composition (B) has a viscosity of 5 Pa·s to 1000 Pa·s, and the value ΔNV obtained by subtracting the value (NV1) of application mass solids content (%) of the primer paint composition (A) from the value (NV2) of mass solids content (%) of the uncured coating film of the primer paint composition (A) during the application of the top paint composition is 15 or more.
US11420223B2

A device for spraying substrates comprises a longitudinal extending fluid dispensing head coupled to a supply of fluid and including a perpendicularly extending flange, a spacer having first and second ends, the first end of the spacer coupled to the extending flange of the dispensing head, a nozzle adapted to eject fluid coupled to the second end of the spacer, and a locking nut enclosing the spacer and securely the dispensing head, spacer and nozzle.
US11420221B2

A system for combining and spraying fluids that includes a principal reservoir for holding a carrier fluid; an electric pump in communication with the principal reservoir; a power source for energizing the pump selectable between a rechargeable 12-volt battery and a 110-volt AC line; at least one auxiliary reservoir for holding an auxiliary fluid to be controllably mixed with carrier fluid being drawn from the principal reservoir; a selector valve for selecting which if any of the auxiliary fluid(s) are to be combined with the carrier fluid; a Venturi tube for combining streams of carrier fluid and selected auxiliary fluid(s) in a predetermined ratio which may be varied as desired; and a spray wand in fluid communication with the Venturi tube for discharging the selected fluids.
US11420216B2

A solid-bowl centrifuge screw with a screw hub with a first welding layer applied to a base, and at least a second welding layer applied to the first welding layers. Thus, the screw hub is produced by a shaping build-up welding method.
US11420215B2

A method for clarifying a flowable starting product of solids using a self-emptying centrifuge in continuous operation in a centrifugal field in the rotating drum. A continuous draining of at least one clarified liquid phase occurs and solids emptying occurs repeatedly via outlet openings that are intermittently opened and closed. The emptying of solids from the drum of the centrifuge is initiated, the speed of the drum of the centrifuge is reduced, the solids are emptied from the solids collection chamber of the drum after lowering the speed of the drum, and the emptying of the solids from the drum is ended.
US11420208B2

Embodiments are directed to a removable cap with a top hole and a seal with a heat induction closure for sealing an opening of a container. Advantageously, the cap and the seal do not need to be removed for a probe to access contents of the container, when used in a diagnostic analyzer, thereby eliminating operator steps of cap removal and seal peeling/perforation. Automated opening of the cap and seal combination is provided by puncturing the seal. The seal retains its opened shape required for unobstructed, non-contact probe access to contents of the container. The seal is comprised of three layers: a first polymer sealing layer capable of being heat-sealed to a container; an aluminum foil layer on top of the first polymer sealing layer, configured to heat seal the first layer by inductive heating; and a second polymer layer on top of the aluminum foil layer for protection.
US11420206B2

A measuring cuvette for counting and/or characterizing cells, the measuring cuvette including a base and a transparent lateral enclosure extending from the base so as to form with the latter an optical measurement chamber; the base having a through-orifice with a diameter of 30 to 100 μm for cells to pass through, characterized in that the base and the transparent lateral enclosure form a one-piece cuvette suitable both for impedance measurement and for optical measurement. Also, a system for characterizing cells, which includes the measuring cuvette.
US11420204B2

Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods for analysis of objects, such as cells. The devices, systems, and methods organize a plurality of objects in a plurality of partitions by trapping an object in a trap and transferring the object to an adjacent partition. The devices, systems, and methods provide for parallel analysis of a plurality of objects.
US11420195B2

A honeycomb structure including a honeycomb portion having porous partition walls extending from an inflow end face to an outflow end face to define cells forming through channels, an outermost peripheral wall, and a pair of electrode portions disposed on a side surface of the honeycomb portion. The electrode portions are formed in a strip shape extending in a direction of the cells. In a cross section orthogonal to the extending direction, one electrode portion of the pair of electrode portions is disposed on a side opposed to the other electrode portion across a center of the honeycomb structure portion. The honeycomb structure portion includes end regions near the pair of electrode portions and a central region excluding the end regions. An average electric resistivity A of a material forming the end regions is lower than an average electric resistivity B of a material forming the central region.
US11420193B2

Disclosed is a catalyst for use in hydrotreating hydrocarbon feedstocks and methods of making the same catalyst. Specifically, a catalyst is disclosed comprises at least one Group VIB metal component, at least one Group VIII metal component, an organic additive resulting in a C-content of the final catalysts of about 1 to about 30 wt % C, and preferably about 1 to about 20 wt % C, and more preferably about 5 to about 15 wt % C and a titanium-containing carrier component, wherein the amount of the titanium component is in the range of about 3 to about 60 wt %, expressed as an oxide (TiO2) and based on the total weight of the catalyst. The titanium-containing carrier is formed by co-extruding or precipitating a titanium source with a AI2O3 precursor to form a porous support material primarily comprising AI2O3 or by impregnating a titanium source onto a porous support material primarily comprising AI2O3. Special preference is given to alumina and alumina containing up to and no more than 1 wt % of silica, preferably no more than 0.5 wt % based on the total weight of the support (dry base).
US11420188B2

A method of synthesizing a smart paper transformer is provided. The method comprises combining paper with HAuCl4 and stirring together in an aqueous solution to form a pulp. The pulp is treated with NaBH4 aqueous solution. The treated pulp is then washed and centrifuged with water a number of times to form a gold nanosponge (AuNS) catalyst pulp.
US11420181B2

A method for suppressing the formation of ammonia comprising providing a carrier material to a container having a headspace; providing a bacteria, an acidifier and an odor inhibitor to the carrier material, the bacteria comprising Staphylococcus-xylosus or Staphylococcus-cohnii bacteria, and the odor inhibitor comprising a salt of an aminopolycarboxylic acid compound; and applying animal waste to the carrier material; wherein there is a 5 to 98 percent improvement of ammonia content in the headspace as compared to an untreated control comprising a container containing the carrier material and the bacteria and not contain the odor inhibitor.
US11420180B2

A reactor arrangement for pre-hydrolysis of biomass material. The reactor arrangement comprises a reactor vessel arranged substantially horizontally, wherein the vessel comprises an inlet for receiving the biomass material arranged at an upper portion of the vessel. The inlet may be arranged at a first longitudinal end of the vessel. The vessel may furthermore comprise an outlet at a second longitudinal end of the vessel. The reactor arrangement further comprises a set of steam injection orifices arranged to inject or supply steam into the reactor vessel. The set of steam injection orifices comprises at least two orifices arranged below the inlet at a distance from each other. The at least two orifices may be arranged at a distance from each other in the lateral direction of the reactor vessel. Furthermore, a method for pre-hydrolysis treatment of biomass in a substantially horizontal reactor vessel is provided.
US11420179B2

