US09932863B2

A waste heat recovery system (100) for an engine (101) comprises a fluid supply (104); one or more evaporators (120, 121) adapted to transfer waste heat from the engine (101) to fluid from the fluid supply (104) to heat the fluid to a superheated vapor; a condenser (134) having a condenser inlet (134′) in fluid communication with the one or more evaporators; and a pressure regulator (200) configured to limit the vapor pressure at the condenser inlet (134′).
US09932860B2

A shaft for a gas turbine engine includes a shaft bore along an axis, a circumferential groove within the shaft bore, a multiple of first axial grooves from said circumferential groove and a multiple of second axial grooves from said circumferential groove.
US09932859B2

A lubricating fluid damped anti-rotational system is provided comprising a pawl carrier having an axis of rotation and a radial aperture, a pawl pivotably mounted to the pawl carrier on a pivot joint, the pawl having a contact portion and a counterweight portion, a lubricating fluid jet configured to propel a lubricating fluid through the radial aperture toward the contact portion.
US09932844B2

A sealing assembly may include a support, an engine component, and a seal. The engine component may be mounted relative to the support to define a gap between the engine component and the support. The seal may be arranged between the support and the engine component to block gasses from passing through the gap. The seal may be adapted to compress and expand to fill the gap during expansion and contraction of the adjacent components that occurs during operation of a gas turbine engine including the sealing assembly.
US09932838B2

A cooling system according to an embodiment includes: a three-pass serpentine cooling circuit; and an air feed cavity for supplying cooling air to the three-pass serpentine cooling circuit; wherein the three-pass serpentine cooling circuit extends radially outward from and at least partially covers at least one central plenum and a first set of near wall cooling channels of a multi-wall blade.
US09932835B2

An airfoil has an airfoil structure that defines a cooling passage for directing a cooling medium through the airfoil structure. A swirl structure is operatively associated with the cooling passage and configured to impart a tangential velocity to the cooling medium flowing through the cooling passage. An airfoil has an airfoil structure that defines a first cooling passage and a second cooling passage for directing cooling medium through the airfoil structure, each cooling passage having a swirl structure that imparts tangential velocity on the cooling medium flowing through the associated cooling passage. A method of making an airfoil that includes forming an airfoil structure that defines a cooling passage for directing a cooling medium through the airfoil structure and forming a swirl structure that is operatively associated with the cooling passage and imparts tangential velocity to the cooling medium flowing through the cooling passage.
US09932834B2

A rotor blade for a turbine engine includes an airfoil that is connected to a base. The base includes a platform, a neck and a fillet. The fillet extends along at least a portion of an intersection between the platform and the neck. The fillet has a radius that substantially continuously changes as the fillet extends from the platform to the neck.
US09932828B2

An axial piston machine (1) is shown, comprising: a shaft (2) having an axis (3) of rotation, a cylinder drum (4) connected to said shaft (2) and having at least a cylinder (5) parallel to said axis (3) of rotation, a piston (6) movable in said cylinder (5), a swash plate (13), a slide shoe (11) pivotally mounted to said piston (6), and holding means holding said slide shoe (11) against said swash plate (13), said holding means having a pressure plate (14) and a number of coil springs (15) arranged between said cylinder drum (4) and said pressure plate (14). The object is to have a reliable operation of said machine with a simple construction. To this end each coil spring (15) is at least at one end fixed by a protrusion (20) extending into said coil spring (15).
US09932815B2

A technique facilitates monitoring of strain related effects along a tubing string, such as a tubing string extending from surface equipment toward a sea floor in a subsea well application. A monitoring module is employed to monitor the strain related effects and may have a tubular structure. The monitoring module also has a reduced wall thickness region constructed to concentrate strain in this reduced wall thickness region. Additionally, the monitoring module comprises at least one sensor mounted to the tubular structure in the reduced wall thickness region for monitoring of strains.
US09932791B2

Methods of removing two or more isolation devices is provided. An example method includes introducing two or more isolation devices into a wellbore comprising at least two wellbore intervals. Each isolation device comprises a substance and each of the substances degrades within the wellbore. The degradation rate of each of the substances causes fluid communication to be restored between the wellbore intervals in a desired amount of time. The method further includes causing or allowing each of the substances to degrade.
US09932790B2

A casing cutting tool, to be disposed downhole in a casing string on a drillstring, for the cutting and/or milling of casing strings. The tool has a main body with a plurality of rotatable blades which can rotate between a first retracted position to a second position substantially at right angles to the main body. In this second position, cutting surfaces on the blades engage the casing wall, and rotation of the tool results in cutting of the casing. A plurality of stabilizing arms are rotatably attached to the main body. A link between the blades and the stabilizing arms forces the stabilizing arms to rotate outward when the blades rotate outward. The stabilizing arms are dimensioned to span the inner diameter of the casing string, while leaving clearance to rotate the tool. The outermost ends of the stabilizing arms are rounded to avoid cutting the casing and reduce drag.
US09932786B2

The exemplary embodiments relate to misalignment correction devices and methods for mitigating misalignment of a piece of oilfield equipment in or proximate an RCD. A rounded shoulder appears on a first surface within or proximate the RCD, and a socket profile appears on a second surface within or proximate the RCD. The second surface is configured to abut the rounded shoulder. The rounded shoulder is configured to rotate within the socket profile. Further, a floating joint may be implemented into or proximate the RCD and combined with the foregoing rotation mitigation features.
US09932780B2

A drill bit for use in a wellbore is disclosed, including a bit body having a longitudinal axis; and at least one moveable member associated with a lateral extent of the bit body, wherein the at least one moveable member is configured to translate in a member axis that is substantially longitudinal. Further, a method of drilling a wellbore is disclosed, including providing a drill bit including a bit body having a longitudinal axis and at least one movable member associated with a lateral extent of the bit body; conveying a drill string into a formation, the drill string having the drill bit at the end thereof; drilling the wellbore using the drill string; and selectively translating at least one movable member in a member axis that is substantially longitudinal.
US09932771B1

A collapsible ladder safety system for a ladder having first and second vertical ladder rail and a plurality of step rungs extending between the first and second vertical rails, the system comprising first and second upright tubular hand rails and a cross member pivotally attached to each of the first and second parallel upright tubular hand rails. The tubular hand rails or cross member are releasably securable to an upper end of the ladder. The first and second upright tubular hand rails are collapsible against the cross member when not secured to the ladder.
US09932763B2

A vehicle door opening device opens and closes a door with a motor. In the vehicle door opening device, an opening reversible member on which an opening cable is wound is disposed on a top surface of a center guide rail, and a closing reversible member on which a closing cable is wound is disposed under a lower surface of the center guide rail. A moving member moves along the center guide rail and comprises a closing coupling portion to which the closing cable is coupled and an opening coupling portion to which the opening cable coupled. The closing cable moves along the lower surface of the center guide rail, and the opening cable moves along the top surface of the center guide rail.
US09932760B1

An apparatus and method to secure a bolt cutter, wire cutter, cable cutter or other type of pivot handled tool with two protruding tabs whose apertures align with each other as the handles of the pivot handled tool enter a closed position. A shackle of a padlock may be inserted through the aligned apertures to lock the handles in the closed position.
US09932758B2

A watertight door or window comprising a frame and a leaf mounted on the frame and arranged movably with respect thereto between an open position and closed position, and further comprising: a striker element arranged on the leaf, a locking element arranged on the frame and provided with a hook end designed to engage with the striker element so as to lock the leaf against the frame following closing of the leaf, and a striker actuating mechanism arranged on the leaf and able to be actuated when the leaf is in a closed position and the locking element is engaged with the striker element. The actuating mechanism is provided for releasing the striker element from a closed position, where the striker element is positioned inside a recess in the hook end of the locking element, to an open position, where the striker element is extracted from the recess in the hook end of the locking element. The actuating mechanism can be reset when the leaf is closed again.
US09932756B1

An electronic barrel lock and key system that functions in combination with a computer that codes an electronic master key, or an electronic standard key, or an electronic programming module and includes an electronic lock having a lock security device. The master key has no restrictions, based on how it is programmed, therefore it can open any of the locks. The standard key includes restrictions that precludes the key from opening the lock. The programming module cannot open a lock it is only used to program or reprogram a lock. The lock security device is utilized to prevent a person from opening the lock by applying a high temperature to the lock. The security device utilizes a low-melt alloy that is isolated from the electronic elements located within the lock. When the low-melt alloy melts it causes the lock to be placed in a permanent locked state. The system also has a non-rotating non-keyed interface between the key and the lock.
US09932752B1

A portable screening assembly for provision of privacy in public spaces includes a pair of rings. A sleeve and a plurality of slats are coupled to and extend between the rings. The sleeve is open ended. The slats are coupled to and coiledly positioned on the sleeve. The slats are elastic rendering them compressible. A plurality of couplers is coupled to the sleeve proximate to a top of the sleeve. The slats, in a resting position, place the sleeve is in an extended configuration to screen a user who is positioned in the sleeve. The slats are configured to be compressed to position the slats and the sleeve in a compressed configuration. The couplers are configured to support the sleeve on shoulders of the user. The couplers also are positionable to mutually couple to retain the slats and the sleeve in the compressed configuration.
US09932750B2

