US09292397B1

The present invention relates generally to networking, and more particularly to techniques and products for verifying, qualifying and/or quantifying the performance of networking devices and infrastructure. According to certain aspects, test equipment according to embodiments of the invention performs stress tests using both client and server emulation with very low overhead, providing a virtually unlimited number of servers and/or clients. According to further aspects, tests include the transfer of real files between clients and servers, not just test patterns. According to further aspects, test equipment includes an easy to use Web GUI interface. According to further aspects, tests are performed using TCP protocol, which is the predominant form of network traffic.
US09292396B2

An information handling system includes a processor and a management controller separate from the processor. The management controller is operable to boot the information handling system to a system service management module, direct the system service management module to execute diagnostics code on the processor and to store a result from the execution of the diagnostics code in a predetermined memory location. The management controller is also operable to retrieve the result from the predetermined memory location.
US09292393B2

Systems and methods for redundant object storage are disclosed. A method may include storing at least two copies of each of a plurality of objects among a plurality of nodes communicatively coupled to one another in order to provide redundancy of each of the plurality of objects in the event of a fault of one of the plurality of nodes. The method may also include monitoring access to each object to determine a frequency of access for each object. The method may additionally include redistributing one or more of the copies of the objects such that at least one particular node of the plurality of nodes includes copies of only objects accessed at a frequency below a predetermined frequency threshold based on the determined frequency of access for each object. The method may further include placing the at least one particular node in a reduced-power mode.
US09292392B2

A memory module includes a memory module copy engine for copying data from an active memory die to a spare memory die. Access is mapped away from the active memory die to the spare memory die.
US09292374B2

The invention enhances automatic incident control, problem control, and problem prevention using information provided by the analysis or analysis data. The burden on the part of both users and providers to resolve problems is reduced by using a method of automatic analysis data upload and intelligent problem analysis and resolution. Problems are better identified, investigated, diagnosed, recorded, classified, and tracked until affected services return to normal operation and errors trends are used to proactively prevent future problems.
US09292366B2

A method and system for processing electronic documents. A temporary computer object is created. An address of a first electronic document is obtained. A first tag, a second tag, and the address of the first electronic document are copied into a header of the created temporary computer object. Selected text from the first electronic document is obtained.The first and second tag respectively mark the beginning and the end of the header. The address of the first electronic document is disposed between the first and second tags. The selected text and a third tag are copied into the created temporary computer object. The third tag marks the end of the created temporary computer object. The selected text is disposed between the header of the created temporary computer object and the third tag. The created temporary computer object is stored in a second electronic document.
US09292363B2

Predicting consumption of APIs is provided. A set of consumed APIs corresponding to a user and software service applications related to APIs associated with the user is determined based on an API consumption history. A set of users related to the set of consumed APIs corresponding to the user and the software service applications related to the APIs associated with the user is retrieved from an API analytics engine. A set of API consumption prediction models corresponding to the user is generated based on the APIs associated with the user, the software service applications related to the APIs associated with the user, the set of consumed APIs corresponding to the user and the software service applications related to the APIs associated with the user based on the API consumption history, the set of users related to the set of consumed APIs, and APIs associated with the set of users.
US09292357B2

A program controls coalescing of outermost memory transactions, the coalescing causing committing of memory store data to memory for a first transaction to be done at transaction execution (TX) end of a second transaction. wherein optimized machine instructions are generated based on an intermediate representation of a program, wherein either two atomic tasks are merged into a single coalesced transaction or are executed as separate transactions.
US09292353B2

A system and method for allocating a resource among clients running on host computers using capacity distribution uses lower and upper bounds with respect to a capacity to be distributed to each of the clients. Each client is allocated a portion of the capacity that corresponds to the lower bound for that client. Any excess amount of the capacity is then allocated to the clients based at least partly on the lower bound and the upper bound of each of the clients.
US09292342B2

Generally in a computing environment, executing work based on time (i.e. according to a predetermined schedule) is a common need. However, in cloud based systems, scheduled work may be expensive to customers as generally customers rent system resources. Thus, having a processor dedicated to performing actions that have been pre-scheduled can be expensive. This application describes using a continuation-based runtime for scheduling time-bound and/or periodic work in a distributed (i.e. cloud) system. A system architecture and computer-implemented method are described that deploy an environment-independent action to a remote-based system (such as a cloud computing system, for example). The action is limited to using a predetermined amount of resources and is limited to simple, non-cpu intensive orchestrations of network calls. A schedule is defined for the action, and the action is then called in a processor-independent fashion (for example, by using a continuation based runtime) such that state of the action is maintained independent of the processor on which the action is being executed.
US09292338B2

Apparatus and method for scheduling event streams. The apparatus includes (i) an interface for receiving event streams which are placed in queues and (ii) a scheduler which selects at least one event stream for dispatch depending on sketched content information data of the received event streams. The scheduler includes a sketching engine for sketching the received event streams to determine content information data and a selection engine for selecting at least one received event stream for dispatch depending on the determined content information data of the received event streams. The method includes the steps of (i) determining content information data about the content of event streams and (ii) selecting at least one event stream from the event streams for dispatch depending on the content information data. A computer program, when run by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of the above method.
US09292336B1

Service fleets made up of many pieces of computer hardware may perform computational tasks. Described herein are systems and methods for optimizing costs associated with the computer hardware. In one example, an optimization system indicates an amount of hardware needed such that the service fleet operates at an optimal cost. The amount of hardware may be determined based on hardware cost metric data generated for a service fleet.
US09292335B2

An information-processing device includes: a storage unit that stores parameter types used in executing application proms, each parameter type associated with an identifier of an application program; a setting unit that sets a value for a parameter used in executing a first application; a determination unit that determines, based on an association between the identifiers and parameter types, which association is stored in the storage unit, at least one second application program that uses a parameter of a parameter type the same as a parameter type for which a value is set by the setting unit; and an incorporating unit that incorporates the value for the parameter set by the setting unit into a value for a parameter used in executing the at least one second application program determined by the determination unit.
US09292309B2

A technique is provided for configuring and interface device. The interface device includes a plurality of device elements, each having visual representation and a state engine defining a functionality. A server module in the interface device receives a query from a user viewable screen that includes the visual representations. The server module serves the user viewable screen to a general purpose viewer or browser, which may include a design-time environment. An access module, then, prompts each device to send an image defining its visual representation to a memory display context for inclusion in the user viewable screen. The access module works without reference to the respective functionality of the device elements.
US09292290B2

A circuit arrangement decodes instructions based in part on one or more decode-related attributes stored in a memory address translation data structure such as an Effective To Real Translation (ERAT) or Translation Lookaside Buffer (TLB). A memory address translation data structure may be accessed, for example, in connection with a decode of an instruction stored in a page of memory, such that one or more attributes associated with the page in the data structure may be used to control how that instruction is decoded.
US09292287B2

Provided is a loop scheduling method including scheduling a first loop using execution units, and scheduling a second loop using execution units available as a result of the scheduling of the first loop. An n-th loop (n>2) may be scheduled using a result of scheduling an (n−1)-th loop, similar to the (n−1)-th loop. The first loop may be a higher priority loop than the second loop.
US09292278B2

A middleware that manages high availability of a software application is automatically configured when the software application is added to a system. The method of automatic configuration includes receiving a user input that specifies availability requirements and information of the software application, where the availability requirements include at least a checkpoint service that enables the software application to save and retrieve its state. The method also includes identifying a checkpoint agent for providing the checkpoint service to the software application. The checkpoint agent includes a first interface to the software application and a second interface, different from the first interface, to the middleware. A middleware configuration is generated that satisfies the availability requirements, based on the information of the software application such that the middleware offers the checkpoint service to the software application through the checkpoint agent and directly manages lifecycles of the software application.
US09292277B2

Example embodiments relate to methods for updating firmware of a hardware component included in a computing device. An example method may store an executable firmware update for the hardware component on a machine-readable storage medium. The method may then initiate a firmware update application by a firmware-to-operating system (OS) interface upon boot-up of the computing device. Finally, the method may trigger update of the firmware of the hardware component by starting execution of the executable firmware update. Related computing devices and machine-readable storage media are also disclosed.
US09292276B1

Systems and methods described herein may generate a change package comprising one or more changes to a configuration of a segment. The change package may comprise a separate entry for each segment. Each entry may comprise each change associated with the respective segment.
US09292273B2

A computer program product is embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium. The computer program product comprises computer code to display a plurality of first indicia presented in a list, where each first indicia indicates a software product, and computer code to display a second indicia associated with a highlighted one of the first indicia. The second indicia comprises information about the software product indicated by the highlighted first indicia. The computer program product additionally comprises computer code to display a third indicia associated with the highlighted first indicia and indicate the availability of a software update for the software product indicated by the highlighted first indicia, and computer code to display a fourth indicia associated with the highlighted first indicia. The fourth indicia facilitates the retrieval of the software update.
US09292269B2

A method includes identifying a divergent region of interest (DRI) not including a post dominator node thereof within a control flow graph, and introducing a decision node in the control flow graph such that the decision node post-dominates an entry point of the DRI and is dominated by the entry point. The method also includes redirecting a regular control flow path within the control flow graph from another node previously coupled to the DRI to the decision node, and redirecting a runaway path from the another node to the decision node. Further, the method includes marking the runaway path to differentiate the runaway path from the regular control flow path, and directing control flow from the decision node to an originally intended destination of each of the regular control flow path and the runaway path based on the marking to provide for program thread synchronization and optimization within the DRI.
US09292267B2

Aspects of the present invention provide a solution for compiling data. In an embodiment, an input query is received in a first language. The input query is translated to a nested relational algebra (NRA) in the form of a first intermediate representation (IR), wherein the first IR comprises a high-level functional language including algebraic operators. A set of algorithms of the algebraic operators is implemented to compile at least some of the first IR into a second IR, wherein the second IR comprises a data-flow language. At least one of the first IR and the second IR is compiled into a low-level code.
US09292259B2

A system and method of generating a one-way function and thereby producing a random-value stream. Steps include: providing a plurality of memory cells addressed according to a domain value wherein any given domain value maps to all possible range values; generating a random domain value associated with one of the memory cells; reading a data value associated with the generated random domain value; generating dynamically enhanced data by providing an additional quantity of data; removing suspected non-random portions thereby creating source data; validating the source data according to a minimum randomness requirement, thereby creating a validated source data; and integrating the validated source data with the memory cell locations using a random edit process that is a masking, a displacement-in-time, a chaos engine, an XOR, an overwrite, an expand, a remove, a control plane, or an address plane module. The expand module inserts a noise chunk.
US09292253B2

Methods and apparatus for voice-enabling a web application, wherein the web application includes one or more web pages rendered by a web browser on a computer. At least one information source external to the web application is queried to determine whether information describing a set of one or more supported voice interactions for the web application is available, and in response to determining that the information is available, the information is retrieved from the at least one information source. Voice input for the web application is then enabled based on the retrieved information.
US09292249B2

A method performed by a processing system with content display management includes identifying a first added content in a set of added contents that overlap and forming a display image to include the first added content such that a first portion of the first added content is partially transparent with respect to remote content captured by a remote system and a second portion of the first added content is opaque with respect to at least a portion of second added content in the set of added contents.
US09292240B2

An information processing device includes a storage unit; a multiple programs executing unit configured to execute multiple programs; a log file recording unit configured to record pieces of log information output by the respective multiple programs as multiple log files, respectively, in the storage unit; and a collected log file recording unit configured to integrate the multiple log files into one collected log file and record the collected log file in the storage unit in a chronological order.
US09292230B2

A print-management system comprises a plurality of web-submission servers and a print server. Each web-submission server hosts a website configured to allow submission of print jobs to the print management system. The print server is configured to receive print jobs from the plurality of web-submission servers, process the print jobs, and send print jobs to at least one printer to be printed. The print management system is configured to add an identifier to each received print job to identify the web-submission server or website that received the print job. The print server is configured so that print jobs are processed based on the identifiers added to the print jobs.
US09292211B2

A path is formed between a host computer and storage apparatuses without depending on the configuration of the host computer and a network and a plurality of volumes having a copy function are migrated between storage apparatuses while keeping the latest data.A computer system includes a host computer and first and second storage apparatuses, wherein the second storage apparatus virtualizes a plurality of migration source volumes as a plurality of migration destination volumes and provides them to the host computer; and if the second storage apparatus receives an input/output request for each migration destination volume, it reflects data in each migration source volume via each migration destination volume and the host computer cancels a path to each migration source volume and registers a path to each migration destination volume; and if the second storage apparatus receives a write request, it writes write data to each migration destination volume and each migration source volume and migrates copy processing control information and data until the termination of migration processing.
US09292204B2

A system and method for managing cache memory of at least one node of a multiple-node storage cluster. A first cache data and a first cache metadata are stored for data transfers between a respective node and regions of a storage cluster receiving at least a first selected number of data transfer requests. When the node is rebooted, a second (new) cache data is stored to replace the first (old) cache data. The second cache data is compiled utilizing the first cache metadata to identify previously cached regions of the storage cluster receiving at least a second selected number of data transfer requests after the node is rebooted. The second selected number of data transfer requests is less than the first selected number of data transfer requests to enable a rapid build of the second cache data.
US09292199B2

A function execution method and apparatus thereof for displaying one or more sub-functions included in a function selected by a first touch on a trace according to a second touch input based upon the first and the second touches inputted with a timing difference, and executing the relevant sub-function selected among the displayed one or more sub-functions. For this purpose, a function execution method according to the present invention is performed by comprising: detecting a first touch input touched on a display unit; detecting a drag created by a second touch inputted while maintaining the first touch; and displaying one or more sub-functions included in a function selected by the first touch along a trace of the detected drag on the display unit.
US09292194B2

User interface control using a keyboard is described. In an embodiment, a user interface displayed on a display device is controlled using a computer connected to a keyboard. The keyboard has a plurality of alphanumeric keys that can be used for text entry. The computer receives data comprising a sequence of key-presses from the keyboard, and generates for each key-press a physical location on the keyboard. The relative physical locations of the key-presses are compared to calculate a movement path over the keyboard. The movement path describes the path of a user's digit over the keyboard. The movement path is mapped to a sequence of coordinates in the user interface, and the movement of an object displayed in the user interface is controlled in accordance with the sequence of coordinates.
US09292191B2

An apparatus and method for determining a user input pattern in a portable terminal. The apparatus includes a sensing unit, a pattern management unit, and an output management unit. The sensing unit includes a sensor for sensing light, and measuring a sensed value for light. The pattern management unit determines an input pattern of a user based on a measured value of the sensing unit. The output management unit performs an operation corresponding to the input pattern determined by the pattern management unit.
US09292175B2

A system stores, in a database, different stock templates and also, for each stock template, a stock image to be displayed with the template. The system receives a user-designated image. The system then displays items simultaneously. Each item incorporates a different one of the stock templates along with the respective template's stock image. The system provides an image selector that is in a first position and capable of being switched by a user to a second position. Each time the user switches the selector to the second position, the system transforms the images in the displayed items simultaneously to the user-designated image. Each time the user switches the selector to the first position, the system transforms the images in the displayed items simultaneously to the items' respective stock images.
US09292173B2

Dividing or splitting data (e.g., images) of a file may be performed by allowing a user to preview or otherwise view the intended division prior to the splitting of the images in the file into separate files. The division may be shown in a display by visually distinguishing between the designated groups. Visual distinctions may include color filtering, use of a division mark, use of grouping frames, labeling and the like and/or combinations thereof. By allowing a user to view the intended groupings, a user may further cancel designated groupings prior to splitting the images into the separate files.
US09292172B2

An image editing method comprises: a step of acquiring identification information on each of a plurality of operation instruction units for instructing editing of an image, a step of automatically selecting one or more images for editing from a group of images to classify the one or more images into a group of usable images based on the identification information, a step of determining a right to edit reaching contents of processing which each operation instruction unit is authorized to perform against each image in the group of usable images, and a step of performing editing processing on an image to be edited in the group of usable images based upon the determined right to edit according to an editing instruction supplied from each operation instruction unit.
US09292164B2

A social media platform is provided for interacting in a three-dimensional platform. The platform leverages a social graph from a user's social network to enable the user to invite social networking friends to interact within a three-dimensional virtual social venue. The platform also enables users to select multiple videos to display simultaneously within the virtual social venue. User selection of a clickable advertisement within the virtual social venue causes a web browser to launch with a point-of-sale opportunity related to the advertisement.
US09292162B2

Technology is disclosed for discovering décor harmonized with a décor style (“the technology”). The décor includes décor items, e.g. artworks, paintings, pictures, artifacts, architectural pieces, arrangement of artworks, color selection, room décor, rugs, mats, furnishings, household items, fashion, clothes, jewelry, car interiors, garden arrangements etc. The technology facilitates analyzing user input to identify a décor style from a décor style dictionary, obtaining décor that harmonizes with décor style, and presenting a representation of the décor to the user. The décor style dictionary includes décor styles that are generated based on an analysis of content, including images and description of décor, from a plurality of sources. The décor styles can be based on a number of concepts, including a theme of the décor, a color/color palette, a mood of the person, a fashion era, a type of architecture, etc. The technology facilitates presentation of discovered décor using computer generated imagery techniques.
US09292158B2

The instant invention comprises an apparatus, system, method, and tangible interactive mobile device storage medium, for creating, displaying, storing, modifying, performing adaptive learning routines, and multitasking; utilizing Cascade Windows™ on a display in an interactive mobile device GUI (Graphical User Interface) system; where the Cascade Windows created and displayed by The Cascade Software™ Technology Invention arranges the active interface of various mobile smartphone/device systems into adjustable dimension windows opened on the mobile device screen simultaneously so that multitasking is more efficient and effortless. This process and option of cascading various system and/or application windows simultaneously, creates a powerful tool for the user and a culminating technical effect that allows the user to go back in time, and view on the display various screen configurations ranked high in importance by the user and the machine, which occurred over a specific time interval in the past.
US09292156B2

Exemplary embodiments disclose enabling a user to invoke a function via a shortcut key in a multi-window computing environment by a software component executing on the computer. The exemplary embodiments include displaying, by a software component executing on a processor of a computer, a menu that lists functions invoked in different windows by the shortcut key; receiving a user entered selection of a priority for each of the functions to create a ranked menu of functions for the shortcut key; and responsive to detecting an entering of the shortcut key via a keyboard by a user, selectively invoking one of functions listed in the shortcut key menu regardless of which window is currently active based on the priority of the functions and a number of times the shortcut key is entered.
US09292152B2

A system for controlling a treatment device generates a graphical interface that visually prompts a user in a step-wise fashion to use the treatment device to perform a process of forming a pattern of lesions that extends both circumferentially and axially in different levels in a body region. The graphical interface displays for the user a visual record of the progress of the process from start to finish and guides the user so that so that individual lesions desired within a given level are all formed, and that a given level of lesions is not skipped.
US09292147B2

A manufacturing method of a touch panel includes the steps of providing a substrate, forming a first conductive film on the substrate, forming a first mask on the first conductive film, etching the first conductive film to form electrode portions and lower intersect portions of the touch panel, forming an insulating film made of a negative resist on the first conductive film, and forming a contact hole above the electrode portion by removing the insulating film. The steps further include forming a second conductive film on the insulating film, forming a second mask on the second conductive film, etching the second conductive film to form an upper intersect portion connected between two adjacent electrode portions via the contact hole and intersecting with the lower intersect portion, and forming protective film on the second conductive film.
US09292146B2

A photosensitive film having a provisional support and a photocurable resin layer, wherein the photocurable resin layer contains a white inorganic pigment, a monomer, a binder and a photopolymerization initiator, the photocurable resin layer has a thickness of from 1 to 40 μm, and the photocurable resin layer has a content of the white inorganic pigment of from 30 to 50% by mass is capable of providing a white decorative layer that is good in brightness, whiteness, reticulation, adhesion, development residue and unevenness, in a high yield.
US09292145B2

Techniques for providing multi-user multi-touch projected capacitive touch sensors are disclosed herein. Some embodiments may include a touch sensor including a touch substrate with a touch surface, a sensing array, and a controller. The sensing array may be configured to provide sense signals indicating a first touch and a second touch occurring concurrently on the touch surface of the touch substrate. The controller may be configured to receive the sense signals from the sensing array and based on the sense signals, determine whether the first touch and the second touch share at least one anti-ghost. In response to determining that the first touch and the second touch share the at least one anti-ghost, the controller may be configured associate the first touch and the second touch with a common touch entity, such as an individual person.
US09292139B2

A capacitive in-cell touch screen panel and a display apparatus are disclosed in present disclosure. At least one touch control inducting electrode is disposed on the color film substrate and at least one touch control driving electrode is disposed on the TFT array substrate. Each of the touch control driving electrodes overlaps with multiple sets of gate lines in the TFT array substrate, respectively, and each of the touch control driving electrodes comprises touch control driving sub-electrodes disposed along the row direction and a driving control unit is disposed at the connection of each of the touch control driving sub-electrodes and each set of gate lines. Since the driving control unit is able to release the display driving signal delivered by the gate line after it is loaded to the touch control driving sub-electrodes, which is equivalent to the situation where a driving pulse is loaded on the touch control driving sub-electrodes, so that the multiple sets of gate lines overlapping with the touch control driving electrodes input the touch control driving signal sequentially to the touch control driving electrodes through the driving control unit, and thus a plurality of driving pulses can be loaded on the touch control driving sub-electrodes, increasing the frequency of the touch control driving signal loaded on the touch control driving electrodes.
US09292137B2

A semiconductor device for use in a touch panel is capable of uniquely identifying the touched coordinates over the touch panel. When a multi-touch state is detected over the touch panel by a self-capacitance method, the semiconductor device isolates the multiple touch electrodes found to be in the touch state and has these electrodes identified by a mutual capacitance method.
US09292131B2

The present invention provides a light guide for an electronically addressable display (such as an LCD) that mixes optical signals from a plurality of emitters, and mixes these signals to produce, for positions on the display, position-unique signals. A stylus or other receiving device may determine its position relative to the electronically addressable display by analyzing the position-unique signals.
US09292129B2

A method for determining the location of a touch input in an application window on an interactive surface of a display device is described. The application window comprises a canvas configured to display at least a portion of a user interface. The method comprises the following steps. A first location of the touch input associated with a first coordinate space is determined. The first coordinate space is associated with the interactive surface. The touch input is used to emulate a mouse event. A second location of the touch input associated with a second coordinate space is determined in response to the emulated mouse event. The second coordinate space is associated with the user interface. At least one offset parameter is calculated, correlating the first coordinate space with the second coordinate space. While the first coordinate space does not change with respect the second coordinate space, the at least one offset parameter is used to determine the location of subsequent touch inputs based on corresponding locations associated with the first coordinate space. A computer readable medium and an interactive input system for implementing the method are also described.
US09292128B1

A touch screen protector for a portable electronic device has a front face that includes a touch screen portion and a declining outer perimeter. The touch screen protector includes: a glass sheet having front and back sides that corresponds in size to the touch screen portion; a conformable perimeter portion that corresponds to the declining outer perimeter of the front face of the portable electronic device; and an adhesive provided along at least a portion of the conformable perimeter portion facing the portable electronic device and having adhesive strength enabling repeated removal and reattachment. The touch screen portion allows a capacitive value on the touch screen portion when touched on the glass sheet.
US09292123B2

A system and method for sample rate adaption. The system and method provide for information derived from sampling at a first rate to be applied or processed at a second rate where the first and second rates differ in frequency and phase. The information is adapted from the first rate to the second rate. Then phase differences including phase introduced as by-product of adapting the frequencies are reduced by phase adaption.
US09292111B2

Methods and systems for implementing gestures with sensing devices are disclosed. More particularly, methods and systems related to gesturing with multipoint sensing devices are disclosed.
US09292085B2

Technology is described for automatically determining placement of one or more interaction zones in an augmented reality environment in which one or more virtual features are added to a real environment. An interaction zone includes at least one virtual feature and is associated with a space within the augmented reality environment with boundaries of the space determined based on the one or more real environment features. A plurality of activation criteria may be available for an interaction zone and at least one may be selected based on at least one real environment feature. The technology also describes controlling activation of an interaction zone within the augmented reality environment. In some examples, at least some behavior of a virtual object is controlled by emergent behavior criteria which defines an action independently from a type of object in the real world environment.
US09292078B2

An image forming apparatus stores, in a storage unit, the number of extensions, which is the number of times an automatic shutdown time can be extended, and an extension time period by which the automatic shutdown time can be extended. Upon receiving a set request for requesting extension of the automatic shutdown from an external apparatus, the image forming apparatus enables settings of the received set request when the received set request satisfies conditions regarding the number of extensions and the extension time period, and disables the settings of the received set request when the set request does not satisfy the conditions regarding the number of extensions and the extension time period.
US09292077B2

A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with improving wireless device power consumption in an M2M environment. In an example, a service layer module equipped to obtain a network value indicating that a service layer transaction is complete and no additional activity associated with the service layer transaction is expected from a network entity, determine that no additional activity associated with the service layer transaction is expected from a wireless device application, generate a sleep mode value based on the reception of the network value and upon the determination, and provide the sleep mode value to a modem subsystem and/or an application subsystem indicating that it is allowed to enter a sleep mode. In an aspect, the sleep mode value may be provided using cross layer signaling between a service layer and modem processing layer.
US09292069B1

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for controlling mode switches in hardware. The resource manager includes an “is mode possible” function that evaluates a given mode in conjunction with the limitations of the hardware to determine if the given mode is feasible. The display driver is configured to call this function to validate a proposed mode before generating commands specifying the state changes for the display heads. The display software interface hardware module within the GPU processes these commands and follows a standard sequence of steps to implement the mode switch. The steps may include interrupts to the resource manager to re-validate the proposed mode, again calling the “is mode possible” function, or perform operations that are not yet supported in the hardware. Advantageously, controlling mode switches in hardware enables less error-prone, more efficient, and more discerning mode switches relative to controlling mode switches in software.
US09292068B2

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a multicore processor with a power controller to control a frequency at which the processor operates. More specifically, the power controller can limit a maximum operating frequency of the processor to less than a configured maximum operating frequency to enable a reduction in a number of frequency transitions occurring responsive to power state events, thus avoiding the overhead of operations performed in handling such transitions. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09292062B2

A power supply includes a virtual machine state acquisition unit and a virtual machine management unit. The virtual machine state acquisition unit is configured to: send each of the virtual host computers in virtual host list data a request to acquire information on a virtual machine run in emulation by the virtual host computer; acquire, from each of the virtual host computers, the information on the virtual machine run in emulation by the virtual host computer; and create virtual machine management data in which an identifier of the virtual host computer, an identifier of the virtual machine thereof, and the acquired information on the virtual machine are associated with each other. The virtual machine management unit is configured to read the virtual machine management data and input a command related to a virtual power source of the virtual machine.
US09292061B2

A computer peripheral device incorporates a fuel cell that may be used to supply power to a computer device coupled to the peripheral device. The peripheral device comprises a housing and circuitry within the housing to provide at least one computer peripheral function. A data interface provides for data transfer to and/or from a computer device. A fuel cell power source is incorporated into the peripheral device. A power interface provides power transfer to the computer device when connected thereto. A power controller is configured to supply power from the fuel cell power source to the power interface for supplying said power to said computer device when connected thereto.
US09292055B2

A Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) slot expansion system includes a cable adapter, at least one card docking station, and a plurality of standard USB3.0 2-in-1 internal cables. The cable adapter includes a plurality of first PCIe connecting ports and a PCIe male connector, the PCIe male connector is configured to be inserted into a first PCIe slot of a mother board. The card docking station has a width of 5.25 inch. Each card docking station includes: one or two power input port; one or two second PCIe connecting port; and at least one PCI slot or second PCIe slot. Each standard USB3.0 2-in-1 internal cable has a first cable connector and a second cable connector at two opposite ends to be connected with the first connecting port and the second PCIe connecting port respectively.
US09292054B2

A power supply module suitable for a server is provided. The server includes a base and a main board. The main board is disposed on the base. The power supply module includes a frame and a first power connector. The frame is disposed on the base and adjacent to an edge portion of the main board. The first power connector is slidably disposed on the frame. When the first power connector slides to a first position, the first power connector protrudes from the frame and the edge portion of the main board is located between the first power connector and the base. When the first power connector slides to a second position, the first power connector is located in the frame.
US09292036B2

A data processing apparatus and method provide communication between a master device operating from a master clock signal and a slave device operating from a slave clock signal asynchronous to the master clock signal. An interface transfers packets between the master device and the slave device. A slave clock replica generator associated with the master device generates a slave clock replica that controls timing of transmission of packets by the master device over the interface. A sync request transfer is issued over the interface and has a property identifiable by the slave device irrespective of whether the sync request transfer is synchronized with the slave clock signal. In response, the slave device issues a sync response transfer indicative of at least a frequency of the slave clock signal, and the slave clock replica generator determines at least the frequency of the slave clock replica from that sync transfer.
US09292033B2

A force-feedback plane slide input device includes: a base body having a housing space formed in a rectangular shape; a slider configured to move within the housing space along a plane including a first direction and a second direction which are orthogonal to each other; an operation member integrally provided with the slider; a first actuating member configured to be actuated by movement of the operation member in the first direction; a second actuating member configured to be actuated by movement of the operation member in the second direction; and a force-feedback unit configured to feed back a sense of force to an operator. The slider includes a first slider member and second slider member. A length of an edge in the first direction of the housing space is substantially the same as a width in the first direction of the second slider member.
US09292024B2

A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first power supply line to which an input power supply voltage is to be applied, a second power supply line configured to supply a bias voltage to a load circuit, a MOS transistor having a source-drain current path connected between the first and second power supply lines, an NMOS transistor having a source-drain current path connected between the first and second power supply lines, and a control circuit configured to generate a first control signal that is supplied to a gate electrode of the PMOS transistor at a first point in time, and a second control signal that is boosted to have a voltage level higher than the input power supply voltage and then supplied to a gate electrode of the NMOS transistor at a second point in time point that is after the first point in time.
US09292015B2

A method and a system of integrating a new robot into a work environment are provided. A controller receives a signal indicating a presence of a new robot in the work environment. The controller then establishes a negotiation channel between the controller and the new robot and begins to negotiate with the new robot a set of robotic functions controllable by the controller. Based on a comparison between a set of function attributes the new robot and interface attributes of the controller, the controller generates a new robot user interface for controlling the set of robotic functions of the new robot.
US09291994B2

A cartridge includes: first and second cartridge constituent members assembled with each other; a memory for storing information on the cartridge; a color display member for displaying color information of a developer accommodated in the cartridge; first and second supporting portions provided on the first and second cartridge constituent members, wherein the first supporting portion is provided with a slit for permitting insertion of the memory, and the second supporting portion is provided with a slit for permitting insertion of the color display member; and first and second preventing portions provided on the other cartridge constituent member. When the first and second cartridge constituent members are assembled with each other, the first preventing portion prevents movement of the memory inserted in the first supporting portion, and the second preventing portion prevents movement of the color display member inserted in the second supporting portion.
US09291991B2