A propulsion element including a catalyzing reactor is disclosed. The catalyzing reactor comprises a reactor entrance and a reactor exit and an internal structure arranged for flowing a reacting medium through the reactor from the reactor entrance to the reactor exit. The reactor structure comprising at least one thin walled reactor channel arranged between the entrance and the exit of the reactor. The channel having a channel wall that includes a catalyst and that defines a flow path, in which channel in use, a catalyzed exothermic reaction takes place in the medium as it flows along the flow path. The at least one channel is looped to have a portion of its flow path that is downstream with respect to the reactor entrance in heat exchanging contact with a portion of a flow path that is that is more upstream with respect to the reactor entrance, so as to transfer heat between a downstream portion of the reacting medium to an upstream portion thereof.
US11420176B2

Chemical reactor with high speed rotary mixing, system thereof, and method thereof, for catalytic thermal conversion of organic (hydrocarbon-containing) materials (coal, plastics, rubber, plant matter, wood shavings, biomass, organic wastes) into diesel and other liquid fuels (automobile or/and jet engine fuels). Relevant to non-conventional commercial scale production of liquid fuels, and to commercial scale processing and disposing of organic waste materials. Chemical reactor includes: integrated combination of a reactor stationary assembly (RSA), having only stationary components remaining stationary during chemical reactor operation, and a reactor rotary mixing assembly (RRMA), having only rotatable components rotating during chemical reactor operation. May include anti-abrasion shield for shielding inner surface of reactor central housing from abrasion during chemical reactor operation. Rotor may include a reinforcement disc. Rotor blades or/and reinforcement disc may include rotor-based performance and process control structural features (openings, or/and protrusions, or/and depressions), for additionally controlling performance of the rotor.
US11420173B2

A reaction analysis device specifies a reaction state of a reaction fluid flowing through a flow reactor. The reaction analysis device includes a processor configured to specify the reaction state of the reaction fluid based on a reaction parameter indicating the reaction state of the reaction fluid which is obtained from a temperature distribution of the reaction fluid immediately after a reaction starts in a flow direction of the reaction fluid.
US11420172B2

A jacketed vessel for temperature control of contents within the vessel is provided. The vessel has a shell and an external jacket through which heating or cooling fluid is circulated. The jacket is formed by a length of conduit arranged in a spiral orientation around the vessel shell. The conduit has a center portion having a concave inner surface and has opposing side portions having convex inner surfaces. Edge sections of each side portion are welded to the exterior surface of the shell to form the jacket. Edge sections of adjacent arcs of conduit may be simultaneously welded to the shell in a single weld pass. The shape of the conduit provides improved heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics, as well as improvements in the vessel manufacturing process.
US11420162B2

The present invention provides a method for preparing a porous membrane of a fluorine-based resin having an improved shrinkage while maintaining excellent filtration efficiency and air permeability.
US11420155B2

A process for sweetening a syngas stream, the process comprising the steps of: providing a syngas stream to a nonselective amine absorption unit, the sour syngas stream comprising syngas, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide; separating the syngas stream in the nonselective amine absorption unit to obtain an overhead syngas stream and an acid gas stream; introducing the acid gas stream to a membrane separation unit, the acid gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide; separating the acid gas stream in the membrane separation unit to produce a retentate stream and a permeate stream, wherein the retentate stream comprises hydrogen sulfide, wherein the permeate stream comprises carbon dioxide; introducing the retentate stream to a sulfur recovery unit; processing the retentate stream in the sulfur recovery unit to produce a sulfur stream and a tail gas stream, wherein the sulfur stream comprises liquid sulfur.
US11420150B2

An aminated magnesium oxide adsorbent, which is the reaction product of a magnesium oxide matrix having disordered mesopores and an amino silane, wherein amine functional groups are present on an external surface and within the disordered mesopores of the magnesium oxide matrix, and wherein the aminated magnesium oxide adsorbent has an average pore volume of 0.2 to 0.4 cm3/g. A method of making the aminated magnesium oxide adsorbent and a method of capturing CO2 from a gas mixture with the aminated magnesium oxide adsorbent are also described.
US11420148B2

Provided is a system for a spraying booth, including a spraying booth and at least one filter with at least one VOC detector, the system further including a central database where at least data of the VOC detector are stored, whereby is achieved that the value of the measurements can be accessed and controlled centrally, either by the customer's own technicians or by the supplier's technicians, by a communication unit.
US11420144B2

A vortex particle separator has an impeller at a housing inlet with impeller blades spiraling around an impeller shaft and longitudinal axis of the separator to impart either clockwise or counterclockwise rotation to air flowing through the impeller when viewed looking downstream along the axis. The upstream end of each impeller blade is inclined in a direction opposite to the direction the air rotates when passing through the impeller, measured from a radial baseline through the axis and the juncture of the blade with the center shaft of the impeller. Thus, in each orthogonal plane along the axial length of the impeller the juncture of the blade with the housing is offset from the baseline in the rotational direction opposite the direction in which air flows through the impeller. An offset angle of 45° to 55° is believed suitable.
US11420143B2

Articles and methods relating to filter media are generally provided. In some embodiments, a filter media has an irregular surface structure. For instance, the filter media may comprise a plurality of peaks that are irregular in one or more ways. A ratio of a peak height standard deviation to an average peak height may be greater than or equal to 0.05, and/or a ratio of a peak spacing standard deviation to an average peak spacing may be greater than or equal to 0.08. In some embodiments, a filter media comprises a non-woven fiber web having a layer thickness of greater than 0.3 mm and/or a stiffness of less than or equal to 100 mg.
US11420142B2

A housing of a liquid separation device that includes an inlet for the gas-liquid mixture and a set of integrated components, the set of integrated components includes a liquid separator vessel to separate liquid from the gas-liquid mixture, and the liquid separator vessel includes an entry port for the gas-liquid mixture, a liquid outlet port, and a gas outlet port. The set of integrated components includes a set of channels, where a wall of each channel is part of the housing, where the set of channels includes an inlet channel to guide the gas-liquid mixture from the inlet to the entry port and an outlet channel to guide gas from the gas outlet port away from the liquid separator vessel. The housing includes at least two opposite housing pieces which can be hermetically sealed together along a sealing line which is situated in a sealing face.
US11420141B2

A filtration system comprises a filter head assembly comprising an outlet slot, valve element, and latch element. The valve element is in fluid communication with the outlet slot and includes an open position and a closed position. In the open position fluid flow travels through the outlet slot. In the closed position fluid flow is prevented through the outlet slot. The latch element is configured to lock the valve element in the closed position. The filtration further comprises a filter cartridge structured to engage the filter head assembly. The filter cartridge comprises a first and second filter end. The filter cartridge comprises filter media and a keyed element disposed on the first filter end. The keyed element is structured for engagement of the latch element, wherein the engagement unlocks the valve element causing the valve element to be in the open position.
US11420132B2

A robot of one aspect includes an outer skin with which a main body is covered. The outer skin includes an engagement portion that engages with the main body by the main body being covered therewith, extended portions that extend from the engagement portion, and attachment members, formed of a hard material, attached to the extended portions so as to extend in a width direction. The outer skin is fixed to the main body by the attachment members being fixed to the main body.
US11420130B2