A platform for a cemetery lowering device comprising a base having a tapered edge and a non-skid surface, wherein the base comprises an opening for a casket to be lowered through the base, a frame and skin, and one or more adjustable-height footings. The frame and skin may be formed of a single piece of polymer, fiberglass, or metal. The skin may be removably attached to the frame. The non-skid surface may comprise grooves. The base may comprise a guide for positioning the cemetery lowering device on the base. The guide is an impression in a surface of the base. The base may comprise a first flange around a perimeter of the opening extending vertically from a top surface of the base. Each one of the adjustable-height footings is threaded such that height adjustments of the one of the adjustable-height footings comprise rotating the one of the adjustable-height footings.
US09932745B2

An apparatus for supporting workers and materials above-grade on both the eave and gable ends of a structure is disclosed. The apparatus can be combined with one or more additional staging apparatuses to create a staging system for the support of persons or materials while work is being done on a structure, e.g., roofing, siding, etc. The modular design of the apparatus simplifies installation, such that it can be readily attached to a roof or other support member of a structure by a single person, and facilitates the adjustable vertical positioning of people or materials along the walls of the structure. The staging system can also include a rail member for safety support and alternative scaffolding arrangements.
US09932738B2

A sheathing retention capsule may include an outer body, the outer body having a tapered inner surface defining a forcing surface. The sheathing retention capsule may also include one or more holding wedges. At least one of the one or more holding wedges may have a tapered outer surface abutting the inner surface of the outer body. At least one of the one or more holding wedges may have an inner wall.
US09932729B1

A control handle module includes a flush handle, a first lever and a second lever. The flush handle has an extension. The first lever is secured on the extension. The first lever includes a body section, a fixing portion and a pivot base. The pivot base has an arcuate periphery which is provided with a first stop rib and a second stop rib. The second lever has a first shank and a second shank. The second shank has a resting face and a pivot ear. The pivot ear is pivotally connected with the pivot base. The resting face rests on the first stop rib or the second stop rib.
US09932721B2

A system for a working machine is adapted for springing the movement of a load during transport and includes at least one hydraulic cylinder for operating the load, an accumulator, and a valve adapted to control a flow communication between the hydraulic cylinder and the accumulator. The system includes a first control valve arranged on a conduit connecting to the piston side of the hydraulic cylinder, a second control valve arranged on a conduit connecting to the piston rod side of the hydraulic cylinder, a first pressure sensor for detecting a load pressure of the hydraulic cylinder, a second pressure sensor for detecting a charge pressure of the accumulator, and a control unit adapted to receive signals with information about the pressures detected by the pressure sensors and to generate control signals corresponding to the detected pressures for controlling the springing function.
US09932711B2

Rail pad, in particular for track superstructures, comprising a substantially level intermediate layer having an upper side and a lower side, wherein the upper side is designed for arrangement to a rail and the lower side for arrangement to a sleeper, wherein the upper side and/or the lower side are provided with at least one arrangement region on which the rail or the sleeper can be arranged, wherein the rail pad comprises at least one side region arranged adjacent to the intermediate layer and wherein the side region comprises an engaging section and/or a fastening section, wherein the engaging section is designed for accommodation on the sleeper, and wherein the fastening section is designed to directly and/or indirectly connect to the rail.
US09932707B2

A process is defined for the continuous steam pretreatment and fractionation of bagasse to produce a concentrated cellulose solid stream that is sensitive to enzymatic hydrolysis. Valuable chemicals are recovered by fractionating the liquid and vapor stream composed of hydrolysis and degradation products of the hemicellulose. Cellulosic derived glucose is produced for fermentation to biofuels. A hemicellulose concentrate is recovered that can be converted to value added products including ethanol.
US09932701B2

A laundry appliance is provided, comprising a motor and a controller connected to the motor. The controller determines at least one characteristic of the motor, identifies the motor from a plurality of possible known motors based on the at least one characteristic, identifies the rotor from a plurality of possible known rotors based on the at least one characteristic, and configures at least one motor operation parameter based on the identity of the motor and/or rotor. The at least one characteristic may include the resistance of a stator coil and/or a magnetic flux constant.
US09932691B2

A single crystal is grown in a float zone which is inductively heated and the crystallizing single crystal is rotated in a direction of rotation which is periodically reversed at intervals in accordance with an alternating plan, wherein a dwell time during which the single crystal is in a state of rest because of the reversal of the direction of rotation is limited to no more than 60 ms.
US09932688B2

The present techniques provide a method for producing a Group III nitride semiconductor single crystal that is designed to grow a semiconductor single crystal with high reproducibility. The method for producing a Group III nitride semiconductor single crystal comprises adding a seed crystal substrate, Ga, and Na into a crucible, and growing a Group III nitride semiconductor single crystal. In the growth of the Group III nitride semiconductor single crystal, a measuring device is used to detect the reaction of Ga with Na. Ga is reacted with Na with the temperature of the crucible adjusted within a first temperature range of 80° C. to 200° C. After the measuring device detected the reaction of Ga with Na, the temperature of the crucible is elevated up to a growth temperature of the Group III nitride semiconductor single crystal.
US09932681B2

The present disclosure relates to an electrolytic cell for the production of aluminium by reducing alumina. The cell may comprise a sidewall including at least one side block. The side block may comprise an aluminous material having an apparent porosity of less than about 10% and a composition, as a weight percentage on the basis of the aluminous material and for a total of about 100%, such that: Al2O3>about 50%, beta-alumina being less than about 20% of the weight of the aluminous material, oxides that are less reducible than alumina at 1000° C.
US09932680B2

Electropolymerizable systems are disclosed. The electropolymerizable systems include an electropolymerizable composition including one or more 1,1-disubstituted alkene compounds and one or more conductive synergists.
US09932670B2

A method and apparatus for removing deposition products from internal surfaces of a processing chamber, and for preventing or slowing growth of such deposition products. A halogen containing gas is provided to the chamber to etch away deposition products. A halogen scavenging gas is provided to the chamber to remove any residual halogen. The halogen scavenging gas is generally activated by exposure to electromagnetic energy, either inside the processing chamber by thermal energy, or in a remote chamber by electric field, UV, or microwave. A deposition precursor may be added to the halogen scavenging gas to form a deposition resistant film on the internal surfaces of the chamber. Additionally, or alternately, a deposition resistant film may be formed by sputtering a deposition resistant metal onto internal components of the processing chamber in a PVD process.
US09932669B2

A metal nanodot formation method includes: loading a target substrate inside a processing container of a processing apparatus; depositing a plurality of metal nanodots on a surface of the target substrate by a sequence of: supplying a CO gas from a CO gas container which stores the CO gas into a raw material container which stores a metal carbonyl compound; generating gas of the metal carbonyl compound; introducing the generated gas of the metal carbonyl compound as a mixture gas containing the CO gas into the processing container; and decomposing the metal carbonyl compound on the target substrate, and directly introducing the CO gas from the CO gas container into the processing container, in a state where the introduction of the mixture gas into the processing container is stopped, such that the CO gas is brought into contact with the metal nanodots on the surface of the target substrate.
US09932667B2

A target assembly comprising—a support body having a carrying surface; —a sputtering target having an attaching surface, said carrying surface and said attaching surface being arranged in opposing facing relation to one another, thereby defining an intermediate space between said carrying surface and said attaching surface; and—a bonding material disposed in the intermediate space for binding said attaching surface to said carrying surface, —wherein distinct areas of one or both of said attaching surface and said carrying surface are selectively, superficially treated to enhance the bonding strength of said bonding material in said distinct areas.
US09932662B2

A mask frame assembly includes a mask having pattern openings and a frame including a first support portion configured to support an end of the mask and having a clamping slot and a support slot adjacent to the clamping slot; and a second support portion connected to the first support portion.
US09932652B2

Hot-stamped steel includes: a base metal that is steel including a tempered portion having hardness corresponding to 85% or less of the highest quenching hardness, the highest quenching hardness being defined as a Vickers hardness at a depth position spaced away from a surface by ¼ times a sheet thickness in a case of performing water quenching after heating at a temperature equal to or higher than an Ac3 point and retention for 30 minutes; and a Zn coating layer that is formed on the tempered portion of the base metal. The Zn coating layer includes a solid-solution layer including a solid-solution phase that contains Fe and Zn that is solid-soluted in Fe, and a lamella layer that includes the solid-solution phase and a capital gamma phase. An area ratio of the lamella layer in the Zn coating layer is 20% or less.
US09932641B2

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for determining whether a subject having prostate cancer is at greater risk of developing progressive disease, and methods of treating the subjects. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that approximately 90% of men carrying at least one of the following fusion genes: TRMT11-GRIK2, SLC45A2-AMACR, MTOR-TP53BP1, LRRC59-FLJ60017, TMEM135-CCDC67 and CCNH-C5orf30 experienced prostate cancer recurrence, metastases and/or prostate cancer-specific death after radical prostatectomy (each examples of “progressive prostate cancer”), while these outcomes occurred in only 36% of men not carrying any of these fusion genes. It is also based, at least in part, on the discovery that no patient studied survived five years without recurrence if their primary prostate cancer contained a TRMT11-GRIK2 or MTOR-TP53BP1 fusion gene. It is also based, at least in part, on the discovery that the protein encoded by the MAN2A1-FER fusion gene exhibits kinase activity.
US09932639B2