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device configured to form a toner image on a sheet, a fixing device, including first and second rotatable members, for forming a nip, configured to fix the toner image formed on the sheet by the image forming device, a mounting portion to which the fixing device is detachably mountable substantially along a longitudinal direction thereof, a pressing mechanism configured to press the first rotatable member toward the second rotatable member by entrance thereof, along a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, into a space of the mounting portion through which the fixing device passes during mounting and demounting, and a retracting mechanism configured to retract the pressing mechanism from the space.
US09291990B2

An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit configured to develop an electrostatic latent image, a mounting detection unit configured to detect that a container T is mounted on a mounting unit, a driving unit configured to rotate the container T, a rotation detection unit configured to detect rotation information about the container T, and a controller configured to control the driving unit based on the rotation information. If the container T is detected to be mounted on the mounting unit, control of the driving unit is not carried out based on the rotation information until replenishment information satisfies a predetermined condition.
US09291987B2

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a recording medium storage unit in which a recording medium is stored, a pickup unit to pick up the recording medium stored in the recording medium storage unit, a pair of transport rollers being engaged with each other to rotate and transport the recording medium picked up by the pickup unit; an image forming unit to form an image on the recording medium transferred by the pair of transport rollers; and a frame including a first support region to support at least one of the pair of transport rollers, and a second support region to support at least a part of the image forming unit, wherein the frame further includes a vibration blocking slit that is disposed between the first and second support regions to block vibration from being transmitted from the first support region to the second support region.
US09291985B2

A cleaning blade includes a member in which, in thermal analysis with a differential scanning calorimeter, a heat of crystal fusion ΔH1 (mJ/mg) in a crystal fusion peak 1 in a range of about 70° C. or higher and lower than about 110° C., a heat of crystal fusion ΔH2 (mJ/mg) in a crystal fusion peak 2 in a range of about 110° C. or higher and lower than about 170° C., and a heat of crystal fusion ΔH3 (mJ/mg) in a crystal fusion peak 3 in a range of about 170° C. or higher and about 200° C. or lower satisfy formulae (1) to (4), the member constituting at least a contact portion that comes in contact with a member to be cleaned. ΔH1+ΔH2>ΔH3  Formula (1) 0.0≦ΔH1≦5.0  Formula (2) 0.1≦ΔH2  Formula (3) 0.0≦ΔH3≦2.0  Formula (4)
US09291984B2

An image fixing apparatus for heating and fixing an unfixed image formed on a recording material, comprising a heater including a substrate, a first electrode provided on one side of the substrate and a second electrode provided on the other side of the substrate; and a connector, connected with the heater, for receiving electric power, the connector including an electrically insulative housing, and a contact terminal provided inside the housing and having first spring contact contacted to the first electrode and a second spring contact contacted to the second electrode, wherein the contact terminal is swingable relative to the housing.
US09291973B2

An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier on which images formed by a plurality of image forming units are transferred; a sensor configured to irradiate the image carrier with light, and detect reflected light; a detection unit configured to detect, based on an output value of the sensor, a feature value of an edge of a patch image which has been formed by the image forming unit and transferred to the image carrier; a determination unit configured to determine a position of the patch image using the output value of the sensor corresponding to the patch image and the feature value of the edge; and a color registration control unit configured to perform color registration control based on the determined position of the patch image.
US09291966B2

A fixing device includes a fixing rotator rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and an opposed rotator disposed opposite the fixing rotator to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A heater is disposed opposite the fixing rotator to heat the fixing rotator. A nip formation pad is disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. The nip formation pad includes a base, a first thermal conductor sandwiched between the base and the fixing rotator and having a first thermal conductivity greater than a thermal conductivity of the base, and a bulge projecting from the first thermal conductor toward the opposed rotator at a downstream end of the first thermal conductor in a recording medium conveyance direction.
US09291963B1

Provided is an image forming apparatus including a fixing unit that fixes a developer image which is formed on a thermoplastic recording medium by performing fixing processing that causes the recording medium on which the developer image is formed to be heated and pressed with transportation based on plural fixation parameters, a detection unit that detects an amount of extension and contraction which occurs in the recording medium by the fixing processing, and a suppression unit that controls at least one of the plural fixation parameters and suppresses the amount of extension and contraction which is detected by the detection unit.
US09291962B2

In an image-forming apparatus such as a printer, a controller judges whether or not a determination processing of fixity saturation state is performed to determine a fixing condition in which an image density of a patch is the fixity saturation state. The controller then performs the determination processing of fixity saturation state when a use condition is changed. The controller settles fixing conditions in which the image density of patch is highest as the set value when the image density of the patch is saturated. Next, the controller performs a toner adhesion amount adjustment using an intermediate transfer belt. A target value of the toner adhesion amount on the intermediate transfer belt corresponding to the target image density is set and then, an optimal developing voltage that is the set target value is set. After the toner adhesion amount adjustment, the controller performs fixity adjustment.
US09291961B1

A fixing apparatus includes a rotating member, a fixing member including a lamination of a resin layer and a conductive layer, a sheet having an unfixed image being conveyed between the rotating member and the fixing member, a heating unit configured to cause heating of the fixing member, a support for one of the rotating member and the fixing member that is movable to change a relative position of the rotating member with respect to the fixing member, and a controller configured to turn on the heating unit in a state in which the rotating member is in contact with the fixing member.
US09291959B1

An image forming apparatus includes a transfer body that transfers an image formed with toner containing a flat pigment to a recording medium; and a fixing unit that, when the image having an area coverage that is greater than or equal to a predetermined area coverage occupies a width that is less than a predetermined width of the recording medium, fixes the image to the recording medium with fixing energy having a first value, and that, when the image having the area coverage that is greater than or equal to the predetermined area coverage occupies a width that is greater than or equal to the predetermined width of the recording medium, fixes the image to the recording medium with fixing energy having a second value, the second value being greater than the first value.
US09291955B2

An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer member disposed facing the image bearing member to form a transfer region therebetween, a transfer bias application device to apply to the transfer region a transfer bias including a direct current (DC) component and an alternating current (AC) component to transfer the toner image onto the recording medium as the recording medium passes through the transfer region, and a controller operatively connected to the transfer bias application device to allow, during a bias change period in a sheet absent period in which the image bearing member rotates and no recording medium passes through the transfer region, the transfer bias application device to selectively apply to the transfer region one of the transfer bias without the AC component and the transfer bias with a peak-to-peak voltage of the AC component less than that applied in image formation.
US09291952B2

A belt assembly includes a belt formed into an endless loop, a plurality of support rollers with a rotary shaft, a shaft-end retainer, a movable supporting member, and a drive transmission device. The plurality of support rollers includes a first support roller and a second support roller. The shaft-end retainer is disposed at each end of the rotary shaft of the plurality of support rollers. The movable supporting member supports the first support roller and is movably disposed relative to the shaft-end retainer. The drive transmission device transmits a driving force to one of the plurality of support rollers. The drive transmission device and the movable supporting member are disposed on a same side as the shaft-end retainer in an axial direction of the plurality of support rollers. The drive transmission device is disposed between the shaft-end retainer and the movable supporting member in the axial direction.
US09291950B2

An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit configured to form a first image to be transferred to a sheet with a non-decolorizable material, and a second image forming unit configured to form a second image to be transferred to the sheet with a decolorizable material. At least a part of the second image transferred to the sheet is formed on the first image transferred to the sheet.
US09291949B2

A liquid development apparatus uses a developer to develop electrostatic latent images included in a plurality of image portion regions formed successively on an image carrier with an inter-image region being interposed. The liquid development apparatus includes a developer carrier and a control unit. Only a single developer carrier is provided so as to establish one-to-one relation with a single image carrier, it transports the developer to a development position opposed to the image carrier, and it develops the electrostatic latent image while it abuts to the image carrier. The control unit carries out prescribed control such that an amount of the developer supplied from the developer carrier to the inter-image region on the image carrier is reduced or set to zero.
US09291944B2

A developing device includes a housing, a stirring member, a developing unit body, a driving device, a detecting device, and a control device. The housing accommodates developer supplied from a supply means and including toner and carrier. The stirring member rotates in the housing to stir the developer. The developing unit body rotates in the housing to convey the developer toward an image carrying member from the stirring member and attaches the toner to the image carrying member. The driving device rotationally drive at least one of the stirring member and the developing unit body. The detecting device detects the torque of the driving device. The control device performs a recovery process of controlling the supply means to supply at least one of the carrier and the developer to an interior of the housing when a detection result of the detecting device has a value lower than a threshold value.
US09291941B2

A developer conveyance apparatus includes a developer storage portion configured to store developer, a developer conveyance portion arranged inside the developer storage portion and configured to convey the developer through rotation, a drive input portion configured to input a drive force to the developer conveyance portion, and a clutch arranged inside the developer storage portion and configured to transmit the drive force from the drive input portion to the developer conveyance portion, wherein the clutch is arranged inside the developer storage portion and includes at least one clutch side conveyance portion which, when receiving the drive force from the drive input portion, conveys the developer in a developer conveyance direction in which the developer conveyance portion conveys the developer.
US09291940B1

A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one embodiment includes a body having a toner reservoir containing toner and a non-volatile memory device containing a table having a plurality of toner feed rates, each toner feed rate corresponds to the number of 1/1652 of a rotation a drive element turns to move one gram of toner out the outlet port at a predetermined amount of toner in the reservoir.
US09291938B2

When a toner charging amount for toner in a liquid developer conveyed to a development portion is set, a wet-type image formation apparatus performs a sensing operation in which a sensing unit senses image densities of a plurality of patch images formed at different development biases with the toner charging amount being set to a constant value, and a setting operation in which, in a case where a control unit calculates current development characteristics based on the image densities of the plurality of patch images sensed by the sensing unit, and determines that the current development characteristics are not included within a set target range, the control unit controls a charging unit to set the toner charging amount such that the development characteristics are included within the set target range.
US09291935B2

A holder is movable in a horizontal direction between an internal position within the main casing and an external position outside of a main casing. The holder has a first opening extending in the horizontal direction. A drum unit is configured to be held by the holder and is movable in a vertical direction with respect to the holder. The drum unit includes a photosensitive drum having an axis extending in an axial direction, a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion in the axial direction. A particular pressure member is positioned in confrontation with the drum unit and urges the first end portion upward through the first opening to permit the photosensitive drum to be in contact with an endless belt when the holder is in the internal position.
US09291929B2

Toner for developing an electrostatic latent image contains toner particles, the toner particles contain a resin and a pigment, the pigment includes a first pigment, a second pigment, and a third pigment, the first pigment is carbon black, the second pigment is C. I. Pigment Brown 23 and/or C. I. Pigment Brown 25, and the third pigment is nigrosine.
US09291922B2

A composition that contains a compound represented by the formula (1) is dissolved in an organic compound, and the composition is purified by using a basic adsorbent that contains at least 15% by mass magnesium and has a volume average particle diameter of 10 μm to 500 μm, both inclusive. An undercoat-layer-forming coating liquid is prepared by removing the basic adsorbent and dispersing metal oxide particles in the obtained solution containing the purified form of the composition. An undercoat layer is formed by forming a coat of the undercoat-layer-forming coating liquid and drying the coat.
US09291919B2

There is provided an EUV exposure apparatus which restrains its optical systems or a mask used therein from being polluted by contaminations generated in its chamber. An energy beam generating source is arranged near a wafer stage set in the chamber of the EUV exposure apparatus to decompose an emission gas generated from a resist painted on the front surface of a wafer by an energy beam. In this manner, lightening mirrors configuring a lightening optical system as one of the optical systems, projection mirrors configuring a projection optical system as another of the optical systems, the mask, and others are protected from being polluted by contaminations.
US09291917B2

An exposure apparatus is equipped with an encoder system which measures positional information of a wafer stage by irradiating a measurement beam using four heads installed on the wafer stage on a scale plate which covers the movement range of the wafer stage except for the area right under a projection optical system. Placement distances of the heads here are each set to be larger than width of the opening of the scale plates, respectively. This allows the positional information of the wafer stage to be measured, by switching and using the three heads facing the scale plate out of the four heads according to the position of the wafer stage.
US09291916B2

A substrate is loaded onto a substrate support of a lithographic apparatus, after which the apparatus measures locations of substrate alignment marks. These measurements define first correction information allowing the apparatus to apply a pattern at one or more desired locations on the substrate. Additional second correction information is used to enhance accuracy of pattern positioning, in particular to correct higher order distortions of a nominal alignment grid. The second correction information may be based on measurements of locations of alignment marks made when applying a previous pattern to the same substrate. The second correction information may alternatively or in addition be based on measurements made on similar substrates that have been patterned prior to the current substrate.
US09291911B2

Apparatus for processing substrates according to a predetermined photolithography process includes a loading station in which the substrates are loaded, a coating station in which the substrates are coated with a photoresist material, an exposing station in which the photoresist coating is exposed to light through a mask having a predetermined pattern to produce a latent image of the mask on the photoresist coating, a developing station in which the latent image is developed, an unloading station in which the substrates are unloaded and a monitoring station for monitoring the substrates with respect to predetermined parameters of said photolithography process before reaching the unloading station.
US09291910B2

The disclosure is directed solutions and processes to remove substances from substrates. In some cases, the substances can include photoresist on semiconductor wafers. The solution can include hydrogen peroxide in an amount that is no greater than 15% by weight of the total weight of the solution. The solution can also include a quaternary ammonium hydroxide and water. Further, the solution can include an amine, a co-solvent, or both. One or more sides of the substrate can be contacted with the solution to remove one or more substances from the solution.
US09291907B2

Methods of forming resist features, resist patterns, and arrays of aligned, elongate resist features are disclosed. The methods include addition of a compound, e.g., an acid or a base, to at least a lower surface of a resist to alter acidity of at least a segment of one of an exposed, acidic resist region and an unexposed, basic resist region. The alteration, e.g., increase or decrease, in the acidity shifts an acid-base equilibrium to either encourage or discourage development of the segment. Such “chemical proximity correction” techniques may be used to enhance the acidity of an exposed, acidic resist segment, to enhance the basicity of an unexposed, basic resist segment, or to effectively convert an exposed, acidic resist segment to an unexposed, basic resist segment or vice versa. Thus, unwanted line breaks, line merges, or misalignments may be avoided.
US09291901B2

Disclosed herein are various amine treated maleic anhydride containing polymers and compositions thereof, which are useful for forming self-imageable films. In some embodiments, such polymers encompass norbornene-type repeating units containing pendent silyl groups and maleic anhydride-type repeating units where at least some of such maleic anhydride-type repeating units are either ring-opened or have been transformed into maleimide repeat units. The films formed from such copolymer compositions provide self imageable, low-k, thermally stable layers for use in microelectronic and optoelectronic devices.
US09291900B2

A composition for forming a lithographic resist underlayer film, including, as a silane, a hydrolyzable organosilane, a hydrolysate thereof, or a hydrolytic condensate thereof, wherein the silane includes a hydrolyzable organosilane of Formula (1) below: [(R1)aSi(R2)(3-a)]b(R3)  Formula (1) [where R3 is a group of Formula (2), (3), or (4): (in Formulae (2), (3), and (4), at least one from among R4, R5, and R6 is a group bonded to a silicon atom directly or through a linking group.), R1 is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, an alkyl halide group, an aryl halide group, an aralkyl halide group, an alkenyl group, or an organic group having an epoxy group, an acryloyl group, a methacryloyl group, a mercapto group, an amino group, or a cyano group, or a combination thereof, R2 is an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, or a halogen atom].
US09291893B2

A resist composition contains; a resin having a structural unit represented by the formula (aa) and a structural unit represented by the formula (ab); and an acid generator, wherein Raa1 represents a hydrogen atom and a methyl group; Aaa1 represents an optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkanediyl group etc.; Raa2 represents an optionally substituted C1 to C18 aliphatic hydrocarbon group; Rab1 represents a hydrogen atom and a methyl group; Aab1 represents a single bond, an optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkanediyl group etc.; W1 represents an optionally substituted C4 to C24 alicyclic hydrocarbon group; n represents 1 or 2; Aab2 in each occurrence independently represents an optionally substituted C1 to C6 aliphatic hydrocarbon group; Rab2 in each occurrence independently represents a C1 to C12 fluorinated alkyl group.
US09291883B2

An image projection apparatus includes a light source, light from which is used to form an image to be projected, a first flow path, a control unit configured to control a light emission from the light source, an electrical power stabilizing unit configured to stabilize an electrical power to be supplied to the light source, and an electrical power source unit configured to supply the electrical power to at least one of the control unit and the electrical power stabilizing unit. One or both of the electrical power source unit and the electrical power stabilizing unit is/are divided into a plurality of boards. The light source is arranged on a normal line of a surface of any of the plurality of boards. The plurality of boards configure surfaces of the first flow path except a surface nearest to the light source.
US09291881B2

An image sensor is positioned at a fixing member and adheres to and is fixed to the fixing member by pouring an adhesive into the opening. The opening is formed in a shape that extends in a short-side direction of the image sensor at a position corresponding to a substantially central portion of the image sensor in a long-side direction. The opening is formed such that an opening width on a side not facing the image sensor is larger than an opening width on a side facing the image sensor.
US09291875B2

A method for focusing a miniature camera includes providing a current through a coil, moving a lens of a camera based on the current to adjust a focus of the camera, and limiting movement of the lens along an optical path of the camera.
US09291865B2

According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate including a first area, a second area located around the first area, and a third area neighboring the second area, the first area including a pixel electrode including a strip-shaped main pixel electrode, the second area including a power supply pad, and the third area including a charge elimination pad, a first pad electrically connected to the charge elimination pad, a second pad neighboring the first pad at a first pad distance and electrically connected to the power supply pad, and a third pad neighboring the second pad at a second pad distance greater than the first pad distance.
US09291856B2

A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate that faces the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules that have negative dielectric anisotropy and a nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature (Tni) of about 110° C. or more.
US09291850B2

A polarizing plate includes a polarizer, a retardation film on a first side (e.g., a lower side) of the polarizer, and a protective film on a second side (e.g., an upper side) of the polarizer. The retardation film has an axis distortion angle between a fast axis of the retardation film and an absorption axis of the polarizer of about +0.03° to less than +0.2°. The protective film has an in-plane phase difference (Ro) of greater than about 10,000 nm and about 15,000 nm or less at a wavelength of 550 nm. A liquid crystal display apparatus includes the polarizing plate.
US09291848B2

Embodiments of the invention disclose a transflective liquid crystal panel based on ADS display mode and a display device. Each pixel unit is provided with a transmissive region and a reflective region, a thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive region is larger than that of liquid crystal layer in the reflective region. Moreover, an optical retardation film and a reflection layer are disposed in a region corresponding to the reflective region; wherein the optical retardation film is adapted for compensating optical retardation caused by a difference in the thicknesses of the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive and reflective regions.
US09291846B2

A display panel includes a base substrate, a gate line disposed under the base substrate and extending in a first direction, a data line disposed under the base substrate and extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, a thin film transistor disposed under the base substrate, and electrically connected to the gate line and the data line, a first electrode disposed under the base substrate and electrically connected to the thin film transistor, an image displaying portion disposed under the first electrode and overlapped with the first electrode, a protecting layer disposed under the image displaying portion, surrounding a lower surface of the image displaying portion and both sides of the image displaying portion in the second direction, and including a protrusion wall protruded in a direction opposite to the base substrate, and an upper polarizer disposed on the base substrate.
US09291832B2

Provided is an optical unit with shake correction function wherein it is possible to accurately swing the movable module even when a flexible wiring substrate is connected to the fixing element and movable module. In an optical unit with shake correction function, folding portions, the extending direction of which is reversed towards the vicinity of the swinging support point of a movable module, are provided at the midway portion of a flexible wiring substrate that is connected to the movable module and to a fixing element. In the folding portions, the overlapping portions of the flexible wiring substrate are fixed.
US09291828B2

For comfortable viewing of a 3-D scene at various viewing angles, a display having a large tracking range for a variable viewer distance is required. A controllable light-influencing element deflects light in coarse steps in a viewer range. Within said steps, the light is deflected by a further controllable light-influencing element continuously or with fine gradation. The light modulation device is suitable in holographic or autostereoscopic displays for guiding the visibility ranges of the image information to be displayed so as to follow the eyes of the viewers.
US09291821B1

HUD wherein increasing of full and instantaneous angular fields of view horizontal and vertical is achieved by using two or several unified sources of collimated image USCI arranged in horizontal plane, containing main and secondary optoelectronic channels each consisting of a display module forming a part of full primary image and axisymmetric collimating lens system with square shaped angular field of view provided with single optical combiner for viewing combined collimated image of primary information picture against outer space background consisting of three semitransparent reflectors, first and second installed mutually parallel above output lenses of USCI main channels, third reflector installed above output lenses of secondary channels with optical axes located between first and second reflectors and shifted related to first reflector at an angle under which operating beams of secondary channels pass through eyes box of operator.
US09291819B2

Apparatus and methods are described for creating multiple different heads-up display (HUD) images at different apparent distances from a viewer using a single picture generator. First and second images are generated using respective first and second subsets of modulating elements of an array of image pixel modulating elements of a spatial light modulator. Light from the first and second images is directed along respective first and second optical paths onto a transparent display surface to form respective first and second virtual images at different apparent distances within a field of view of a viewer looking through the display surface. In a described example, the modulating elements are micromirrors of a digital micromirror device (DMD) and optical elements of the respective optical paths are relatively movable to set relative path lengths.
US09291809B2

A scanning telescope including an on-axis four-mirror reflective telescope configured to receive electromagnetic radiation through an optical aperture and to direct and focus the electromagnetic radiation onto an imaging detector, the on-axis four-mirror reflective telescope including a rear-most mirror configured to be movable over a range of angular tilt relative to an optical axis of the scanning telescope to scan a field of view of the imaging detector over a scan range. In one example, the rear-most scanning mirror is the tertiary mirror of the four-mirror reflective telescope, and all four mirrors are axisymmetric about the optical axis of the telescope.
US09291801B2

An imaging lens includes an object-side lens group having positive refractive power; an aperture stop; and an image plane-side lens group having positive refractive power, arranged in this order from an object side to an image plane side. The object-side lens group includes a first lens having positive refractive power; a second lens having negative refractive power; and a third lens having positive refractive power. The image plane-side lens group includes a fourth lens having positive refractive power; and a fifth lens having negative refractive power. The first lens has an aspheric shape to have negative refractive power increasing toward a lens periphery from an optical axis, and has a surface on the object side having a positive curvature radius. The first to third lenses have specific focal lengths to satisfy specific conditions. The first to fifth lenses have specific Abbe's numbers to satisfy specific conditions.
US09291799B2

A zoom lens includes in order from an object side, a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a second lens group having a positive refractive power, a third lens group having a negative refractive power, and a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power, and at the time of zooming, the first lens group is fixed, the second lens group moves, the third lens group moves, and the fourth lens group is fixed. The first lens group includes in order from the object side, a negative lens, a reflecting optical element, and a positive lens. The second lens group includes in order from the object side, an aperture stop, a positive lens, a cemented lens having a negative refractive power, and a positive lens. The cemented lens includes a positive lens and a negative lens.
US09291787B2

Provided is an apparatus including: a housing having a splitter compartment; a multiple fiber adapter attached to an exterior of a front housing wall of said housing; a multiple fiber connector connected to said multiple fiber adapter and disposed in an interior of the front housing wall of said housing; an optical splitter in said splitter compartment of said housing; an input fiber optically connected to said optical splitter; and a plurality of output fibers optically connected to said optical splitter and said multiple fiber connector, wherein the housing includes a hinge plate corresponding to a bottom housing wall perpendicular to the front housing wall of said housing in a closed state and mounted on a hinge affixed to said housing at an intersection between the bottom housing wall and a rear housing wall opposite from the front housing wall.
US09291784B2

The sealing component 1 of the invention is provided with a metallic housing 19 that comprises a base part 19a, a side wall 19b connected to the base part 19a and an opening portion 19c facing to the base part 19a, and a metallic lid 20 to cover the opening portion 19c, wherein a melted portion 24 is formed around the boundary between the lid 20 and the upper edge 19b1, the melted portion 24 is formed to reach the corner 19b3 of the side wall 19b, and the melted portion 24 has a convexly-curved outward form 24a from the top face of the lid 20 to the corner 19b3 in the longitudinal cross-sectional view of the sealing component 1.
US09291779B2

The connection device for liquid-core optical fiber comprises a sleeve traversed by a channel comprising a plurality of communicating stacked conduits, a first conduit being formed from an end of the sleeve and being arranged to receive, in a sealed manner, at the corresponding end of the sleeve, one end of the optical fiber, and a second conduit being formed communicating with the first conduit, and closing means that hermetically seal the end of the second conduit opposite the end that communicates with the first conduit, the sleeve further having a third conduit for filling the internal volume of the second conduit when the latter is closed at one end by the closing device and the fiber is inserted into the first conduit, the third conduit transversely connecting the outside of the sleeve with the inside of the second conduit, and a sealing plug for hermetically sealing the port of the third conduit opening to the outside of the sleeve.
US09291773B2

Apparatus and methods for stripping tight-buffered optical fibers are disclosed. The methods include removing a portion of the buffer layer and thin-coating layer to expose the bare fiber at the optical fiber end, wherein the cuts to the optical fiber needed to strip the optical fiber are made simultaneously. In some methods, a portion of the cover is used to clean the bare fiber as the cover portion is removed. In other methods, the normal force that secures the cover is alleviated so that the cover portion can be removed without breaking the bare fiber. Different apparatus configured to effectuate the stripping methods are disclosed.
US09291772B2

The disclosure is directed at a waveguide sandwich which comprises a pair of host materials, each of the host materials housing a component waveguide. The component waveguides are then placed in physical contact with each other to form a composite waveguide thereby producing a waveguide sandwich.
US09291769B2

A colored optical fiber including a glass optical fiber; a primary coating layer that covers the glass optical fiber; a secondary coating layer that covers the primary coating layer; and a colored layer that coats the secondary coating layer. The relaxation modulus after 24 hours at 60° C. of of the layers coated is 140 MPa or less.
US09291768B2

A multicore fiber according to an aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of cores and a cladding surrounding the plurality of the cores. In this multicore fiber, a pair of cores is arranged and disposed on a linear line passed through the center of the cladding, the pair of the cores being adjacent to each other and having refractive indexes varied differently from the cladding to the cores.
US09291766B2

A color deviation balance thin film, a side-type backlight module and a liquid crystal display device. The color deviation balance thin film is applied to the side-type backlight module and the thickness of the color deviation balance thin film is gradually reduced along the backlight irradiation direction. The color deviation balance thin film is arranged in the side-type backlight module and the side-type backlight module with the color deviation balance thin film is arranged in the liquid crystal display device. When the side-type backlight module with the color deviation balance thin film is applied to the liquid crystal display device, the intensity difference of light at different positions along the backlight irradiation direction can be reduced, and the problem of the color deviation generated in the display picture can be effectively improved.
US09291765B2

A backlight unit includes a light source that emits light and a light guide plate disposed adjacent to the light source. The light guide plate includes an incident surface to which light is incident, an exit surface from which light incident through the incident surface exits, a reflection surface facing the exit surface to reflect the incident light, and a plurality of lenticular protrusions disposed on the exit surface. The reflection surface includes an inclined surface proximal to the incident surface and inclined with respect to the exit surface.
US09291760B2

A coupling-in apparatus is provided for coupling light from a light-emitting diode (1) into a fiber entry end (5) of at least one optical fiber (3). The coupling-in apparatus has a changing device (7) and a first light-guide element (13-19) arranged on the changing device (7). The first light-guide element (13-19) has specific transmission properties, an entry end (27) and an exit end (29). The changing device (7, 107) can be arranged and moved into a position with respect to the light-emitting diode (1) and the fiber entry end (5) such that the entry end (27) of the light-guide element (13-19) lies opposite the light-emitting diode (1) and the exit end (29) of the light-guide element (13-19) lies opposite the fiber entry end (5).
US09291756B2

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a filter (100). In one embodiment, the filter includes a pattern (120). The pattern may reflect or fluoresce non-visible light.
US09291753B2

In a diffraction optical element having a structure in which a base and an optical adjustment layer adhere to each other, defects such as cracks and peeling occur in the optical adjustment layer, when the adhesive strength between the base and the optical adjustment layer is degraded. In a diffraction optical element 100 of the present invention, a plurality of anchor grooves 3 are formed in a planar second region 6 of a base 1. Further, a depth of an anchor groove of the plurality of anchor grooves 3, which is positioned on an outermost side, is designed so as to be smaller than a depth of another anchor groove of the plurality of anchor grooves 3, which is positioned on an innermost side. An optical adjustment layer 9 adheres so as to cover a first region 5 in which a diffraction grating 2 is formed and the second region 6 in which the anchor grooves 3 are formed of the base 1.
US09291743B2

Disclosed are a photosensitive resin composition including (A) a colorant including a compound represented by the following Chemical Formula 1 and Chemical Formula 2, wherein in Formulae 1 and 2, each substituent is the same as defined in the detailed description; (B) an acrylic-based binder resin; (C) a photopolymerizable monomer; (D) a photopolymerization initiator; and (E) a solvent, and a color filter using the same.
US09291741B2

The present specification discloses an inspection system for detecting objects being carried by a person who is moving along a pathway. The inspection system has two detection systems configured to detect radiation scattered from the person as the person moves along the pathway and an X-ray source positioned between the detection systems. The X-ray source is configured to generate a vertical beam spot pattern and does not generate beams that move horizontally.
US09291736B2

Methods and systems for a surface-consistent amplitude and deconvolution simultaneous joined inversion are described. A one-pass estimation using input trace data for generating gain and deconvolution operator based on a least squares iteration method. A series of iterations are performed simultaneously and independently estimating amplitude scalars and autocorrelation spectra with a common convergence criterion. The gain and deconvolution operator can further be used to correct the input trace data for pre-stack or stack imaging.
US09291730B2

A stress-relief device is provided, which is configured for being mounted on a geophysical equipment or node connected to at least two cables. The device includes a case configured for surrounding the geophysical equipment or node and for making at least an opening for enabling a connection between each of the at least two cables and the geophysical equipment or node. The device also includes a housing for housing a portion of each of the two cables, the housing being configured for substantially preventing any movement of said portions of the two cables.
US09291728B2

The invention relates to a seismic acquisition process where multiple seismic sources are used to acquire seismic energy using encoding so that all of the sources may deliver seismic energy at the same time where the sweeps are arranged to be back to back with no listen time and wherein a pseudo listen time that is uncontaminated is created in the composite data record. After the listen time is created, the composite data may be source separated for further processing and analysis.
US09291725B2