A system and method for dynamic generation and display of play data for a media is provided. One or more sets of object data may be associated with the media. One or more media-object bindings between the one or more sets of object data and the media may be formed and stored in one or more databases. The one or more sets of object data may include data about an aspect displayed during at least the portion of the media. One or more object-object associations between the one or more sets of object data and one or more named objects of a metadata reference container, which may maintain a common schema based on commonly experienced characteristics, may be formed and stored the one or more databases. Play data may be dynamically generated based on the one or more media-object bindings and/or one or more object-object associations.
US11420129B2

Information handling systems, methods, and computer-readable media enable gameplay event detection and gameplay enhancement operations. One or more in-game events may be detected by monitoring audio content, by monitoring video content, by monitoring user input, by monitoring other information, or a combination thereof. The one or more in-game events (and information related to the one or more in-game events) may be stored at a database. Information of the database may be accessed to trigger one or more gameplay enhancement operations. The one or more gameplay enhancement operations may include an automatic highlight capture operation, a dynamic screen aggregation operation, a dynamic position switch operation, a dynamic player switch operation, a gameplay enhancement operation using one or more peripheral devices (e.g., a lighting effect or a haptic feedback event), one or more other gameplay enhancement operations, or a combination thereof.
US11420121B2

A control program causing a computer to execute a competition between two players, based on a correction value obtained by correcting a reference value of at least one player of the two players, the two players respectively belonging to two groups, to store a point which may be determined based on the reference value of at least the one player, in a storage unit in association with a group to which the winning player belongs, and to determine a result of the competition between groups, based on the summation of points which may be stored in the storage unit in association with each group. In a case where a predetermined action is performed on the predetermined game content of the group to which at least the one player belongs, control may be performed to change the correction value of the player and not to change the reference value.
US11420112B2

The system for operating a match-up game includes a display unit having a plurality of player screen regions configured to display game screens a first input unit configured to receive an input from a first player a second input unit configured to receive an input from a second player a first air outlet configured to discharge air to the first player a second air outlet configured to discharge air to the second player; a control unit configured to control the display unit to count a game time and change the game screens displayed on the player screen regions for each counted game time, and when receiving an input to the first input unit from the first player, control the second air outlet so as to discharge air corresponding to the received input. The system for operating a match-up game may increase a player's sense of immersion.
US11420111B2

A large-screen VR integrated game machine comprises an upper assembly moveably attached to a lower assembly. A VR head mounted display retracting device positioned within the interior of the upper display, comprises a power transmission system, an electrical control system and a pulley system. The VR integrated game machine moveable upper assembly provides a folding structure that allows easier maintenance and upgrades of the equipment under unattended operation. Because the game machine is foldable the height can be shortened to alleviate transportation difficulties and set up at an operation site.
US11420108B2

An electronic gaming machine and a method are provided which generates outcome presentations from a Class 2 or a central determination game outcome. A database stores RNG seeds that correspond to various presentations. To generate the outcome presentations, the RNG seeds are retrieved from the database and random numbers are generated from the RNG seeds. These random numbers are then used to generate the outcome presentations for the Class 2 or central determination game outcome. The RNG seeds may be stored as a series of RNG seeds which may be individually accessed to eliminate certain outcomes or sort certain outcomes prior to presentation.
US11420094B2

The training device for chewing and swallowing can be used by patients who have difficulty chewing and/or swallowing to assist them to learn how to chew and swallow. The device includes a bolus delivery cylinder and a plunger. The bolus delivery cylinder can include a cylindrical housing having a peripheral wall and a hollow interior. The plunger can be slidably received in the cylindrical housing and secured thereto. In some embodiments the peripheral wall can be perforated. The interior of the housing is configured to accommodate small pieces of food. The bolus delivery cylinder can be made from a transparent, flexible material, such as silicon.
US11420093B2

A treadmill may be configured for gait training and/or therapy with attachable/detachable barriers affixable to a belt and/or with a vertical obstacle module and/or with sensor systems, but without requiring hoists, harnesses, attachments to the treadmill or base, or frame, and/or excessively high treadmill frames, such as those that exceed the height of the person on the treadmill. The barriers on the belt are configured to modify movement of only one foot of a person on the treadmill. The treadmill may use a single, integral belt. Methods of gait training and/or therapy may involve such treadmills without excessive expense and without excessive modification of standard treadmill equipment.
US11420088B2

An exercise system for exercising a body's oblique muscle group relies upon a wheel mechanism having an outer wheel portion arranged at a first radial distance and an inner wheel portion arranged at a second radial distance, where the outer and inner wheel parts include respective sets of handgrips. A weight system is arranged to be coupled to and decoupled from the wheel mechanism. A coupling mechanism couples the weight system to and decouples the weight system from the wheel mechanism, in a first circumferential direction, or in a second circumferential direction. The hand grips allow a user to grasp the wheel mechanism and turn it in the first or the second circumferential directions against a respective force that the wheel mechanism is turned against that is defined by the aggregate selected weight when coupled to the wheel mechanism, in one of the first and second circumferential directions.
US11420086B1

A training rig system comprising of equipment callable of folding and collapsing into a compact unit. The compact unit allows the training rig system to be readily portable.
US11420077B2

A computer program product, method, system and device that acquires, by a radiation detector, exit radiation measurement information during delivery of patient treatment. Patient anatomy information is also received and a radiation detector response calibration is determined utilizing at least the exit radiation measurement information, the patient anatomy information, and at least a portion of a radiation treatment plan.
US11420072B2

A method for increasing the blood flow and metabolic rate of the eye fundus by (1) irradiating the eye fundus through the pupil by using red light or near-infrared light in a certain wavelength range, a certain energy density range and a certain irradiation time range; (2) once irradiation is complete, repeating the irradiating at intervals of a certain time range, using red light or near-infrared light in the same wavelength range and the same energy density range to irradiate the eye fundus through the pupil.
US11420071B2

A transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment system is provided. The system includes a sensor device that senses EEG signals from a subject through one or more leads and a server device configured to receive EEG data corresponding to the subject. The server includes an analysis module configured to process the EEG data and determine a personalized resonant brain frequency and a minimum neuronal activation threshold of the subject based at least in part on EEG data corresponding to one or more leads of the sensor device. The analysis module is also configured to determine a TMS treatment protocol where the treatment protocol includes at least a frequency based on the personalized resonant brain frequency and an amplitude based on the minimum neuronal activation threshold. The system also includes a treatment device configured to deliver a TMS treatment to the subject based on the TMS treatment protocol received from the server.
US11420068B2

A method and a medical device for implementing a dual-chamber pacing mode without ventricular pacing are disclosed. The method includes: obtaining pacing mode information configured by a user; controlling a dual-chamber pacemaker to operate in an ADD mode and detecting whether there is a need for delivering a pace; and performing a predetermined interruption process if a need for delivering a pace is detected. The predetermined interruption process includes: 2041) determining whether a chamber to be subsequently paced is a ventricle; 2042) if it is determined that the chamber to be subsequently paced is a ventricle, determining whether there is a need for delivering a real ventricular pace; 2043) if delivery of a real ventricular pace is not needed, delivering a virtual ventricular pace VVP and resetting a first atrial escape interval; and returning after the predetermined interruption process is terminated. According to the present method and device, physiological transitioning to or from a DDD mode is enabled when so desired, resulting in reduced patient discomfort. In addition, enhanced implementation convenience, reliability and direct validatability with reduced verification workload can be achieved.
US11420064B2