The present invention is related to a method for analyzing a clinical response of a patient suffering from or at risk of developing a neoplastic disease towards at least one given mode of treatment, said method comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a biological sample from said patient; b) determining, on a non protein basis, the expression level of three genes of interest, said genes being correlated with the Estrogen receptor (ESR) status in the sample, c) comparing the pattern of expression levels determined in (b) with one or several reference pattern(s) of expression levels; and d) predicting therapeutic success for said given mode of treatment in said patient from the outcome of the comparison in step (c); and treating based on said outcome.
US09932635B2

The molecules harbored in exosomes play important roles in biological science. A highly desirable goal for exosome research is the rapid, simple, simultaneous tracking and quantification of exosome harbored molecules. Disclosed herein are methods and devices for inducing the release and measurement of biomolecules harbored in exosomes. The disclosed method, Electric Field Induced Release and Measurement (EFIRM) technique, uses an electrical field to simultaneously disrupt exosomes to release the contents and measure the harbored exosomal RNA/proteins. The exosome vesicle contents can be released within minutes. This provides a potential on-site method for the detection of exosome-harbored biomolecules.
US09932631B1

A method for identifying target alleles, that includes steps of (a) forming a plurality of stabilized ternary complexes at a plurality of features on an array, wherein the stabilized ternary complexes each has a polymerase, a template nucleic acid having a target allele of a locus, a primer hybridized to the locus, and a next correct nucleotide having a cognate in the locus, wherein either (i) the primer is an allele-specific primer having a 3′ nucleotide that is a cognate nucleotide for the target allele, or (ii) the primer is a locus-specific primer and the next correct nucleotide hybridizes to the target allele; and (b) detecting stabilized ternary complexes at the features, thereby identifying the target alleles.
US09932628B2

Method and system for quantifying target nucleic acids using real-time amplification and internal calibration adjustment. The invention employs dual reference calibration curves for approximating a complete calibration curve from only a single adjustment calibrator amplified on the instrument that is to be calibrated.
US09932625B2

The invention provides a method for detection of mutant-type DNA or/and wild-type DNA by contacting at least one of a single-stranded DNA having a substituted nucleotide, a deficient nucleotide region, or an inserted nucleotide region (mutant-type DNA), or/and a wild-type single-stranded DNA corresponding to the mutant-type DNA (wild-type DNA) with a probe hybridizing with both single-stranded DNAs, to form a hybrid with the mutant-type DNA (mutant-type hybrid) or/and a hybrid with the wild-type DNA (wild-type hybrid) (at least one of the obtained mutant-type hybrid and wild-type hybrid has a loop structure), (2) contacting the obtained mutant-type hybrid or/and wild-type hybrid with an intercalator, and (3) detecting the presence or absence of the mutant-type DNA or/and the wild-type DNA by separating the conjugate of mutant-type hybrid and intercalator or/and the conjugate of wild-type hybrid and intercalator.
US09932620B2

A rapid, sensitive method of separating and detecting microorganisms from a sample potentially containing microorganisms, such as but not limited to bacteria, fungi, yeast, viruses, and the like. The method relies on separation techniques to separate and concentrate the cells from the sample, together with chemical techniques to amplify the amount of detectable signal from low numbers of cells to provide a rapid and sensitive method of detecting microorganisms. This detection method may utilize: a filtration device; a centrifugation device; a system; a swab device; and kit comprising one or more of the devices and components to perform the present method of separating and detecting microorganisms in a sample potentially containing microorganisms. The sample may be a chemical, cosmetic, personal care, pharmaceutical, or consumable good in its raw material, in-process, and/or finished product states that needs to be tested for any contaminating microorganisms prior to shipment to the consumer.
US09932619B2

The invention relates to methods for producing mogrosides with the aid of enzymes. In particular the invention proposes various biosynthetic pathways useful for mogroside production and enzymes useful for mogroside production are provided. Furthermore, the invention provides recombinant hosts useful in performing the methods of the invention.
US09932618B2

The present invention relates to a composition for production of photosynthetic light-reaction products comprising photosynthetic membrane vesicles, and a production method for the photosynthetic light-reaction products by using the composition. In addition, the present invention relates to a preparation method for a photosynthetic light-reaction monomer comprising a step of isolating vesicles from the cell membrane of photosynthetic bacteria or algae.
US09932615B2

The present disclosure provides engineered ketoreductase enzymes having improved properties as compared to a naturally occurring wild-type ketoreductase enzyme. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, host cells capable of expressing the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, and methods of using the engineered ketoreductase enzymes to synthesize chiral compounds.
US09932613B2

The present disclosure provides engineered polypeptides having imine reductase activity, polynucleotides encoding the engineered imine reductases, host cells capable of expressing the engineered imine reductases, and methods of using these engineered polypeptides with a range of ketone and amine substrate compounds to prepare secondary and tertiary amine product compounds.
US09932612B2

The present invention relates to bacterial strains, capable of utilizing glycerol as a carbon source for the fermentative production of succinic acid, wherein said strains are genetically modified so that they comprise a deregulation of their endogenous pyruvate-formate-lyase enzyme activity, as well as to methods of producing organic acids, in particular succinic acid, by making use of such microorganism. The present invention also relates to the downstream processing of the produced organic acids by cation exchange chromatography.
US09932610B2

A bioconversion method of making vanillin including expressing VaoA gene in a mixture, expressing MtSAD1 gene in the mixture, feeding eugenol to the mixture, and converting ferulic acid to vanillin by incubating with a microbial Amycolatopsis sp. strain (Zhp06) and/or a recombinant E. coli strain.
US09932606B2

A method for reconstructing a replication-selective oncolytic adenovirus using a subgroup B recombinant human adenovirus vector Ad11-5EP. The method includes: 1) deleting E1A CR2 gene and/or anti-apoptotic gene E1B 21K that is necessary for viability of an adenovirus in normal cells but not necessary in tumor cells; 2) inserting a tumor-specific promoter to drive the expression of E1A gene; 3) re-directing a cellular tropism of Ad11-5EP according to receptors on a tumor cell surface; or 4) allowing adenovirus to selectively replicate in tumor cells.
US09932599B2

The present disclosure generally relates to novel polynucleotide molecules for use in regulating gene expression in recombinant cells, such as labyrinthulomycetes cells. The disclosure further relates to nucleic acid constructs, such as vectors and expression cassettes, containing a regulatory element operably linked to a heterologous nucleotide sequence. The disclosure further relates to methods for stably transforming a host cell, such as a labyrinthulomycetes cell with transgenes. Stably transformed recombinant cells, progeny, biomaterials derived therefrom, and methods for preparing and using the same are also provided.
US09932594B2

The present invention relates to an inhibitor of FXYD2 gene expression for use in a method for treating neuropathic pain in a patient in need thereof. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising an inhibitor of FXYD2 gene expression, wherein said pharmaceutical composition is formulated for a direct administration into the peripheral nervous system (PNS) of a patient (e.g., formulated for intrathecal administration).
US09932587B2

The present invention relates generally to methods for identifying cancer patients with a poor prognosis, and to therapeutic modalities for improving prognosis by combating metastasis and abrogating chemoresistance in cancer cells. Embodiments of the present invention provide an objective means of prognostication regarding the long-term outcome of an incident of cancer, breast cancer in particular. Therapeutic modalities include immunotherapy and anti-sense therapy. Prognosis is determined by measuring the number of copies of the metadherin gene in the patient's cells.
US09932585B2

This disclosure relates to manipulating microRNA for the management of neurological disorders and compositions related thereto. In certain embodiments, the disclosure contemplates inhibition of miR324 or miR324-5p, e.g., the use of nucleobase polymers for antisense disruptions or RNA interference of miR-324 expression or for miR324-5p binding in order to increase Kv4.2 expression. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to methods of treating or preventing a neurological disease or condition comprising administering an effective amount of an inhibitor to a subject in need thereto.
US09932584B2

The invention provides a delivery system comprising a cell penetrating peptide, 10 histidines, and an interfering RNA molecule. The system can be used for delivering interfering RNA molecules into a cell in vivo or in vitro. Therapeutic uses for the delivery system are also provided.
US09932583B2

Compositions and methods for detecting, inhibiting, treating, and/or preventing a liver disease or disorder such as cholestasis or fibrotic liver disease are provided.
US09932579B2

Compositions and methods for reducing susceptibility and enhancing tolerance to Nosema disease (Nosemosis) using RNA interference technology, and more particularly, prevention and treatment of Nosema infections in honeybees by feeding of Nosema-specific dsRNA.
US09932578B2

The present application relates to nucleic acid compounds, compositions comprising same and methods of use thereof for treatment of various diseases, disorders and conditions. The compounds are preferably chemically synthesized and modified double-stranded nucleic acid molecules which down regulate expression of a p53 gene.
US09932577B2

This disclosure provides for methods and reagents for rapid multiplex RPA reactions and improved methods for detection of multiplex RPA reaction products. In addition, the disclosure provides new methods for eliminating carryover contamination between RPA processes.
US09932575B2