A method and apparatus for reducing random events in positron emission tomography (PET) list mode data, the method including the steps of obtaining, for a PET scanner having a given reconstruction field of view (FOV), time-of-flight (TOF) prompt list-mode count data that includes TOF information, the TOF prompt list-mode count data including a plurality of entries; and filtering the obtained prompt list-mode count data by removing those entries in the obtained prompt list-mode count data that represent emission points lying outside a tangential TOF mask to obtain filtered list-mode count data.
US09291721B2

A photon counting detector and a photon counting and detecting method using the same is provided. The photon counting detector includes readout circuits configured to count photons in multi-energy radiation incident to a sensor, the photons being counted with respect to each of a plurality of energy bands of the multi-energy radiation, the readout circuits respectively corresponding to pixels of a region onto which the multi-energy radiation is irradiated, each of the readout circuits being configured to count photons in a predetermined one of the energy bands, at least one of the readout circuits being configured to count photons in at least one of energy bands other than the predetermined one of the energy bands.
US09291719B1

A radiation imaging system includes a casing and a camera disposed inside the casing. A first field of view through the casing exposes the camera to light from outside of the casing. An image plate is disposed inside the casing, and a second field of view through the casing to the image plate exposes the image plate to high-energy particles produced by a radioisotope outside of the casing. An optical reflector that is substantially transparent to the high-energy particles produced by the radioisotope is disposed with respect to the camera and the image plate to reflect light to the camera and to allow the high-energy particles produced by the radioisotope to pass through the optical reflector to the image plate.
US09291709B2

A dump truck includes a body and a plurality of cameras. The body includes an upper deck and a main frame disposed in a longitudinal direction. The cameras are configured and arranged to obtain images to be combined to generate a bird's-eye image to monitor a periphery of the dump truck. The cameras include a front camera, a rear camera and side cameras. The front camera is disposed at the front of the upper deck to obtain an image of an area in front of the body. The rear camera is disposed at a rear end of the main frame to obtain an image of an area in rear of the body. The side cameras are respectively provided on left and right sides of the upper deck to obtain images of an area between diagonally to the front and diagonally to the rear of the body.
US09291705B2

A signal processing device is provided. The device includes a signal input unit for receiving reception signals obtained from transmission signals reflecting on one or more objects, a pulse compressor for pulse compressing the reception signals, an interference detector for detecting a reception signal caused by interference, from the pulse-compressed reception signals, a signal level controlling module for controlling a level of the detected reception signal, and an interpolation processing module for interpolating the level-controlled reception signal in an azimuth direction.
US09291694B2

Some embodiments can concern a method of using an electrical sensor device. The method can include: determining a first current measurement of a first current in an electrical power infrastructure and a first phase angle measurement of the first current; determining that a first load is coupled to the electrical power infrastructure; while the first load is coupled to the electrical power infrastructure, determining a second current measurement of a second current in the electrical power infrastructure and a second phase angle measurement of the second current; and using a Kalman filter to determine one or more first calibration coefficients for the electrical sensor device at least in part using the first current measurement, the second current measurement, the first phase angle, and the second phase angle. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09291693B2

The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a main magnet to generate a static magnetic field in an imaging region, a gradient coil assembly to form a gradient in the static magnetic field, a radio frequency (RF) coil assembly to apply a first RF pulse and second RF pulse with respect to n (n≧2) slice regions located at different positions in the imaging region, to excite atomic nuclei of the slice regions, and a controller to control the RF coil assembly to apply a first RF pulse and second RF pulse having a first center frequency f0 to a first slice and to apply a first RF pulse having a second center frequency f0+fs1 and a second RF pulse having a third center frequency f0−fs1 to a second slice.
US09291684B2

A wireless field device assembly comprises a process sensor, a housing, a transmitter, and a power module. The process sensor is configured to monitor a process variable and produce a sensor signal. The housing encloses an interior space of the wireless field device. The transmitter is enclosed within the interior space, and is configured to process the sensor signal. The power module is configured to be housed in the interior space, and comprises an energy storage device, a connection to a local power source, and a processor configured to provide the transmitter with a diagnostic report of the energy storage device and the local power source.
US09291683B2

A power conversion unit includes a power converter and a controller coupled to the secondary or output stage of the power converter. The power conversion unit is configured to generate an output test voltage or current during a pre-start test period of the power converter, where the output test voltage or current is monitored to determine a converter fault condition. A method of operating a power conversion unit is also included.
US09291677B1

Method and system that produce requisite drive signals to fully exercise and test electromechanical elements of a liquid rocket stage including solenoid valve drives, DC motor drives and actuator drive signals. The electrical driver tester includes a signal processor, power driver circuits, and A/D and D/A circuits to monitor and control the drive circuitry. Drive current is monitored and a signal proportional to the current is produced for the purpose of analyzing current profiles as part of the test regimen for the device under test. Actuator speed and positioning are controlled in real time with a tailored lead lag control algorithm implemented with digital signal processor hardware.
US09291671B2

There is provided a semiconductor integrated circuit in which a ring oscillator is formed by a variable delay circuit to cause the ring oscillator to oscillate (S2) at the test operation of the variable delay circuit and it is determined whether the variable delay circuit is normal or abnormal depending on whether the ring oscillator satisfies a predetermined monotonic increase condition (S6) and a predetermined linearity condition (S7).
US09291670B2

A device includes an integrated circuit programmed with an operating surface equation. The operating surface equation may define an operating point as a function of operating voltage, operating frequency, and leakage current. The operating surface equation may be generated by fitting a surface equation to data for operating voltage and operating frequency versus leakage current for a plurality of test integrated circuits. An operating voltage of the integrated circuit at a given operating frequency may be determined by the operating surface equation and a leakage current value fused into the device.
US09291665B2

A test structure of a semiconductor wafer includes a series of electrical units connected electrically in series output-to-input in an open loop configuration. The series of electrical units is configured to have alternating output voltages, such that each electrical unit is configured to output a voltage opposite an output voltage of a preceding electrical unit. Each electrical unit is configured to have an output voltage that alternates when an input voltage applied to a first electrical unit in the series of electrical units alternates.
US09291664B2

A device for avoiding spark discharge during high voltage testing of semiconductor components on semiconductor wafers, includes a pressure chamber provided for the semiconductor wafer in a sealed manner, and having a pressurized gas feed so that the interior thereof is subjected to overpressure and thus the sparking voltage for a spark discharge between contact faces is higher than the maximum test voltage to be applied. The pressure chamber is connected to a probe card including contact probes. The pressure chamber has a movable part, which is movable relative to the parts of the pressure chamber connected to the probe card. An air bearing in the gap between the pressure chamber and the semiconductor wafer holds the movable part of the pressure chamber in a sealed manner spaced from the surface of the semiconductor wafer. The movable part is pressed by a spring force towards the semiconductor wafer.
US09291659B2

A system includes an antenna having a substrate and a plurality of antenna elements disposed on the substrate. A processing device is configured to measure an aperture function across an aperture of the antenna and determine whether at least one of the antenna elements is blocked based at least in part on the measured aperture function.
US09291655B2

A voltage stability monitoring apparatus monitors the voltage stability of a transmission corridor through which power flows between different parts of a power system. The apparatus monitors an equivalent load impedance at an interface between the transmission corridor and a part of the power system designated as generating the power. This equivalent load impedance at the interface comprises a ratio of a voltage phasor at the interface to a current phasor at the interface. The apparatus tracks a Thevenin equivalent voltage and impedance of the designated part by separately updating that voltage and impedance. Notably, the apparatus updates the imaginary part of the Thevenin equivalent voltage to reflect the magnitude of any changes in the voltage phasor that are associated with large variations in the magnitude of the equivalent load impedance at the interface. The apparatus computes an index indicating the voltage stability as a function of this tracked Thevenin equivalent voltage and impedance.
US09291648B2

Hybrid magnetic current sensors and sensing apparatus are presented with closed-loop and open-loop circuitry employs first and second integrated magnetic sensors to sense a magnetic field in a magnetic core structure gap to provide high accuracy current measurement via a closed-loop magnetic circuit with the first sensor in a nominal current range as well as open-loop current measurement using the second sensor in an extended second range to accommodate over-current conditions in a host system as well as to provide redundant current sensing functionality.
US09291645B2

A probe unit includes: contact probes; and a probe holder, each of the contact probe including a plunger and a spring coil, each of the plunger including: a contact portion contacting an electrode of a contacted body; a flange portion extending from a base end of the contact portion and having a diameter larger than a diameter of the contact portion; a boss portion extending from an end of the flange portion different from an end continuing to the contact portion and having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the flange portion; and a base end portion extending from an end of the boss portion different from an end continuing to the flange portion and having a substantially same diameter with the boss portion.
US09291643B2

A current applying device is provided in which a contact body which surface-contacts with an inspection target body makes contact with the surface of the inspection target body uniformly; current can be favorably applied from the contact body to the inspection target body; and the contact body alone can be replaced. A probe device 1 for applying current by being in pressure-contact with the power semiconductor H includes: a contact body 2 which surface-contacts with the power semiconductor H; and a plurality of electrically-conductive two-tier springs 31 which press the contact body 2 onto the power semiconductor H; the contact body 2 and the plurality of electrically-conductive two-tier springs 31 are separate bodies, and the plurality of electrically-conductive two-tier springs 31 electrify the contact body 2 while providing pressing force F to each of a plurality of sections of the contact body 2.
US09291637B2

A system for damping a wind vane includes a damping assembly configured to utilize eddy currents to dampen rotational motion of at least a portion of the wind vane. The damping assembly may provide damping of the wind vane to accommodate for sudden changes in wind speed and/or direction while allowing the wind vane to maintain accurate measurements and response in low wind conditions. The damping assembly may reduce the wind vane's susceptibility to oscillation, thereby improving accuracy of the wind vane.
US09291636B1

Disclosed herein are example methods, systems, and devices involving electrically-conductive wires, such as standard IC bonding wires, that are configured so as to operate as inertial sensors. One embodiment of the disclosed methods, systems, and devices may take the form of a system that includes a first electrically-conductive wire and a second electrically-conductive wire, where the first wire and the second wire are electromagnetically coupled; and a sensor oscillator, where the sensor oscillator is coupled to the first wire and the second wire, and where the sensor oscillator is configured to output a sensor-oscillator signal that is frequency modulated based on a change in complex impedance between the first wire and the second wire, where the change in complex impedance is due to a displacement of the first wire relative to the second wire.
US09291634B2

Chemical analysis apparatus for inserting a sample serving as an analyzable substance and a reagent into a reaction container and agitating by irradiating sound waves to the reaction container, the chemical analysis apparatus including: a piezoelectric element generating sound waves; and a driver for driving the piezoelectric element, and including: a wave form producing device for producing an oscillation waveform having a fundamental frequency of the sound waves to be irradiated; an auxiliary waveform producing device for producing an oscillation wave form having a frequency lower than that of the oscillation waveform; a multiplying circuit creating a multiplied waveform between the waveform and the wave form; and, a power amplifier for power-amplifying the multiplied waveform, wherein it is intermittently irradiated with the sound wave in the reaction container, and further, the wave form producing device has a function capable of frequency-modulation with a prescribed frequency width.
US09291632B2

An automated platelet function analyzer includes a sampling vessel, a preparation vessel, an analysis vessel, a sampling needle, a blood sample syringe, a platelet agonist syringe, an analysis solution syringe and a blood mixing device. A method for platelet analysis is also disclosed.
US09291628B2

The present invention describes a spatial addressing technique that uses a very high-density micro-pore array for high-throughput screening of biological interactions. The therapeutic, diagnostic and drug-discovery implications of being able to identify, select and characterize specific protein-protein, protein-DNA and/or protein-carbohydrate interactions from heterogeneous populations of millions (to billions) of cells is discussed. Importantly, this technique possesses the screening and selection capacity of current display-based screening systems (i.e., millions-billions) but with greater efficiency and shorter time.
US09291627B2

The present invention provides methods, kits and compositions for the detection of an analyte. In the methods of the invention, a binding molecule coupled to a first polymerase is incubated with a modified polynucleotide template to form a copy of the modified polynucleotide template without any modified nucleotides. The unmodified copy is detected in a second amplification/primer extension reaction using a second polymerase that is unable to amplify the modified polynucleotide template. Detection of the unmodified copy is indicative of the presence and/or amount of the analyte in the sample. In place of the binding molecule coupled to a first polymerase, a pair of analyte-specific probes can also be used. The first analyte specific probe comprises a first binding moiety and a first portion of a first polymerase and the second analyte specific probe comprises a second binding moiety and a second portion of the first polymerase. When the binding moieties are bound to the analyte the first and second portions of the polymerase interact to form a functional polymerase complex that is used to form a copy of the modified polynucleotide template without any modified nucleotides.
US09291616B2

The present invention provides for compositions and methods for a purified fungal carbohydrate-linked polymer bead platform, which can serve as an artificial fungus-like particle to measure specific patient immune responses to fungal carbohydrate antigens. A specific embodiment comprises a purified β-1,3-glucan chemically conjugated to a polymer bead.
US09291610B2

An exemplary embodiment can be an apparatus for real-time, in situ measurement of gas compositions and heating values. The apparatus includes a near infrared sensor for measuring concentrations of hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide, a mid infrared sensor for measuring concentrations of carbon monoxide and a semiconductor based sensor for measuring concentrations of hydrogen gas. A data processor having a computer program for reducing the effects of cross-sensitivities of the sensors to components other than target components of the sensors is also included. Also provided are corresponding or associated methods for real-time, in situ determination of a composition and heating value of a fuel gas.
US09291606B2

A quality control (“QC”) system for PET or SPECT radiopharmaceuticals is disclosed that contains a disposable, no-leakage, self-contained QC cassette, which interfaces with the QC system. The QC system may include a shield that substantially surrounds the cassette such that the area and the cassette are both shielded. The QC cassette may contain shielding also. The QC cassette contains components for conducting one or more QC tests. These components include sensor and devices for performing various QC tests on radiopharmaceuticals. The QC system may contain a number of sub-systems and devices for supporting the QC tests. The QC system may produce a QC report containing the test results.
US09291601B2

To obtain ambient sound velocity of a subject with high accuracy in a ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus. In an ambient sound velocity obtaining method that transmits ultrasonic waves from an ultrasonic probe, receives reflected waves reflected by a subject to obtain received signals, performs a receive focusing process on the received signals using receive delay times based on a plurality of sound velocity settings to obtain in-phase sum signals with respect to each sound velocity setting, and obtains an ambient sound velocity of the subject based on the in-phase sum signals with respect to each sound velocity setting, the in-phase sum signals with respect to each sound velocity setting is separated into an in-phase sum signal corresponding to a boundary portion in the subject and an in-phase sum signal corresponding to portions other than the boundary portion, an index is obtained based on at least either one of the in-phase sum signals, and the ambient sound velocity is obtained based on the index.
US09291598B2

A biological information acquiring system includes a biological information acquiring apparatus having a biological information acquiring section, and a magnetic field generation section, and the biological information acquiring apparatus includes: a power source section which supplies power for driving the biological information acquiring section; a magnetic field detection section which outputs a magnetic field detection signal according to a detection result of a magnetic field generated from the magnetic field generation section; a first switching control section which performs control an on/off state of a first switch section connected to the power source section based on an output state of the magnetic field detection signal; and a second switching control section which performs control the on/off state of a second switch section connected between the first switch section and the biological information acquiring section, based on the output state of the magnetic field detection signal.
US09291595B2

A monitoring method of metal ions or oxygen ions applicable to a high concentration non-aqueous electrolyte includes: applying a potential in a non-aqueous electrolyte to obtain current information with respect to the potential; varying the potential applied in the non-aqueous electrolyte containing metal ion concentration or oxygen ion concentration such that the metal ion concentration or the oxygen ion concentration is maintained in spite of the potential being applied; detecting a linear relationship among the concentration, the current, and passed charges in the non-aqueous electrolyte by repeatedly performing the obtaining step and the varying step, while changing the concentration; and calculating metal ion concentration or oxygen ion concentration of the non-aqueous electrolyte in pyroprocessing of the non-aqueous electrolyte by using the linear relationship. Concentration and components of a solute existing in a non-aqueous electrolyte can be measured while an electrowinning process and pyroprocessing is being conducted.
US09291581B2

The present invention provides a method for evaluating energy loss in a polymeric material, wherein the method provides sufficient evaluation of the difference in performance between samples with excellent measurement accuracy; a method for evaluating chipping resistance of a polymeric material, wherein the method provides evaluation in a short period of time and at low cost with excellent measurement accuracy; and a method for evaluating abrasion resistance of a polymeric material, wherein the method provides sufficient evaluation of the difference in performance between samples with excellent measurement accuracy. The present invention relates to methods for evaluating energy loss, chipping resistance, and abrasion resistance of a polymeric material, and the methods include irradiating the polymeric material with X-rays or neutrons to perform X-ray scattering measurement or neutron scattering measurement.
US09291576B2

Generally discussed herein are systems, apparatuses, and methods that can detect a defect in a die. According to an example, a method can include transmitting a first beam of light with a wavelength and optical power configured to produce a reflected beam with at least one milli-Watt of power, linearly polarizing the first beam of light in a specific direction, circularly polarizing the linearly polarized light by a quarter wavelength to create circularly polarized light, directing the circularly polarized light to a device under test, linearly polarizing light reflected off the device under test by a quarter wavelength, or creating an image of the linearly polarized light reflected off the device under test.
US09291567B2

A microfluidic system has a monolithic biocompatible substrate with both a surface having an ordered array of nano-scale elements for plasmonic response monitoring and a network of microchannels. Advantageously, low-volume consumption, rapid low-cost fabrication of molds with easily interchangeable microfluidic channel layouts, mass production, and in situ label-free real-time detection of cellular response, viability, behavior and biomolecular binding using plasmonic techniques can be provided. A ratio of greater than 0.2 of the cross-sectional dimension and the spacing between the nano-scale elements is useful for plasmonic response monitoring. Producing such a system involves a master mold with the nano-scale elements etched into a hard substrate, and the network provided in a soft membrane bonded to the hard substrate. A stamp may be created by setting a settable liquid polymer or metal placed in the master mold. Features of the intended device can be transferred to a polymeric substrate using the stamp.
US09291555B2

A smoke detecting method which uses a beam of radiation such as a laser (16), to monitor a region, such as a room (12). A camera (14) is used to capture images of part of the room (12), including a path of the laser beam. Particles in the laser beam scatter light (30), and this is captured by the camera (14) for analysis. A processor (20) extracts data relating to the scattered light (30) to determine the density of particles in the beam, to determine the level of smoke in the region. The laser may have a modulated output (38) so that images captured without the laser tuned “on” can be used as a reference point and compared to images taken with the laser turned “on”, to assist in determining the level of scattered light (30) compared to ambient light. Filters (24, 26) may be used to decrease signals generated from background light.
US09291552B2

The present describes a system and method for determining the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) including a tray comprising a first analyte including an infusion of a solvent and cannabis, a light emitting element configured to illuminate the first analyte, a light receiving element configured to receive a first light transmitted through the first analyte, and a control circuit configured to calculate a concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol in the first analyte based at least in part on the first light.
US09291545B1

A soil analysis device is configured to create a soil sample solution. The device includes a reservoir configured to store an extractant, a mixing chamber coupled to the reservoir and configured to receive extractant from the reservoir and to receive a raw soil sample, and a control system. The control system is configured to determine an amount of extractant needed to produce, from the raw soil sample, a soil sample solution with a particular soil-to-extractant ratio and configured to cause the determined amount of extractant to be transferred from the reservoir to the mixing chamber.
US09291544B1

In a computer-implemented method and system for capturing the condition of a structure, the structure is scanned with a three-dimensional (3D) scanner. The 3D contact scanner includes a tactile sensor system having at least one tactile sensor for generating 3D data points based on tactile feedback resulting from physical contact with at least part of the structure. A 3D model is constructed from the 3D data and is then analyzed to determine the condition of the structure.
US09291543B1

The present invention relates to surface mount structures including a capacitive element or a resistive element, where the element has a property that is responsive to an environmental condition. In particular examples, the structure can be optionally coupled to a printed circuit board. Other apparatuses, surface mountable structures, and methods of use are described herein.
US09291538B2

The present invention provides a hardness tester capable of accurately detecting a point where an indenter contacts a sample in instrumented indentation testing. Prior to beginning measurement, the hardness tester defines an expected range for a value for a displacement, speed, or acceleration of an indenter during a process of approaching a sample. After measurement has begun, the hardness tester measures the value for the displacement, speed, or acceleration of the indenter during the process of approaching the sample. When the measured value is not within the expected range, the hardness tester determines that detection of a zero point has failed.
US09291536B2

An apparatus, method, and material wherein the material's viscoelastic and/or fatigue life may be altered by application of a secondary tuning electromagnetic field or a selected temperature, and the material's viscoelastic and/or fatigue properties are measured by a mechanical response of the material caused by applying a primary driving electromagnetic field.
US09291534B2

Provided is a cell collection apparatus includes: a supporter that supports a sheet to which a back surface of a substrate is pasted, the substrate being divided in to plural small pieces with a section of a tissue pasted on a front surface thereof; a needle including needle tips; and a holder that is configured to hold the needle with the needle tips facing the sheet on an opposite side to a substrate side of the sheet, and to move the needle in the forward direction of the needle tips, wherein at least two needle tips are arranged within a region narrower than the back surface of the small piece substantially on the identical plane intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the needle.
US09291529B2

A syringe with a syringe cylinder and a syringe, with a seat for the syringe cylinder and an axially displaceable piston seat for the syringe piston. There is an encoding on the syringe cylinder with encoding elements as protrusions and deepenings (depressions) at seven encoding positions, checking elements in the form of further protrusions and further deepenings at seven checking positions, each being disposed between two encoding positions. The encoding elements and the checking elements have six protrusions in total, and a guiding structure to align the syringe on a further guiding structure with each encoding element and with each checking element to a sensing element, said further guiding structure being disposed in the seat of the metering device and having a certain position with respect to an annular sensing device for sensing the encoding by sensing elements of the metering device that are across the circumference.
US09291522B2

Determining position parameters defining relative position of a manufactured derivable surface relative to a reference surface, the process comprising: providing a nominal surface expressed in a nominal frame of reference and corresponding to the theoretical derivable surface to be manufactured with the nominal value of the position parameters defining the relative position of the nominal surface relative to the reference surface, providing a measured surface of the manufactured derivable surface expressed in the nominal frame of reference, providing at least one deformation surface defined by at least one deformation adjustable parameter, determining a composed surface by adding the measured surface and the deformation surface, determining the position parameters and at least one deformation parameter by minimizing the difference between the nominal surface and the composed surface.
US09291520B2

A leak detection system includes a housing for installation within a hydrant; at least one leak detection sensor within the housing; and a transmitter circuit in communication with the at least one leak detection sensor for communicating leak detection data.
US09291489B2

A method for the gravimetric mass metering of bulk solids via a container with the bulk solid to be metered and a volumetric conveying device, via which the bulk solid coming from the container with a mass flow, which chronologically follows a target value for a target feed rate, is conveyed, and a differential metering scale suitable for such purpose. The bulk solid, after leaving the conveying device can pass through a mass flow measuring device and the mass flow measuring device calculates a second signal representing the mass flow, and based on the second signal representing the mass flow and the first control signal, a second control device calculates a second signal and delivers the signal to a drive of the conveying device for controlling the conveying device.
US09291488B2

A measurement device determines a volume flow based on acoustic flow measurement methods in a pump system and a method produces the measurement device. The measurement device includes a measurement path with two coupling wedges with two sound transducers disposed on the coupling wedges. The pump system and the coupling wedges are made of metal or a metal alloy.
US09291484B2

Methods of correlating a monitoring device to the service life of a filter cartridge include providing a monitoring device, and calibrating the monitoring device to correspond to the service life of a filter cartridge. The monitoring device comprises a demand substance within a receptacle, a sensing element with a detection point, a reader for the sensing element, and a fluid delivery device. Calibration includes determining the ratio of the residence time of the monitoring device to the residence time of the filter cartridge, and utilizing the ratio to correlate the response of the sensor within the monitoring device to the service life of the filter cartridge. The response of the sensor is correlated to the service life of the filter cartridge by control of the fluid delivery parameters of the fluid delivery device. The fluid delivery parameters include the flow rate, the demand substance mass, the receptacle cross sectional area, the receptacle volume, the receptacle length, and the demand substance packing density.
US09291463B2

A method of verifying or filling in attribution associated with segments of transportation networks that are digitally mapped from a digital transportation network database includes analyzing the database to identify at least one attribute of interest that is missing or whose accuracy is unreliable and associated with a segment of the network in; identifying first and second segments before and after segment in question which have associated attribution determined to be accurate; gathering a plurality of probe traces from users of probe-transmitting navigation devices that have traversed the segment(s) in question as well as traversed the first and second; and determining whether the probe-derived attribution information is reliable, and if so, comparing the trend of the probe-derived attribute information of the first and second segments with the trend of the database attributes of the first and second segments, and if there is a positive correlation, applying the probe-derived attribute information to the database for the segment(s) in question to fill in the missing or verify the unreliable database attribution for the segment(s) in question.
US09291461B2

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to indoor localization, for example, where GPS or other localization signals are unavailable. More particularly, the estimated location, and in some examples the estimated heading, of a client device may be displayed on a display of the client device. As the device is moved through the indoor space, its location and/or orientation may be estimated based on measurements from one or more orientation devices. Typically, as the client device moves through an indoor space, the location estimation may become less and less accurate. This may be addressed by allowing the user to correct the current location and/or heading. The correction may be logged by the client device and transmitted to a server for further processing.
US09291454B2

In a stake-out marker for staking out buildings and the like with a foot plate (10) and a carrier plate (16) carrying a reflection element (22) the carrier plate (16) can be adjusted relative to the foot plate (10) between a transport position in which the carrier plate (16) lies substantially parallel to the foot plate (10) and a work position in which the carrier plate (16) stands vertically to the foot plate (10). The foot plate (10) has at least one perforation (48, 50, 56) with a first edge (52) running parallel to the carrier plate (16), standing in its work position, in the reference plane (20) of the reflection element (22), and with a second edge lying vertically to the first edge in a plane running vertically to the foot plate (10) through the center of the reflection element (22).
US09291452B2

An undulation detection device includes a two-dimensional sensor configured to emit a sensing wave for distance measurement in a plurality of directions forming different lateral and vertical angles and to measure respective distances to objects from which the sensing wave is reflected, and a processor performs detecting an undulation of the measurement surface or an obstacle placed on the measurement surface from which the sensing wave is reflected, on the basis of a difference among the distances in the different directions, the difference being measured by the two-dimensional sensor, and outputting an undulation detection report, when an in-plane size of the undulation of the measurement surface or the obstacle placed on the measurement surface is equal to or more than a threshold.
US09291451B2

A method for measuring the centricity of a conductor in an insulating casing, in which the string formed by the conductor with its insulating casing is moved along a conveying direction. A device for measuring the centricity of a conductor in an insulating casing includes an inductive measuring apparatus, first and second optical measuring apparatus and an evaluation apparatus.
US09291448B2

A detection device includes an irradiation unit that irradiates a medium with first irradiation light, a first optical system that has a first incident surface and changes the first irradiation light into second irradiation light, a second optical system that has a second incident surface and changes the first irradiation light into third irradiation light, and a light receiving unit that is provided in a traveling direction of reflection light of the second irradiation light and the third irradiation light, which are specularly reflected by the medium, and receives the reflection light of the second irradiation light and the third irradiation light, which are specularly reflected by the medium, so as to detect a positional deviation amount of an image formed on the medium and detect a density deviation amount of the image formed on the medium.
US09291447B2

A method for manually controlling the motion of a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) is disclosed. The method may include providing at least one guide element motion tracking sensor; defining a guide element active tracking volume relative to one of the guide element tracking sensor and a portion of the CMM; placing a guide element in the active motion tracking volume; tracking the position of the guide element; and moving a measurement probe of the CMM in response to the tracked position (e.g., to follow the position changes). The method may further include detecting a tracking motion activation trigger indicator or condition, and operating the CMM to move the measurement probe portion of the CMM according to the tracking motion after the tracking motion activation trigger indicator or condition is detected and according to the condition that the guide element is located in the active tracking volume.
US09291446B2

The invention lies in the field of optical metrology and related to optical coherence tomography (OCT). In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the depth-dependent adaptation of the dynamic range of an OCT system to the profile of the backscattered power to be measured. The dynamic range of the measuring method can therefore be decoupled from the dynamic range of the analog/digital converter used. The invention is used, in particular, in the characterization of strongly scattering or strongly absorbing biological or technical samples.
US09291439B2

A rock-fracturing mining explosive element; said explosive element subjected to an initial spreading against a target surface on impact of said explosive element with said target surface; said explosive element so constructed as to control the rate of spreading and compression against said surface prior to detonation.
US09291438B2

A system includes a catamaran configured for use in a body of water and having twin hulls, the catamaran comprising an opening between the twin hulls, the opening having a size and shape substantially the same as a payload module. The system also includes the payload module removably coupled to the catamaran in the opening between the twin hulls. The system further includes a common interface coupled to the payload module and the catamaran, the common interface configured to exchange utilities between the payload module and the catamaran.
US09291437B2

A warhead system, method and apparatus. A warhead includes a liner having a longitudinal axis that runs down the center of the liner. The liner includes a liner pattern and a liner shape. The liner shape is selected and a radial distance from the longitudinal axis is selected. The liner pattern is warped as a function of the selected distance and the shape of the liner to reduce the effects of spoking in the post-detonation fragmentation pattern at the selected distance. The liner is then formed as a function of the warped liner pattern.
US09291433B2

A composite assembly useful for resisting the penetration of projectiles. The composite assembly comprises a plurality of ballistic fabric layers and a plurality of distinct films. The plurality of distinct films is adjacent the plurality of ballistic fabric layers. Each distinct film of the plurality of distinct films comprises thermoplastic polymer. Each distinct film of the plurality of distinct films has an elongational strength index of at least 800 psi.
US09291432B2

A gas producing device comprising a ferroelectric (FEG) or ferromagnetic (FMG) generator material wrapped by a conductor, wherein the conductor is in contact with a dielectric material. A ferroelectric or ferromagnetic generator material is polarized or magnetized. When a shock wave impacts the FEG or FMG, the polarization or magnetization of the material is rapidly destroyed. The rapid destruction of the magnet by breaking it into small pieces causes the magnetic field to go to zero very quickly. When the field changes quickly it induces a high current through the wrapped conductor or coil. When the current passes through the conductor in contact with the dielectric material it generates heat and vaporizes the dielectric material creating a high pressure gas. A reactive armor may comprise the gas producing device, wherein the high pressure gas moves one or more armor plates to defeat an anti-armor threat.
US09291424B2