A method of applying a neural stimulus with an implanted electrode array involves applying a sequence of stimuli configured to yield a therapeutic effect while suppressing psychophysical side effects. The stimuli sequence is configured such that a first stimulus recruits a portion of the fibre population, and a second stimulus is delivered within the refractory period following the first stimulus and the second stimulus being configured to recruit a further portion of the fibre population. Using an electrode array and suitable relative timing of the stimuli, ascending or descending volleys of evoked responses can be selectively synchronised or desynchronised to give directional control over responses evoked.
US11420061B2

A neuromodulation lead that is biased towards a substantially omega shape when fully deployed is provided. The neuromodulation lead includes a left set of electrodes disposed on a left portion of the lead body of the neuromodulation lead and a right set of electrodes disposed on a right portion of the lead body of the neuromodulation lead. The neuromodulation lead can be positioned in the plane between the genioglossus muscle and the geniohyoid muscle.
US11420059B1

Personalized network searching, in which a search query is received from a user, and a request is received to personalize a search result. Responsive to the search query and the request to personalize the search result, a personalized search result is generated by searching a personalized search object. Responsive to the search query, a general search result is generated by searching the general search object. The personalized search result and the general search result are provided to a client device, an advertisement is selected based at least in part upon the personalized search object, and the advertisement, the personalized search result, and the general search result are displayed.
US11420054B2

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method modulating targeted neural and non-neural tissue of a nervous system for the treatment of head-and-face pain. Electrical stimulation is delivered transcutaneously to the treatment site that modulates the targeted neural- and non-neural tissue of the nervous structure, inhibiting nervous signaling and the perception of pain.
US11420053B2

The present invention provides a method for coordinated neurostimulation of two or more biological targets are naturally integrated to each other such as nerves. The method includes disintegrating and separating the two or more biological targets from each other; and wrapping an electrode device around the separated biological targets. The electrode device may include suture holes, and the method, further includes a step of stitching the electrode device around the biological targets through the one or more suture holes. The electrode in the electrode device can electrically and stably contact the biological targets.
US11420045B2

The present technology is generally directed to spinal cord modulation leads having one or more sidewall openings configured for inserting stylets to steer and/or position the leads within a patient and/or with respect to a pulse generator, and associated systems and methods. In some embodiments, sidewall opening is generally positioned in an intermediate portion of the lead and is operatively coupled to a lumen extending distally to a distal end of the lead, and/or proximally to a proximal end of the lead.
US11420043B2

A low-frequency treatment device includes a pad including a through hole and a pad side electrode on a rear surface, a holder disposed on the rear surface side of the pad so as to oppose the pad side electrode, a body including a body side electrode and detachably attached to the holder, and a wiring member configured to electrically connect the body side electrode and the pad side electrode. The wiring member includes a first end portion connected to the body side electrode, a second end portion connected to the pad side electrode, and a conductive portion, disposed such that a portion of the conductive portion extends through a through hole, for conducting electricity between the first end portion and the second end portion.
US11420042B2

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for exogenous neurostimulation. An exogenous neurostimulation system includes an electrode pad comprising a plurality of electrodes configured to be applied to skin of a patient, and a pulse generator communicatively coupled to the electrode pad, the pulse generator operable to generate burst waveforms for delivery to the skin of the patient via the electrode pad.
US11420037B2

A method of operating an extracorporeal blood treatment system to infuse blood into a patient at an end of an extracorporeal blood treatment includes clamping an access line of an arterial line set. The method further includes, after clamping the access line, initiating an operation to generate negative pressure in the arterial line set. The method further includes, after generating the negative pressure in the arterial line set, unclamping the access line to draw fluid in the access line further into the arterial line set in a direction away from an end of the access line that is connectable to an arterial access of the patient. The method further includes initiating an operation of a fluid pump engaged with the arterial line set such that the fluid in the arterial line set is infused into the patient through a venous line set.
US11420031B2

A system and related method are provided for draining cerebrospinal fluid from a bodily cavity of a patient, such as a ventricle in the brain in one application. The system includes a reservoir which may be a collapsible container configured for fluidic connection to a shunt located in the bodily cavity. The collapsible container may be an elastically deformable bladder in one embodiment. A pump is fluidly connected to the collapsible container and draws cerebrospinal fluid therefrom. A programmable controller directs the pump to repeatedly activate and deactivate at a predetermined time interval. A plurality of sensors may be provided which are communicably coupled to the controller for monitoring pump motor current draw, tension in the resilient body of the container, pressure, and orientation of the patient. The controller is configurable to deactivate the pump when abnormal operating conditions are detected by the sensors.
US11420026B2

A delivery sheath includes an outer tubular layer and an initially folded inner tubular layer. When an implant passes therethrough, the outer tubular layer expands and the inner tubular layer unfolds into an expanded lumen diameter. The sheath may also include selectively placed longitudinal support rods that mediate friction between the inner and outer tubular layers to facilitate easy expansion, thereby reducing the push force needed to advance the implant through the sheath's lumen.
US11420018B2

In the present invention, an interface control module for controlling a mapping/imaging/recording system is provided for placement on a catheter control handle. The interface control module includes control elements that are operably connected to the mapping/imaging/recording system in order to control various functions of the imaging/recording system relating to images represented on a display forming a part of the mapping/imaging/recording system. The interface control module can be integrated with the catheter control handle or can be formed as a separate component that is releasably attachable to the catheter control handle to enable a use to operate the mapping/imaging/recording system from the catheter control handle being utilized in an interventional medical procedure.
US11420016B2

A package or container for a catheter having a catheter tube with a proximal end provided with a catheter outlet and a distal opening at a distal end thereof. A gel receptacle is provided with a cavity for holding an amount of a lubricating agent, and the catheter tube extends therethrough. The gel receptacle is configured such that as the catheter is withdrawn from a stored position therein, a leading tip of the catheter is immersed in the lubricating agent, thus automatically coating the leading tip. The gel receptacle may be held within a rigid body or may be a standalone item packaged in a sterile bag solely with the catheter. A side wall of the gel receptacle is deformable so that as the catheter is withdrawn proximally the side wall is collapsed inward to displace the lubricating agent gel and coat an exterior surface of the catheter tube.
US11420014B2

Ureteral catheters and assemblies are provided including: a drainage lumen including a proximal portion configured to be positioned in at least a portion of a patient's urethra and a distal portion configured to be positioned in a patient's ureter and/or kidney, the distal portion including a coiled retention portion including at least a first coil having a first diameter and a second coil having a second diameter, the first diameter being less than the second diameter; or wherein the retention portion extends radially outwardly from a portion of the distal end of the drainage lumen portion, the retention portion including a proximal end having a first diameter, a distal end having a second diameter, and a wall and/or surface extending therebetween, the retention portion having a second diameter is greater than the first diameter when deployed; or wherein the retention portion includes a plurality of drainage tubes.
US11420010B1