The present invention relates to scaffold proteins derived from plant cystatins and to nucleic acids encoding them. The scaffolds are highly stable and have the ability to display peptides. The scaffolds are particularly well suited for constructing libraries, e.g., in phage display or related systems. The invention also relates to various uses of the scaffolds, including in therapy, diagnosis, environmental and security monitoring, synthetic biology and research, and to cells and cell cultures expressing the scaffold proteins.
US09932567B1

A mutant MMLV reverse transcriptase that may have an improvement in one or more properties is provided. For example, the present reverse transcriptase is believed to be more efficient relative to other commercially available MMLV reverse transcriptase variants, particularly for templates with a higher GC content.
US09932565B2

Provided are substantially dephosphorylated forms of lysosomal storage disease (LSD) proteins, including dephosphorylated forms of iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS, or I2D) and iduronidase (IDU), having increased ability to traverse or penetrate the blood brain barrier (BBB) relative to phosphorylated forms of the protein, and p97 conjugates thereof. Also provided are compositions comprising such dephosphorylated LSD proteins and p97 conjugates, and methods of use thereof, for instance, to treat any one or more lysosomal storage diseases, such as Hunter Syndrome (or MPS Type II).
US09932561B2

This document provides methods and materials related to differentiating iPS cells into glucose-responsive, insulin-secreting progeny. For example, methods and material for using indolactam V (ILV) and glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) to produce glucose-responsive, insulin-secreting progeny from iPS cells are provided.
US09932559B2

A platform for creating an artificial blood brain barrier including a functional, perfused artificial vessel lined with endothelial cells embedded in a physiologically relevant three-dimensional extracellular matrix is described.
US09932556B2

The present invention relates to a method for in vitro differentiation of a population of blood circulating cells, such as monocytes and preferably pluripotent macrophages derived therefrom, into cells displaying functional and phenotypic neuronal characteristics. The invention further encompasses neuronal-like cells obtainable according to the present method, compositions comprising said cells, and applications thereof.
US09932553B2

A system for performing a gas-liquid mass transfer includes a container bounding a compartment and having a top wall, a bottom wall, and an encircling sidewall extending therebetween. A first opening is formed on the container so as to communicate with the compartment. A liquid is disposed within the compartment and having a top surface disposed below the first opening. A gas is blown through the first opening so that the gas passes over at least a portion of the top surface of the liquid, the gas producing turbulence on the top surface of the liquid that is sufficient to produce a mass transfer between the gas and the liquid. A mixing element is disposed within the compartment.
US09932544B1

The present invention provides a starch-based moldable play composition, including: corn starch; mineral oil; propylene glycol; glyceryl stearate; sodium laureth sulfate; sodium chloride; potassium sorbate; phenoxyethanol; water; fragrance; and pigment dye, selected from the group consisting of yellow 3, yellow 4, red 14, red 17, blue 1, blue 2, and titanium dioxide.
US09932533B2

Transport compositions include a crude oil composition and a solvent formulation including at least one terpene component. In some embodiments, the terpene is a monoterpene. In some embodiments, the terpene is pure gum turpentine, oil of turpentine, a component of turpentine, or a combination of these. Addition of a minimal amount of solvent formulation to the crude oil composition raises the flash point of the mixture, preferably to a predetermined value, which may be in the range of 100 to 120° F., in the range of 120 to 140° F., above 140° F., or above 170° F., depending on the application. The amount of terpene is preferably in the range about 0.005 to about 5 percent by total weight of the transport composition. Methods of raising the flash point of a crude oil composition and methods of increasing the safety of handling a crude oil composition are also disclosed.
US09932531B2

Systems, processes, and catalysts are disclosed for obtaining fuel and fuel blends containing selected ratios of open-chain and closed-chain fuel-range hydrocarbons suitable for production of alternate fuels including gasolines, jet fuels, and diesel fuels. Fuel-range hydrocarbons may be derived from ethylene-containing feedstocks and ethanol-containing feedstocks.
US09932528B2

A system for desalting a crude oil stream includes vessel that has an interior piping structure that releases wash water into a crude oil flow within the vessel. The piping structure, which may have more than one level, has a plurality of spray nozzles for dispersing or releasing the wash water into the flowing crude oil stream. The spray nozzles may be located on a same side or opposite sides of the piping structure. Where multiple levels are used, the number of spray nozzles on each level may be the same as or different than the number of spray nozzles on other levels. The pressure drop through each spray nozzle is no greater than 300 psi and the nozzles deliver a dilution water droplet no larger than 300 microns in diameter. A mixing valve, static mixer, or both can be placed downstream of the vessel.
US09932525B2

The present invention provides new techniques related to magnetically controllable and/or steerable froth for use in separation processes of mineral-bearing ore and bitumen. Apparatus is provided featuring a processor configured to contain a fluidic medium having a material-of-interest and also having a surfactant with magnetic properties so as to cause the formation of a froth layer that contains at least some of the material-of-interest and is magnetically responsive; and a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field and provide non-mechanical mixing and steering/driving of the froth layer in the processor. The material-of-interest may be mineral-bearing ore particles or bitumen. The processor includes a flotation tank, a primary separation vessel (PSV), or a pipe, including a tailings pipeline. The pipe has a non-magnetic pipe section, and the magnetic field generator includes a magnetic coil arranged in relation to non-magnetic pipe section to generate the magnetic field and provide the non-mechanical mixing and steering/driving of the froth layer in the pipe.
US09932521B2

A self-suspending proppant comprises a proppant particle substrate carrying a coating of an anionic hydrogel-forming polymer. The detrimental effect of calcium and other divalent ions on the ability of the proppant to swell when contacted with water is reduced by including a calcium binding agent in the proppant.
US09932509B2

The present invention relates to the use of a double salt of Ca(NO3)2 and KNO3 for the manufacture of a melt, in particular a nitrate-based heat transfer fluid (HTF) and/or thermal energy storage fluid, for example in solar energy applications, such as in solar electrical power plant systems using a parabolic through, a central receiver or a linear Fresnel, which have both a low melting temperature and a high decomposition temperature, as well as to methods for the manufacture thereof. Using said double salt, a melt could be manufactured comprising at least NaNO3, KNO3 and Ca(NO3)2, preferably, an eutectic ternary melt comprising Ca(NO3)2, NaNO3 and KNO3 in a weight ratio of about 42:15:43 with an operating temperature of about 131° C. to about 560° C.
US09932506B2

An environmentally friendly hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture may be used as a substitute for existing refrigerant in a refrigerant system. The hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture offers greater operating efficiency and effectively replaces chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants. The refrigerant mixture for the refrigeration system includes from about 85% to about 89% by weight propane and from about 11% to about 15% by weight propene.
US09932505B2

An environmentally friendly hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture may be used as a substitute for existing refrigerant in a refrigerant system. The hydrocarbon refrigerant mixture offers greater operating efficiency and effectively replaces chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants. The refrigerant mixture for the refrigeration system includes from about 85% to about 89% by weight propane and from about 11% to about 15% by weight propene.
US09932494B2

Disclosed are a resin composition and a molded product obtained using the same. By using the resin composition according to the present invention, a molded product having excellent tensile strength, tensile modulus, electromagnetic shielding effects, anti-static effects, and the like may be provided.
US09932492B2

Disclosed is an oxidatively drying alkyd resin composition and a method for preparing said composition. Said composition is obtained by admixing an aqueous silica sol into a substantially 100% alkyd resin being in a liquid state either at ambient temperature or at an elevated temperature. Said silica sol is added in an amount of 0.1-10% by weight calculated as 100% silica on 100% alkyd resin. The use of a said composition is in a further aspect disclosed.
US09932472B2

Disclosed is a method of preparing a rubber-reinforced thermoplastic resin. According to the present invention, a graft copolymer comprising a large-particle-size rubber polymer obtained by welding polymerization-heat-control-type small particles and a reactive emulsifier or a mixed emulsifier comprising a reactive emulsifier and a non-reactive emulsifier is prepared, and a rubber-reinforced thermoplastic resin comprising the same may have enhanced mechanical properties, thermal stability, surface visibility and gloss.
US09932470B2

The present disclosure relates to highly filled polyolefin compositions with improved balance of properties particularly for applications where puncture and tear resistance is requested comprising a flexible heterophasic polyolefin composition (I), consisting of a crystalline polymer fraction (A) consisting of a copolymer of propylene with ethylene having a fraction insoluble in xylene at 25° C. of at least 90% by weight, and an elastomeric fraction (B) consisting of a copolymer or blend of copolymers of ethylene with propylene; the copolymer or blend containing units derived from ethylene in a quantity lower than 40% by weight. The fraction soluble in xylene at 25° C. of the polyolefin composition having an IVgpc lower than 2.5 dl/g, a broad molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn (GPC) equal to or higher than 4, and a Mz/Mw (GPC) equal to or higher than 2.5.
US09932469B2

A heterophasic propylene ethylene copolymer having an MFR2 of 0.5 to 100 g/10 m in and obtained using single site catalysis comprising: (i) a propylene homopolymer or propylene ethylene copolymer matrix having up to 4 wt % ethylene; and (ii) an ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) dispersed in the matrix; said heterophasic propylene ethylene copolymer having a xylene cold soluble content (XS) of 20 to 40%; wherein the ethylene content of the xylene cold soluble fraction of said heterophasic propylene ethylene copolymer is between 70 and 90 wt. %; wherein the xylene cold soluble fraction of said heterophasic propylene ethylene copolymer has an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of 3.0 dl/g or more; and wherein the melting enthalpy (ΔHM) of the heterophasic propylene ethylene copolymer is between 10 and 30 J/g at a temperature of 0 to 130° C.
US09932468B2