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for improving situational awareness for a user of a firearm are disclosed. An example camera system for a firearm includes a camera assembly, display panel, a mounting fixture, and switching mechanism. An example camera assembly includes a plurality of cameras fixedly oriented in a plurality of different directions. An example mounting fixture is secured to the camera assembly and configured to be removably attached to a firearm. An example switch is configured to select between the plurality of cameras to cause an image from the selected camera to be displayed on the display panel. An example method includes activating a firearm-mounted camera system, receiving a switch input from a user selecting a camera, generating an image of a portion of an environment with the selected camera, and displaying the image on a display panel to alert the user to conditions in the portion of the environment.
US09291419B2

A novel cleaning patch system comprising a novel patch grip for cleaning firearm barrels is disclosed. A patch grip includes an arbor and a plug. The arbor includes a base, a stem extending from the base, and an elongate crest connected to the stem. The plug includes an elongate passage therethrough that generally matches the dimensions of the elongate crest. The plug further comprises relatively recessed and/or protruding structures on the face of the plug adjacent the elongate passage that engage the crest of the arbor and prevent inadvertent rotation of the plug on the arbor during firearm cleaning.
US09291414B2

A buttstock assembly configured to work in conjunction with a compact buffer assembly consisting of a buffer tube, spring and bolt carrier with an integral buffer is provided. The buttstock assembly, buffer tube and bolt carrier are configured to work with AR15/M16 type firearms and their derivatives. By incorporating the buffer onto the bolt carrier, which is used in conjunction with a buffer tube of reduced length, the overall length of the host firearm is reduced by approximately 3.2 inches. No permanent modification need be made to the host firearm in order to utilize the compact buffer assembly and buttstock assembly disclosed herein.
US09291410B2

The present invention relates to a cooling device (2) for cooling combustion gases from a rocket motor (1) in an antitank weapon. The cooling device (2) comprises a coolant reservoir (3, 21) containing a coolant (4). The coolant reservoir (3, 21) is arranged such that the coolant (4) is transferred from the coolant reservoir (3, 21) to the combustion gases in the gas outlets (6) of the rocket motor (1) in response to a pressure increase in the rocket motor (1). The coolant reservoir (3, 21) constitutes an integral part of the rocket motor (1) and is connected to the combustion chamber (7) by at least two gas inlets (8) for pressurization of the coolant (4). The coolant reservoir is furthermore connected to the rocket motor nozzle (9) by at least two coolant outlets (10) for transfer of coolant (4) from the coolant reservoir (3, 21) to the rocket motor nozzle (9).
US09291407B2

A micro-channel heat exchanger includes an inlet manifold fluidly connected with an outlet manifold by a plurality of generally parallel tubes, further defining a plurality of generally parallel micro-channels therethrough. Refrigerant is introduced to the heat exchanger through a distributor tube disposed within the inlet manifold. The distributor tube includes a plurality of non-circular openings disposed along the length thereof which act as an outlet for refrigerant flow into the inlet manifold and eventually into and through the tubes and micro-channels. The openings are preferably slots arranged along the length of the distributor tube at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the distributor tube and oriented within the inlet manifold for a general direction of refrigerant flow at an angle relative to the general direction of refrigerant flow through the tubes. Alternative shapes for the openings are also considered.
US09291397B2

A cooling tower system and/or fluid cooler that provides desired cooling performance, without the use of pressurized or gravity based nozzle spray systems.
US09291396B2

A header tank for a heat exchanger for supplying a heat exchange fluid to a core unit in which a plurality of tubes are provided side by side includes an inlet part for introducing the heat exchange fluid into the header tank, and a plurality of ribs projecting into the header tank, extending in directions intersecting with a central axis direction of the inlet part, arranged side by side in the central axis direction and configured to cause the heat exchange fluid to flow into the tubes. The plurality of ribs project more into the header tank with increasing distance from the inlet part.
US09291387B2

The present invention relates to an improved process for recovery of natural gas liquids from a natural gas feed stream. The process runs at a constant pressure with no intentional reduction in pressure. An open loop mixed refrigerant is used to provide process cooling and to provide a reflux stream for the distillation column used to recover the natural gas liquids. The processes may be used to recover C3+ hydrocarbons from natural gas, or to recover C2+ hydrocarbons from natural gas.
US09291386B2

Embodiments relate to a refrigerator. A refrigerator according to an aspect includes: a freezing compartment; a freezing compartment door; an ice bin mounted on the rear of the freezing compartment door and storing ice; and an operating unit mounted on the rear of the freezing compartment door and operates to discharge the ice from the ice bin.
US09291382B2

An ice dispensing system is provided that includes a motor, a processor, and a computer-readable medium. The motor is mounted to an ice chute door. The computer-readable medium is operably coupled to the processor and comprises computer-readable instructions configured to control opening of the ice chute door by energizing the motor at a first voltage for a first time period after receipt of an ice dispense request; after energizing the motor at the first voltage for the first time period, control energizing of the motor at a second voltage at least as long as the ice dispense request is received to maintain the ice chute door in the open position; and after energizing the motor at the second voltage, control de-energizing of the motor to allow the ice chute door to return to a closed position. The second voltage is less than the first voltage.
US09291379B2

In a compressor shell built in an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, a compressor shell thermistor that detects a temperature of the shell is installed. Also, an outside air temperature thermistor that detects an outside air temperature is installed in an outdoor unit. The outside air temperature is compared with the compressor shell temperature, and if the shell temperature is higher than the outside air temperature, a compressor heating device is invalidated. If the shell temperature is lower than the outside air temperature, it is determined as a refrigerant collection condition, and the compressor heating device is operated. Also, if the shell temperature is higher than the outside air temperature by a certain temperature or more, the operation of the compressor heating device is stopped so that wasteful standby power is reduced, and energy of the apparatus is saved.
US09291376B2

An auxiliary heater control device can be readily attached to a hot water heating system configured with a simple water circuit without a hot water storage tank, and is capable of preventing freezing of circulating water such that use of an auxiliary heater is minimized. When a sensed temperature tS sensed by a temperature sensor is in a range, a control device increases a rotational speed of a circulation pump. When the sensed temperature tS is in a range, the control device increases the rotational speed of the circulation pump and lowers an operating frequency of a compressor. When the sensed temperature tS is in a range, the control device increases the rotational speed of the circulation pump, lowers the operating frequency of the compressor, and activates an auxiliary heater.
US09291370B2

A clamp for attaching solar panel grids to standing seam roof structures. The clamp includes opposing clamp halves having inter-engageable projections and recesses. One or more fasteners engage the halves to draw them together. A first set of recesses on one clamp half receives a first set of projections on the other half. A second set of recesses on the other clamp half receives a second set of projections. When loose, the first set of projections engage the first set of recesses like a detent, while the second set of projections are spaced apart from the second set of recesses to enable the clamp to be slid down onto the vertical seam of a standing seam roof. Tightening the fasteners causes the second set of projections to deform the seam into the second set of recesses, fixing the clamp to the seam.
US09291367B2

Techniques for subsurface thermal energy storage of heat generated by concentrating solar power enable smoothing of available energy with respect to daily and/or seasonal variation. Solar thermal collectors produce saturated steam that is injected into a producing or wholly/partially depleted oil reservoir that operates as a heat storage reservoir. Some of the saturated steam generated by the collectors is optionally used to generate electricity. Heat is withdrawn from the reservoir as saturated steam and is used to operate an active thermal recovery project (such as a producing thermally enhanced oil reservoir) and/or to generate electricity. Withdrawn heat is optionally augmented by heat produced by firing natural gas. The reservoir is optionally one that has been used for thermally enhanced oil recovery and thus is already warm, minimizing heat losses.
US09291364B2

According to the required amount of heating, a controller of a combustion apparatus exercises selective on-off switching control on capacity control switching valves for the supplying of gas to three different combustion areas partitioned respectively by a group of three combustion burners, a group of five combustion burners and a group of nine combustion burners, whereby the three combustion areas can selectively be burned, thereby the combustion capacity is changed and switched to any of a plurality of combustion capacity levels. A combustion exhaust temperature sensor is disposed in the vicinity of the inlet of an exhaust stack. Judgment temperatures corresponding respectively to combustion capacity levels for combustion exhaust high-temperature abnormality judgment are set. If the detected combustion exhaust temperature exceeds the judgment temperature corresponding to a current combustion capacity level, this provides a notification indicative of the occurrence of an abnormality while combustion is forcibly stopped.
US09291363B1

A portable heating unit is provided with an elongated housing and a tray. The tray may be positioned above the housing. The tray may be secured to a handle of the portable unit along with the housing of the portable heating unit. The tray may also include sloping surfaces of the tray bottom wall and dividers separating compartments of the tray. The tray may also narrow in the direction of airflow from the inlet end to the outlet end of the housing.
US09291360B2

[Object] To provide an outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus, which solves a manufacturing problem in that a grip is not easily taken out from a mold, and an air-conditioning apparatus including the outdoor unit.[Solution] There is included a grip formed by fitting two components.
US09291357B1

A networking thermostat is described that includes a main processor and a communications processor. The main processor includes a network manager function, a master messaging function and a slave messaging function while the communications processor includes a wireless radio enabling the thermostat to communicate with other networking thermostats. The networking thermostat is able to operate in a master mode or a slave mode, where the master mode allows the networking thermostat to act as a main gateway between other networking thermostats and a remote server. When in the master mode the networking thermostat can default to a slave if communication with the remote server is lost, thereby allowing one of the other networking thermostats to become a master.
US09291356B2

An equipment enclosure system includes an equipment enclosure mounted through a hole in a roof and a chassis supporting the mechanical equipment and which is moveable between a lowered position within the enclosure and a raised position relative to the enclosure to provide access to said equipment. A cover mounted on chassis advances into covering relationship over the enclosure when the chassis is retracted.
US09291353B2

A household oven (1) comprising an outer boxlike casing (2) which is internally provided with a inner cooking cavity (2a) for housing the food products to be cooked and that communicates with the outside via an access opening realized on the front face (2b) of the casing, a front door (3) which is hinged to the front face (2b) of the casing to rotate to and from a closing position in which the front door (3) rests against the front face (2b) of the casing to close the access opening realized therein, and an internal heating assembly (4) which is structured for heating and/or maintaining the inside of the inner cooking cavity (2a) at a given cooking temperature; the household oven (1) also comprising a push-push handle (11) which is completely recessed into a seat (Ha) realized in the outer face (3a) of the front door (3), and is structured for alternatively assuming a stable withdrawn position in which the push-push handle (11) remains motionless completely housed into the front door (3) and forms part of the outer face (3a) of the front door (3), and a stable extracted position in which the push-push handle (11) motionless partly protrudes out of the outer face (3a) of the front door (3) so as to be seizable by the user.
US09291348B2

A flue gas reheater, including: a heat absorption section; a first heat release section; a second heat release section; a control system; circulation pipes; a flow control valve; and temperature sensors. The first heat release section and the second heat release section are connected to the heat absorption section via the circulation pipes. A heat transfer medium is disposed inside the circulation pipes. The circulation pipes include ascending pipes and descending pipes connecting the heat absorption section to the first heat release section and the second heat release section. The flow control valve is disposed on a condensate pipeline entering the second heat release section. The temperature sensors are disposed in the first heat release section and the heat absorption section. The flow control valve and the temperature sensors are all connected to the control system.
US09291345B2

A method for operating a continuous flow steam generator with an evaporator heating surface is provided. A target value for a supply water mass flow is fed to a device for adjusting the supply water mass flow. In order to improve the quality of a predictive supply water or mass flow control and to maintain the enthalpy of the flow medium at the evaporator outlet particularly stable especially when load changes occur, a correction factor is taken into consideration during production of the target value for the supply water mass flow. The correction factor is a characteristic of the temporal derivative of enthalpy or the density of the flow medium at the input of one or more heating surfaces.
US09291342B2

An arrangement for influencing the flow of an exhaust gas of a gas turbine in a channel that preferably leads to a waste-heat exchanger or boiler. A flow grating is disposed transversely in the channel at an end of the channel that faces the gas turbine. The flow grating partially obstructs the cross-sectional area of the channel, and is provided with passages.
US09291339B2

In accordance with a first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, a lighting device includes light-emitting elements arranged in lines that are extended in parallel with one another, the light-emitting elements being divided into groups each including the same number of light-emitting elements, a first connecting electrode is disposed adjacent to one end portion of the lines extended, a second connecting electrode is disposed adjacent to another end portion of the lines extended, and the light-emitting elements within each group are electrically connected in series with one another by metallic wires and electrically connected in series to the first connecting electrode and to the second connecting electrode. The groups each include the same number of light-emitting elements that are electrically connected in parallel between the first connecting electrode and the second connecting electrode.
US09291334B2

An illumination system for illuminating a surface includes an optical source for generating light. An asymmetric optic device generates output light by total internal reflection (TIR) of the light from the optical source, intensity of the output light being asymmetric with respect to an axis of the asymmetric optic device. A diffuser receives and diffuses the output light from the asymmetric optic device to generate diffused light. A cover lens receives the diffused light from the diffuser. The cover lens has an etched portion for scattering a portion of the diffused light to generate an output light pattern, the output light pattern having an intensity profile that is asymmetric with respect to the axis of the asymmetric optic device.
US09291317B2

A housing apparatus for use in a lighting system may include a housing body and a channel-type connection structure coupled to or formed in the housing body. The channel-type connection structure may define a channel having a generally U-shaped cross-section and extending along a length in a first direction perpendicular to the U-shaped cross-section. The channel-type connection structure may be configured to receive and engage at least one first connector inserted in the generally U-shaped channel in an axial direction generally parallel to the first direction, and further configured to receive and engage at least one second connector inserted in the generally U-shaped channel in a perpendicular direction generally perpendicular to the first direction.
US09291310B2

A tank-integrated pump unit includes a reservoir tank fixed to a pump body. The body of the reservoir tank includes an introduction opening for introducing working fluid from an external hydraulic device into the body. A filter member is arranged in the body for filtering working fluid introduced through the introduction opening. A suction passage connection portion is connected to a suction hole of a pump body. The suction passage connection portion includes a body-side opening through a wall of the body. The body-side opening is located below a predetermined level of working fluid and above a lowermost position in the body. A pressure chamber is defined in the body, and located below the body-side opening of the suction passage connection portion. The introduction opening faces the pressure chamber. The filter member covers an upper side of the pressure chamber.
US09291307B2

A sealed and insulating tank, notably for liquefied natural gas, includes, a supporting wall with anchor members disposed in a repeated pattern, a sealing barrier in contact with a product contained in the tank and a thermal insulation barrier disposed between the sealing barrier and the supporting wall, the thermal insulation barrier including a plurality of insulating panels disposed in the repeated pattern, each insulating panel being fixed to the supporting wall by an adhesive disposed on a lower surface of the insulating panel and one or more anchor members of the supporting wall each cooperating with a hole passing through the insulating panel. The number of anchor members per insulating panel is in the range 1 to 6, preferably 2 to 3. A method of fixing insulating panels employs a clamping tool.
US09291306B2

An oil filter changing system provides a place to store an oil filter underneath a vehicle while changing oil in the vehicle. The device includes a tray having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall coupled to and extending upwardly from a peripheral edge of the bottom wall. A top edge of the perimeter wall provides access to an interior of the tray. An oil filter is provided. The bottom wall of the tray receives the oil filter thereon. A vehicle is provided having a frame. A mounting assembly is attached to the perimeter wall of the tray and supports the tray from the frame of the vehicle.
US09291298B2

A display device is disclosed. The disclosed display device has an excellent appearance through prevention of outward exposure of wirings. The display device is also configured to easily outwardly dissipate heat generated from various electronic elements included in the display device.
US09291290B2

What is presented is heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) ductwork. The HVAC ductwork comprises a strip of material, which is divided into a plurality of circumferential segments by a plurality of living hinges. The living hinges allow the HVAC ductwork to unfold for transportation and storage purposes. The strip of material has both a first locking mechanism and a second locking mechanism that are adapted to interlock with each other at an interlocking site, to create the assembled HVAC ductwork.
US09291289B2

A composite hose for transfer of cryogenic fluids, includes two end flanges, a helical wound inner wire several layers of protective fabric layers, at least one gas-tight sealing layer sandwiched between one or more protective layers and an outer helical wound wire which is placed on top of the protective layers between the pitch of the inner wire, characterized in that the inner wire is connected to a flexible inner liner that follow any axial and/or radial displacement of the inner wire and that covers the inner corrugations of the composite hose so to create a smooth inner bore of the composite hose.
US09291284B2

The invention relates to a micro valve for use in a biosensor, a micro fluidic device, use of such a device, and a micro fluidic element. Biosensors are used for detection of molecules and/or ions, such as protein, drug, DNA, RNA, hormone, glucose, insulin, enzyme, fungus, bacterium, etc., in a biological sample. The sensor can be used for diagnostic application, but for instance also drugs, either therapeutic or abuse, may be detected in for instance blood, urine and saliva.
US09291281B2

Cooling apparatuses and methods are presented for facilitating dissipation of heat generated by one or more electronic components. The apparatuses include, for instance, a coolant-cooled heat sink and a thermostat-controlled valve. The heat sink includes one or more coolant-carrying channels and one or more valve wells intersecting the channels. The thermostat-controlled valve is disposed, at least partially, within a respective valve well so as to intersect a respective coolant-carrying channel, and includes a valve disk and a thermal-sensitive actuator mechanically coupled to rotate the valve disk. The valve disk is rotatable between an open position where coolant is allowed to flow through the respective coolant-carrying channel, and a closed position where coolant is blocked from flowing through the respective channel. The actuator rotates the valve disk between the open position and the closed position, dependent on heating of the thermal-sensitive actuator by the electronic component(s).
US09291280B2

Actuator apparatus having internal passageways are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an actuator casing having a load apparatus to define an upper pressure chamber and a lower pressure chamber. The upper pressure chamber is opposite the lower pressure chamber. A yoke is to couple to the actuator casing to a fluid valve. An internal passageway is formed in a body of the yoke to fluidly couple a control fluid to at least one of the first or the lower pressure chamber. A fluid connector assembly is positioned in the actuator casing to fluidly couple the internal passageway to the upper pressure chamber. The load apparatus is between the internal passageway of the yoke and the upper pressure chamber.
US09291267B2

In order to inexpensively provide gaskets which have good sealing performance, and which fulfill various applications by simply stamping out sheet-like gaskets in accordance with specifications, a gasket is obtained by integrally forming, with a sheet-like base material, a gasket part made of a rubber-like elastic material on at least one surface of the base material, said gasket part being composed of continuous protrusions provided with a fixed pattern. The sheet-like gasket parts produced in this manner are capable of inexpensively providing gaskets which fulfill various applications by simply stamping out the sheet-like gasket parts in accordance with various specifications.
US09291263B2

A profiled metal strip for a diaphragm bellows is made from a strip material having at least one border which is subjected to reverse bending. Such a metal strip is wound to produce a diaphragm bellows, with abutting borders of neighboring turns being connected with one another by a material joint, such as a welding seam.
US09291245B2

The first planetary gear set is configured to integrally rotate by a first clutch. The first element is coupled with the fifth element. The second element is configured to be locked through a first brake to a stationary section and configured to be coupled through a second clutch with the ninth element. The third element is coupled with the input shaft. The fourth element is configured to be coupled through a third clutch with the ninth element. The sixth element is locked to the stationary section. The seventh element is configured to be locked through a second brake to the stationary section. The eighth element is coupled with an output shaft. The ninth element is coupled with the twelfth element. The tenth element is configured to be coupled through a fourth clutch with the output shaft. The eleventh element is coupled with the input shaft.
US09291244B2

Transmissions with at least four gearing-arrangements and six clutches that produce nine forward speeds and one reverse. The gearing-arrangements may be simple planetary gearsets. The six clutches may include one to three brakes, and at least one clutch is an input clutch and one an output clutch. The input-shaft of each transmission may be associated with a carrier of one of the simple planetary gearsets. The input-shaft may be associated with carrier-1. The output-shaft of some transmissions may be associated with a carrier of another of the simple planetary gearsets. The output-shaft may be associated with carrier-4. Sun and ring gears in gearing-arrangements may be connected to a transmission housing. Sun-3 and ring-4 may be grounds.
US09291242B2

The disclosure relates to a transmission for a motor vehicle, wherein the transmission comprises an input shaft, at least first and second countershafts, and an output shaft. The input shaft is provided with a first driving gearwheel, which interacts with a first gearwheel arranged upon the first countershaft, and a second gearwheel arranged upon the second countershaft. A number of gear teeth of the first gearwheel is selected such that, in relation to the number of gear teeth of the first driving gearwheel, the number of gear teeth of the first gearwheel can be either reduced or increased with at least one gear tooth, without affecting the number of gear teeth upon the first driving gearwheel, whereby the reduction or increase in the number of gear teeth of the first gearwheel is compensated with a profile shift of the gear teeth of the first gearwheel.
US09291229B2

An inner tube as a cylinder includes an axially extending tubular portion, a large-diameter portion, and a tapered portion. The large-diameter portion is located at one end side of the tubular portion and is formed so as to have a diameter increased radially outwardly. The tapered portion is located between the large-diameter portion and the tubular portion, and is formed in such a manner that the diameter thereof increases in a flaring manner from the one end of the tubular portion to the large-diameter portion. A tubular protrusion of a rod guide is fittedly attached to the inner circumferential side of the large-diameter portion. A valve mounting portion is formed at the inner circumferential side of the tubular portion. A valve mechanism is mounted on the valve mounting portion. A seat surface is formed at the back side of the valve mounting portion.
US09291215B2

The present invention relates to a piston-cylinder arrangement (2) for the operating device of a clutch, having a cylinder (16), a piston (36) which is arranged in the cylinder (16) and can be displaced in the axial direction (4, 6), and at least one locking element (50) which is associated with the piston (36), wherein the piston (36) can be displaced from a first position into a second position in which the locking element (50) can be moved from a released position into a locked position in which the piston (36) is locked in the second position via the locking element (50) in a positively locking manner. According to the invention, the piston (36) can be displaced by means of a locking piston (52), which in the released position of the locking element (50) is connected via the locking element (50) to the piston (36) in a positively locking manner in the axial direction (4, 6) and in the second position of the piston (36), with displacement of the locking element (50) from the released position into the locked position relative to the piston (36), can be displaced in the axial direction (4) from an initial position into a locked position.
US09291213B2

A clutch assembly comprising a clutch housing, a central piston chamber positioned therein and a translatable clutch piston movable between a piston neutral and activated positions in response to air pressure. A rotating drive shaft member is positioned within the clutch housing. A cone clutch friction member is moved from a clutch engaged position to a clutch disengaged position in response to the translatable clutch piston moving between the piston neutral and activated positions. The cone clutch friction member engages the rotating drive shaft when in the clutch engaged position. A clutch spring biases the cone clutch friction member into the clutch engaged position with a clutch engagement force. The cone clutch friction member comprises a V-shaped member with a hollow or solid core, or a bent metal member. Friction material is positioned on at least the surfaces which engage and make contact with the rotating drive shaft member.
US09291211B2

In a wet friction material, a plurality of segment pieces is disposed at both sides of inter-segment grooves. The segment pieces are composed of first segment pieces and second segment pieces. The first segment piece has at least two inner peripheral recesses formed on an inner periphery thereof and at least two outer peripheral recesses formed on an outer periphery thereof. The outer periphery of the first segment piece has a short dimension. The second segment piece has at least two inner peripheral recesses formed on an inner periphery thereof and at least two outer peripheral recesses formed on an outer periphery thereof. The outer periphery of the second segment piece has a long dimension.
US09291206B2

A coupler 001 has a central section 006 with a rotation axis 007 and arms 003 which extend away from said central section 006. The arms 003 are in an offset location relative to a diametrical line 060. A portion 004 of the arms 003 meets or passes through or extends along a plane formed through the diametrical line 060 and the rotation axis 007. Also included is an appliance using such couplers and a drive mechanism using such couplers.
US09291199B2

The present invention relates to sliding supports and particularly sliding supports having two elongate members of channel section and a locating assembly positioned therebetween. The locating assembly includes a plurality of bearing balls and a plurality of contact elements, and is capable of functioning without the use of grease or additional lubrication. The sliding support is particularly suitable for use in harsh environments.
US09291181B2

The present disclosure relates to a fastening arrangement for plate-shaped facing components. The fastening arrangement includes at least one profiled rail comprising legs in a cross-section, an intermediate space being formed between these legs and configured to hold a peripheral portion of at least one of the facing components. A first one of the legs of the profiled rail includes at least one opening which extends into the first leg in a transverse direction of the profiled rail. The fastening arrangement also includes at least one fixing element which is equipped with at least one extension. The extension is designed such that it can be pressed into the opening in the first leg to fix the facing component so that the extension protrudes into the intermediate space and portions thereof come into frictional contact with the peripheral portion of the facing component held in the intermediate space.
US09291172B2

An apparatus for generating pulsatile flows includes a liquid vessel capable of containing a liquid, a plurality of revolving mechanisms associated with each other, and a microchannel supplied with a liquid from the liquid vessel. As the plurality of revolving mechanisms rotate, a periodically changing pressure difference occurs between the liquid vessel and the microchannel, thereby implementing a pulsatile flow having a wave functional form in the microchannel. By applying the hydraulic head difference and controlling revolution of the revolving mechanisms based on Fourier cosine series, a minute and precise pulsatile flow of a wave functional form may be implemented by means of simple configuration and fabrication, which may not easily obtained by a conventional pump.
US09291162B2

A high-pressure fuel pump includes a pressurizing chamber for pressurizing fuel, an outlet valve for discharging the fuel pressurized in the pressurizing chamber to an outlet passage, a relief passage for connecting the outlet passage located downstream of the outlet valve and the pressurizing chamber with each other while bypassing the outlet valve. A relief valve device is provided in the relief passage and adapted to open when an internal pressure of the outlet passage becomes higher than that of the pressurizing chamber, thereby providing communication between the outlet passage and the pressurizing chamber. The relief valve includes a relief spring mechanism for pressing a relief valve to a relief valve seat. At least the relief spring mechanism among members of the relief valve device is provided outside the pressurizing chamber in the pump body.
US09291158B2

The fluid section of an air operated double diaphragm pump 10 consists of two fluid housings 12, an inlet manifold 14, and an outlet manifold 16. The housings are to be made in two parts. The preferred frame 18 material is glass fiber reinforced with polypropylene that is overmolded into final shape with an encapsulating material 20. The frame 18 is designed so that the encapsulating material 20 can flow from one side to the other allowing for a mechanical lock between the top surface 22 and the bottom so as not to rely on chemical adhesion between the two materials.
US09291155B2

In order to provide a vacuum pump motor which is free from rotation imbalance, there is provided a vacuum pump motor 10 which is connected directly to a pump main shaft 21 of a vacuum pump 20, including a motor rotor 120 which is attached directly or indirectly to the pump main shaft 21 and balance rings 127 which are attached directly or indirectly to the pump main shaft 21 at ends thereof which are spaced apart from end portions of a rotor core 123, wherein the balance rings 127 contain a material having anticorrosion properties.
US09291153B2

A tubular housing can include at least one fixed helical vane formed onto the inner surfaces of the tubular housing in a spiral and adapted to direct fluid into a spiraled flow and focus fluid onto a fan blade assembly associated with an alternator system and located within the tubular housing before a system exhaust. A generator cone can be mounted near the center and front of the fan blade assembly facing fluid passing through the tubular housing. As fluid passes over the generator cone it experiences compression between the generator cone and housing resulting in increased pressure and velocity of the fluid, thereby increasing rotational speed of the generator blades and generator as the compressed, spiraled fluid passes through the blades and exits the tubular housing. The system can be used for fixed or mobile applications in water, wind and manually induced fluid flow.
US09291151B2

The present invention provides a wind turbine blade of hybrid material composition, wherein the blade comprises a structural box mainly made of a epoxy based prepreg and a shell manufactured by resin infusion technique using polyester or vinylester, and the box and the shell are bonded using an adhesive that is not a polyester, a vinylester and an epoxy. The present invention also provides a method for producing such a blade.
US09291149B1

A power generator system provides a wind or water powered wheel having pairs of radially positioned arms each having a shaft with independently rotating fins or paddles so the fins are oriented at different angles as the main shaft rotates to allow for increased power generation and reduced drag.
US09291146B2

Some embodiments of a turbine system described herein provide a turbine that rotates in response to off-axis fluid flow, such as water flowing in a generally horizontal direction that is generally perpendicular to a vertical axis of rotation. The rotation of the turbine can drive a generator to output electrical energy.
US09291144B2

A heater of one embodiment of this invention has a resistor having a folded shape, a pair of leads joined to each end of the resistor, an insulating base in which the resistor is buried in the front side thereof and the pair of leads are buried in the rear side thereof, in which the resistor and the leads are overlapped in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the leads at junctions between the resistor and the leads and the rear end of the junction between one end of the resistor and one of the leads is located rearward relative to the rear end of the junction between the other end of the resistor and the other lead.
US09291142B2

An ignition control device is applied to an engine configured to generate one or more discharges within an ignition period. Regarding the device, a discharge voltage within first period or an amount of fuel included in the gas is referred to as a first parameter, which first period is from a discharge start timing to an intermediate timing after and near the discharge start timing, a discharge voltage within second period or a flow rate of the gas near the discharge is referred to as a second parameter, which second period is from the intermediate timing to a discharge end timing, and it is determined whether to start another discharge following the discharge within the ignition period based on at least the second parameter among the first and second parameters. Furthermore, the another discharge is started with an ignition unit when being determined to start the another discharge.
US09291140B2

A method and device for activating a starter, which is controllable by a driver unit, for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. A method for activating a starter, which is controllable by a driver unit, for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, the driver unit being controllable by a control unit with the aid of at least one activation line, a switch, which is controllable by the control unit, being situated between the driver unit and a supply unit coupled to a supply voltage, the starter being activated with the aid of the control unit and the switch in the case of failure of the at least one activation line and/or at least one part of the driver unit.
US09291138B2

A fuel injector control valve is provided that includes a drain circuit for directing the flow of fuel away from temperature sensitive components of a fuel injector in which the fuel injector control valve is positioned. The drain circuit includes at least one portion that directs drain fuel axially inward or toward a fuel injector orifice, and away from an actuator of the fuel injector.
US09291132B2

A high-pressure fuel pump assembly for use in an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel pump assembly comprises a pumping plunger for pressurizing fuel within a pump chamber during a plunger pumping stroke, and being slidably received in a plunger bore; a rider member co-operable with a drive; and an interface member for imparting drive from the rider member to the pumping plunger to perform the plunger pumping stroke, the interface member having an interface side co-operable with the rider member). The pumping plunger comprises fluid delivery means for delivering fuel from the pump chamber to one or more contact surfaces of the pumping plunger, thereby to lubricate the contact surfaces.
US09291130B2