A respiratory device provides respiratory support to a patient. The respiratory device includes an expandable bag and a rigid valve housing. The expandable bag has an air inlet valve as well as a first and second sides that are bounded, respectively, by first and second rigid side panels. Each of the first and second rigid side panels includes a biasing member projection. The rigid valve housing is in fluid communication with the expandable bag. The rigid valve housing includes an adjustable tidal volume control device that interfaces with the biasing member projection of each of the first and second rigid side panels to set one of a plurality of predetermined tidal volumes for the expandable bag in an uncompressed or compressed configuration. The rigid valve housing additionally includes a patient breathing interface connection member.
US11420003B2

A supplemental gas delivery device is described for a mask assembly having at least one supplemental gas port, the at least one supplemental gas port including an aperture in communication with an interior of the mask assembly. The mask assembly may include an aperture communicating with an interior of the mask assembly, and a cannula for communicating with the supplemental gas port. The cannula is positioned to deliver supplemental gas adjacent to the patient's nares and/or mouth, to increase an efficacy of treatment for the patient by more directly applying the flow of supplemental gas to the patient's nares. An optional bridging portion may be included to provide a connection between supplemental gas port and the cannula.
US11419997B2

Several methods of supporting respiratory function of a patient before, during and/or after a medical procedure are disclosed. In certain arrangements, supporting respiratory function while a patient is under general anaesthesia can include providing a high gas flow that is greater than 15 L/min while the patient is under general anaesthesia. In certain arrangements, a method of providing ventilation while a patient is under general anaesthesia involves providing only a gas flow delivered through a nasal interface that is greater than 15 L/min while the patient is under general anaesthesia.
US11419994B2

The present application relates to a vaporization device. The vaporization device includes a housing, a heating component, a heating component cap, a heating component base, and a first sealing element disposed on the heating component cap. The housing and the first sealing element define a liquid storage compartment, and the heating component and the heating component base define an vaporization chamber. The heating component cap includes a first opening on a first surface, a second opening on a second surface, and a first channel passing through the first opening and the second opening. The first sealing element covers the first opening, and the second opening is in fluid communication with the vaporization chamber.
US11419987B2

A multiple dose syringe has a first valve defining a first valve opening pressure and a second valve defining a second valve opening pressure. A storage chamber in fluid communication with the second valve stores multiple doses of a substance therein and includes an outlet for dispensing multiple doses of the stored substance therethrough. A compression surface is movable between first and second positions and defines a compression chamber between the compression surface and the first valve. Movement of the compression surface in a direction from the first position toward the second position dispenses substance in the compression chamber through the first valve and out of the syringe. Movement of the compression surface in a direction from the second position toward the first position causes substance to flow from the storage chamber through the second valve and into the compression chamber.
US11419986B2

A supplemental device for attachment to an injection device, the supplemental device comprising: a housing; an electromechanical switch arrangement having an open state and a closed state, the electromechanical switch arrangement comprising a protrusion configured to contact a surface of the injection device while the supplemental device is attached to the injection device; a dose dialled detector operable to detect a dose of medicament dialled into the attached injection device; and a processor arrangement configured to: monitor the detected dose of medicament dialled into the attached injection device; detect a change in the state of the electromechanical switch arrangement; and change a display output of the supplemental device when a change in the state of the electromechanical switch arrangement is detected while a zero dose is dialled into the attached injection device.
US11419979B2

A flow selector having features for controlling the flow rate of a fluid over a continuous range of flow rates is provided. In particular, a flow selector including a flow rate selection mechanism is provided, where the flow rate selection mechanism provides more precise control of the fluid flow rate. A flow selector comprising a needle valve for controlling the flow rate of a fluid over a continuous range of flow rates also is provided.
US11419974B2

A method for using CO2 as a contrast material in medical imaging procedures is disclosed. The method includes providing a source of pressurized CO2. The step of providing includes connecting the source of pressurized CO2 to a compressed gas unit for controlling delivery of the CO2. The method also includes regulating pressure of the CO2 delivered by the compressed gas unit, transmitting the pressurized CO2 from the compressed gas unit to a control valve assembly for delivery to a patient in controlled dosages, and sequentially processing the CO2 with the control valve assembly and delivering the CO2 to the patient as a contrast media.
US11419970B2

Provided is a blood filter that resists deterioration in properties as a result of electron beam sterilization treatment performed before or during use as a blood filter, has durability, dimensional stability, and chemical resistance at excellent levels, also has biocompatibility, and resists deterioration in properties even upon the electron beam sterilization treatment. The blood filter according to the present invention includes a nonwoven fabric made of PEEK fibers. Preferably, the blood filter according to the present invention has an average pore size of 3 to 280 μm and has a porosity of 15% to 70%; and the PEEK fibers have an average fiber diameter of 10 μm or less.
US11419968B2

An extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus comprises a blood treatment device (2), an extracorporeal blood circuit, a blood pump (8) configured to be coupled to a blood withdrawal line (6) of the extracorporeal blood circuit. A closed fluid line (10) is connected to an inlet port (4a) and to an outlet port (4b) of a fluid chamber (4) of the blood treatment device (2), wherein the closed fluid line (10) together with the fluid chamber (4) forms a recirculation loop. An evacuation line (15) departs from the closed fluid line (10). A warming device (13) and a recirculation pump (17) are coupled or configured to be coupled to the closed fluid line (10). At least one temperature sensor (22) is operative on the extracorporeal blood circuit and it is configured to sense a blood temperature (Tb). A control unit (25), connected to the warming device (13), to the recirculation pump (17) and to the temperature sensor (22), is configured to execute the following procedure: receiving from the temperature sensor (22) at least a signal correlated to the blood temperature (Tb); adjusting the blood temperature (Tb) by controlling at least one of the warming device (13) and the recirculation pump (17).
US11419967B2

A renal therapy apparatus includes a blood filter, a blood pump, a treatment fluid pump, and a control unit configured to control at least one of the blood pump or the treatment fluid pump during a filter cleaning sequence. The blood filter includes a plurality of hollow fiber membranes. During the filter cleaning sequence, a fluid mixture is formed by mixing air with a blood-compatible and physiologically safe fluid. Also during the filter cleaning sequence, the fluid mixture is transferred across insides and/or outsides of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes at least one time. The use of the fluid mixture enables the filter cleaning sequence to be performed during the blood treatment.
US11419960B2

The present disclosure provides a portable UV-sanitizing box, providing a lower shell, an upper shell hinged to the lower shell, a sterilizing assembly having an ultraviolet ray lamp assembly arranged on the upper shell, a first conductive component arranged on the lower shell for electrically connecting to the first printed circuit board assembly, a first magnetic member adjacent to the first conductive component mounted on the lower shell, a second conductive component arranged on the upper shell for electrically connecting to the ultraviolet ray lamp assembly, a second magnetic member corresponding to the first magnetic member adjacent to the second conductive component mounted on the lower shell, the second magnetic member and the first magnetic member are magnetically attracted to each other.
US11419953B2