C2C3 random copolymer composition with an improved balance between sealing initiation temperature (SIT) and melting point (Tm), i.e. low SIT and high melting point. In addition the inventive composition shows a broad sealing window, low hexane solubles and good optical properties, like low haze.
US09932467B2

The method for manufacturing a composition consists in bringing into contact a product containing mostly polypropylene having a controlled fluidity less than 10 g/10 min with highly fluid polypropylene and a polymer grafted with maleic anhydride.
US09932465B1

A process for preparing a polyolefin, including polymerizing olefins in the presence of an antistatic agent made from or containing an alkylene oxide derived polymer made from or containing in average from about 10 to about 200 repeating units —(CH2—CHR—O)— with R being hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein the alkylene oxide derived polymer is a random copolymer of ethylene oxide and other alkylene oxides and a ratio of n:m is in the range of from 6:1 to 1:1, wherein (n) is the average number of repeating units —(CH2—CH2—O)— derived from ethylene oxide and (m) is the average number of repeating units —(CH2—CHR′—O)— derived from the other alkylene oxides with R′ being an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and the end groups of the alkylene oxide derived polymer are —OH groups.
US09932462B2

A rubber composition for a tire rim cushion or rubber finishing contains a diene rubber and a filler containing a carbon black. The diene rubber contains a natural rubber and/or an isoprene rubber, and a modified polymer that is obtained by reacting a nitrone compound with a double bond of a conjugated diene polymer. The content of the natural rubber and/or the isoprene rubber in the diene rubber is from 30 to 60 mass %, the content of the modified polymer in the diene rubber is from 8 to 70 mass %, the content of the filler is from 60 to 90 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the diene rubber, and the nitrogen adsorption specific surface area of the carbon black is from 60 to 150 m2/g. Such rubber composition has excellent low heat build-up and ozone resistance when formed into a tire.
US09932454B2

The present disclosure relates to a polymer material comprising mesopores extending between melamine-formaldehyde co-polymer nano-particles and wherein micropores extend within the co-polymer nano-particles, methods of producing the same and uses thereof.
US09932451B2

The present invention is a polyester composition for a masterbatch, which comprises a polyester, a magnesium compound, an alkali metal compound and a phosphorus compound, wherein magnesium atoms, alkali metal atoms and phosphorus atoms are contained in amounts of 400 to 2700 ppm by mass, 40 to 270 ppm by mass and 200 to 1700 ppm by mass, respectively, in the polyester composition, the melt resistivity of the polyester composition is 0.005×108 to 0.05×108 Ω·cm, and few contaminant particles are observed in the polyester composition under specified conditions. The polyester composition for a masterbatch has a satisfactorily low melt resistivity, contains few contaminant particles, and has an excellent color hue and excellent thermal stability.
US09932447B2

Provided is a curable resin composition which exhibits excellent curability and is good in storage stability. The curable resin composition comprises (a) a polymer having a hydrolyzable silyl group, (b) an acid catalyst, and (c) an onium salt represented by the following general formula (1): C+A−  (1) wherein C+ is an onium cation, and A− is a hydrogen sulfate anion, a hydrogen sulfite anion, a sulfonate anion represented by R1SO3− wherein R1 represents an alkyl group, perfluoroalkyl group, cycloalkyl group, vinyl group, aryl group, perfluoroaryl group, aralkyl group or halogen atom; or a bis(substituted sulfonyl)imide anion represented by (R2SO2)2N− wherein R2 represents an alkyl group, perfluoroalkyl group, or aryl group; tetrafluoroborate anion, or hexafluorophosphate anion.
US09932445B2

New diamine monomers bearing sulfone terminated pendant groups, as well as methods for making the same, are provided. The diamine monomers are useful toward making polyamide, polyimide, and poly(amide-imide) polymers and copolymers, which possess hygromorphic properties and demonstrate humidity driven motility.
US09932432B2

Various cycloolefinic/maleic anhydride/maleimide polymers and compositions thereof useful for forming self-imageable films encompassing such polymers are disclosed. Such polymers encompass norbornene-type repeating units, maleimide repeat units and maleic anhydride-type repeating units where at least some of such maleic anhydride-type repeating units have been ring-opened. The films formed from such polymer compositions provide self imageable, low-k, thermally stable layers for use in microelectronic and optoelectronic devices.
US09932403B2

The present disclosure relates to amino acid sequences that are directed against (as defined herein) HER3, as well as to compounds or constructs, and in particular proteins and polypeptides, that comprise or essentially consist of one or more such amino acid sequences (also referred to herein as “amino acid sequences of the invention”, “compounds of the invention”, and “polypeptides of the invention”, respectively). The disclosure also relates to nucleic acids encoding such amino acid sequences and polypeptides (also referred to herein as “nucleic acids of the invention” or “nucleotide sequences of the invention”); to methods for 10 preparing such amino acid sequences and polypeptides; to host cells expressing or capable of expressing such amino acid sequences or polypeptides; to compositions, and in particular to pharmaceutical compositions, that comprise such amino acid sequences, polypeptides, nucleic acids and/or host cells; and to uses of such amino acid sequences or polypeptides, nucleic acids, host cells and/or compositions, in particular for prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic purposes, such as the prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic purposes mentioned herein.
US09932399B2

Chimeric and humanized anti-CD37 antibodies and pharmaceutical compositions containing them are useful for the treatment of B cell malignancies and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases that involve B cells in their pathology.
US09932396B2

An object is to provide an antibody capable of specifically recognizing a human NRG1 protein isoform, and suppressing signal transduction in which the isoform is involved. An antibody capable of binding to a region at positions 221 to 234 of a human NRG1-α protein or an antibody capable of binding to a region at positions 213 to 239 of a human NRG1-β1 protein was successfully obtained. Further, it was also found that these antibodies had an activity of suppressing cleavage of the NRG1 protein, an activity of suppressing phosphorylation of an ErbB3 protein in a cancer cell, and an activity of suppressing in vivo tumor proliferation.
US09932394B2

Compositions and methods of use are provided for intrabodies that bind and alter the effects of poly-glutamate protein aggregation in poly-glutamate associated diseases, such as in Huntington's disease. Intrabodies are provided that prevent poly-glutamate aggregation, gene dysregulation, and negative effects of Huntington's disease.
US09932387B2

The present invention relates to a therapeutic polypeptide and methods for its creation and use for modulating an immune response in a host organism in need thereof. In particular, the invention relates to the administration to an organism in need thereof, of an effective amount of a pre-coupled polypeptide complex comprising a lymphokine polypeptide portion, for example IL-15 (SEQ ID NO: 5, 6), IL-2 (SEQ ID NO: 10, 12) or combinations of both, and an interleukin receptor polypeptide portion, for example IL-15Ra (SEQ ID NO: 7, 8), IL-2Ra (SEQ ID NO: 9, 11) or combinations of both, for augmenting the immune system in, for example, cancer, SCID, AIDS, or vaccination; or inhibiting the immune system in, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, or Lupus. The therapeutic complex of the invention surprisingly demonstrates increased half-life, and efficacy in vivo.
US09932381B2

The present invention relates to glucagon receptor agonists and their medical use, for example in the treatment of severe hypoglycemia.
US09932378B2

Disclosed are methods of identifying an agent that modulates an NFAT regulator protein. One such method comprises contacting at least one test agent with a recombinant cell comprising at least one NFAT regulator protein or fragment or derivative thereof, assessing the effect of the test agent on an activity, interaction, expression, or binding to the NFAT regulator protein or fragment or derivative thereof, and identifying the test agent that has an effect on an activity, interaction, expression, or binding to the NFAT regulator protein or fragment or derivative thereof, whereby the identified test agent is characterized as an agent that modulates an NFAT regulator protein. Methods of identifying an agent that modulates intracellular calcium, methods to screen for an agent that modulates NFAT regulator function, methods to diagnose unexplained immunodeficiency in a subject, and methods for identifying an agent for treating or preventing a disease or disorder associated with a NFAT regulator protein or calcium signaling are also disclosed.
US09932367B2

The invention provides a method for conjugating a peptide displayed on a genetic display system to a molecular scaffold performed on an ion exchange resin.
US09932363B2

Disclosed herein are nucleosides, nucleotides and analogs thereof, pharmaceutical compositions that include one or more of nucleosides, nucleotides and analogs thereof, and methods of synthesizing the same. Also disclosed herein are methods of ameliorating and/or treating a paramyxovirus viral infection, with a nucleoside, a nucleotide and an analog thereof.
US09932356B2

The disclosure generally relates to compounds of formula I, including compositions and methods for treating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The disclosure provides novel inhibitors of HIV, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and methods for using these compounds in the treatment of HIV infection.
US09932352B2

The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) useful in the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion-related pathologies.
US09932351B2

The disclosure relates to inhibitors of USP7 inhibitors useful in the treatment of cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, immunological disorders, inflammatory disorders, cardiovascular diseases, ischemic diseases, viral infections and diseases, and bacterial infections and diseases, having the Formula: where R1, R2, R3, R5, R5′, X1, X2, n, and m are described herein.
US09932350B2