A two-wheeled motor vehicle includes a seat frame supporting a seat. A metal collar incorporated in the seat frame has a cylindrical shape and is covered by a resin member. The seat frame is fastened at its lower and upper fastening portions to a vehicle body frame of the motor vehicle. The seat frame has a degradation indicating part for indicating degradation of the seat frame when the resin member located at an inner diameter side of the metal collar deforms under a predetermined load to allow the upper fastening portions on the lower fastening portions.
US09291129B2

A method and associated apparatus are described for addressing blow-back when a hydrogen generator is attached to a combustion engine to enhance performance. The method involves positioning a filter with a porous flame tolerant core upstream of the combustion engine on a supply line leading from the hydrogen generator to the combustion engine. The method also involves surrounding the porous flame tolerant core with a hydrophilic filter medium. The hydrophilic filter medium serves as a trap for water vapor passing through the filter in a first direction and the hydrophilic filter medium moistened by water vapor assists in retarding flames passing through the filter in a second direction.
US09291122B1

A reversible hot air engine system having operating modes for both engine and heat pump operation features a piston located in a piston cylinder that is located on a frame. The system features a displacer located in a displacer chamber that is horizontally located at a frame bottom. A rod first end is pivotally located on a piston second end. A rod second end is pivotally located on a displacer middle via a hinge. A rod housing is fluidly connected to the displacer chamber and the piston cylinder. The system features a flywheel located at a frame top. The system features, a crank having a wheel eccentrically and pivotally connected to a crank rod first end. A crank rod second end is pivotally located to a piston first end. The system features a heat source applied to a chamber end.
US09291121B2

A cylinder head gasket includes a plurality of seal plates 1 to 4 so that a combustion gas that leaks through a gap between the respective seal plates is reliably sealed. The cylinder head gasket includes the plurality of seal plates 1 to 4, which are held between a cylinder head and a cylinder block having a cylinder bore. The plurality of seal plates 1 to 4 are adhered to each other in a circumferentially continuous manner around combustion chamber holes 1a to 4a, and the combustion gas that leaks through the gap between the respective seal plates is reliably sealed within an adhered portion 5 of the respective seal plates.
US09291118B2

A vehicle can reverse immediately after setting a no idling state in accordance with a simple operational procedure. An idle reduction control unit set the engine into a no idling state if the key switch is on, the brake is operated, the vehicle speed is zero, and the shift position is in the drive range; and restarts the engine if the braking operation is released and the shift position is in the drive range when the engine is in the no idling state. The idle reduction control unit also restarts the engine if the shift position is shifted from the drive range to the neutral range while the brake is still being operated when the engine is in the no idling state.
US09291117B2

A method of controlling a low pressure fuel pump of a gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine includes receiving failure related information of a high pressure fuel pump, boosting, if the high pressure fuel pump is failed based on the failure related information of the high pressure fuel pump, a fuel pressure of the low pressure fuel pump to a setting pressure and controlling, if the high pressure fuel pump is not failed, the fuel pressure of the low pressure fuel pump based on a measured fuel pressure with respect to a target fuel pressure of the high pressure fuel pump or a change of a control value of the GDI engine. A corresponding control system includes a fuel supply pressure controller, among other components, which is operated by a predetermined program for executing the method of controlling the low pressure fuel pump of the GDI engine.
US09291114B2

A generator including an enclosure, an internal combustion engine provided within the enclosure, an alternator provided within the enclosure and driven by the internal combustion engine, a fuel supply line for providing fuel to the internal combustion engine, a valve for selectively closing the fuel supply line, the valve biased to a normally closed position, a controller configured to provide a signal to maintain the valve in an open position, and a temperature responsive device configured to interrupt the signal from the controller to the valve upon exposure to a threshold temperature, thereby resulting in the closing of the valve.
US09291108B2

The present invention relates to a control device and a control method for an engine that includes a compression ratio variable mechanism for changing a top dead center position of a piston and a fuel injector for directly injecting a fuel into a cylinder. In the control device and the control method for the engine according to the invention, when a compression ratio is increased by the compression ratio variable mechanism, an injection timing, a fuel pressure, the number of times of split injections, and the like, in a fuel injection of the fuel injector are changed, to reduce a fuel adhering to a piston crown surface.
US09291107B2

Approaches to control engine overspeed are provided. Engine overspeed is controlled by one or more mechanisms that operate the intake and/or exhaust valves of the engine to interrupt the combustion cycle. In use, the “combustion interrupter” mechanism(s) actuate the intake and/or exhaust valves according to, for example, one or more control strategies in order to interrupt the combustion cycle and/or cause the engine to expend energy to move the pistons through a complete cycle in an aim to retard engine speed. The engine's cam(s) can include one or more sets of variable valve timing lobes that operate the intake and/or exhaust valves of the engine in order to, for example, interrupt the combustion cycle. The combustion interrupter mechanism can additionally or alternatively include one or more computer controlled actuators that operate the intake and/or exhaust valves in order, for example, to interrupt the combustion cycle.
US09291095B2

A rotary internal combustion engine includes an arcuate compression chamber, an arcuate expansion chamber, an output shaft, and a piston coupled to the output shaft for movement through the arcuate compression chamber and the arcuate expansion chamber. The piston has a leading end, a trailing end, an inlet valve that is located at the leading end of the piston for receiving a compressible fluid from the compression chamber and an outlet valve that is located at the trailing end of the piston for expelling a combustion gas into the arcuate expansion chamber.
US09291093B2

A method for controlling a turbocharger is provided. The turbocharger has a turbine operatively connected to an exhaust of an internal combustion engine, and a compressor operatively connected to an intake of the engine. The method includes determining a boost pressure command for the compressor. The boost pressure command is configured to provide sufficient combustion reactant for the engine. The method includes calculating a compressor power from the determined boost pressure command, and calculating a turbine flow from the calculated compressor power. The method commands the turbocharger to operate at the calculated turbine flow.
US09291089B2

A compressor adapted to compress a working fluid includes a housing surrounding a compressor wheel and a backplate connected to the housing and enclosing the compressor wheel within an interior space of the housing. A cooling fluid conduit is fluidly connected between a cooled and compressed source of working fluid downstream of the compressor and the interior space of the housing of the compressor at a location between the compressor wheel and the back plate. A pressure differential created when the compressor is operating draws a flow of cooled, compressed charge into the interior space of the housing, which flow passes over and convectively cools said compressor wheel before mixing with a main compressor flow and being provided back through the compressor outlet.
US09291088B2

A piston assembly includes: a piston skirt; and a piston crown formed by a casting method and coupled to an upper portion of the piston skirt by using a stud bolt, wherein oil galleries are formed between an upper wall of the piston skirt and an upper wall of the piston crown, wherein an annular part having a circular ring shape and a plurality of ribs having a linear shape and radially arranged to form oil channels for flowing cooling oil are formed on the upper wall of the piston crown, and the plurality of ribs are divided into outer ribs and inner ribs by the annular part.
US09291084B2

A vehicle and a method of updating efficiency of a selective catalytic reduction filter (SCRF) of an exhaust treatment system of the vehicle are disclosed. The method includes obtaining an initial calculated efficiency of the SCRF, via a controller, regarding one of a NOx conversion, a reductant absorption, a reductant desorption and a reductant oxidation. The method also includes determining a soot mass estimate in the SCRF representative of an amount of soot collected inside the SCRF and determining a soot correction factor from the soot mass estimate. The method further includes calculating, via the controller, an updated efficiency value of the SCRF by multiplying the soot correction factor and the initial calculated efficiency to update efficiency of the SCRF.
US09291082B2

A system includes a catalytic reactor configured to mount to a combustor. The catalytic reactor includes a catalyst configured to reduce emissions associated with combustion in the combustor. The catalytic reactor also includes a first and a second sacrificial coating disposed over the catalyst prior to mounting of the catalytic reactor into the combustor, wherein the first and second sacrificial coatings are removable while the catalytic reactor is mounted to the combustor without damaging the catalyst.
US09291081B2

An exhaust treatment component for treating an engine exhaust. The component includes a housing including an inlet and an outlet, and a mixing assembly located within the housing between the inlet and the outlet. The mixing assembly includes a decomposition tube having a first end and a second end. The first end is configured to receive the exhaust from the inlet and is configured to receive a reagent exhaust treatment fluid. A flow reversing device is disposed proximate the second end, and the flow reversing device is configured to direct a mixture of the exhaust and reagent exhaust treatment fluid as the mixture exits the second end of the decomposition tube in a direction back toward the first end, wherein the flow reversing device includes a plurality of deflecting members for intermixing the exhaust and reagent exhaust treatment fluid.
US09291070B2

A gas turbine engine has a spool including compressor and turbine rotors connected by a first shaft. The first shaft extends concentrically around a second shaft. The first shaft forward end has a portion with an inner diameter of close tolerance with the second shaft. The second shaft has a region of enlarged diameter located axially aft of the compressor rotor but axially forward of the forward end of the first shaft. The region of enlarged diameter has a diameter greater than the inner diameter of the forward end portion of the first shaft to cause the region of enlarged diameter of the second shaft to engage the first shaft in interference in the event that the second shaft is moved axially aft relative to the first shaft more than a pre-selected axial distance.
US09291069B2

An apparatus includes a blade clearance detection system. A probe is configured to communication detection frequencies from and gather reflected signals for the blade tip detection system. The probe has an end supported relative to the casing. A material provides a reference point. The blade tip clearance detection system is configured to generate a first detection frequency configured to pass through the material to detect the position of a target structure, generate a second detection frequency configured to reflect from and detect the reference point, and determine a position of a surface approximate to the target structure based upon the reference point.
US09291068B2

A seal arrangement is installed between confronting co-planar portions of a low pressure steam turbine exhaust hood and a circular bulkhead that forms part of an exhaust duct structure of a steam turbine module. The seal arrangement forms a vacuum seal between the interior and exterior of the exhaust hood and comprises a flexible gasket in the form of an annular diaphragm. This diaphragm has a radially inner circumferential portion that seals with the bulkhead, a radially outer circumferential portion that seals with the exhaust hood, and a radially median resilient portion. Sealing is achieved by providing radially inner and outer clamping flanges operative to sealingly clamp inner and outer circumferential portions of the gasket to the bulkhead and the exhaust hood respectively. To enable quick access to the interior of the exhaust hood, the clamping flanges comprise upper and lower halves and the upper part of the gasket is sealed to the upper parts of the exhaust hood and the bulkhead by an arrangement of flanges and counter-flanges, the counter-flanges being releasably secured to outside surfaces of the exhaust hood and the bulkhead.
US09291067B2

An aspirating face seal for use with a rotary machine includes a rotating seal ring including a radially outer surface that includes an oblique portion. A stationary seal ring is coupled proximate the rotating seal ring such that a first gap is defined therebetween. The stationary seal ring is movable along a centerline axis of the rotary machine between an open position and a sealed position, and includes an extension member that extends across the first gap. An auxiliary seal includes at least one seal tooth that includes a seal tooth tip. The at least one seal tooth extends radially inward from the extension member such that a second gap is defined between the seal tooth tip and the oblique portion.
US09291065B2

A turbine including a plurality of stages, each stage including a rotatable disk and blades carried thereby. An annular gap defined between a pair of adjacent rotatable disks. A sealing band is located in opposing sealing band receiving slots formed in the adjacent disks to seal the annular gap, the sealing band including band engagement structure. A disk engagement structure is defined in the pair of adjacent rotatable disks. The disk engagement structure extends axially into the pair of adjacent rotatable disks and circumferentially aligns with the band engagement structure. A clip member is positioned in engagement with the sealing band through the band engagement structure and in engagement with the pair of adjacent rotatable disks through the disk engagement structure. The clip member restricts movement of the sealing band in only a circumferential direction of the slots.
US09291061B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a turbomachine having a turbomachine blade and a stationary structural component. The turbomachine blade includes a tip shroud having a leading edge portion where the leading edge portion has a first surface. The stationary structural component is disposed about the turbomachine blade and includes a corresponding portion corresponding to the leading edge portion of the tip shroud, where the corresponding portion has a second surface, where the first surface and the second surface have generally parallel contours.
US09291055B2

A structure for reducing a tunnel micro pressure wave is provided. The structure includes a hood structure formed in front of an entry of a railroad tunnel; and an air pipe section in which at least one air pipe is provided along the circumference of the hood structure, wherein the air pipe comprises a horizontal introduction section formed to be extended from an internal side of the hood structure toward a longitudinal direction of the hood structure, an outlet section formed on an external side of the hood structure, and an intermediate section connecting the horizontal introduction section and the outlet section through each other.
US09291054B2

The invention relates to a tunnel excavation device, which includes an excavation head, a main body on which the excavation head is rotatably mounted, a motor provided in the main body and rotates the excavation head, and a controller for controlling the motor, wherein the excavation head includes a perforating means formed by maintaining a predetermined interval from the center of a body part, which has a front surface formed in the shape of a circular plate, to the outer surface of the body part, an injection means for injecting water and liquid nitrogen into the hole formed by the perforating means, and a plurality of cutters provided on the surface of the main body for crushing the bedrock.
US09291044B2

A method and apparatus for conducting a fracturing operation using a wellbore fracturing assembly. The assembly may be mechanically set and released from a wellbore using a coiled tubing string to conduct a fracturing operation adjacent an area of interest in a formation. The assembly may include an unloader for equalizing pressure between the assembly and the wellbore, a pair of spaced apart packers for straddling the area of interest, an injection port disposed between the packers for injecting fracturing fluid into the area of interest, and an anchor for securing the assembly in the wellbore. After conducting the fracturing operation, the assembly may be relocated to another area of interest to conduct another fracturing operation.
US09291040B1

A wellbore select fire switch retaining member system and method with an integrated through wire and ground wire in a switch sub. The system/method includes a retaining member that has a form factor acceptable by a conventional switch sub. The retaining member incorporates an electrical connection to the center pin of a pressure switch. The system further includes a secondary piston aligned with a piston in the switch (switch piston) so that external pressure is fully acted upon the entire switch piston creating a reliable switch connection. Another system includes an integrated retaining member and switch module having a form factor compatible with existing switch subs. The integrated module inputs include a ground wire and a through wire and the outputs include a ground wire, through wire and an arming wire.
US09291039B2

A shaped charge includes a casing defining an interior volume, wherein the casing is prepared by sintering a metal powder or a mixture of metal powders; a liner located in the interior volume; and an explosive between the liner and the casing. A method for manufacturing a shaped charge casing includes the steps of mixing a metal powder or a metal powder mixture with a binder to form a pre-mix; pressing the pre-mix in a mold to form a casing green body; heating the casing green body to a first temperature to vaporize the binder; raising the temperature to a second temperature in an inert or reducing atmosphere to sinter the metal powder or the metal powder mixture to produce the shaped charge casing.
US09291038B2

A system for injecting high pressure abrasive fluid into an abrasive jet tool in a wellbore comprises an abrasives hopper; a slurry tank connected to the abrasives hopper; a low pressure abrasive pump connected to the slurry tank; a first high pressure vessel connected to the low pressure pump through a first high pressure valve; a high pressure non-abrasive pump connected to the first high pressure vessel through a second high pressure valve; and an abrasive jet tool connected to the first high pressure vessel through a third high pressure valve.
US09291034B2

A tool for selectively treating a wellbore with fluid that includes a tubing string having a sidewall defining an inner bore, the sidewall comprising a flow area having at least one fluid flow port that permits fluid flow through the sidewall. Fluid is prevented from flowing through the flow area when a closure is in a closed position. When in the open position, fluid flows through the flow area. An axial seal is connected to the closure to selectively close the inner bore against fluid pressure to apply the predetermined opening force to move the closure to the open position. A releasable connector connects the axial seal to the closure and a retrieval tool attachment releases the axial seal from the closure upon application of a predetermined release force by a retrieval tool.
US09291032B2

An apparatus and method autonomously controls fluid flow in a subterranean well, as the fluid changes in a characteristic, such as viscosity, over time. An autonomous reciprocating member has a fluid flow passageway there through and a primary outlet and at least one secondary outlet. A flow restrictor, such as a viscosity dependent choke or screen, is positioned to restrict fluid flow through the primary outlet. A vortex chamber is positioned adjacent the reciprocating member. The reciprocating member moves between a first position where fluid flow is directed primarily through the primary outlet of the reciprocating member and into the primary inlet of the vortex assembly, and a second position where fluid flow is directed primarily through the at least one secondary outlet of the reciprocating member and into the at least one secondary inlet of the vortex assembly. The movement of the reciprocating member alters the fluid flow pattern in the adjacent vortex chamber.
US09291026B2

A method of deploying a downhole tool into a wellbore includes: lowering a cable into the wellbore; after lowering the cable, engaging a mold with an outer surface of the cable; injecting sealant into the mold and into armor of the cable, thereby sealing a portion of the cable; lowering the downhole tool to a deployment depth using the cable; engaging a seal with the sealed portion of the cable; and operating the downhole tool using the cable.
US09291024B2

A ball drop wellhead control apparatus provides a control ball between a frac ball drop or frac ball injector used to drop frac balls into a frac fluid stream being pumped into a subterranean well to ensure that only frac balls intended to be dropped reach the frac fluid stream.
US09291019B2

Systems and methods to inhibit packoff during drilling assembly removal from a wellbore, utilizing a drilling assembly that includes a transition region between a first section having a first cross-sectional area and a second section having a second cross-sectional area, wherein the second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area. The transition region includes a fluidizing assembly configured to partially fluidize a portion of the cuttings bed that is proximal to the transition region, and/or be in fluid communication with a flow control assembly configured to control flow rate of a fluidizing stream from the fluidizing assembly and to the portion of cuttings bed.
US09291014B2

A bearing assembly comprises a bearing enabling a rotatable body to rotate about a rotational axis relative to a stationary body. The bearing includes a bearing inner ring and a bearing outer ring, each having at least first and second roller body tracks provided in or on non-parallel surfaces of the ring. The respective roller body tracks of the bearing outer ring are aligned with the respective roller body tracks of the bearing inner ring and a row of roller bodies is disposed between each of the respective sets of roller body tracks. At least one of the rows of roller bodies comprises one of tapered rollers and spherical rollers, at least one of the rows of roller bodies supports at least axial forces and at least one of the rows of the roller bodies supports at least radial forces.
US09291008B2

A dual pipe rod assembly section includes an inner rod section and an outer rod section, with a probe which is arranged in the dual pipe rod assembly section, a horizontal drilling device and a probe housing. The probe is arranged in the inner rod section and rotationally coupled to the outer rod section.
US09291006B2

A retainer and guide ring includes a first ring half and a second ring half that when placed adjacent to one another forms a complete ring. The retainer and guide ring also includes a kerf that is formed between ends of each of the first and second ring halves, which ranges from about zero inches to about 0.010 inches. In some exemplary embodiments, the retainer and guide ring is formed by obtaining two identical rings and making a cut along an edge of the diameter on each ring thereby forming a larger ring arc and a smaller ring arc for each of the rings. The two larger ring arcs are used to form the retainer and guide ring. In another exemplary embodiment, the retainer and guide ring is formed by obtaining a single ring and making a cut along the diameter.
US09291005B2

A wired pipe coupler that carries at least a data signal includes a carrier having a plurality of electrical components disposed therein and one or more antennas supported by and spaced from the carrier, the one or more antennas being electrically coupled to the carrier through respective ones of the plurality of electrical components.
US09291002B2

Methods of repairing earth-boring tools may involve providing wear-resistant material over a temporary displacement member to repair a cutting element pocket in a body and a depth-of-cut control feature using the wear-resistant material. In some embodiments, the wear-resistant material may comprise a particle-matrix composite material. For example, a hardfacing material may be built up over a temporary displacement member to form or repair a cutting element pocket and provide a depth-of-cut control feature. Earth-boring tools may include a depth-of-cut control feature comprising a wear-resistant material. The depth-of-cut control feature may be configured to limit a depth-of-cut of a cutting element secured within a cutting element pocket partially defined by at least one surface of the depth-of-cut control feature. Intermediate structures formed during fabrication of earth-boring tools may include a depth-of-cut control feature extending over a temporary displacement member.
US09290997B2

Bearings for downhole tools including a first bearing member and a second bearing member, at least one of the first and second bearing members having a channel formed therein. Methods of cooling bearings of downhole tools comprise flowing a fluid within a channel formed in at least one bearing member. Heat is transferred from at least the at least one bearing member to the fluid. The fluid is flowed away from the at least one bearing member.
US09290994B2

A horizontal directional drilling sonde housing has a cavity for receiving a sonde. Signal channels extend from the cavity to an exterior of the housing. A polymer lines at least part of the cavity and fills the signal channels. The drilling tool has a bit body and a drilling body. The two bodies have respective lateral surfaces which engage each other to prevent the transverse movement of the drilling body relative to the bit body during operations. The drill bit has a forward extending drill tooth, which drill tooth is removable from a bore. A spacer is located in the bore between the bottom end of the bore and the tooth. The drilling bit has buttons located on the side in a spiral configuration about a longitudinal axis of the bit.
US09290989B2

A door comprising first and second door skins secured to each other to form a cavity therebetween filled with expended foam. Each of the door skins has an opening therethrough for receiving a glass insert and a flange portion. Distal ends of the flange portions of the first and second door skins engage each other in an overlapping relationship by the expansion pressure of the expanded foam. The door further comprises a glazing rim member having a leg portion snap-locked between the flange portions of the first and second door skins. The method for assembling the door comprises the steps of filling the cavity between the door skins with foam material, then inserting the glass insert through the openings in the door skins and mounting the glazing rim member to the first door skin by snap-locking between the flange portions of the first and second door skins.
US09290984B2

Methods of making vacuum insulated glass (VIG) window units are provided, including activating getters in a process of making VIG window units. In certain example embodiments, at least one getter is activated during and/or at the end of a pump-out/evacuation process in which the cavity between the substrates is evacuated. In certain example embodiments, the getter(s) may be activated (e.g., by at least a laser beam that is directed through a pump-out tube) during and/or at the end of the evacuation process in which the cavity between the substrates is evacuated to a low pressure that is below atmospheric pressure.
US09290982B2

The invention relates to a method for actuating a closure element arrangement of a motor vehicle, wherein the closure element arrangement comprises a control arrangement and an operator-control-event sensor arrangement with at least one operator-control-event sensor element which is configured, in particular, as a proximity sensor, wherein within the scope of operator-control-event monitoring by means of the control arrangement the sensor measured values of the operator-control-event sensor arrangement are monitored to determine whether a predetermined operator control event is occurring, and the closure element arrangement is actuated as a function of the result of the operator-control-event monitoring. It is proposed that externally activated lifting of the motor vehicle is detected by means of the control arrangement, and the actuability of the closure element arrangement which is due to an operator control event is deactivated when a special condition due to the lifting of the motor vehicle occurs.
US09290977B2

The guiding device, which serves for guiding a sliding element, such as a sliding door provided with a door leaf, with which a room opening of a building part can be closed at least approximately tightly, comprises a running rail having a longitudinal axis and at least one carriage that is guided along the running rail and that comprises a carriage body that is connected to a coupling device that is coupled or can be coupled with the sliding element.
US09290966B2

A system for providing wire-free and contact free electric power and communication connection in a security installation between a door and a frame. The cores, windings, and control circuits of first and second transformers portions are disposed in the frame and the door, respectively. Power applied to the first transformer portion induces a voltage and current in the second transformer portion when the door is in a closed position. Fiber optic cables housed within the transformer portions transmit and receive data between the door and the frame. Power transfer occurs at 100+ KHz and data transfer is in the range of 100 K baud. The transformers portions are compactly constructed and, in one aspect of the invention, may reside in an opening normally occupied by a dead bolt. In another aspect of the invention, the transformer portions are fixed and resonating circuitry is off-tuned to optimize output levels.
US09290965B2

A lock assembly includes a mounting fire plate configured for attachment to the door. A first lockset includes a lockset fire plate and a first operator assembly having a first operator handle. The first operator assembly is mounted to the lockset fire plate. At least one fusible link is configured to releasably couple the lockset fire plate of the first lockset to the mounting fire plate. The at least one fusible link is configured to melt during a fire condition to release the lockset fire plate from the mounting fire plate to facilitate a separation of the first lockset including the lockset fire plate from the mounting fire plate and the door by force of gravity.
US09290963B2

A door lever and mounting plate assembly attachable to a door and coupleable to a latch and spindle assembly in the door, including a. a mounting plate including an aperture therein mountable on the door with the aperture axially aligned with the spindle, b. a door lever assembly comprising a handle part with a bottom surface, and a pivot plate, the handle part being coupleable to the spindle, and the pivot plate being fixed to the bottom surface of the handle and having an area greater than the area of the aperture and being situated closely adjacent and underlying the aperture, such that when the handle is pivoted the aperture is at all times fully underlied by at least parts of the pivot plate, and d. a keylock cylinder mounted in the handle part with a linkage to engage and control rotation of the spindle.
US09290958B2

A pool cleaner for cleaning a pool surface includes a chassis, arms mounted to the chassis for oscillatory movement in response to water being drawn through the pool cleaner and rotating a drive assembly operatively coupled to the arms, a wing mounted to each of the arms for flapping movement in response to the oscillatory movement of the arms, and projections carried on an underside of the wings for disturbing material from the pool surface to be cleaned by the pool cleaner.
US09290954B2

A method and apparatus of producing an adjustable scaffold shelf. The adjustable scaffold shelf is produced from a platform support of an existing scaffold by specific cuts. A middle support and a pair of mount supports are created from the existing platform support. The pair of mount supports is fastened to the middle support to create the frame for the adjustable scaffold shelf. A shelf platform is a board fitted onto the middle support and the pair of mount supports to complete the adjustable scaffold shelf.
US09290953B2

A compound container includes a container body having a side wall and a bottom wall; an interior space defined by the side wall and the end wall; an opening defined by an upper edge of the side wall; and an elongated hand support member having a first attachment section and a second attachment section for attaching the hand support member to a bottom surface of the bottom wall. The hand support member is positioned generally parallel to the opening defined by the upper edge of the side wall.
US09290950B2

A panel, with a horizontally and vertically active locking system, allows two of such floor panels to be connected to each other at their sides by providing one of these floor panels, by means of a downward movement, in the other panel. The vertically active locking element comprises a locking element in the form of an insert. The locking element comprises at least a pivotable lock-up body and an attachment portion. The locking element comprises a bending zone including a first boundary surface with the lock-up body as well as a second boundary surface with the attachment portion. The lock-up body and the attachment portion, in the non-coupled condition, extend underneath each other.
US09290943B2

A shingle blank includes a substrate coated with asphalt. A substantially V-shaped perforated cut line is formed in the substrate, and a substantially straight cut line extends from an apex the V-shaped perforated line toward a leading edge of the shingle blank. The V-shaped perforated cut line and the substantially straight cut line are structured and configured to facilitate separation of the shingle blank into discrete portions.
US09290938B2

A construction system for releasing moisture from a building is provided. The system is especially suitable for use in buildings having a hip, valley or gable roof. More specifically, the device gives the hip, valley or gable roof adequate ventilation and moisture vapor release portals so as to allow air and water vapor to properly rise through the interior of the hip, valley or gable roof and out through ridge vents without becoming trapped by rafters of the hip, valley or gable roof. The system has a first unit and a second unit, wherein the first unit allows air and water vapor to pass through passageways of the first unit up through the underside of the hip, valley or gable roof up and out through the ridge vent(s) and the second unit allows air from the exterior to pass into the roof cavity to circulate through the roof cavity and into the first unit.
US09290935B2

An article of flexible furniture having a core formed from a plurality of laminar panels of a flaccid material and each panel having a pair of oppositely directed major faces, adjacent faces of said panels being inter-connected to provide a cellular structure upon movement of abutting faces away from each other, a pair of supports at opposite ends of said core and connected to respective ones of said faces, said supports being self-supporting to provide rigidity to said core whereby said supports may be moved apart to expand said cellular and extend the length of said partition.
US09290918B2

An outlet fitting for discharging a fed liquid, in particular a sanitary water supply fitting, has a basic body with a connection for connecting to a liquid supply, and an outlet body connected to the basic body. The disclosure concerns a basic body for use with an outlet body, an outlet body for use with a basic body, as well as their combination in an outlet fitting wherein the outlet body forms a liquid container that is removable from the basic body and can be mounted, for example, on a washbasin or sink.
US09290914B2

A ground engaging tool system comprising a ground engaging tip. The ground engaging tip includes an interior surface with a coupler pocket having an opening. The interior surface has a base wall and a first and second side wall. The tip defines a first and second coupler face walls having a planar portion and a curved portion. The planar portion is adjacent the base wall, and the curved portion adjacent the opening. The ground engaging tool system includes a coupler movably connected to the ground engaging tip between a nominal position and a maximum rotated pitch position. The coupler includes a mounting nose with a first and second exterior face surface and is within the coupler pocket. Between the nominal position and the maximum rotated pitch position, the curved portion coupler face walls are in non-contacting, spaced relationship with the coupler.
US09290913B2

A method of analyzing minerals received within a mining shovel bucket includes collecting data associated with ore received in the bucket, where the bucket includes at least one active sensor, where the ore includes one or more mineral, and where the ore is within a field of the active sensor. The method further includes determining a content of the minerals using the data, transmitting information relating to the content of the minerals to a decision support system, and sorting or processing the ore based on an output of the decision support system. Collecting data associated with the ores may include generating source signals, applying the source signals to the active sensor, collecting a response from the active sensor, and comparing the response with a reference or threshold. Other features are disclosed.
US09290912B2

An energy recovery system for a machine is disclosed. The energy recovery system may have a boom circuit with at least a one linear actuator configured to move a work tool, and a boom accumulator configured to selectively collect pressurized fluid from the at least one linear actuator and to discharge pressurized fluid back to the at least one linear actuator. The energy recovery system may also have a swing circuit with a swing motor configured to move the work tool, and a swing accumulator configured to selectively collect pressurized fluid from the swing motor and discharge pressurized fluid back to the swing motor. The energy recovery system may further have a common accumulator passage fluidly connecting the boom accumulator and the swing accumulator.
US09290911B2

An energy recovery system is disclosed for use with a hydraulic machine. The energy recovery system may have a tank, a pump configured to draw fluid from the tank and pressurize the fluid, an actuator, and an actuator control valve movable to direct pressurized fluid from the pump to the actuator and from the actuator to the tank to move the actuator. The energy recovery system may also have a motor mechanically connected to a rotary device and configured to selectively receive fluid discharged from the actuator, and at least one valve movable to selectively redirect fluid exiting the motor back to the actuator.
US09290898B2

The present application discloses a damping member that can be used during mounting of a plow blade edge to a moldboard. In one exemplary embodiment, a plow blade comprises a plow blade edge, a damping member, and at least one fastener. The plow blade edge has at least one aperture extending therethrough for mounting the plow blade to the moldboard. The damping member is positioned between the plow blade edge and the moldboard such that no portion of the plow blade edge contacts the moldboard when the plow blade is mounted to the moldboard. The at least one fastener extends through the at least one aperture of the plow blade edge and at least one aperture of the damping member to mount the plow blade to the moldboard.
US09290897B2