Gadolinium based contrast agents (GCA) incorporating linear ligand chelation are fundamentally different from GCAs incorporating macrocyclic ligands. The macrocyclic\GCAs are synthesized by pathways characterized by the formation of a sequence of metastable complexes before obtaining the final stable complex. The synthesis of linear GCAs do not form metastable complexes. Commercial macrocyclic GCAs contain unstable metastable complexes. These metastable species are not regulated and quickly release free Gd3+ ions upon administration into the body. Gadolinium based contrast agents with near zero metastable species content and methods of synthesizing the same are disclosed. Gadolinium based contrast agents with long dissociation time in the body, and low free Gd3+ ion formation are obtained using a synthesis method which departs in novel ways from the traditional free Gd3+-based synthesis methods.
US11419948B2

Ultra-low crosslinked microgels made of an ultra-low crosslinked polymer are provided. The microgels, also referred to as Platelet-like Particles (PLPs), preferably have <0.5% crosslinking densities. One or more of the polymers are conjugated with a fibrin-binding element or moiety, preferably H6, in an amount effective to confer to the microgel selective binding to fibrin under physiological conditions. The PLPs can recapitulate multiple key functions of platelets including binding, stabilizing and enhancing fibrin clot formation, responsiveness to injury cues, and induction of clot contraction. In a preferred embodiment, the microgel or PLP has little or no binding to soluble fibrinogen under physiological conditions compared to its binding to fibrin. The microgels or PLPs are prepared using crosslinker-free synthesis conditions, and can promote or induce clotting and clot contraction.
US11419945B2

The present invention concerns antigen binding proteins and fragments thereof which specifically bind B Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA), particularly human BCMA (hBCMA) and which inhibit the binding of BAFF and APRIL to the BCMA receptor. Further disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions, screening and medical treatment methods.
US11419942B2

The present invention relates to RNAi agents, e.g., double-stranded RNAi agents, targeting the angiotensinogen (AGT) gene, and methods of using such RNAi agents to inhibit expression of AGT and methods of treating subjects having an AGT-associated disorder, e.g., hypertension.
US11419936B2

The present invention relates to an immunoglobulin preparation comprising immunoglobulin in a mass-volume percentage of at least 4%, wherein the concentration of oxygen dissolved in the preparation at room temperature is less than 40 μmol/l.
US11419933B2

The present invention provides novel and stable pharmaceutical compositions comprising bispecific single chain antibody constructs, cyclodextrins and a buffer.
US11419928B2

Provided herein, in some embodiments, are methods and composition for treating cancer in a subject. The methods may include administering to the subject a nucleic acid encoding MIP3α fused to a cancer antigen, administering to the subject a CpG oligodeoxynucleotide, administering to the subject interferon alpha (IFNα), and administering to the subject 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (Aza), in effective amounts to treat the cancer.
US11419926B2

In one embodiment, the invention provides an HSV vector comprising a mutant gB and/or a mutant gH glycoprotein, where the viral envelope further comprises a non-native ligand specific for a protein present on the surface of a predetermined cell type. In another embodiment, the invention provides an HSV vector comprising (a) a mutant gC and/or gD envelope glycoprotein which comprises a non-native ligand specific for a protein present on the surface of a predetermined cell type; and (b) a mutant envelope glycoprotein other than gD.
US11419925B2

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treating cancer and in particular vaccines that treat and provide protection against tumor growth.
US11419924B2

A safe and effective vaccine to prevent, slow, halt or reverse progression of Alzheimer's disease in human patients is disclosed. The vaccine includes Aβ1-42 or an beta amyloid self epitope (e.g. Aβ1-15, or other 7-mer or 15-mer peptide epitopes derived from Aβ1-42) conjugated to an immunogenic carrier formulated in a water-in-oil Th2-biased adjuvant/delivery system.
US11419922B2

Methods are disclosed for treating post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a subject. The methods include administering a therapeutically effective amount of a neurotoxin to a corrugator supercilii and/or a procerus muscle of the subject to cause paralysis of the corrugator supercilii and/or a procerus muscle in the subject, thereby treating PTSD. The neurotoxin can be Botulinum toxin A, such as at a dose of about 20 to about 50 units of Botulinum toxin A.
US11419916B2

This disclosure relates to compositions and methods for recruiting brown adipocytes in vitro and in vivo from brown adipocyte progenitor cells found in human skeletal muscle. Methods for treating metabolic disease are also provided. Additionally, methods for treating hypothermia are provided. In some embodiments, the brown adipocyte recruiter is a human protein or peptide. In other embodiments the brown adipocyte recruiter may be a non-human protein or peptide. In still other embodiments, the brown adipocyte recruiter is a small molecule or natural product.
US11419908B2

Provided is a platform for of the preparation of improved nucleic acid delivery vehicles, specifically, vehicles having an extended host recognition ability. Further provided are improved vehicles, compositions and uses thereof.
US11419904B2

The present disclosure provides immunomodulatory compositions comprising live Caulobacter crescentus (CC). Immunomodulatory compositions of the present disclosure are useful for modulating an immune response in an individual. The present disclosure thus provides methods of modulating an immune response in an individual, involving administering an immunomodulatory composition comprising live CC to the individual.
US11419902B2

The invention provides a composition comprising a bacterial strain of the genus Megasphaera, for use in stimulating the immune system in subject.
US11419900B2

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for preventing, ameliorating, or treating Clostridium difficile infections and/or reducing the severity of one or more risk factors, signs, or symptoms associated with C. difficile infections. In particular, the technology of the present disclosure relates to methods for administering an effective amount of a composition comprising strains of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacteria identified as ART24, ART4, and ART 12, to a subject suffering from or at risk for C. difficile infections.
US11419892B2

Disclosed herein are platelet-like particles incorporating antimicrobial metallic nanoparticles. The platelet-like particles include an ultra-low crosslinked polymeric microgel and fibrin targeting moiety. The antimicrobial metallic nanoparticles can be covalently or noncovalently incorporated into the platelet-like particles. The particles are useful to stop bleeding and to promote wound healing while at the same time suppressing bacterial infections that can accompany tissue damage.
US11419884B2

The present disclosure relates to synthetic mixtures of certain human milk oligosaccharides and uses thereof. Particular mixtures provided herein include: lacto-N-triose II, lacto-N-neotetraose, para-lacto-N-neohexaose, and, optionally, lactose; and lacto-N-triose II, lacto-N-tetraose, para-lacto-N-hexaose II, and, optionally, lactose. These mixtures are useful in the prevention and treatment of viral and bacterial infections.
US11419882B2

The present disclosure provides a composition comprising a first amount of a Vitamin D compound and a second amount of a probiotic compound. The disclosure also provides a method of treating an atopic condition in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the composition detailed herein.
US11419879B2

A method of treating or preventing a systemic viral infection in a mammal by administering a pharmaceutically acceptable composition selected from the group consisting of squalamine, an active isomer thereof, and an active analogue thereof, via a dosing regimen that delivers effective antiviral concentrations of squalamine. Also compositions for achieving the systemic antiviral effect.
US11419876B2