The present invention relates to inhibitors of IRAK4 of Formula I and provides compositions comprising such inhibitors, as well as methods therewith for treating IRAK4-mediated or -associated conditions or diseases.
US09932341B2

The present application provides methods of treating PI3Kδ related disorders using compounds of Formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US09932331B2

The present invention provides a compound represented by the following formula [1] or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof which has an excellent NHE3 inhibitory effect: A-Y  [1] wherein A represents a structure represented by the following formula [2]: wherein R11 and R12 each represent a halogen atom or others as described herein, R2 represents C1-6 alkyl or others as described herein, ring E represents triazole, tetrazole, pyrimidine, or others as described herein, R31 and R32 each represent a hydrogen atom, C1-6 alkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, or others as described herein, and W represents a single bond, the formula —NH—, the formula —O—, or the formula —CONH—, and Y represents a hydrogen atom or a structure selected from
US09932330B2

Anti-angiogenic treatments, treatments of hyperpermeability disorders, treatments of neuropathic and neurodegenerative disorders, pain treatments, methods of reducing the risk of pre-eclampsia and compounds for use in such methods are described.
US09932324B2

The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I), or the tautomers or pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, X, and Z have one of the meanings as defined in the specification, to the use of compounds of formula (I) as a medicament, to pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of formula (I), as well as to medicament combinations containing one or more compounds of formula (I).
US09932323B2

The invention provides compounds of formula I: and salts and prodrugs thereof wherein R4, X1 and X2 have any of the meanings defined in the specification, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds or salts and methods for their use in therapy. The compounds have useful antiviral properties.
US09932316B2

Novel imidazolium salts of formula (I) are described in which R is a C1-C14 alkyl group, optionally substituted by one or more fluorine atoms, or a C2-C18 alkoxyalkyl group, R′ is an alkyl group containing at least 8 carbon atoms, at least 6 of which are partially or entirely fluorinated, R″ is hydrogen or C1-C3 alkyl, Z is an organic or inorganic anion, and Q is further defined. The compounds of formula (I) are liquid crystals over a wide temperature range, and are characterized by high conductivity, hydrophobicity and stability. These properties made them ideally suitable for use in devices based on electrochemical reactions, such as solar cells, fuel cells, electrochemical sensors, lithium batteries and capacitors, etc.
US09932315B2

Persistent carbene adducts and methods of forming the same are generally described, as well as compositions comprising the persistent carbene adduct. In some embodiments, methods are provided comprising heating a persistent carbene to relatively high temperatures to convert the persistent carbene into a persistent carbene-carbodiimide adduct. In certain embodiments, the percent of the persistent carbene that is converted to the persistent carbene-carbodiimide adduct is relatively high (e.g., at least about 50%). In some embodiments, the persistent carbene-carbodiimide adducts formed via the methods described herein may be relatively stable. Compositions comprising the persistent carbene-carbodiimide adducts of the present invention may be useful for applications involving catalysis, organometallic chemistry, sensing, and surface functionalization, amongst others.
US09932314B2

The invention relates to compounds of formula (I) wherein X, Y, R1, R2, (R4)n, and (R5)m are as defined in the description, and to pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such compounds. These compounds are useful as calcium T-channel blockers.
US09932311B2

Novel compounds of the structural formula (I), and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are agonists of G-protein coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) and may be useful in the treatment, prevention and suppression of diseases mediated by the G-protein-coupled receptor 40. The compounds of the present invention may be useful in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and of conditions that are often associated with this disease, including obesity and lipid disorders, such as mixed or diabetic dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia.
US09932307B2

Processes for annealing amorphous atorvastatin is described. Pharmaceutical compositions and formulations containing annealed amorphous atorvastatin are also described.
US09932291B2

Fouling of an MMA process is reduced by acidifying a stream comprising recycled components.
US09932288B2

This invention provides a compound that is 4,4′-(4′-Carboxy)-4-nonyloxy-[1,1′-biphenyl]-3,5-diyl)dibutanoic acid (CNBDA), derivative compounds of CNBDA, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. The derivative compounds of CNBDA have one or more of the following substitutions (a) replacement of one or both of the carboxylic acid groups of the CNBDA compound with an organic acid group having 1-3, or 5-30, or more carbon atoms in chain length, wherein the carbon atom chains are either saturated, partially saturated, or unsaturated with respect to the carbon to carbon bonding, (b) replacement of the carboxylic groups of (a) with a phosphate, a sulphate, an amide, a hydroxyl, an aldehyde, or a halide group, and (c) replacement of the nonane group with an alkane having a carbon chain length of 1-8 or 10-30, or more carbon atoms. A method of treating a patient having cancer is provided.
US09932286B2

Methods of treating or suppressing mitochondrial diseases, such as Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactacidosis, stroke (MELAS), or Kearns-Sayre Syndrome (KSS) are disclosed, as well as compounds useful in the methods of the invention. Methods and compounds useful in treating other disorders are also disclosed. Energy biomarkers useful in assessing the metabolic state of a subject and the efficacy of treatment are also disclosed. Methods of modulating, normalizing, or enhancing energy biomarkers, as well as compounds useful for such methods, are also disclosed.
US09932282B2

A method for producing 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene efficiently from an intermediate product having a low reactivity is provided. A method for producing trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene comprising reacting a halogenated hydrocarbon compound having 3 carbon atoms represented by Formula (1) shown below in a gas phase with hydrogen fluoride in the presence of chlorine is provided. C3HXClYFZ (1) wherein X is 2 or 3; and when X=2, Y is an integer from 1 to 4, Z is an integer from 0 to 3, and Y+Z=4; and when X=3, Y is an integer from 1 to 5, Z is an integer from 0 to 4, and Y+Z=5; provided that Formula (1) shown above represents a halogenated hydrocarbon compound having 3 carbon atoms excluding trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene.
US09932276B2

A composite particle and a population of particles comprising a water-insoluble polyphosphate composition, methods of producing, and methods of using the same are provided. The polyphosphate composition may comprise at least one alkaline earth metal selected from calcium and magnesium and optionally at least one nutrient ion selected from the group consisting of potassium, ammonium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, boron, chlorine, iodine, molybdenum, selenium or sulfur.
US09932275B2

The present invention relates to a process for treating organic waste, which comprises the step of contacting an organic waste with one or more microorganisms from at least three of the following microorganism species: Bacillus sp. microorganisms, Pseudomonas sp. microorganisms, Bifidobacterium sp. microorganisms and Lactobacillus sp. microorganisms, the contacting being undertaken under conditions to at least partly convert the organic waste to organic fertilizer.
US09932274B2

Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) exhibiting enhanced diamond-to-diamond bonding. In an embodiment, PCD includes a plurality of diamond grains defining a plurality of interstitial regions. A metal-solvent catalyst occupies at least a portion of the plurality of interstitial regions. The plurality of diamond grains and the metal-solvent catalyst collectively exhibit a coercivity of about 115 Oersteds (“Oe”) or more and a specific magnetic saturation of about 15 Gauss·cm3/grams (“G·cm3/g”) or less. Other embodiments are directed to polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) employing such PCD, methods of forming PCD and PDCs, and various applications for such PCD and PDCs in rotary drill bits, bearing apparatuses, and wire-drawing dies.
US09932271B2

Gypsum composites containing cementitious materials and methods of making the same are provided. Gypsum composites include gypsum and a cementitious material. Methods of making gypsum composites include combining gypsum stucco, water, and a cementitious material to form a slurry, and setting and drying the slurry to form a gypsum composite.
US09932264B2

Inorganic fibers including the following composition, SiO2, MgO and CaO being main components: SiO2: 73.6 wt % to 85.9 wt %, MgO: 9.0 wt % to 21.3 wt %, CaO: 5.1 wt % to 12.4 wt %, Al2O3: 0 wt % or more and less than 2.3 wt %, and Fe2O3: 0 wt % to 0.50 wt %.
US09932248B2

The invention relates to a process and a device for enriching water, in particular drinking water, with magnesium ions. In order to enable enrichment of water with magnesium ions in exchange for calcium ions and/or heavy metal ions during treatment of water, and in particular of drinking water, it is proposed according to the invention to pass the water through an ion exchanger which contains a weakly acidic ion exchange material, wherein at least a part of its ion exchange capacity is loaded with magnesium ions.
US09932246B2

A liquid treatment apparatus includes a supply chamber for receiving a fluid, a discharge chamber for discharging the fluid, and a cavitation generating chamber extending from the supply chamber to the discharge chamber. The cavitation generating chamber is operable to generate cavitation bubbles. A method of treating a liquid comprises directing a fluid from a supply chamber into a cavitation generating chamber by constricting the fluid through an orifice, wherein the orifice has a cross dimension that is substantially less than a cross dimension of the supply chamber, such that a fluid jet is formed. The method further includes allowing the fluid jet to expand downstream of the orifice such that the velocity of the fluid is reduced so that the jet axial velocity head at the chamber outlet is less than the difference between the static pressure within the discharge chamber and the vapor pressure of the fluid. The method also includes discharging the fluid into a discharge chamber via a chamber outlet.
US09932245B2