A chute rotation mechanism for a snow thrower having a frame and a chute rotatably mounted to the frame includes a ring gear configured to be mounted to the chute, a drive gear engaging the ring gear, and a handle assembly configured to pivot relative to the frame. The chute rotation mechanism also includes a first cable extending between the drive gear and the handle assembly. The handle assembly is pivotable in a first direction to tension the first cable and rotate the drive gear, thereby rotating the ring gear in a corresponding first direction. The chute rotation mechanism further includes a second cable extending between the drive gear and the handle assembly. The handle assembly is pivotable in a second direction to tension the second cable and rotate the drive gear, thereby rotating the ring gear in a corresponding second direction.
US09290894B2

Road paver having a towing machine that is movable on a plane along a work area, and a screed provided to lay a road pavement, and having at least one measuring device configured to generate a point cloud that depicts a three-dimensional condition of the surface of the plane.
US09290891B1

The invention comprises a new and improved apparatus, system and method for leveling asphalt in road construction that may include at least one laser pointer, at least one alignment target, and at least one visual reference guide attached to a paving machine screed where it is contemplated to project a beam generally parallel with the existing surface to be matched by the newly laid asphalt such that the screed may be adjusted by the beam hitting the screed and the screed moved up and or down accordingly to keep in line with the laser beam that is already positioned in a desired parallel manner.
US09290890B2

A direct current powered electrical heating unit capable of distributing heat across the heating unit in a substantially uniform fashion. The heating unit includes a first pliable outer layer and a second pliable outer layer. The heating unit further includes a pliable electrical heating element disposed between the first and the second cover layers and configured to convert electrical energy to heat energy and to distribute the heat energy. The pliable electrical heating element includes a heat generating element for converting electrical current to heat energy and a heat spreading element comprising graphite thermally coupled to the heat generating element. The heating unit further includes a thermal insulation layer positioned above the pliable electrical heating element and between the first and the second cover layers. A receiving power connector is electrically connected to the heat generating element. The receiving power connector configured to connect to a direct current power source.
US09290883B2

Embodiments may relate to a washing apparatus, more specifically, to a washing apparatus having a steam generator and a controlling method of the same and embodiments may relate to a home appliance including a steam generator. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a controlling method of a washing machine configured to perform a steam washing course having a steam cycle and a refresh course having a steam cycle, wherein water supply to a steam generator for performing the steam cycle initially and an initial steam generator control pattern for applying the power to a heater of the steam generator are controlled different in the steam washing course and the refresh course.
US09290880B2

Provided is a laundry treatment machine which may include at least one hinge that supports a lid on a main body. The hinge may include a hinge housing, an elastic member disposed inside the hinge housing, and a pair of cams disposed in the housing to move in linkage with the lid and the elastic member. The cams may include contact surfaces that are inclined relative to each other in an axial direction of the cams, and when a contact surface of one of the cams slides along a contact surface of the other cam, a distance between the pair of cams may be changed to deform the elastic member. The contact surface of at least one of the cams may be divided into at least three sections by a prescribed angular range along the circumferential direction, each of the three sections having a separate contact surface.
US09290879B2

A washing machine and a controlling method are provided for maintaining an optimal temperature for efficient generation of foam to perform foam washing in washing laundry. The controlling method for the washing machine includes supplying washing water with detergent required to generate foam, generating foam using detergent water which is a mixture of the washing water and the detergent, transmitting heat to the generated foam by heating the detergent water, and washing laundry using the foam.
US09290877B2

A glazing method for improving abrasion resistance using a heated smooth roll to melt the lower-melting-point portion of bicomponent fibers as the spunbond web passes over the heated smooth roll. Because there is no external pressure exerted in a nip by an opposing second roller, as in calendering, the outer surface of the web which does not contact the heated smooth roll remains essentially unchanged and the nonwoven fabric exhibits no compression as a result of the glazing process. The roll temperature and dwell time (roll diameter, wrap angle and line speed) are controlled for the purpose of surface treating only one side of the nonwoven fabric to improve abrasion resistance while allowing the air permeability and web thickness to remain essentially unchanged.
US09290870B2

The present invention is a stitching apparatus and method of use wherein large spools of material can be used and driven into position in a sewing, embroidery or other stitching machine, thereby decreasing the complexity of the stitching process and reducing breakage and thread depletion. The apparatus generally comprises an upper thread feeding assembly, a lower thread feeding assembly, a stitching surface area and an activation assembly, wherein the activation assembly bonds the upper thread to the lower thread at the stitching surface area.
US09290868B2

A nonwoven fabric is provided that has biodegradability and has excellent mechanical strength and excellent texture in combination, and a fiber product containing the nonwoven fabric is provided. The biodegradable nonwoven fabric contains at least two kinds of fibers including a fiber A and a fiber B, in which the fiber A contains a first component having biodegradability, and the fiber B contains a second component having biodegradability. The nonwoven fabric contains a mixed fiber web having a mixing ratio (weight ratio) of the fiber A and the fiber B in a range of from 5/95 to 95/5. The first component contains at least one member selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic polyester and an aliphatic polyester copolymer each having a melting point that is higher than a melting point of the second component. A half crystallization time at 85 degree Celsius of the second component is longer than a half crystallization time at 85 degree Celsius of the first component.
US09290861B2

Regarding a base substrate, a plurality of steps are formed stepwise on the principal surface (c-face). Each step has a height difference of 10 to 40 μm, and an edge is formed parallel to an a-face of a hexagonal crystal of GaN. Meanwhile, the terrace width of each step is set at a predetermined width. The predetermined width is set in such a way that after a GaN crystal is grown on the principal surface of the base substrate, the principal surface is covered up with grain boundaries when the grown GaN crystal is observed from the surface side. The plurality of steps can be formed through, for example, dry etching, sand blasting, lasing, and dicing.
US09290860B2

Quality of a silicon carbide single crystal is improved. A crucible having first and second sides is prepared. A solid source material for growing silicon carbide with a sublimation method is arranged on the first side. A seed crystal made of silicon carbide is arranged on the second side. The crucible is arranged in a heat insulating container. The heat insulating container has an opening facing the second side. The crucible is heated such that the solid source material sublimes. A temperature on the second side is measured through the opening in the heat insulating container. The opening has a tapered inner surface narrowed toward the outside of the heat insulating container.
US09290858B2

A method and apparatus for forming a crystalline semiconductor layer on a substrate are provided. A semiconductor layer is formed by vapor deposition. A pulsed laser melt/recrystallization process is performed to convert the semiconductor layer to a crystalline layer. Laser, or other electromagnetic radiation, pulses are formed into a pulse train and uniformly distributed over a treatment zone, and successive neighboring treatment zones are exposed to the pulse train to progressively convert the deposited material to crystalline material.
US09290855B2

In one embodiment, a method for electrophoretic deposition of a three-dimensionally patterned green body includes suspending a first material in a gelling agent above a patterned electrode of an electrophoretic deposition (EPD) chamber, and gelling the suspension while applying a first electric field to the suspension to cause desired patterning of the first material in a resulting gelation. In another embodiment, a ceramic, metal, or cermet includes a plurality of layers, wherein each layer includes a gradient in composition, microstructure, and/or density in an x-y plane oriented parallel to a plane of deposition of the plurality of layers along a predetermined distance in a z-direction perpendicular to the plane of deposition.
US09290852B2

A light absorbing layer for a photoelectrode structure, the light absorbing layer including copper oxide, wherein metallic copper (Cu) is present at a grain boundary of the copper oxide. Also, a photoelectrode structure including the light absorbing layer, a photoelectrochemical cell including the photoelectrode structure, and a solar cell including the light absorbing layer.
US09290850B2

Methods for inhibiting the corrosion of metals in contact with an aqueous system are provided. The method of inhibiting corrosion includes maintaining effective amounts of (1) an amino acid-based polymer, such as a polyaspartic acid compound, and (2) a dispersible and/or soluble tin compound in the aqueous system. The corrosion inhibiting components of the treatment may be added simultaneously or separately into the water of the aqueous system, i.e., provided either in a single treatment product or as separate products. Such a corrosion inhibiting method may optionally also include adding a polycarboxylic acid chelating agent and/or a carboxylate/sulfonate functional copolymer to the aqueous system.
US09290846B2

A conversion coating composition including a conducting polymer dispersion, at least one silane and inorganic metallic salts, wherein a pH of the composition is between 1.0 and 6.0, and wherein the inorganic metallic salts include at least one zirconium salt and at least one cerium nitrate salt.
US09290844B2

Provided is a method for manufacturing a metal film, including: coating or printing a metal ink containing an organic metal complex on a substrate; and necessarily parallel-performing a pressure process during a procedure of forming metal particles by firing the metal ink, thereby forming a conductive metal film. The present invention can provide a method for manufacturing a metal film capable of improving film characteristics such as conductivity, reflectance, and uniformity in thickness, and the like, as well as remarkably shortening the time for forming the metal film, thereby efficiently manufacturing a superior-quality metal film.
US09290843B2

A semiconductor substrate processing apparatus comprises a ball screw showerhead module adjuster assembly for adjusting the planarization of a showerhead module of the apparatus. The ball screw showerhead module adjuster assembly comprises a collar supported in a stepped opening of a top plate; a bellows forms an airtight seal between the collar and an adjuster plate supported above the collar by at least three adjustable ball screws operable to adjust the planarization of the adjuster plate with respect to the collar. An insulating sleeve extends through an opening in the collar, the bellows, and the adjuster plate. A stem of the showerhead module is supported in an opening of the insulating sleeve by a nut assembly such that the stem is supported and aligned within the insulating sleeve so that an adjustment of planarization of the adjuster plate thereby adjusts the planarization of the faceplate of the showerhead module.
US09290840B2

A method for forming an electrically conductive oxide film (1) on a substrate (2), the method comprising the steps of, bringing the substrate (2) into a reaction space, forming a preliminary deposit on a deposition surface of the substrate (2) and treating the deposition surface with a chemical. The step of forming the preliminary deposit on the deposition surface of the substrate (2) comprises forming a preliminary deposit of transition metal oxide on the deposition surface and subsequently purging the reaction space. The step of treating the deposition surface with a chemical comprises treating the deposition surface with an organometallic chemical and subsequently purging the reaction space, to form oxide comprising oxygen, first metal and transition metal. The steps of forming the preliminary deposit and treating the deposition surface being alternately repeated such that a film (1) of electrically conductive oxide is formed on the substrate (2).
US09290835B2

The invention provides a cold-rolled steel sheet excellent in paint bake hardenability and ordinary-temperature non-aging property comprising, in mass %, C: 0.0005-0.0040%, Si: 0.8% or less, Mn: 2.2% or less, S: 0.0005-0.009%, Cr: 0.4-1.3%, O: 0.003-0.020%, P: 0.045-0.12%, B: 0.0002-0.0010%, Al: 0.008% or less, N: 0.001-0.007%, and a balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities. Ultra-low-carbon steel retaining solute N and containing added Cr, P, B and O is used to produce hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel sheet and hot-dip galvanized cold-rolled steel sheet that exhibit both high paint bake hardenability and ordinary-temperature non-aging property.
US09290831B2

A soft-magnetic, amorphous alloy ribbon produced by a rapid quenching method, having transverse lines of recesses formed on its surface by laser beams with predetermined longitudinal intervals, with a doughnut-shaped projection formed around each recess; doughnut-shaped projections having smooth surfaces substantially free from splashes of the alloy melted by the irradiation of laser beams, and a height t2 of 2 μm or less; and a ratio t1/T of the depth t1 of the recesses to the thickness T of the ribbon being in a range of 0.025-0.18, thereby having low iron loss and low apparent power.
US09290820B2

Nucleic acid molecules derived from sequences of novel human parvovirus B19 variant genomes are provided. Also provided are assays and kits comprising the nucleic acid molecules.
US09290815B2

The invention provides for a method for quantifying one or more nucleic acids of a genome in a sample comprising the steps of, (a) amplifying a first nucleic acid to be quantified, (b) determining the amount of said first nucleic acid by comparison of the amount of amplification product from said first nucleic acid with at least one amplification product from a second template nucleic acid, (c) wherein said second template nucleic acid was generated using whole genome amplification and wherein the starting concentration of the second template nucleic acid is known.
US09290814B2

A method of diagnosing bladder cancer in a patient comprising contacting a sample of urothelial cells obtained from the patient with a set of detectably labeled probes comprising locus-specific probes for c-myc and AURKA and centromeric probes for chromosomes 7 and 17 under hybridization conditions, and determining the presence of chromosomal abnormalities, wherein the presence of chromosomal abnormalities involving at least two of the detectably labeled probes indicates that the patient has bladder cancer; a method of monitoring recurrence of bladder cancer in a patient; a set of probes comprising locus-specific probes for c-myc and AURKA and centromeric probes for chromosomes 7 and 17; and a kit comprising (a) the set of probes and (b) instructions for diagnosing bladder cancer, or monitoring the recurrence thereof, in a patient.
US09290811B2

A precise measurement of the immunological receptor diversity present in a sample is obtained by sequence analysis. Samples of interest are generally complex, comprising more than 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 1010, 1011, 1012 or more different sequences for a receptor of interest. Immunological receptors of interest include immunoglobulins, T cell antigen receptors, and major histocompatibility receptors. The specific composition of immunological receptor sequence variations in the sample can be recorded and output. The composition is useful for predictive, diagnostic and therapeutic methods relating to the immune capabilities and history of an individual. Such predictions and diagnoses are used to guide clinical decisions.
US09290798B2

The invention provides methods to process multiple microarrays by providing a microarray plate and processing plates. In an embodiment of the invention, methods for assembling microarray plates by using wafers are described for high throughput microarray processing.
US09290796B1

The present invention is directed to the detection of problematic foaming and bulking bacterial species in the biological wastewater treatment process. The invention provides various compositions of matter and methods for the detection of foaming and bulking bacterial species and genera in wastewater and other samples. PCR primers capable of amplifying 16s rRNA gene sequences from various foaming and bulking bacterial species are provided, as are probes that will specifically hybridize with PCR amplification products produced by the disclosed primers. In certain embodiments, the use of the disclosed PCR primers and probes in detection assays is disclosed.
US09290787B2

The present invention provides a method for producing and purifying β-carotene by Blakeslea trispora fermentation and use thereof. The method comprises the following steps: a) separately inoculating the Blakeslea trispora strains onto a PDA culture medium so as to obtain a spore suspension; b) propagating spores in a seeding tank so as to obtain seeds for fermentation; c) inoculating the seeds for fermentation onto a fermenter and fermenting said seeds; d) adjusting the fermentation liquid to be basic by using an organic or inorganic base, and filtering so as to obtain wet mycelia; e) treating the wet mycelia with a hydrophobic non-polar organic solvent; f) mixing the wet mycelia with an organic solvent of ester and obtaining a concentrated solution by extracting; g) adding a saturated monohydric alcohol into the concentrated solution, and filtering and crystallizing so as to obtain pure ss-carotene. The content of the ss-carotene in the present invention exceeds 96%, and the yield is above 85%.
US09290774B2

The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 79-69 RZ, which exhibits a combination of traits including resistance to downy mildew races B1:1 to B1:28, CA-I, CA-IIA, CA-IIB, CA-III to CA-VIII (Bremia lactucae) and currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri) biotype Nr:0, and which has crisp, deeply red, deeply dentate leaves, and exhibits very slow bolting. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 79-69 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 79-69 RZ.
US09290762B2

The present invention relates to double-stranded oligonucleotides, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and use of such double-stranded oligonucleotides and pharmaceutical compositions to modulate nociceptive signaling in a cell or prevent and/or treat pain in a patient.
US09290751B2

The invention provides for the use of a therapeutic derived from a truncated lipoprotein lipase protein (LPL S447X), including nucleic acids encoding such proteins, for the treatment of conditions including LPL responsive conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, LPL deficiency, high triglyceride levels, low HDL-cholesterol levels or atherosclerosis.
US09290744B2

Methods of treating a tumor in a subject include identifying a subject having, at risk for, or suspected of having a tumor, and administering to the subject an effective amount of an SRPX.
US09290740B2

De-differentiation protocols are described herein for generating progenitor cells from adult connective tissue, in particular adult human fibroblasts. The de-differentiation protocols described herein comprise culturing the differentiated cells with an amount of FGF2 to de-differentiate the cells. These de-differentiated cells may then be cultured and used for experimentation, amplification and clinical applications. The clinical applications include the use of the cells for tissue and cell based therapies.
US09290739B2

The present invention relates to equine amniotic fluid-derived multipotent stem cells (Eaf-MSCs) and a preparation method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to equine amniotic fluid-derived multipotent stem cells which exhibit all negative immunological characteristics with respect to the human markers, CD19, CD20, CD28, CD31, CD34, CD38, CD41A, CD62L, CD62P and CD200, and exhibit all positive immunological characteristics with respect to the human markers, CD44, CD90 and CD105, and have the ability to differentiate into ectoderm, mesoderm or endoderm-derived cells.
US09290738B2

The invention provides methods for decellularizing bone, e.g., human bone.
US09290733B2

Methods for cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms are described. The method includes the steps of injecting a liquid culture medium into a photosynthetic reactor according to a controlled flow rate, injecting a gas into the reactor according to a controlled flow rate through a gas injector of the reactor so that the gas injected through the gas injector moves up to as far as the exhaust by circulating in the reaction pipe, in a direction of circulation from the low end to as far as the high end of the reaction pipe, circulating the liquid culture medium with the circulation device, and controlling the circulation device and the gas injector in order to establish in at least one substantially horizontal reaction section of the reaction pipe gas/liquid two-phase flow conditions of the laminated flow or slug flow or elongated bubble flow type.
US09290721B2

The present application relates to a visually perceivable image-forming dye scavenging article capable of absorbing and/or inhibiting transfer of fugitive dyes released during laundering, the article comprising (i) a support substrate with an imprint of an image on at least one surface of the substrate; (ii) at least one dye scavenging compound fixably adhered to the imprinted image; (iii) optionally, a film forming agent; (iv) optionally, a cross-linking agent; (v) optionally, a rheology modifying agent; and (vi) optionally, a catalyst to accelerate the polymerization reaction. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the article and use of the same.
US09290719B2

Natural oil based fatty acid wax compositions and their methods of making are provided. The methods comprise providing a natural oil, and hydrogenating and metathesizing the natural oil, and then converting the hydrogenated metathesized natural oil to obtain a fatty acid wax comprising free fatty acids and/or salts of fatty acids, glycerol and/or alcohol, and paraffin, wherein the fatty acid wax has at least 50 wt % of carbon chain compositions with at least 18 carbon atoms. The compositions may comprise 85-100 wt % long-chain fatty acids, 0-15 wt % esters, wherein the fatty acid comprises between 15-60 wt % long chain di-acids and 40-85 wt % long chain mono-acids. The compositions may comprise about 50-100 wt % long-chain fatty acids and about 0-50 wt % esters, wherein the fatty acid may comprise between about 15-80 wt % long chain di-acids and about 20-85 wt % long chain monoacids.
US09290716B2

Herein disclosed is a method of processing oil, comprising providing a high shear device comprising at least one rotor and at least one complementarily-shaped stator configured to mix a gas with a liquid; contacting a gas with an oil in the high shear device, wherein the gas is an inert gas or a reactive gas; and forming a product, wherein the product is a solution, a dispersion, or combination thereof. Herein also disclosed is a high shear system for processing oil, comprising; at least one high shear device, having an inlet and at least one rotor and at least one complementarily-shaped stator configured to mix a gas with a liquid; a gas source fluidly connected to the inlet; an oil source fluidly connected to the inlet; and a pump positioned upstream of a high shear device, the pump in fluid connection with the inlet and the oil source.
US09290707B2

A method for gasifying biomass. The method includes: a) grinding the biomass, feeding the biomass into a gasifier while spraying superheated water vapor into the gasifier, controlling the gasifier at an operating temperature of 1200-1600° C., contacting the biomass with the superheated water vapor, desiccating, separating volatile matters, pyrolyzing, and gasifying the biomass to produce crude synthetic gas and ash; b) transporting the crude synthetic gas into a spray tower, quenching the crude synthetic gas by spraying water to cool down the crude synthetic gas to a temperature of 650-800° C., condensing a slag and a tar from the crude synthetic gas, dissolving and removing alkali metal oxides and part of acid gas to obtain primary synthetic gas; and c) cooling, dust removing, deacidifying, and desiccating the primary synthetic gas to transform the primary synthetic gas into clean synthetic gas.
US09290701B2

Processes are provided for producing a diesel fuel product having a sulfur content of 15 wppm or less (e.g., 10 wppm or less) from feed sources that include a biocomponent feedstock. The biocomponent feedstock can be initially co-processed with a mineral feed in a fluidized bed stage, such as an ebullating bed processing stage. Ebullating bed processing can mitigate the impact of the biocomponent feed on other hydrotreatment aspects of a diesel boiling range feed. Challenged biocomponent feeds can be handled by introducing the biocomponent feed into the ebullating bed reactor in a manner that reduces the fouling impact of the feed.
US09290700B2

The invention relates to synthesis of liquid C5 and higher hydrocarbons from CO and H2 according to the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. An object is to provide high syngas conversion rate, minimum content of waxes in the products, high content of C10-C20 fractions per pass within a single reactor and avoidance of use of expensive catalyst components. The claimed method for preparing synthetic liquid hydrocarbons by catalytic conversion of a syngas according to the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis comprises sequential passing the reaction mixture through at least four layers of a multilayer fixed bed of granulated catalysts, wherein a first layer in the direction of passing the reaction mixture comprises a cobalt Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst that provides occurring the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis at Anderson-Schulz-Flory factor of 0.67 to 0.96, a second layer in the direction of passing the reaction mixture comprises a traditional cobalt Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst that provides occurring the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis at Anderson-Schulz-Flory factor of 0.82 to 0.96, a third layer in the direction of passing the reaction mixture comprises not less than 30% of H-form zeolite, and a lowermost layer comprises a traditional cobalt Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst that provides occurring the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis at Anderson-Schulz-Flory factor of 0.82 to 0.96. The cobalt Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst of the first layer has thermal conductivity not less than 4 watt/m·K and comprises not more than 10% of skeleton cobalt to decrease heat generation intensity in the front layer and not less than 20% of H-form zeolite.
US09290697B2

A liquid crystal orientation promoter including a compound represented by the following formula (I) is a material that exhibits a sufficient solubility, has a wide available concentration range, and exhibits excellent liquid crystal orientation promoting property [L1 to L6 represent a single bond, —O—, —CO—, —COO— and the like; Sp represents a single bond or an alkylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; A1 and A2 represent a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group or a heterocyclic group; T represents the following linking group or the like; Hb represents an alkyl fluoride group having 3 to 30 carbon atoms; k, l, m, n and p represent integers of 0 or more; and o represents an integer of 1 to 4].
US09290691B2

An organic luminescent material-containing solution contains an organic electroluminescent material and a solvent. The organic electroluminescent material at least contains a host and a dopant. The host is an anthracene derivative and is dissolved in the solvent with a content of 0.5 mass percent or more. The solvent is preferably a cyclic ketone. The solvent preferably contains a cyclohexanone derivative as the cyclic ketone.
US09290687B1

A wood-based loss circulation material is formed with a density matched to the density of the drilling fluid to which the loss circulation material will be added. The material is formed from sawdust or fiber pressed under high pressure into high-density pellets. The resulting pellets are brittle, and may be crumbled and screened into particles of an appropriate size for a particular drilling fluid application. Different particle sizes may be employed to prevent seepage or fill voids during the well drilling process. The particles do not disassociate into their constituent materials when in the drilling fluid, and thus maintain their density during use.
US09290685B2

A composition for a refrigerator gasket is provided. The composition includes, as a polymer base, a blend of an olefin/α-olefin (OAO) copolymer having a melting point of at least 100° C. and a styrene block copolymer (SBC). The polymer base has a melt index (190° C., 5 kg) of 0.01 to 15 g/10 min.
US09290669B2

The invention provides a waterborne antifouling coating composition comprising (i) a binder polymer, (ii) a pigment and (iii) no biocide or a biocide selected from (a) a copper biocide or a copper biocide in combination with at least one or more co-biocide(s), or (b) a copper-free biocide or a copper-free biocidein combination with at least one or more co-biocide(s), with the proviso that the biocide is not a copper biocide in combination with zinc pyrithione, and wherein the pigment volume concentration of the waterborne antifouling coating composition is greater than 80% and less than 95%.
US09290668B2

The instant invention provides coated polymeric particulates, and a method for producing polymeric particulates. The coated polymeric particulates according to the present invention comprise (a) one or more polymeric particulates; and (b) a coating composition present on at least a portion of at least one surface of said polymeric particulate, wherein said coating composition comprises a dispersion comprising: (1) one or more base polymers, (2) one or more stabilizing agents; (3) one or more biocide agents; (4) one or more neutralizing agents; and (5) water.
US09290663B2

Methods are provided for nucleic acid analysis wherein a target nucleic acid that is at least partially double stranded is mixed with a dsDNA binding dye having a percent saturation of at least 50% to form a mixture. In one embodiment, the nucleic acid is amplified in the presence of the dsDNA binding dye, and in another embodiment a melting curve is generated for the target nucleic acid by measuring fluorescence from the dsDNA binding dye as the mixture is heated. Dyes for use in nucleic acid analysis and methods for making dyes are also provided.
US09290656B2

A polymerizable composition for polythiourethane optical materials comprising a compound represented by the general formula (1), M(L)n  (1) wherein, in the formula, M is Al, Fe, Cu, Zn, Zr or Bi; L is a dithiocarbamic acid group, a sulfonic acid group, a mono- or di-alkyl phosphoric acid ester group, a substituted acetylacetonato group or a halogen; and n is an integer of 1 to 5, one or two or more isocyanates selected from the group consisting of isocyanate compounds and isothiocyanate compounds, and one or two or more active hydrogen compounds each having a mercapto group. The compounds represented by the general formula (1) exhibit catalytic activity equal to or superior to that of organotin catalysts having been employed as catalysts for the production of polythiourethane optical materials from the past, and have high safety. Further, the thus obtained polythiourethane resins satisfactorily meet the property requirements for optical materials, in particular, excelling in weather resistance. Therefore, the proposed catalysts are available as novel catalysts replacing the organotin catalysts.
US09290649B2

Polyolefin composition comprising a heterophasic propylene copolymer and glass material, wherein said heterophasic propylene copolymer has • a xylene cold soluble fraction in the range of 25 to 50 wt.-%, and • a comonomer content in the range of 10.0 to 15.0 wt.-%, wherein further the xylene cold soluble fraction of the heterophasic propylene copolymer has a comonomer content in the range of 20 to 30 wt.-% and the polyolefin composition has a melt flow rate MFR2 (230° C.) of 2.0 to 15.0 g/10 min.
US09290639B2

Non-halogenated monomers that can be polymerized into flame retardant polymers, and processes to produce the monomers and polymers is provided. In a simplest aspect, there is provided a monomer composition that can comprise a) a group derived from one of a (meth)acrylic acid, (meth)acrylamide, or vinylbenzene, b) a polyphosphate moiety, and c) an amine species. In the monomer composition, the ethylenically unsaturated monomer of (a) is covalently bonded directly or through a linking group to the moiety of b), forming a precursor monomer unit. The amine species of c) is in complex with the precursor monomer unit. The polymer can be a homopolymer of the monomer composition, or a copolymer of the monomer composition having varying a), b) and c). In one embodiment, the polymer can additionally comprise ethylenically unsaturated monomers not covalently bonded to a polyphosphate moiety.
US09290638B2

A resin additive for a polyphenylene sulfide includes a diamine compound expressed by a following general chemical formula (1), in which A is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, X is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group with a carbon number of six or less, or an aryl group, and n is a natural number of 1 to 10. A polyphenylene sulfide resin composition includes the resin additive and a polyphenylene sulfide resin. An electronic device includes a molded product of the polyphenylene sulfide resin composition.
US09290633B2

An interconnected microcellular material, a method for preparing said material using low-value waste from the paper industry, such as industrial lignin, and the use thereof for the production of items such as catalysts, filters or absorbent elements.
US09290627B2

Preparation of a masterbatch of diene elastomer and silica including preparing at least one silica dispersion in water; bringing into contact and mixing an elastomer latex and the aqueous silica dispersion in the presence of a metal salt having an at least divalent metal element, in order to obtain a coagulum; and recovering the coagulum and drying same in order to obtain the masterbatch. The metal cation molar ration, defined as the number of moles of metal cations of the metal salt per BET unit area of the silica, is between 9.375*10−7 and 1.875*10−5 mol/m2.
US09290618B2

In some embodiments, a composition comprises a bisphenol-A polycarbonate, wherein a molded article of the composition has transmission level greater than or equal to 90.0% at 2.5 mm thickness as measured by ASTM D1003-00 and a yellow index (YI) less than or equal to 1.5 as measured by ASTM D1925.
US09290617B2

The present invention provides a method for the covalent immobilization of biomolecules on polymers for delivery of the biomolecules, which has the advantage of being simple, highly efficient, environmentally friendly and free of side products relative to traditional immobilization techniques. The invention provides a modified micro/nanoparticle system, which uses a functionalized polymer formed into micro or nanoparticles to bind a molecule to the particles using uses facile chemistry, the Diels-Alder cycloaddition between a diene and a dienophile with the polymer being functionalized with one of them and the molecule with the other, or the Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between a terminal alkyne and an azide to bind the molecule to the particle. The molecules and/or other therapeutic agents may be encapsulated within the polymer particles for intravenous therapeutic delivery. The invention also provides a novel synthetic biodegradable polymer, a furan/alkyne-functionalized poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC)-based polymer, whose composition can be designed to meet the defined physical and chemical property requirements. In one example, the particle system self-aggregates from functionalized PTMC-based copolymers containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) segments. The composition of the copolymers can be designed to meet various particle system requirements, including size, thermodynamic stability, surface PEG density, drug encapsulation capacity and biomolecule immobilization capacity.
US09290614B2

The invention relates to a method for producing a biomass-resource-derived polyurethane, which comprises: reacting a dicarboxylic acid and an aliphatic diol to produce a polyester polyol; and reacting the polyester polyol and a polyisocyanate compound, wherein the dicarboxylic acid contains at least one component derived from biomass resources, a content of an organic acid in the dicarboxylic acid is more than 0 ppm and not more than 1,000 ppm relative to the dicarboxylic acid, and a pKa value of the organic acid at 25° C. is not more than 3.7.
US09290613B2

Provided is a polylactic acid resin composition which has excellent flexibility and heat resistance without decreasing a biomass degree. The polylactic acid resin composition includes a polylactic acid and a branched polylactic acid having at least three branched chains composed of a polylactic acid in the molecule can be obtained. This polylactic acid resin composition is very superior due to the following reasons: the resin composition has excellent flexibility because plasticization is accelerated; the resin composition has excellent heat resistance because crystallization is accelerated; and the resin composition is effective in protection of the global environment and measures against fossil resource depletion because the resin composition is derived from a recyclable resource.
US09290611B2