Methods for preventing feedlot bovine respiratory diseases employing mirtazapine as pre-shipment treatments are disclosed. Compositions are further disclosed. Beneficially, the methods and compositions provide safe and cost-effective management of a costly disease.
US11419867B2

Dosage forms, drug delivery systems, and methods related to sustained release of dextromethorphan or improved therapeutic effects are disclosed. Typically, bupropion or a related compound is orally administered to a human being to be treated with, or being treated with, dextromethorphan.
US11419863B2

A composition containing apomorphine and a divalent metal cation, such as, for example, Zn2+, Ca2+, or Mg2+, is disclosed. The composition contains apomorphine and the divalent metal cation in a molar ratio of 2 or less. Optionally, the composition contains an antioxidant. The composition can be prepared as a medicament for treating Parkinson's disease.
US11419859B2

Provided are methods and compositions for treating acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in patients carrying an IDH1 mutation using an inhibitor of a mutant IDH1 enzyme, (S)—N—((S)-1-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-((3,3-difluorocyclobutyl)amino)-2-oxoethyl)-1-(4-cyanopyridin-2-yl)-N-(5-fluoropyridin-3-yl)-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxamide in combination with cytarabine and doxorubicin or idarubicin as an induction therapy and either cytarabine or a combination of combination of mitoxantrone and etoposide as consolidation therapy.
US11419857B2

The invention features combinations of dopaminergic agents and analgesic agents useful for treating pain. In particular, the combinations feature a low ratio of dopaminergic agent to analgesic agent. The dopaminergic agent can be an agonist of the dopamine receptor D1-like family or the dopamine receptor D2-like family. Such combinations potentiate analgesia to 1) alleviate acute pain, 2) prevent the transition from acute pain to chronic pain, and 3) manage chronic pain.
US11419848B2

The present invention relates to a composition for the protection, treatment and repair of cartilage in humans and animal joints. The composition contains a combination of unsaponifiable lipids together with one or more of polyphenols and/or catechins. The composition or kit may contain avocado:soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) and green tea.
US11419840B2

One embodiment described herein is related to methods and compositions, such as nutraceutical formulations and dietary supplements, comprising C16:1n7-palmitoleate or derivatives thereof. The methods and compositions comprising C16:1n7-palmitoleate, or derivatives thereof, safely and effectively prevent or mitigate manifestations of cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease and the accumulation of cholesterol or lipid deposits in the blood vessels of a subject.
US11419831B2

This invention is directed in part to novel doses, dosage formulations, and routes of administration of such doses and dose formulations, said dose and dose formulations containing one or more copper chelators, for example, one or more trientine active agents, including trientine analogues, trientine salts, trientine prodrugs, and trientine derivatives, useful in the treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions, including in indications where copper may play a role.
US11419827B2

Materials and methods for reducing, preventing, or mitigating the effects of exposure to ionizing radiation are provided herein. In general, the methods can include administering a nanoparticulate genistein composition to a subject identified as having been exposed or at risk of being exposed to ionizing radiation, such as proton radiation.
US11419818B2

A computer-based system for receiving, analyzing, processing, managing and sending personal health information, and other information in conjunction with use of one or more personal nebulizer or vaporizing devices and personal breath analysis devices. System devices include a personal nebulizer or vaporizing unit with a mouthpiece, which may be detachable and replaceable. The mouthpiece includes an orifice through which vapor is emitted. The substance to be vaporized is contained in an ampoule inserted into the device, where the substance enters an atomization chamber where vaporization is achieved through piezoelectric transducers or atomizers providing sonic or ultrasonic vibration. The substance includes a variety of therapeutic, homeopathic, or naturopathic formulations, remedies, or serums.
US11419816B2

A method and a drug delivery system for transdermally administering parathyroid hormone (PTH) in a pulsatile fashion are provided, where the drug delivery system comprises an array of microprojections each comprising PTH.
US11419814B2

A transdermal composition comprising ibuprofen or salts thereof and a gelling agent which can be used for the treatment of such disorders as pain, inflammation, arthritis, muscle spasm and associated symptoms in humans and animals.
US11419812B2

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Many embodiments provide a swallowable device for delivering the agents. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs into the intestinal wall or other GI lumen. Embodiments also provide various drug preparations that are configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the intestinal wall and degrade to release the drug into the bloodstream to produce a therapeutic effect. The preparation can be operably coupled to delivery means having a first configuration where the preparation is contained in the capsule and a second configuration where the preparation is advanced out of the capsule into the intestinal wall. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of drugs which are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.
US11419795B2

The present invention relates to a separation component (10) for a feeding bottle device (1) and a corresponding feeding bottle device (1). The separation component (10) provides a separation between a container space (2) of the baby bottle device (1) and a feeding space (3) for providing liquid to an infant, the separation component (10) comprising a hole wall portion (30) surrounding a hole (32) through the separation component (10) for allowing a passage of fluid from the container space (2) to the feeding space (3) therethrough, wherein the hole wall portion (30) is formed such that, when a pressure of the feeding space (3) side is lower than a pressure of the container space (2) side, a minimum cross-sectional area of the hole (32) is reduced with increased pressure difference between feeding space (3) and container space (2). A decreased risk of overfeeding an infant is achieved.
US11419794B1

A programmable pill dispensing device, system, and methods are provided. A programmable pill dispensing device may be used to automatedly dispense a pill, such as a prescription medication, at a programmed predetermined time.
US11419787B2

Systems and methods are provided for controlling infrared radiation (IR) sources of a sauna including tuning IR wavelength-ranges and radiated power-levels of IR sources, and directing IR to locations on a user's body. In one illustrative embodiment, a sauna may be provided having adjustable IR emitters to emit IR at any wavelength resulting in a desirable radiation treatment for the sauna user. In another illustrative embodiment, a method is provided for tuning IR emitters in a sauna.
US11419760B2

A method of treating and managing diseased ocular tissue in the bulbar conjunctiva comprises providing a device comprising a plurality of microneedles arranged on a substrate contacting the device with a diseased ocular tissue region formed in the bulbar conjunctiva stroma to form a plurality of micro-injury sites therein. A device comprises a contact lens substrate comprising a substantially elliptical corneal portion and a limbus portion located radially about the corneal portion. A scleral portion is located radially about the substrate. The device is at least partially degradable and comprises a therapeutic compound. At least a portion of the scleral portion is configured to overlay, and deliver the therapeutic compound to, a diseased ocular tissue located adjacent to the cornea of a patient.
US11419756B2

In one instance, a recovery system for a user is presented that includes a battery-operated, flexible wrap that applies heat with both conductive heat and radiant heat. The recovery system has a control unit that ramps the temperature applied using primarily perceived conductive heat before leveling at a target temperature. Other systems and devices are presented.
US11419747B2