A purifying system for treating a fluid with UV light including a housing defining: a chamber having a treatment zone; an inlet; and an outlet. The light source supplies UV light to the treatment zone. The inlet, the tubular housing, or the outlet may extend inward into the chamber so that the fluid passes close to the light source and has a relatively increased duration in the treatment zone. The purifying system may also have a sensor coupled to the housing or light source for generating a first signal indicative of a first parameter of the treatment zone. A microcontroller can control the light source based on a signal from the sensor and data characterizing the light source. The microcontroller may also vary operation of the light source and collect data to create the data characterizing the light source.
US09932238B2

Methods of ex situ synthesis of graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, other graphene derivative structures and nanoparticles useful as polishing agents are disclosed. Compositions and methods for polishing, hardening, protecting, adding longevity to, and lubricating moving and stationary parts in devices and systems, including, but not limited to, engines, turbos, turbines, tracks, races, wheels, bearings, gear systems, armor, heat shields, and other physical and mechanical systems employing machined interacting hard surfaces through the use of nano-polishing agents formed in situ from lubricating compositions and, in some cases, ex situ and their various uses are also disclosed.
US09932237B2

Embodiments of a device, or a component of a device, including a stabilized graphite surface, methods of stabilizing graphite surfaces, and uses for the devices or components are disclosed. The device or component includes a surface comprising graphite, and a plurality of haloaryl ions and/or haloalkyl ions bound to at least a portion of the graphite. The ions may be perhaloaryl ions and/or perhaloalkyl ions. In certain embodiments, the ions are perfluorobenzenesulfonate anions. Embodiments of the device or component including stabilized graphite surfaces may maintain a steady-state oxidation or reduction surface current density after being exposed to continuous oxidation conditions for a period of at least 1-100 hours. The device or component is prepared by exposing a graphite-containing surface to an acidic aqueous solution of the ions under oxidizing conditions. The device or component can be exposed in situ to the solution.
US09932235B2

A preparation method of a battery composite material includes steps of providing phosphoric acid, manganese carbonate, water and a first reactant; processing a reaction of the phosphoric acid, the manganese carbonate and the water to produce a first product; calcining the first product to produce a precursor, which is written by Mn2P2O7; processing a reaction of the precursor and at least the first reactant to get a reaction mixture, and then calcining the reaction mixture to produce the battery composite material. As a result, the present invention achieves the advantages of reducing the times of the reduction-oxidation reaction, so that the stability of the processes is enhanced, and the difficulty of the processes is reduced.
US09932234B2

A membrane-based air separation module includes an inlet configured to receive supply air, a first hollow fiber membrane configured to substantially remove water from the supply air to form an anhydrous air stream, and a permeate port configured to exhaust the water removed by the first hollow fiber membrane from the air separation module. The air separation module also includes a second hollow fiber membrane positioned downstream of the first hollow fiber membrane configured to receive the anhydrous air stream and substantially remove oxygen from the anhydrous air stream, an oxygen-enriched air outlet configured to exhaust the oxygen removed by the second hollow fiber membrane from the air separation module, and a nitrogen-enriched air outlet configured to supply a stream of nitrogen-enriched air to a fuel tank of an aircraft.
US09932229B2

The present invention relates to a process for producing a hydrogen containing gas mixture comprising the following steps: (i) providing a preheated mixture comprising a fossil fuel, preferably methane, and steam, (ii) conducting an adiabatic reaction between the fossil fuel and the steam, in the presence of a catalyst, wherein a first reaction product mixture is formed comprising methane, hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and (iii) conducting an oxygen-assisted reforming reaction in the presence of a catalyst between said first reaction product mixture and an oxygen comprising stream, wherein the oxygen comprising stream comprises at least 40 vol % oxygen, forming a second reaction product mixture comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The invention also relates to a system suitable for hydrogen production from a hydrocarbon feed according to the present invention.
US09932228B2

The present invention provides a hybrid reforming system for producing syngas through a reforming reaction between carbon dioxide plasma and a hydrocarbon material, the system comprising: a carbon dioxide feeder (110) which feeds carbon dioxide; a hydrocarbon material feeder (120) which feeds the hydrocarbon material; a plasma reformer (200) which respectively receives carbon dioxide and the hydrocarbon material from the carbon dioxide feeder (110) and the hydrocarbon material feeder (120), and produces primary syngas through a reforming reaction while producing the carbon dioxide plasma using electromagnetic waves; a wet carbon-refining device (130) which is arranged at a gas exhaust end of the plasma reformer (200) and filters and refines carbon contained in the primary syngas; and a catalyst dry-reformer (140) which is arranged at a gas exhaust end of the wet carbon-refining device (130) and produces secondary syngas by making the refined syngas undergo a catalyst dry-reforming reaction.
US09932222B2

Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) structures, methods of manufacture and design structures are disclosed. The method includes forming a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) beam structure by venting both tungsten material and silicon material above and below the MEMS beam to form an upper cavity above the MEMS beam and a lower cavity structure below the MEMS beam.
US09932210B2

The invention relates to a plugging device for releasably connecting the drum wheel (2) of the at least one loose drum rotatably mounted on the main shaft of a winding engine, said drum wheel being rigidly connected to the loose drum, to the shaft wheel (4) which is rigidly connected to the main shaft. The releasable connection of the drum wheel (2) to the shaft wheel (4) is carried out in a formfitting manner by means of an engageable and disengageable sliding wheel (6) which is guided on a shaft wheel (4). Actuations (10) are carried out in points in a distributed manner over the circumference of the sliding wheel, said actuations acting directly on the sliding wheel (6), in order to engage and disengage the sliding wheel (6).
US09932209B2

A vehicle top lift and storage system is disclosed herein. The vehicle top lift and storage system includes a lift mechanism configured to attach to a vehicle top and to suspend the vehicle top. The left mechanism may include various configurations of straps, hooks, or pulleys, as described herein, to aid in removal of the vehicle top from a vehicle.
US09932207B2

A traffic barrier lifter mountable on a boom and having a gearbox with a first and a second rotating axis; a pair of opposing arms directly mounted to the first and second rotating axis and a rotator capable of rotating the lifter relative to the boom, wherein the gearbox is capable of moving the pair of opposing arms from an open position to a closed position such that the arms can clamp onto a traffic barrier. The rotator being capable of rotating the arms and traffic barrier relative to the boom.
US09932206B2

A plate belt of a moving walkway has plates arranged in succession in a movement direction and between two mutually parallel link chains formed by chain links of different widths. Each chain link is connected with one of the plates by at least one fastening device. The fastening devices include a fastening bolt and a cup washer, wherein the cup washer has a cup base ring and a cup collar encircling the cup base ring. The inner height of the cup collar corresponds with the thickness of at least one chain link strap of the chain link and the inner diameter of the cup collar is greater than the outer diameter of the region of the fastening bolt bearing against the cup base ring in the mounted state.
US09932205B2

An elevator system includes an elevator car located in a hoistway. One or more belts are operably connected to the elevator car to drive and/or support the elevator car along the hoistway. The one or more belts are routed over one or more sheaves. The one or more sheaves include an outer surface rotatable about a central axis and a flange located at at least one lateral end of the sheave. The sheave further includes a tracking compensator to limit lateral motion of the belt along the outer surface to prevent the belt from contacting the flange.
US09932203B2

A deterioration state of load bearing capacity in an elevator suspension member having a plurality of electrically conductive cords is detected by: providing a multi-phase alternating current circuitry including electrically conductive legs; applying at least one phase of a multi-phase alternating current to at least one of the cords electrically connected to one of the legs; applying at least another phase of the current to at least another cord and at least one resistor electrically connected to at least another leg; measuring an electric indicator current being at least one of a net sum of all phases of the current and an electric bypass current through a neutral wire being connected in parallel to the circuitry, wherein a peak current in each phase is shifted by a phase angle with respect to a peak current in another phase; and determining the deterioration state based on the measured indicator electric current.
US09932199B2

A sheet processing device includes a plurality of first units and a second unit. The first units each include, as one unit, a pressing member that presses a folding loop, a frame that movably holds the pressing member in a sheet pressing direction, and an elastic member that is disposed between the frame and the pressing member to bias the pressing member in the sheet pressing direction. The second unit supports, as one unit, a plurality of rows of first units such that the first units of each row are arranged, as a pair, so as to be opposed to each other and that an interval between the pairs is reduced stepwise from a downstream side to an upstream side in a moving direction of the second unit.
US09932198B2

There is provided a sheet processing apparatus with improved visibility of a sheet bundle discharged without post-processing thereto. The CPU circuit receives the conveyed sheet, drives and controls the sheet-returning paddle, the rack part, the rear end regulation part, the alignment plate and the like and forms sheet bundle comprising of a plural number of sheets as received. Further, the CPU circuit drives and controls the alignment plate when discharging the sheet bundle S from the processing tray, the sheet bundle S exceeding the number of sheets which can be post-processed by the stapler. Therefore, the sheet bundle S which includes sheets equal to the allowable number of sheets for post-processing of the sheet processing unit is discharged to the second discharge position which is different from the first discharge position.
US09932196B2