The present invention relates to polymers which contain hydroxyl groups and acrylate groups, to processes for preparing them, and to their use.
US09290606B2

The present invention relates to a two part polyurethane and/or polyurethane polyurea hybrid based system for making an elastomeric material, comprising an Iso part having low free monomer and an amine/polyol part, wherein the Iso part comprises a pre-polymer of polyurethane, and wherein the pre-polymer is an MDI based pre-polymer with low free MDI monomer and capped with isocyanate groups from a second relatively higher vapor pressure isocyanate and the pre-polymer contains less than about 0.3% total free monomer and has an NCO % in the range of about 0.1 to about 10%.
US09290602B2

A surface protective film includes a structure in which a fluorine resin having a perfluoroalkylene ether structure in a main chain is crosslinking polymerized, wherein a storage elastic modulus E′ is in the range of 10 MPa to 1000 MPa at a temperature which is 40 K higher than a dynamic glass transition temperature Tg in dynamic viscoelasticity measurement at a measurement frequency of 10 Hz.
US09290598B2

A co-polymer includes a polymerization product of: a first monomer: and a second monomer represented by (R1O)(R2O)B-L-X1—PG2 where: L is absent, or is alkylenyl, alkenylenyl, or arylene, wherein the alkylenyl and alkenylenyl are optionally interrupted with one or more oxygen or sulfur atoms; X1 is absent, or is amino, oxo, thio, or phosphino; PG2 is a polymerizable group; R1 and R2 are independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, C(O)R3, C(O)OR3, C(O)NHR3, or R1 and R2 together with the oxygen atoms to which they are bonded join to form a 5- or 6-membered ring; and R3 is H, alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl, wherein the alkyl and alkenyl are optionally interrupted with one or more oxygen or sulfur atoms.
US09290593B2

A polyolefin has 1) a density in the range of 0.93 to 0.97 g/cm3, 2) a BOCD (Broad Orthogonal Co-monomer Distribution) index defined by a given equation in the range of 1 to 5, and 3) a molecular weight distribution (weight average molecular weight/number average molecular weight) in the range of 4 to 10. A supported hybrid metallocene catalyst comprises a first metallocene compound represented by a first given formulae, a second metallocene compound represented by one of three given formulae, and a support.
US09290591B2

Provided are methods of preparing polymers, such as polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polypiperylene, polycyclohexadiene, poly-β-farnesene, or poly-β-myrcene, using iron complexes. Also provided are novel iron complexes, pre-catalysts, intermediates, and ligands useful in the inventive polymerization system.
US09290586B2

A solid catalyst component for the (co)polymerization of α-olefins having general formula (I): ZrnMAlxClMgp (I) wherein: M represents titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), or mixtures thereof; n is a number ranging from 0.01 to 2; x is a number ranging from 0.1 to 4; y is a number ranging from 5 to 53; p is a number ranging from 0 to 15; obtained by means of a process comprising putting at least one zirconium arene in contact with at least one metal compound and, optionally, with at least one compound of magnesium. Said solid catalyst component can be advantageously used as a solid component in a catalyst for the (co)polymerization of α-olefins. Said catalyst can be advantageously used in a process for the (co)polymerization of α-olefins.
US09290570B2

Antibodies are provided that specifically bind seven human ELR+ CXC chemokines. The antibodies of the invention are useful for treating various inflammatory/autoimmune diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), plaque psoriasis, and palmoplantar pustulosis; and cancer, such as renal cancer or ovarian cancer.
US09290567B2

An antibody binding to Tau that is phosphorylated at serine 422 (pS422), which specifically binds to phosphorylated Tau fragment of SEQ ID NO:9 and to Tau pS422, but does not bind to Tau and to phosphorylated MCAK fragment of SEQ ID NO:17. The antibody is useful in the treatment of a Tauopathy.
US09290557B2

The invention relates to variants and fusions of fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19), variants and fusions of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), fusions of fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) and/or fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), and variants or fusions of fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) and/or fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) proteins and peptide sequences (and peptidomimetics), having one or more activities, such as glucose lowering activity, and methods for and uses in treatment of hyperglycemia and other disorders.
US09290556B2

The present invention provides methods of immunizing a subject against a tumor, inhibiting tumor growth, inhibiting tumor recurrence, treating, suppressing the growth of, or decreasing the incidence of a tumor, overcoming tolerance to a tumor vasculature marker (TVM) in a subject comprising the step of administering a vaccine comprising a TVM or a nucleic acid encoding a TVM and related vaccines. The present invention also provides a method of targeting a tumor vasculature in a subject having a tumor comprising the step of contacting said subject with a labeled compound that binds a) a tumor vasculature marker (TVM) or b) a nucleic acid molecule encoding said TVM.
US09290555B2

Reagents and methods for treating dental disease are provided.
US09290550B2

The invention relates to the use of a combination of SP1298 and SP2205 proteins or functional fragments thereof or homologous proteins or protein fragments thereof of S. pneumoniae for preventing or treating a S. pneumoniae infection, their use for the preparation of a vaccine for the preventive treatment of a S. pneumoniae infection, compositions comprising said proteins of S. pneumoniae or functional fragments thereof, vaccines comprising said proteins or functional fragment thereof, and to a method for in vivo immune protection.
US09290547B2

Disclosed are yeast-based immunotherapeutic compositions, hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens, and fusion proteins for the treatment and/or prevention of HBV infection and symptoms thereof, as well as methods of using the yeast-based immunotherapeutic compositions, HBV antigens, and fusion proteins for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of HBV and/or symptoms thereof.
US09290546B2

Improved anti-HIV immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them are disclosed. Immunogens disclosed include those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype A Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype B Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype C Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype D Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype B consensus Nef-Rev protein, and those having consensus sequences form HIV Gag protein subtypes A, B, C and D. Improved anti-HPV immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them; improved anti-HCV immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them; improved hTERT immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them; and improved anti-Influenza immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them are disclosed as well methods of inducing an immune response in an individual against HIV, HPV, HCV, hTERT and Influenza are disclosed.
US09290539B2

A MC1R peptide ligand-elastic vesicle complex for preventing skin maladies. The MC1R peptide ligand is modified by coupling the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) ligand to a functionality or linker, such as a click functionality, for conjugation to a surface or agent. The modified MC1R peptide ligand can be coupled, e.g., via a click reaction with a complementary click functionality attached, to a moiety to form an MC1R-targeted agent. Drugs, contrast agents, polymers, particles, micelles, elastic vesicles, surfaces of larger structures, or other moieties can be targeted to the MC1R. The MC1R peptide ligand-elastic vesicle complex is prepared as a patch or viscous emulsion that can be applied to human skin.
US09290535B2

The present invention relates to a new uridine nucleoside-based amphiphilic gadolinium complex and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent including the gadolinium complex. The MRI contrast agent has high relaxivity, high binding affinity for and stability in human serum albumin, pH response, and high liver specificity.
US09290532B2

The present invention provides a novel sialo-sugar chain, a process for producing the sialo-sugar chain, and a device for producing the sialo-sugar chain. A sialo-sugar chain can be easily and efficiently mass-produced by reacting a sugar wherein a hydroxy groups is substituted with an alkynyl group (herein sometimes referred to as “alkynylated sugar”) with a specific sialic acid donor in the presence of a sialic acid-introducing enzyme.
US09290521B2

A novel method of simultaneously protecting two functions which are same or different, namely hydroxyl, amine, or thiol ones, particularly in sugars, polyalcohols, nucleosides, nucleotides, peptides, and nucleic acids during an organic synthesis, and to novel compounds for implementing this method, as well as to the method of obtaining these compounds. Method of simultaneously protecting two hydroxyl, amine, or thiol functions according to the invention by carrying out a protecting reaction between a compound having at least two free hydroxyl, amine, or thiol groups, and the disilane of formula 1, where R stands for Cl or Br, or I, or a substituent of formula 2, where X1, X2, X3, X4 are the same or different.
US09290515B2

A compound represented by formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein A represents a group represented by one of formulae (i)-(iii); B represents a group represented by formula (v) or (vi); and E represents a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group having a cationic nitrogen atom.
US09290503B2

Provided are compounds of the formula (I): or a stereoisomer, tautomer, salt, hydrate or prodrug thereof that modulate tyrosine kinase activity, compositions comprising the compounds and methods of their use.
US09290490B2

The present invention provides novel pyrimidine amines of formula I which are potent inhibitors of spleen tyrosine kinase, and are useful in the treatment and prevention of diseases mediated by said enzyme, such as asthma, COPD, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.
US09290485B2

The invention relates to compound of the formula I in which the substituents are as defined in the specification; in free form or in salt form; to its preparation, to its use as medicament and to medicaments comprising it.
US09290483B2

Monomers having formula (I) and process for their synthesis which comprises the etherification reaction of a halogen-derivative (Z═Cl, Br, I) having formula (III) with the hydroxyl group of the glycerol derivative (IV), according to the following scheme:(Formula III, IV & I) (III) (IV) (I)
US09290480B2

The present invention relates to a novel quinazoline-2,4-dione derivative of formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula (I) as an active ingredient for preventing or treating neurological brain disease.
US09290462B1

This invention relates to the composition of matter of polythiols having a chemical structure in FIG. 1. In certain embodiments this invention provides a polythiol with low or no odor and which is a liquid, a waxy solid or a semi-solid at 22° C. In another embodiment the polythiols have a viscosity lower than 100,000 cP at 50° C. In other embodiments, the invention provides a mixture of thiol compounds or a mixture of thiol and amine compounds.
US09290460B2

Disclosed are 1-(arylmethyl)quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones thereof, represented by the Formula (I) wherein Ar, R1-R6 are defined herein. Compounds having Formula (I) are PARP inhibitors. Therefore, compounds of the invention may be used to treat clinical conditions that are responsive to the inhibition of PARP activity.
US09290458B2

Disclosed is (S)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(4-((5R,7R)-7-hydroxy-5-methyl-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[d]pyrimidin-4-yl)piperazin-1-yl)-3-(isopropylamino)propan-1-one monohydrochloride, forms, formulations, pharmaceutical compositions, processes of manufacturing and methods of use thereof.
US09290452B2

The present invention refers to a multicomponent crystalline system (co-crystal) comprising a compound of formula (1) (4-[3,5-Bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl]benzoic acid; INN: Deferasirox) formula (1) and a compound of formula (2) (Isonicotinamide; pyridine-4-carboxamide) formula (2), as well as to a process for obtaining the same.
US09290450B2

Disclosed are compounds and methods for treating inflammatory and fibrotic disorders, including methods of modulating a stress activated protein kinase (SAPK) system with an active compound, wherein the active compound exhibits low potency for inhibition of the p38 MAPK; and wherein the contacting is conducted at a SAPK-modulating concentration that is at a low percentage inhibitory concentration for inhibition of the p38 MAPK by the compound. Also disclosed are derivatives and analogs of pirfenidone, useful for modulating a stress activated protein kinase (SAPK) system.
US09290448B2

The present invention relates to novel sulfoperoxycarboxylic acid compounds, and methods for making and using them. The sulfoperoxycarboxylic compounds of the invention are storage stable, water soluble and have low to no odor. Further, the compounds of the present invention can be formed from non-petroleum based renewable materials. The compounds of the present invention can be used as antimicrobials, and bleaching agents. The compounds of the present invention are also suitable for use as coupling agents.
US09290444B2

The present invention relates to inhibitors of the 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 1 enzyme and their use in treatment of non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, lipid disorders, metabolic syndrome, central nervous system disorders, and diseases and conditions that are related to excessive glucocorticoids.
US09290437B2

A bromine/nitro moiety linked into the backbone of an ester or other compound over a wide range of occurrence rates provides antimicrobial, bio-resistant and fungal resistant properties for metal working fluids (MWF)s and other coatings. The moiety can be have the bromo and nitro groups linked to the same or different carbon atoms. The present invention also relates to urethanes, urea, amides, imides, carbonates, ethers, siloxanes, and many other types of linkages essential to MWF bases.
US09290432B2

The subject of the invention is process the preparation of travoprost of formula (I) characterized by that the free acid of formula (II) is a.) activated with 2-chloro-1,3-dimethyl-imidazolinium chloride (DMC) and the resulting activated carboxylic acid intermediate is reacted with isopropyl alcohol, or b.) reacted with alkyl haloformate and the resulting mixed anhydride is reacted with isopropyl alcohol, or c.) activated with a straight or branched C1-8 dialkyl dicarbonate and reacted with isopropanol in the presence of water-free magnesium salt.
US09290431B2

This invention relates to a process of preparing highly pure, non-yellowing (meth)acrylic acid necessary for high-tech applications requiring long-tem color stability in the presence of amines. Process for the preparation of highly pure, non-yellowing (meth)acrylic acid comprising the steps: f) Condensation of a (meth)acrylic acid-containing gas phase obtained via a gas phase oxidation process of a C4-compound to generate an aqueous (meth)acrylic acid solution g) Separation of the (meth)acrylic acid from the aqueous (meth)acrylic acid solution to obtain crude (meth)acrylic acid h) Rectification of the crude (meth)acrylic acid to obtain pure (meth)acrylic acid via a sidestream outlet of the rectification column i) Treatment of the pure (meth)acrylic acid generated in step c) with an ion exchange resin j) Distillation of the (meth)acrylic acid generated in step d).
US09290425B2

Higher mixed alcohols are produced from syngas contacting a catalyst in a reactor. The catalyst has a first component of molybdenum or tungsten, a second component of vanadium, a third component of iron, cobalt, nickel or palladium and optionally a fourth component of a promoter. The first component forms alcohols, while the vanadium and the third component stimulates carbon chain growth to produce higher alcohols.
US09290414B2

The present invention relates to a glass strand having a coating including a polymer chosen from vinyl acetate/vinyl chloride copolymers, polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylidene chloride, and a silane of formula (I).
US09290409B2

The invention provides a glass ceramic glaze composition manufactured using conventional raw material and one or more waste materials, wherein the waste materials are capable of producing glass forming oxides and glass modifying oxides. The waste materials are selected from a group that includes cullet, pozzolanic waste and fly ash. The invention also provides a method for manufacturing the glass ceramic glaze composition. Further, the invention provides different methods of glazing a glass ceramic substrate using the glass ceramic glaze composition.
US09290394B2

Provided is a method for decomposing at least one of organic compound contained in an aqueous solution by using a titanium dioxide photocatalyst that is excellent in both photocatalytic activity and solid-liquid separation performance for water treatment. The method includes: a step of adding catalyst particles into the aqueous solution; a step of decomposing the organic compound by irradiating the aqueous solution with light having a wavelength of 200 nanometers or more and 400 nanometers or less while stirring the catalyst particles in the aqueous solution; and a step of stopping the stirring, and separating the catalyst particles from the aqueous solution by sedimentation. The catalyst particles are composed only of titanium dioxide particles and zeolite particles, the titanium dioxide particles are adsorbed on outer surfaces of the zeolite particles, the zeolite particles have a silica/alumina molar ratio of 10 or more, and the catalyst particles are contained in the aqueous solution at a concentration of 0.4 grams/liter or more and 16 grams/liter or less.
US09290389B2

A method including providing graphene on a growth substrate; providing a target substrate on the graphene to form a first composite including the target substrate and graphene; and removing at least a portion of the first composite from the growth substrate.
US09290386B2

A process and system for substantially eliminating contaminants from a gas and a gas produced therefrom.
US09290382B2

The invention enables efficient, rapid, and sensitive enumeration of living cells by detecting microscopic colonies derived from in situ cell division using large area imaging. Microbial enumeration tests based on the invention address an important problem in clinical and industrial microbiology—the long time needed for detection in traditional tests—while retaining key advantages of the traditional methods based on microbial culture. Embodiments of the invention include non-destructive aseptic methods for detecting cellular microcolonies without labeling reagents. These methods allow for the generation of pure cultures which can be used for microbial identification and determination of antimicrobial resistance.
US09290381B2

Described are single-walled metal oxide nanotubes having a plurality of organic functional units or moieties bonded generally in a covalent manner to the inner wall of the single-walled nanotubes. Functionalization of the single-walled metal oxide nanotubes is performed in a single-step during synthesis of the nanotubes. The organic functional units are found dispersed throughout the length of the inner wall and not sterically hindered or contained at only the mouth or ends of the single-walled metal oxide nanotubes.
US09290379B2

In various embodiments, a method for manufacturing a chip package is provided. The method includes arranging a chip over a substrate, the chip including a microphone structure and an opening to the microphone structure; and encapsulating the chip with encapsulation material such that the opening is kept at least partially free from the encapsulation material.
US09290377B2

A method of stacking a plurality of first dies to a respective plurality of second dies, each one of the first dies having a surface including a surface coupling region which is substantially flat, each one of the second dies having a respective surface including a respective surface coupling region which is substantially flat, the method comprising the steps of: forming, by means of a screen printing technique, an adhesive layer on the first dies at the respective surface coupling regions; and arranging the surface coupling region of each second die in direct physical contact with a respective adhesive layer of a respective first die among said plurality of first dies.
US09290373B2

A number of variations may include a product comprising: a mechanical seal fuel fill system including a fill line for transporting fuel into a fuel tank. The fill line may be operatively connected to a fill cup to receive a fill nozzle. The fuel fill system may also include a vapor canister to receive fuel vapors displaced during refueling from the fuel tank. The vapor canister may be fed via a canister vent valve inside the fuel tank. The fuel system may also include a recirculation line connecting the fuel tank to the fill line. The recirculation line may include an auxiliary valve in the fuel tank. The recirculation valve and the auxiliary valve may be in a parallel arrangement.
US09290361B2

A lifting device sensor unit comprises a housing, a first global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver, and a wireless transceiver. The housing is configured to removably couple about a load line of a lifting device. The first GNSS receiver is coupled with the housing and configured for determining a sensor unit position in three dimensions. The wireless transceiver is coupled with the housing and configured for wirelessly providing information including the sensor unit position to a display unit located apart from the sensor unit.
US09290359B2

A method for controlling a fixture (122) includes receiving a message from a controller (102), determining whether the message includes an address associated with the fixture (122), retrieving an identifier of the controller (102) from the message responsive to determining that the message includes an address not associated with the fixture (122), determining whether the fixture (122) includes a fixture channel (204) controlled by the controller (102), and resetting a timer (203) associated with the fixture channel (204) controlled by the controller (102) responsive to determining that the fixture (122) includes the fixture channel (204) controlled by the controller (102).
US09290336B2

The system comprises at last one longitudinal guide that is independent of the loading bay and disposed on one side of the vertical mid-plane of the loading bay, facing the plane defined by the loading bay and associated with actuating means that trigger the lateral movement thereof, forming a reference for guiding the truck as it is maneuvered towards the loading bay. At least one of the longitudinal guides comprises a vertical post including illuminated signalling means and detectors for detecting the height and width of the truck approaching the loading bay, as well as moveable wedges associated with actuating means for blocking the truck in the loading bay.
US09290335B1

A sweep system for moving particulate matter in a bin having a bin floor may comprise a sweep apparatus having at least two branches. Each of the branches may include a sweep assembly having an inboard end for locating toward a central area of the bin and an outboard end for locating toward a peripheral area of the bin, and each of the sweep assemblies may include a particulate sweep structure configured to move the particulate matter toward the inboard end. The sweep assemblies of the branches may be connected together at the inboard ends thereof.
US09290320B2

The present invention is directed to a waste packaging system, a method of storing waste and to a film for use in this system and method.
US09290309B1

A beverage bottle includes a primary compartment to store an existing fluid therein, a pod in communication with the primary compartment, a cap in communication with the pod. Such a cap includes a nozzle in communication with the primary compartment. A primary travel path extends from the primary compartment to the nozzle. Upon receiving a first user input at the primary compartment, the fluid is caused to discharge upstream along the primary travel path while remaining isolated from an interior of the secondary compartments. The pod includes a plurality of secondary compartments adapted to store a plurality of existing additives therein, respectively. A plurality of secondary travel paths extend from the secondary compartments into the primary compartment. In this manner, upon receiving a second user input at the pod, the existing additives are caused to selectively discharge downstream along the secondary travel paths, respectively.
US09290308B2

A dispensing closure assembly is particularly configured for use on a container having carbonated or otherwise pressurized contents. The closure assembly includes a closure shell having an annular mounting collar, and an axially moveable tip positioned on the mounting collar for axial movement between opened and closed positions. Notably, the closure assembly includes an arrangement of venting projections, preferably provided on the closure shell, which provide pre-venting of gas pressure from within the container upon initial opening movement of the moveable tip. Foaming, splashing, or other undesirable discharge of liquid from within the container upon initial opening is desirably abated.
US09290305B2

An isolation apparatus for transporting and storing objects or human remains. The apparatus is formed of a flexible, foldable, opaque, generally box-like enclosure fabricated of a fiber reinforced plastic film, and welded together to form a sealed, air-tight and/or liquid-tight enclosure. A gas and liquid sealing zipper is positioned along three of four sides of the enclosure, thereby allowing the apparatus to open in a clamshell or suitcase-like manner, for easy access to the interior of the enclosure. An NBC and/or a CBRN filter can be mounted to the apparatus to allow for release of pressure from within the enclosure. An interior liner made of chemical protective fabric can be placed within the enclosure for additional chemical containment. This apparatus eliminates or significantly reduces the size and number of cracks, crevices and/or other voids into which contaminated materials can enter, for example by positioning, sizing and/or structuring welds to extend completely to an edge of the isolation apparatus, and/or by welding materials together entirely around one or more peripheries.
US09290300B2

The invention includes a scalable, modular interlocking container with a multi-purpose use. Vertical and horizontal interconnectivity are achieved through interlocking mechanisms. An exemplary first use is for transporting and/or storing liquids or solids that can be poured. An exemplary second use is for a sturdy, low cost, easily assembled building block material of a standardized nature. Each modular unit slide-locks with other units to form strong wall and building structures that can be filled with natural earth, sand or other such materials, thereby forming a sturdy structure without the use of mortar, and can adapt to uneven base surfaces typically found in natural terrain.
US09290294B2

A method for manufacturing a container pre-assembly and a container having a combination panel and a tear-out section, the tear-out section configured to be separated from an erected container.
US09290277B2

Provided are a surveillance system and a surveillance method. The surveillance system includes a control tower configured to be coupled with and separated from a flying vehicle, and receive an image captured by the flying vehicle through a first communication network, wherein the control tower is further configured to transmit the received image to a central control station through a second communication network for analysis of the received image. The surveillance system may further include the flying vehicle and the central control station.
US09290273B1

Invention is an adaptive freeze, snow or ice protection system and method of operation that comprises an integrated expert system control module, a sensing means, a heating means, a control system means, an interconnection means and an energy supply system means where the protection system is supplied with an external energy source. The integrated expert system control module has a learning algorithm that performs adaptive analysis using input from conventional and unique sensors as the sensing means, other available inputs and other available data to monitor all of the systems of the protection system and provides commands to control all the systems of the protection system that manage the possible effects of predetermined environmental conditions on facilities or equipment.
US09290271B2

A vehicle seat carrier device includes at least one vehicle seat carrier unit which is provided to be arranged in at least one assembled state on at least one backrest unit of a seat unit. The vehicle seat carrier unit has at least one base unit and at least one cover unit which is embodied separately from the base unit and which is provided to be connected to the base unit in the assembled state.
US09290268B2

Multi-wing hovering and gliding flapping Micro Air Vehicles (“MAV”) are disclosed. The MAV can have independent wing control to provide enhance energy efficiency and high maneuverability. Power to each wing can be controlled separately by varying the amplitude of the wing flapping, the frequency of the wing flapping, or both. The flapping frequency can be controlled such that it is at or near the natural frequency of the wings for improved energy efficiency. The wings can be controlled by a gear train, coil-magnet arrangement or many other actuation systems that enable variable frequency flapping, variable amplitude flapping, or a combination of both. The gear train mechanism provides gyroscopic stability during flight. The wing flapping can include a rotation, or feathering motion, for improved efficiency. The wings can be transitioned between flapping flight and fixed wing flight to enable gliding and hovering in a single configuration.
US09290265B2

A landing gear system comprises a bogie beam, a landing gear axle pivotally mounted to the bogie beam, a steering rack, a linear actuator assembly, and a steering control link. The steering rack is secured transversely to the bogie beam and is longitudinally spaced apart from the landing gear axle. The linear actuator assembly is operable to laterally translate the steering rack. The steering control link is longitudinally extendable and has an actuator end secured to the steering rack, and an axle end of the steering control link engaged with the landing gear axle. The steering control link and the landing gear axle are pivotable relative to the bogie beam about a common axis.
US09290259B2

An aircraft nose comprising a primary fuselage structure, and housed inside said structure, a cockpit, and an avionics bay containing a plurality of avionics racks designed to receive electrical and/or electronic equipment. The cockpit and the avionics bay are each made in the form of a distinct module that is suitable for being installed in a single operation inside the primary fuselage structure. The use of modules for integrating in the aircraft nose makes it possible to reduce considerably the time required for fitting out the nose on the final assembly line of the aircraft.
US09290251B1

A trolling motor system for a light-weight watercraft comprises: a mounting plate for attachment to the watercraft, the plate includes a fixed end, a moveable end, and a hinge therebetween, a winch is located adjacent the fixed end adapted to raise and lower the movable end between an up position and a down position, a guidance mechanism is coupled to and below the moveable end, and a trolling motor affixed to and located below the guidance mechanism. The system may also include a quick release mechanism coupling the guidance mechanism and trolling motor to the moveable end. The guidance mechanism may include a wire system for controlling rotational movement of the trolling motor. In use, when the watercraft is moved into or out of the water, portions of the system may be easily removed from the watercraft, so that the entire weight of the system is not a hindrance.
US09290249B2

A buoyancy compensator having a locking system (27) that ensures the ballast (25) not to drop unexpectedly during diving and to removable by one hand of a scuba diver. The locking system (27) includes a releasing unit (30), a female locking unit (50) and a male locking unit (70). The releasing unit includes a turn leg (32) that is to be interposed between the female locking unit and the male locking unit. When the turn leg is forcedly turned at a certain angle clockwise or counterclockwise, an engagement of the male locking unit to the female locking unit is released.
US09290247B2

A carriage-on-base system for use in winched movement of a load, the carriage shaped to support a load to be winched along the base, the carriage having a plurality of depending housings, a plurality of slider of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fixed in respective housings, the base having rails engaged by the sliders with lower surface profiles of the sliders matched to upper surface profile of the rails which they engage, the profiles of the rails and the sliders at their interengagement preventing any movement of the carriage relative to the rails other than sliding movement of the carriage along the rails.
US09290227B2

A bicycle frame includes a head tube rotatably supporting first and second handlebars, and the handlebars each selectively pivot to a tow position extending away from the head tube. The bicycle frame includes first and second primary wheel mounts receiving first and second wheels, respectively, in a riding configuration of the bicycle frame, and one of the primary wheel mounts includes a first drive system coupling operably engaging one of the wheels with a bicycle control and power system. The bicycle frame further includes first and second secondary wheel mounts receiving the first and second wheels, respectively, in a towing configuration of the bicycle frame, and one of the secondary wheel mounts includes a second drive system coupling operably engaging one of the wheels with the bicycle control and power system.
US09290222B1

In an embodiment of the present invention, an improved pump is provided to inflate and deflate a bladder of a seat. The pump has a base, a stem, a valve, a bulb, an O-ring and a cover. The O-ring holds the bulb to the base in a recess defined by two lips. The bulb has a hole in one end that can be covered by a user's finger during inflation, wherein the user compresses the bulb while covering the hole to create pressure within the chamber. Then, when the user contacts the plunger, the pressure causes air to enter the bladder. To deflate the bladder, the user contacts the plunger without covering up the hole in the bulb. The stem has a flange. The pump can connect to a seat by connecting to a seat tab and securing the tab between the flange and the base.
US09290220B2

A self-propelled device determines an orientation for its movement based on a pre-determined reference frame. A controller device is operable by a user to control the self-propelled device. The controller device includes a user interface for controlling at least a direction of movement of the self-propelled device. The self-propelled device is configured to signal the controller device information that indicates the orientation of the self-propelled device. The controller device is configured to orient the user interface, based on the information signaled from the self-propelled device, to reflect the orientation of the self-propelled device.
US09290215B2

A trailer combination and trailer components are designed to provide dual functionality in terms of hauling a very high tonnage piece of heavy equipment and the ability to continue to haul more typical pieces of heavy equipment. To accomplish this task, a trailer auxiliary is provided that is adapted to connect to a typical low boy trailer. The trailer auxiliary is equipped with mechanisms to provide a bed assembly that is designed to link to the low boy trailer so that the bed assembly and bed of the trailer auxiliary receive the high tonnage piece of equipment. The trailer auxiliary can be equipped with ramps to interface with the trailer and auxiliary to facilitate the loading of the heavy equipment. The trailer combination also includes a hauling vehicle for each of the low boy trailer and auxiliary, with a spacing bar assembly mounted to one of the vehicles to link the vehicles together when hauling the trailer and the auxiliary.
US09290211B2

A structural member includes one or more walls that define a cavity. A system for reinforcing the cavity includes a substantially rigid carrier configured to reside in the cavity. The carrier includes a pathway disposed in the carrier that provides an aperture between an exterior surface of the carrier and an interior surface of the carrier. An adhesive is disposed in a gap between at least a portion of the exterior surface of the carrier and the wall of the structural member. The adhesive is disposed proximate to the pathway.
US09290202B2

A system and a method are provided for calibrating a backup assist system for a trailer attached to a vehicle. The method includes driving the vehicle forward substantially straight above a threshold speed, sensing a yaw rate of the vehicle, and sensing a measured hitch angle of the trailer. A yaw sensor continuously senses the yaw rate of the vehicle and a hitch sensor continuously measures the hitch angle for determining an angle rate based on the measured hitch angle. Further, a controller determines an offset between the measured hitch angle and an actual hitch angle when the yaw rate and angle rate are substantially zero or otherwise the same.
US09290201B1

Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to determining by what degree a driver is gripping a steering wheel. In one example, a computer may send an electrically assisted power steering system (EPS) motor an excitation command to move. The EPS motor may respond by moving a flexible coupling between the steering wheel and the EPS motor. This may cause a corresponding movement at the steering wheel. A torque sensor may generate pattern data by monitoring the flexible coupling during the movement. The EPS motor may generate system position data for the entire steering system, for example, from the tires to the steering wheel. The pattern data and the system position data may be compared by the computer to determine the degree of grip. In this regard, the computer may determine the degree of a driver's grip without the need for additional sensors.
US09290200B2