A powered device augments a joint function of a human during a gait cycle using a powered actuator that supplies an augmentation torque, an impedance, or both to a joint. A controller estimates terrain slope and modulates the augmentation torque and the impedance according to a phase of the gait cycle and the estimated terrain slope to provide at least a biomimetic response. The controller may also modulate a joint equilibrium. Accordingly, the device is capable of normalizing or augmenting human biomechanical function, responsive to a wearer's activity, regardless of speed and terrain, and can be used, for example, as a knee orthosis, prosthesis, or exoskeleton.
US11419744B2

A device for withdrawing a sheath from a shaft includes a housing a flexible timing belt that is a continuous band forming a loop that has an inner surface and an outer surface. The timing belt has a plurality of belt teeth on a surface of the timing belt. The delivery device is by rotation of a barrel that is actuated by an actuator coupled to a barrel having a plurality of teeth such that rotation of the barrel such that the barrel teeth engages the belt teeth to cause movement of the timing belt causing movement of the outer sheath.
US11419743B2

A system for delivering an implantable medical device includes an outer sheath drive assembly and an actuation shaft drive assembly. The outer sheath drive assembly is configured to cause an outer sheath to translate relative to a handle, and includes an outer sheath drive motor. The actuation shaft drive assembly is configured to cause an actuation shaft to translate relative to the handle, and includes an actuation shaft drive motor. The outer sheath drive motor and/or the actuation shaft drive motor may be removed from the system, and the outer sheath drive assembly and/or the actuation shaft drive assembly may instead be manually driven.
US11419741B2

An endoprosthesis may include an expandable framework including an anchoring portion and a body portion extending axially from the anchoring portion, the body portion having a plurality of body cells; and a polymeric cover disposed on at least a portion of the expandable framework. The anchoring portion includes a first transverse flange and a second transverse flange proximate the first transverse flange, the first and second transverse flanges being configured to secure the anchoring portion at an orifice of a body lumen. The body portion includes a window through a side of the body portion, the window occupying space equivalent to at least two of the plurality of body cells. The window is devoid of the polymeric cover and any other structure within a perimeter of the window.
US11419740B2

A prosthetic connector system for use with a prosthetic socket having a distal end includes a plate defining a plurality of holes and attachable to the distal end of the prosthetic socket. A component is removably attachable to the plate via the plurality of holes and arranged to connect a prosthesis to the prosthetic socket. The plate defines an outer periphery having an asymmetrical configuration contoured to substantially correspond to at least a portion of the component when the component is attached to the plate via at least some of the holes.
US11419734B2

An intervertebral implant includes opposing upper and lower endplates that are configured to engage respective vertebral surfaces in an intervertebral space. The implant carries a plurality of bone fixation spikes that extend out from each endplate. The spikes define a plurality of outer surfaces that extend from a base to a tip. The spikes are laterally staggered, and have a height that increases along a longitudinal direction from the front toward the rear of the implant, and a define recess formed in at least one outer surfaces.
US11419710B2

A dental appliance having an integrally formed reservoir and/or an ornamental design integrated thereon. The ornamental design can be selected or customized by a patient. The design can be created by directing energy to the dental appliance to alter a material property of at least a portion of the appliance to create the design. Alternatively, a groove or recess can be formed on a surface of the appliance to either mechanically retain an ornamental design or the groove or recess can be filled with ink to form the design. The appliance, including the integrally formed reservoir, can be formed using direct fabrication techniques.
US11419696B2

There is provided a control device that decides at least one medical image as a medical image to display or save from among medical images taken by a plurality of imaging devices, on a basis of imaging device status information that includes information about a position or an attitude for at least one of the plurality of imaging devices.
US11419694B2

An endoscope system includes a measurement support device and an endoscope. The measurement support device includes a head emitting measurement auxiliary light, an imaging unit capturing an image of a subject on which a spot is formed by the measurement auxiliary light via an imaging optical system, and a processor measuring a position of the spot and displaying an indicator figure. The endoscope includes a memory, an insertion part and an operating part. In a case where the measurement auxiliary light is projected on a plane including an optical axis of the imaging optical system, the measurement auxiliary light has an inclination angle and crosses an angle of view of the imaging optical system. In a case where the indicator figure is displayed in a vicinity of the measured position, the indicator figure is displayed in different aspects according to measurement of the specific region is effective or not.
US11419687B2

A computer-assisted device includes an articulated arm configured to support an end effector and a control unit configured to, when coupled to the articulated arm and a table: determine a virtual coordinate frame before a first joint of the articulated arm is set to a floating mode, configure the first joint to the floating mode, detect movement of the first joint, determine a movement of the table, and drive a second joint of the articulated arm based on the movement of the first joint and the movement of the table. In some embodiments, the virtual coordinate frame is based on a pose of an imaging device and/or is detached from the imaging device. In some embodiments, the control unit is further configured to maintain the virtual coordinate frame in fixed relationship to a top of the table based on motion data received from the table.
US11419685B2

An array of sensors may be used to perform touchless registration of landmarks of a patient's face before an ENT procedure in order to associate those landmarks with pre-operative images in three-dimensional space, which is required for image guided surgery features such as navigation. Touchless or light-touch registration may improve accuracy by avoiding the need for substantial pressing against a patient's skin, which may deform and thereby introduce erroneous registration data. A sensor may also be implemented in forms other than an array such as handheld probe having a single sensor as opposed to an array.
US11419680B2

Methods, systems and devices for pre-operatively planned total or partial joint surgery including, for example, anatomic and reverse shoulder surgery guides and implants. There are also methods for pre-operative planning methods for designing glenoid implants and prostheses, particularly with patient-specific augmentation, based on considerations of multiple factors affecting the outcome of a selected reverse or anatomic shoulder surgery. There are also described methods of performing total or partial joint surgery, including anatomic or reverse shoulder surgery, using surgery guides and implants in patients undergoing joint surgery.
US11419675B2

A catheter apparatus comprises an elongated catheter body having a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one fluid lumen extending longitudinally therein; and a plurality of flexible electrode segments on a distal portion of the catheter body adjacent the distal end, each pair of neighboring flexible electrode segments being spaced from each other longitudinally by a corresponding electrically nonconductive segment. Each flexible electrode segment comprises a sidewall provided with one or more elongated stiffness reductions extending through the sidewall, the one or more elongated stiffness reductions providing flexibility in the sidewall for bending movement relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter body. The electrically nonconductive segment is substantially smaller in length than each of the corresponding pair of neighboring flexible electrode segments.
US11419672B2

The disclosed embodiments relate to an electrosurgical system, to a method for operating an electrosurgical system, and to an electrode for an electric surgical system. An image detection system of the surgical instrument detects an image of the electrode. The corresponding image data is compared with data sets in a database, in which an identifying feature of the electrode and at least one operating parameter for the electrode are assigned to each other. After the electrode type has been identified, the corresponding operating parameters are transmitted to a controller of the surgical instrument.
US11419668B2

Methods and devices for both imaging and treating uterine fibroid tumors in one real-time system are provided. One minimally invasive method comprises introducing a sheath into a uterus and determining a location of a fibroid using a visualization element within or on the sheath. Upon identification, a portion of the sheath is steered to position at least one treatment needle at the determined location. The needle is then anchored in uterine tissue and the fibroid treated with the needle.
Patent Agency Ranking