In the vehicle power steering system, a first assist torque component is computed based on a steering torque and a vehicle speed. A target steered angle is computed based on the first assist torque component and the steering torque, and a second assist torque component is set based on the target steered angle and an actual steered angle. Then, the vehicle power steering system assists a steering operation by applying an assist torque Tas corresponding to the first assist torque component and the second assist torque component. Further, an ideal steered angle at which a vehicle is able to keep travelling in a lane is set based on image information on the lane captured by a camera, and a correction value is computed based on the deviation between the ideal steered angle and the actual steered angle. Then, the target steered angle is corrected by the correction value.
US09290197B2

A plug-on body for a clamping bolt of an adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle. The plug-on body includes at least one opening for guiding the clamping bolt through the opening of the plug-on body and at least one or two damped elongated hole stops for damping an impact of the clamping bolt on an end of an elongated hole.
US09290195B2

Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a storage bag for holding equipment that is not easily stored on a utility cart. The storage bag may include a storage compartment having an opening, the storage compartment configured to accept equipment, a handle sleeve attached to an outer surface of the bag, the handle sleeve configured to engage with a handle on a utility cart, and a barrier positioned on a bottom surface of the storage compartment. The storage bag may additionally include a closing mechanism to secure the equipment in the bag. In embodiments, the storage bag has dimensions configured not to interfere with the functionality of the utility cart.
US09290194B1

A lawn bag holder apparatus capable of holding a bag in a laid-down horizontal position for racking or sweeping debris directly into the bag and in an upright position to settle debris further into the bag and tie the bag closed. The bag holder apparatus includes a base; a plurality of wheels attached to base; a platform pivotally attached to the base and moveable relative to the base between an upright position and a laid down position; a lift mechanism capable of supporting the platform in the upright position; and a hoop attachable to the platform for holding a bag.
US09290183B2

A method of estimating road slope of a vehicle may include determining an offset value of a gravitational acceleration sensor, determining a driving distance in a longitudinal direction of the gravitational acceleration sensor, comparing a difference between a driving distance and the driving distance in the longitudinal direction of the gravitational acceleration sensor with a predetermined value, estimating a road slope by using either a driving torque or the gravitational acceleration sensor based on a result of the comparison, and controlling a shift of the vehicle according to the estimated road slope.
US09290180B2

A mining vehicle is provided, which is capable of appropriately recognizing a condition of a traveling road in front of the vehicle, preventing an obstacle on a roadside from being erroneously detected by a distance detector, and controlling the speed of the vehicle in a stable manner even when the vehicle is approaching a curved portion of the road from a linear portion of the road.The mining vehicle that travels on a transport road of a mining site includes: a minimum roadside distance determining unit; a traveling status calculator configured to calculate traveling status of the vehicle and a turning radius of the vehicle; a roadside distance calculator configured to calculate a roadside distance between the vehicle and a roadside of the transport road; a roadside distance selector configured to select and output a minimum roadside distance if the vehicle is in a rectilinearly traveling state and select and output the roadside distance calculated with the roadside distance calculator if the vehicle is in a turning state; a detected distance limiter configured to disable a signal representing the distance, detected with the distance detector, between the vehicle and the object and the relative speed if the distance between the vehicle and the object is larger than a distance represented by a signal selected and output from the roadside distance selector; and a vehicle speed controller configured to control the speed of the vehicle on the basis of a signal output from the detected distance limiter.
US09290160B2

A system (80) for a vehicle comprising a rear windscreen (20) and a rear windscreen wiper (26/28), the system (80) comprising one or more tracking sensors (30) and a control unit (50); the one or more tracking sensors (30) being coupled to the control unit (50) and being configured to monitor the behavior of a driver of the vehicle and to issue data to the control unit, the control unit (50) and/or the one or more tracking sensors (30) being arranged to make a positive determination that said monitored behavior is indicative of a requirement to look through the rear windscreen (20) of the vehicle and in dependence on making said positive determination, the control unit (50) is configured to activate the rear windscreen wiper (26/28) to wipe the rear windscreen (20) and/or to activate a rear windscreen washer system.
US09290158B2

A window and/or lamp washer system for a vehicle comprising a washer fluid container, a washer fluid pump arranged in fluid communication with the washer fluid container, at least one washer fluid pressure tank for storing pressurized fluid, arranged in fluid communication with the washer fluid pump, and comprising a fluid inlet for receiving pressurized fluid from the pump and at least one fluid outlet for providing pressurized fluid in the form of a washer fluid jet, sensor means arranged to provide a signal representing the measured pressure within the at least one washer fluid pressure tank, a control unit connected to the sensor means and the washer fluid pump, and arranged to receive the signal, wherein the control unit is configured to operate the washer fluid pump based on the signal, whereby a signal representing a value below a predetermined level cause the pump to increase the pressure.
US09290157B2

A windscreen wiper device comprising 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, which wiper blade includes opposing longitudinal groove on its longitudinal sides, in which grooves spaced-apart longitudinal strips of the carrier element are disposed, wherein neighboring ends of said longitudinal strips are interconnected by a respective connection piece, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, wherein said oscillating arm is pivotally connected to said connecting device about a pivot axis near one end, with the interposition of a joint part, wherein said joint part comprises at least one resilient tongue engaging in a correspondingly shaped hole provided in said oscillating arm, and wherein said resilient tongue is rotatable along an hinge axis between an outward position retaining the wiper blade onto the oscillating arm and an inward position releasing the wiper blade form the oscillating arm, characterized in that said resilient tongue is forced in the outward position under the influence of a moment in case a force is exerted on the wiper blade in a direction away from the oscillating arm.
US09290154B2

An apparatus for disabling a motor vehicle comprises an expandable head adapted to be inserted and secured into the exhaust pipe of an automobile, motorcycle, go-kart, scooter, boat, tractor or other vehicle having an internal combustion engine. A shaft of the apparatus may be configured to engage with a tool, e.g., a socket wrench, torque wrench, drill driver, or other tool, which may impart a rotational force on the shaft to radially expand a head of the apparatus and secure it within a tailpipe of a vehicle, such that buildup of pressure within the vehicle exhaust system does not expel the apparatus from the pipe. An axial bore through the shaft may be fitted at a terminal end with a pressure release valve to selectively release pressure, e.g., before removing the device, or to allow operation of the vehicle while the apparatus is secured within the tailpipe.
US09290152B2

[Object] Quietness is to be more effectively improved, without compromising stability in power transmission.[Solution] An annular internal gear member 24 is formed of a noise suppressing material having lower strength than a metal. A deformation restricting portion 22d of an annular flange shape is formed along an outer circumferential edge of a carrier 22. Accordingly, when a planetary gear mechanism is operating the internal gear member 24 is partially deformed so as to protrude radially outward of the annular shape. At this point, the protruding deformed portion of the internal gear member 24 abuts against an inner circumferential surface of the deformation restricting portion 22d. Therefore, deformation of the internal gear member 24 is effectively restricted.
US09290149B2

An airbag apparatus for a front passenger seat includes an airbag inflatable into a generally square conical contour whose top is deployable at the front end. The airbag is mounted on a case together with an inflator by the periphery of a gas inlet port which is located proximate the front end of the airbag. The airbag includes in a passenger side wall a recessed area that is sunken forward and extends vertically generally at airbag inflation. A seam that joints peripheral edges of a base material of the circumferential wall together extends forward from the recessed area. The seam is slanted off a front and rear direction such that the front end of the seam is directed toward either left or right when the airbag at full inflation is viewed from an up and down direction.
US09290147B2

An airbag control assembly for an adjustable vehicle seat in a vehicle may include electrical wiring and an airbag mechanism. The electrical wiring may be configured to transmit electricity from a vehicle power supply of the vehicle to an airbag. The airbag mechanism may be configured to cause enabling and disabling of the airbag. The airbag mechanism may be configured to cause enabling of the airbag if the seat is in a usable position and may be configured to cause disabling of the airbag if the seat is in an unusable position.
US09290143B2

A deflector for a skateboard generally comprises; a sweep plate to deflect in-path debris from the skateboard's line of travel and a sweep plate suspension, which is coupled to the sweep plate and to the skateboard. The sweep plate suspension provides to substantially maintain a sweep plate's position proximate to a ground in response to maneuverings of the skateboard. The sweep plate suspension may further comprise a spring to provide for a flexing of the sweep plate in response to the maneuverings so as to maintain the sweep plate's proximate position. The sweep plate suspension may couple to a truck or a platform of the skateboard, and may also comprise an adjustment mechanism to set the sweep plate's position. The sweep plate may be releasable from the sweep plate suspension, and at least one of the sweep plate and the sweep plate suspension may comprise lights.
US09290141B2

A bumper support for a motor vehicle with a stiffening structure and at least two connections for connecting the bumper support on the one hand to a bumper and on the other hand to a vehicle body is provided. The bumper support comprises at least one extension structure arranged in the region of at least one of the connections and serving as energy absorber, which is connected to the stiffening structure in a materially joined manner.
US09290135B2

The present invention relates to an in-vehicle electronic device and a data collection system including the same, and has an object to enhance the convenience. In order to achieve this object, the present invention includes: an input unit for a personal ID; an in-vehicle control unit connected to the input unit; and an in-vehicle transmission unit and an in-vehicle reception unit connected to the in-vehicle control unit. The in-vehicle control unit is connected to a memory that records therein a data collection condition set for each personal ID. If a personal ID is inputted to the input unit, data of a person associated with the personal ID can be collected from a server. With this configuration, pieces of data of a plurality of persons who are in the same automobile can be collected from the server.
US09290131B2

Carrier, such as a cargo box, for a vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, the cargo box may comprise a bottom portion mountable to a vehicle, and a lid portion that fits together with the bottom portion to form a container for cargo. The container may have a pair of lateral sides opposite each other. The cargo box also may comprise a plurality of hinge-latch members to connect the lid portion to the bottom portion adjacent each lateral side. At least one hinge-latch member adjacent each lateral side may include a hinge, a first latch, and a second latch. The first and second latches may be adjustable individually to connect the lid portion to the bottom portion via the hinge. In another exemplary embodiment, the carrier may comprise a clamp device having a force indicator.
US09290124B2

A lighting device, in particular contour lighting for a motor vehicle, includes a housing made from a plastic material that is transparent to the light coupled into the housing and functions as a diffuser and is covered with a coating at least in the region of the outer surface thereof that is visible when mounted and that is not transparent to the light coupled in, wherein the coating is removed locally in order to form a narrow light-emitting line.
US09290111B2

A gearbox bracket and a power seat sliding device are provided at low cost. A base part 351 includes a main body part 353 configured to support a gearbox 331, and a first protruding part 355 and a second protruding part 357 continuously connected to the main body part 353 and protruding in the direction of the output shaft. A side portion of the first protruding part 355 and a side portion of a first mounting part 371 are connected by a first vertical wall part 361 and a second vertical wall part 363. A side portion of the second protruding part 357 and a side portion of a second mounting part 373 are connected by a third vertical wall part 365 and a fourth vertical wall part 367.
US09290102B2

This electrical energy conversion system, for powering a load using a voltage source, comprises a first capacitor, a second capacitor, two load connection terminals and an electrical transformer comprising a primary winding and a secondary winding. The first capacitor is electrically connected to the primary winding, and the connection terminals are electrically connected to the secondary winding. This system comprises a third capacitor and switching means suitable for switching, reversibly, between a first configuration, wherein the second capacitor is connected in series between the secondary winding and one of the two connection terminals, and a second configuration wherein the third capacitor is connected in parallel with the secondary winding and between the connection terminals of the load. Only the second capacitor is suitable for receiving the flow of an electric current in the first configuration, whereas only the third capacitor is suitable for receiving the flow of the electric current in the second configuration. The conversion system further comprises means for controlling the switching means according to a control algorithm.
US09290096B2

A display interlocking system and method that control a screen output to a display via interlocking between an interlocking apparatus and a display control apparatus. The interlocking apparatus forms an output screen and transmits the output screen to the display control apparatus. In addition, the interlocking apparatus inserts a code corresponding to an event into the output screen when the event is generated to the display control apparatus and transmits the output screen to the display control apparatus. The display control apparatus operates the output screen to be output on the display connected thereto or to be interrupted based on a driver's attention dispersion state when the code is inserted into the output screen.
US09290092B2

A chain drive power take off assembly drives a hydraulic fluid pump from a torque converter input of a motor vehicle. The assembly includes a first, chain drive sprocket which is coupled to and driven by a engine output/torque converter input member such as an engine crankshaft or transmission input member, a chain and a second, driven chain sprocket which is coupled to a stub shaft and which, in turn, is coupled to an input shaft of the hydraulic pump. The driven sprocket resides in a housing secured to the side of the transmission and the pump is secured to the housing with its input shaft and axis of rotation disposed offset from and parallel to the axis of rotation of the transmission and torque converter input member.
US09290090B2

A ventilation assembly for a heat exchanger of a motor vehicle, has plate-like support structure with a main flow opening. A ventilator, including an electric motor and a fan, is mounted in the main flow opening. A voltage regulating device is fixed to the support structure and connected to the electric motor. The voltage regulating device has a support casing and a heat dissipater connected to the support casing. The voltage regulating device is fixed to the support structure in the region of but outside of the main flow opening, with the support casing and the heat dissipater being disposed in planes which are at least approximately parallel with the axis of the fan and of the main flow opening.
US09290084B2

A modular sunroof frame assembly and method for a vehicle having a body structure is provided. The modular sunroof frame assembly is attachable to the body structure and includes right and left side rails, front and rear cross beams, and a plurality of corner attachment couplings. The right and left side rails have respective cross-sections throughout their length, front rail ends, and rear rail ends. The front and rear cross beams have respective cross-sections throughout their length, right beam ends, and left beam ends. The corner attachment couplings are fixed to the respective side rail end and to the respective cross beam end.
US09290071B2

The present application describes a gooseneck coupler assembly that may include a gooseneck trailer pivot, an extension arm, and a pivot retention mechanism having a ball socket. The ball socket may engage with a hitch ball located on a towing vehicle. The gooseneck trailer pivot may be mounted on a towed vehicle or trailer and be capable of pivoting about a vertical axis relative to the trailer. During engagement, the ball socket and the extension arm may provide tilt capability but thereby prevent any rotational movement relative to the hitch ball. However, the gooseneck coupler assembly may still be able to tilt fore-and-aft or side-to-side relative to the hitch ball. Therefore, the only pivotal movement relative to a vertical axis would be permitted at the gooseneck trailer pivot.
US09290069B2

A tire inner liner-based estimation system and method for a vehicle includes a tire pressure sensor mounted to a vehicle tire for detecting a measured tire air cavity pressure; a vehicle speed sensor mounted to provide a measured vehicle speed; a tire identification device mounted to the tire for conveying a tire identification; a tire inner liner deflection sensor mounted to detect and measure a loaded inner liner radius. An estimation of an inner liner-based parameter is iteratively made from the measured tire pressure and the loaded inner liner radius measurement.
US09290057B2

A vehicle tire includes a selectively actuated stud deployment system for increased traction. The studs are contained in cells in the surface of the tire and forced to deploy by pneumatic or fluid pressure. When the pressure is released, the studs retract.
US09290052B2

A tire includes a tread portion, a pair of opposing sidewall portions, and a pair of shoulder portions each arranged between the tread portion and one of the sidewall portions, wherein at least on one side of the tire the sidewall and shoulder portions comprise at least a first rubber compound and a second rubber compound, the second rubber compound having a material composition different from that of the first rubber compound.
US09290051B1

A universal vehicle axle assembly may include, but is not limited to: at least one axle including at least one insert recess; and at least one axle insert configured for insertion into the at least one insert recess.
US09290049B2

A bicycle hub assembly includes a hub shell defining a toothed drive member mounting hole and a locating groove, a locating member having a positioning portion accommodated in the locating groove of the hub shell, and a toothed drive member having a first locating portion fastened to the positioning portion of the locating member and a plurality of teeth. In an alternate form of the invention, the bicycle hub assembly includes a hub shell defining therein a toothed drive member mounting hole and a plug hole; a locating member having a positioning portion and a plug portion that is plugged into the plug hole of the hub shell, and a toothed drive member having a first locating portion fastened to the positioning portion of the locating member and a plurality of teeth formed therein.
US09290048B2

A wheel having an axle receiving bore. The bore having at least one finger integral with the wheel extending towards the front wall of the wheel. The finger having a detent facing inwardly into the axle receiving bore. The finger is flexed outwards for insertion of the axle within the axle receiving bore, and flexed inwards to insert the detent into a notch of the axle once the axle is inserted in the axle receiving bore.
US09290047B2

A hub unit includes a hub of light material forming a cylindrical portion, a flange and a radial recess having a surface facing the flange, and two bearing rings axially aligned around the cylindrical portion of the hub; a sleeve locking device is radially interposed between the cylindrical portion of the hub and the bearing rings, and comprises a retaining portion engaged in the radial recess of the hub, a terminal edge which preloads the bearing rings, and one or two cuts extending in an axial direction.
US09290044B2

The present invention is directed to an oil hub cap comprising a cylindrical body for mounting to a wheel axle defining an interior space for holding lubricant oil and a transparent front face. An indicating ring is located within the interior space, such that the outside edge of the indicating ring indicates the minimum amount of lubricant to be contained within the interior space and the inside edge of the indicating ring indicates the maximum amount of lubricant to be contained within the interior space, the surface of the indicating ring between the inside and outside edges being provided with a reflective surface.
US09290043B2

A vehicle wheel, comprising a rim, a hub, a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub, a bracing element including a hole with a central axis, a sidewall, a longitudinally inward entrance, and at least one of an engagement surface and an engagement edge outward of the entrance, a connecting element comprising a multiplicity of discreet segments. The bracing element comprises at least a portion of one of the rim and hub. At least one segment includes a laterally projecting overhanging surface. The first segment is positioned within the hole, with the overhang surface overlying one of the engagement surface and engagement edge in an overlie engagement. The second segment is positioned within the hole to include an opening between the first and second segments. The spoke is positioned within the opening and is connected to the connecting element with the overlie engagement to support spoke tensile load.
US09290038B2

A substantially halo-free heat transfer label is made using a 3D printing method. The heat transfer label includes a graphic layer and an adhesive layer. The adhesive layer is printed using a 3D printing method, which provides a substantially reduced adhesive halo when compared to heat transfer labels including a screen printed adhesive layer or that printed via other conventional printing methods.
US09290036B2

A roller ball pen for use with metallic inks, and a method for assembling the roller ball pen for use with metallic inks, is described herein. The pen body includes a housing that encloses a reservoir, a collet, a feed rod, and a tip. The feed rod transfers ink from the reservoir to a roller ball tip at a tapered end of the pen housing. In embodiments, the feed rod is embedded at a threshold distance inside the reservoir to provide an increased surface area for transfer of a metallic ink suspension. In further embodiments, a method of assembling the roller ball pen includes saturation of the reservoir with a metallic ink based on inserting a particular injection needle at a particular depth inside the reservoir.
US09290035B2

A binding mechanism assembly for binding a sheet item, the binding mechanism assembly including a backing member having an upper surface, and a binding member directly or indirectly coupled to the backing member. The binding member includes a protrusion shaped and located to protrude through a hole of a sheet item to be bound thereto. The binding member further includes a generally flexible flange that is manually movable into engagement with the protrusion to form a generally closed loop and thereby bind the sheet item thereto. The loop is rotatable relative to the backing member from a first position in which the loop is generally located above the upper surface to a second position wherein at least part of the loop is located below the upper surface. A release mechanism is provided for opening the loop.
US09290033B2

A file folder with multiple pockets and a method of making is disclosed. Cover panels (16,18) are joined along a central axis (11), at least one primary pocket is formed with a pocket panel (18a), a second pocket panel (40) is located in a primary pocket space (24) thereby subdividing the pocket space into a first pocket space between the first pocket panel and the second pocket panel and a second pocket space between the second pocket panel and one of the cover panels, the second pocket panel (40) includes an extension (50) which is folded over and affixed to the first pocket panel thereby forming a closed inner edge on the front pocket.
US09290032B2

Method for binding a bundle of leaves (11) in a binding element (1) with a U-shaped back (2) with a base (3) and upright arms (4) and a hot-melt adhesive (8) in the back, includes introducing the bundle in the back (2), and then heating up the back (2) to melt the hot-melt adhesive (8), wherein an oversized binding element (1) is chosen in which the bundle (11) is received with a certain sideways play (C), and the binding element (1) with the hot-melt adhesive (8) in the molten state is placed between two parallel pressure bars (17) that are moved towards one another with a force in order to fold the arms (4) towards one another.
US09290021B2

An image forming device may include a contact member and a support member configured to support a recording portion. In one or more arrangements, the contact member may be disposed on the support member and include a contact portion configured to contact a sheet being conveyed. In some examples, the support member may include a carriage frame. Additionally or alternatively, the image forming device may include a platen having a plurality of ribs. In one or more examples, the ribs may be configured to form a corrugated shape in a sheet in conjunction with the contact member. Still further, one or more of the ribs and the contact member may be movable.
US09290020B2

A printing system including a plurality of printheads for printing on a web of media traveling along a web transport path, at least one of the printheads being configured to print at first and second print lines. A plurality of web transport rollers guide the web of media along the web transport path. At least some of the plurality of web transport rollers are constrained to have a roller circumference that is substantially equal to an integer fraction of a span of the web of media along the web transport path between two successive print locations in successive print heads. A span extension member provides an increased span of the web of media between the first and second print lines in a particular printhead such that the increased span is an integer multiple of the roller circumferences of the constrained web transport rollers.
US09290010B2

A method and system for applying and reading a fractal image to and from a plurality of objects to act as an identification label is provided. The system includes a printer for printing a fractal pattern to the plurality of objects and a reader for reading the printed fractal pattern. Such a fractal image is robust to printing and imaging difficulties and inconsistencies, and is difficult to copy, thus defending against counterfeiting.
US09290008B1

A laser marking method and system, and laser marked object are disclosed. The method includes directing a pulsed laser beam towards an object such that an interface between an oxidized layer and non-oxidized substrate is in a mark zone of the pulsed laser beam, and scanning the pulsed laser beam across the object in a predetermined pattern to create a mark having an L value of less than 40 and a surface roughness that is substantially unchanged compared to adjacent unmarked areas. The system includes a fiber laser generating amplified pulses that are directed towards a galvo-scanner and focusing optic, while the object includes an oxidized surface layer, an underlying non-oxidized substrate, and a mark having an L value of less than 40 with substantially unchanged roughness features.
US09290007B2

The present invention is to provide a thermal transfer image receiving sheet which is able to provide excellent printing sensitivity and prevent the generation of poor image quality in high density areas and folded lines even during high speed printing, and an image forming method for forming an image on the thermal transfer image receiving sheet. Presented is a thermal transfer image receiving sheet containing a substrate and, on at least one surface of the substrate, a composite porous layer containing a thermoplastic resin, and a dye receiving layer in this order from the substrate, wherein the composite porous layer contains a porous core layer and non-porous skin layers layered on both surfaces of the porous core layer; a total thickness of the non-porous skin layers is 5 to 15% of a whole thickness of the composite porous layer; and a density of the composite porous layer is 0.65 to 0.74 g/cm3.
US09290003B2

An inkjet ink container is disclosed comprising a polymer compound comprising an oxygen scavenging composition. The oxygen scavenging composition is selected from the group consisting of copolymers of polycondensate segments and oxygen scavenging moiety segments; oxygen scavenging unsaturated polymers; oxygen scavenging dendrimers; molecular hydrogen generators; and combinations thereof.
US09290000B2

A first case has a first surface parallel to a first direction to place a bag thereon. A second case has a second surface facing the first surface. An elastic member is provided on the first surface and generates restoring force in the first direction by extending in a second direction. A shaft portion takes up an end portion at the second direction side of the elastic member then moves to the first direction by the restoring force and takes up the bag. Either end portion of the first case in a third direction has a first protruding portion. Either end portion of the second case in the third direction has a second protruding portion. Either end portion of the shaft portion in the third direction has a protruding end portion. The first and second protruding portion guide the protruding end portion.
US09289991B2

According to one embodiment, an inkjet head includes a base, a driving element, a nozzle plate, electrodes, wires, a supplying unit, and a discharging unit. The base includes an attachment surface and a side surface crossing the attachment surface. The driving element is attached to the attachment surface and includes pressure chambers. The nozzle plate is attached to the driving element and includes nozzles opened to the pressure chambers. The electrodes are provided in the pressure chambers. The wires are provided on the side surface and connected to the electrodes. The supplying unit is connected to the pressure chambers and supplies ink to the pressure chambers. The discharging unit is connected to the pressure chambers and discharges the ink from the pressure chambers.
US09289986B2

An inkjet nozzle device includes: a firing chamber having a nozzle aperture; and a heating element for generating gas bubbles in the firing chamber so as to eject ink through the nozzle aperture. A non-heating stabilizing bar extends across the nozzle aperture.
US09289985B2

A liquid ejecting head unit includes: a liquid ejecting head having a liquid ejecting surface in which a nozzle opening for ejecting liquid is formed; a head fixing substrate which holds the surface sides opposite to the liquid ejecting surfaces of a plurality of liquid ejecting heads; and a height changing-fixing section which is provided between the head fixing substrate and the liquid ejecting head and can adjust a distance between the head fixing substrate and the liquid ejecting head, in which the height changing-fixing section is detachably fixed to the surface opposite to the liquid ejecting surface of the liquid ejecting head, and the height changing-fixing section and the head fixing substrate are detachably fixed to each other by screwing from the surface side opposite to a fixing surface of the head fixing substrate, to which the liquid ejecting head is fixed through the height changing-fixing section.
US09289983B2

When charging an actuator, first, the charging is performed by applying an intermediate voltage lower than a driving voltage which is a target voltage and then charging is performed by applying the driving voltage to the actuator. When discharging the actuator, the discharging is performed by applying the intermediate voltage and then the discharging is performed by applying a zero voltage to the actuator which is charged by the driving voltage. The time for applying the intermediate voltage at a timing of ejecting the ink from the nozzles is shorter than the time for applying the intermediate voltage to the actuator at other timings.
US09289976B2

A method can include receiving an initial waveform and generating, testing, and evaluating the performance of an initial child set of waveforms based on an initial parent set of waveforms from the initial waveform. The method can also include determining whether a termination condition has been met based on the evaluating and, if so, providing an optimized waveform. If the termination condition has not been met, the method can also include generating subsequent child sets of waveforms based on the previous child set(s).
US09289971B2

A system and method is provided for determining an untensioned product length of a web moving through a printing press under tension. A controller determines a tensioned repeat length of the web in a span of the printing press while the web is moving through the printing press under tension; determines an elastic strain of the web in the span of the printing press while the web is moving through the printing press under tension; and calculates an untensioned product length of the web in the span of the printing press while the web is moving through the printing press under tension as a function of the tensioned repeat length and the elastic strain.
US09289969B2

Disclosed herein are materials and methods used to form a three dimensional (3D) article having a printed layer thereon. The 3D articles are capable of displaying rear projected images, effectively as a 3D “screen” for displaying an image or a movie. The 3D articles are used as standalone articles or as a portion of an animatronic figure. The articles are made by forming a substantially planar thermoformable laminate including a rear projection screen material, printing and curing a radiation curable ink onto one or both sides of the laminate, and thermoforming to impart a shape to the laminate.
US09289966B2

A metal layer-free multi-layer film with a surface weight of ≦33 g/m2, shrinkage behavior of ≦10% at 90° C. as described herein and a layer structure: a layer (a) composed of at least one thermoplastic olefin homopolymer or copolymer as an outer layer, an adhesive layer (b) inseparable under a cohesion peeling effect, a layer (c) of at least one homopolyamide and/or copolyamide, at least one internal gas barrier layer (d) adjoining layer (c) and differing from layers (c) and (e) in the composition of the polymer component(s), a layer (e) adjoining the gas barrier layer (d) and composed of at least one homopolyamide and/or copolyamide, and a layer (i) of at least one homopolyamide and/or copolyamide as an outer layer. Also disclosed is a method of using such a multi-layer film for the production of a buoyancy/lift body and a buoyancy/lift body made of such a multi-layer film.
US09289963B2

The present invention has an objective to provide a silicone elastomer composition in which a cured product thereof is flexible, which provides a silicone elastomer with a small hardness change even due to thermal aging, and in which superior adhesive properties with respect to other silicone elastomers and superior curing properties are exhibited. The objective of the present invention can be achieved by a silicone elastomer composition comprising: (A) an organopolysiloxane having two or more silicon atom-bonded alkenyl groups on average in a molecule, in which the content of the alkenyl group is less than 0.2% by weight with respect to the amount of component (A); (B) an organopolysiloxane having two or more silicon atom-bonded hydrogen atoms on average in a molecule, in which the amount of the silicon atom-bonded hydrogen atoms in component (B) ranges from 2.5 to 10 mol with respect to one mol of the silicon atom-bonded alkenyl group in component (A); (C) a platinum-group metal-based catalyst, in a specified amount; and (D) a phthalocyanine compound, in which the amount thereof ranges from 5 to 50 mol with respect to one mol of the platinum-based metal in component (C).
US09289957B2

A tread rubber 2G comprises a base portion 9 made of electrically non-conductive rubber compounding silica and having a width substantially equal to a width of the tread reinforcing-cord layer 7; a conducting portion 11 made of the electrically conductive rubber, covering a radially outer surface of the base portion 9 and extending in the axial direction of the tire, and protruding both end portions 11a and 11b outwardly from the base portion 9 so as to connect the both end portions with tire members Ty electrically conducted to a rim J at a state of mounting the tire on the rim; and a cap portion 10 made of electrically non-conductive rubber compounding silica and disposed outside the conducting portion 11 in the radial direction of the tire and forming a major part of a ground contact surface 2a.
US09289953B2

A tire repair device, which has a container for containing the tire repair fluid and a securing jig therefor, is characterized in that the securing jig is configured by coupling a securing portion, which holds the container in a predetermined direction, to a step plate portion.
US09289949B2

A composite laminate has a primary axis of loading and comprises a plurality resin plies each reinforced with unidirectional fibers. The laminate includes cross-plies with fiber orientations optimized to resist bending and torsional loads along the primary axis of loading.
US09289948B2

A method for forming a receptacle may include providing a mold having a forming surface and a recessed area defining part of the forming surface, the mold having sections that may be separated to open the mold and closed together to close the mold. A molten plastic parison may be provided into the mold when the mold is open, the mold may be closed and the parison may be expanded against the forming surface so that a portion of the parison enters the recessed area. The portion of the parison within the recessed area may be formed by moving a secondary forming feature relative to the mold and parison to define a mount feature.
US09289947B1

A system for cleaning precision rails of a three-dimensional object printer has been developed. The printer includes a track having a pair of precision rails positioned beneath a printing station having an ejector head configured to eject drops of material onto a substrate of a cart that moves along the rails. An air source with a duct is configured with a slot to direct an air flow onto one of the precision rails to prevent dust or other airborne particles from collecting on the precision rail.