The present invention discloses a tape dispenser which includes a body having a downward facing concave space at a bottom thereof, a cutting blade mounted to the body and positioned in the concave space with an cutting edge recessed in the concave space, a groove member being able to move vertically between a first and second location, at the first location, the groove member being partially submerged in the concave space and pocketing at least a portion the cutting blade for cutting a piece of tape, at the second location, the groove member being downwardly away from the bottom of the body for threading a piece of tape through a gap formed between the groove member and the bottom of the body, a side plate attached to an end of the groove member, the side plate being slidably accommodated in a hollowed space formed inside the body, the side plate having a slot for retaining a spring to urge the side plate to slide downwardly resulting in the groove member to move from the first location to the second location, and a stopper situated within the slot and at an upper end of the spring, the stopper being fixed to the body and preventing the side plate from being completely pulled out of the hollowed space.
US09932193B2

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a reverse transport portion that transports the recording medium in a reverse direction, which is opposite to a transport direction in which the recording medium is transported to the reverse transport portion from the image forming section, a first ejection portion to which the recording medium is ejected and that is disposed on a downstream side of a second transport path in the transport direction, the second transport path diverging from a first transport path along which the recording medium is transported from the image forming section to the reverse transport portion, and a reverse transport path along which the recording medium is transported from the reverse transport portion to the image forming section, the reverse transport path not overlapping a third transport path along which the recording medium is transported from the image forming section to the first ejection portion.
US09932190B2

A medium winder, includes: a winding roller that winds a medium discharged from an image formation apparatus into a roll shape; first and second rollers that guide the medium to the winding roller; a dancer roller provided between the first and second rollers in the medium conveyance direction and movable upwardly and downwardly while contacting from above the medium between the first and second rollers; a winding driver that rotates the winding roller; a detector that detects the dancer roller; a dancer roller position recognition portion that recognizes the position of the dancer roller based on a detection result by the detector; and a winding drive controller that controls the winding driver. In an operation of unwinding the medium, the winding drive controller moves the dancer roller up and down by reducing or increasing the unwinding velocity of the medium based on a position of the dancer roller.
US09932188B2

A transportation path changing device (1) of the invention is a transportation path changing device that changes a transportation path of a continuous sheet-like object (3) that is being transported. The device includes: an oscillating section (2) that oscillates in an intersecting direction Y intersecting with a flow direction X of the transported object, and that increases/decreases the length of the transportation path of the transported object (3); a first moving means (6) that is connected to the oscillating section (2), and that moves the oscillating section (2) in the intersecting direction Y; a second moving means (7) that moves a portion or the entirety of the first moving means (6) in the intersecting direction Y; and a control section (9) that controls the first moving means (6) and the second moving means (7).
US09932175B2

An article transport facility comprises a plurality of article transport vehicles each of which is configured to travel along a track and to transport an article. Each article transport vehicle includes at least one obstacle detection sensor, each configured to detect an obstacle that exists in at least one detection area defined in a peripheral area of the article transport vehicle. The transport vehicle controller of each article transport vehicle is configured to receive the detection area information from the transport facility controller through wireless communication, and to transmit the received detection area information to at least one of the at least one obstacle detection sensor. Each of the at least one obstacle detection sensor is configured to cause the area information memory to store the transmitted detection area information.
US09932165B2

An cooler capable of achieving a sufficient temperature gradient between an inside of the cooler and an outside of the cooler such that at least a partial vacuum forms within the cooler may include an enclosure defined by at least one wall and a lid. The lid may form a relatively airtight seal with a wall of the cooler when in a closed position. A vacuum release assembly may be disposed in one of the walls or lid of the cooler, the assembly being capable of reducing a pressure differential between the enclosure and the outside of the cooler.
US09932158B2

A closure includes a base and a lid, the base and lid being joined by a double hinge arrangement so that the lid is movable between a closed position and an open position. The double hinge arrangement includes a first hinge and a second hinge. The lid may be held stably in the open position via tongues or the like, which are provided on or by the lid, base, and/or hinge arrangement.
US09932155B2

Some embodiments relate to a cap for controlling fluid flow from a bottle that includes an opening for dispensing the fluid. The cap includes a first section and a second section. The first section defines an orifice and a plurality of air channels. The opening of the bottle is in flow communication with the orifice and the plurality of air channels. The second section includes a first plurality of rings for securing the opening of the bottle, such that at least one of the air channels and the orifice creates an air-lock to secure the fluid within the bottle.
US09932150B2

A closure for closing a bag and a die head and method for making the closure. The closure includes two closure members having support walls and mating interlocking profiles. The support walls are resilient and have self-retaining forms in vertical section including middle sections curving outwardly away from one another when mounted on a bag. Top portions of the support walls extend outwardly away from one another to form gripping panels when the closure is closed. A die head for forming a closure member includes a body that defines a slot including a support wall segment for forming the support wall of the closure member. The support wall segment includes first and second portions oriented transverse to one another and intersecting at a vertex. To form the closure member, polymer is extruded through the slot and quenched.
US09932149B2

A package includes a first panel and a second panel, wherein each of the first and second panels defines a right side edge portion, a left side edge portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion. The package includes a pleat that interconnects between the first end portions of the first and second panels. The pleat defines a right side edge portion and a left side edge portion and includes a handle aperture forming a handle. A first seam joins the right side edge portions of the first panel, the second panel, and the pleat and a second seam joins the left side edge portions of the first panel, the second panel, and the pleat. A third seam joins the second end portion of the first panel with the second end portion of the second panel. The first panel, the second panel, and the pleat are integrally formed.
US09932148B2

A portable gas cylinder is disclosed which includes a gas cylinder including an upper portion having a valve port and an annular mounting collar surrounding the valve port, a handle assembly including a housing having a body portion configured to mate with the upper portion of the gas cylinder, a pair of diametrically opposed gripping handles extending upwardly from the body portion and a central aperture providing access to the valve port, wherein an annular retention channel is formed in an undersurface of the housing, extending about the periphery of the central aperture for receiving the mounting flange of the gas cylinder, and a blocking ring for securing the mounting flange of the gas cylinder within the retention channel of the handle assembly.
US09932143B2

A cargo organizer includes a base, a storage compartment supported by the base and a deployment system for the storage compartment. The storage compartment includes a plurality of wall panels each having a hinged connection with the base and pivotable about its hinged connection between a stowed orientation and an upright orientation. The storage compartment is selectively deployable between a collapsed condition and an open condition. In the collapsed condition, each wall panel is lowered to its stowed orientation while, in the open condition, each wall panel is raised to its upright orientation. In the collapsed condition, the wall panels include an underlying wall panel and two adjacent overlying wall panels in spaced opposition about the underlying wall panel. The deployment system includes a strap system that connects an inboard portion of the underlying wall panel to respective outboard portions of the two adjacent overlying wall panels.
US09932140B2

The invention provides a stabilized load tray for supporting a load stack, the stabilized load tray comprising: a horizontal floor; vertical side walls connected to the floor; a top connected to the side walls; and a deployable lip connected to the top, wherein the deployable lip can be folded from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position adjacent the load stack.
US09932134B2

A method and a system for setting corner protectors on a load. In operation of one embodiment, an actuator retrieves a two corner protectors from a corner protector storage and provides the corner protectors to a corner protector transferring and setting system. The corner protector transferring and setting system transfers the corner protectors to a side of the load furthest from the actuator and sets the corner protectors against the two adjacent vertically extending corners of that side of the load. The actuator retrieves another two corner protectors from the corner protector storage and sets the two corner protectors against the two vertically extending corners of a side of the load closest to the actuator. A wrapping machine then wraps a film around the corner protectors and the load, thereby securing the corner protectors in place.
US09932132B2

A can, and device and method for producing same, includes two circular end elements forming a base and lid. The can further includes a sleeve which has fold lines forming edges, the can sleeve having a circular cross-sectional area at both ends and a polygonal-sectional area in its central region. The polygonal cross-sectional area in the central region is at most decagonal.
US09932131B2

Apparatus and methods for determining orbital parameters for spacecraft are provided. A computing device can receive a first plurality of orbital parameters defining a first orbit by a first spacecraft of a particular object. The first orbit can have a corresponding first ground track over the particular object. The computing device can receive a following time for a second spacecraft. The computing device can determine a second plurality of orbital parameters for a second orbit by the second spacecraft of the particular object based on the first plurality of orbital parameters and the following time. The second orbit can have a corresponding second ground track over the particular object that follows the first ground track. The computing device can generate an output that includes the second plurality of orbital parameters.
US09932130B2

Passageway including a section that is extendable and retractable, the section including a frame, slide track assemblies, and scissor bar assembly. The frame has upright members. The slide track assemblies are disposed proximately to respective upright members. Each of the slide track assemblies includes a slide track and slide block. The slide track has a cavity and channel. The slide block is configured to ascend, descend, and rotate within the cavity. The slide block includes a guide block that extends from the slide block at least partially through the channel. The scissor bar assembly is secured to the upright members and slide track assemblies such that the upright members are enabled to extend and retract with respect to each other along at least one arcuate path, wherein the guide block limits rotation of the slide block within the slide track to rotation of the guide block within the channel.
US09932129B2

A device for moving aircraft along the ground includes at least one runway and at least one aircraft. The aircraft is secured to a tractor element having a magnetic mass formed mainly of type II superconductor material and the runway includes stator coils arranged in the runway with at least one line of coils parallel to an axis of the runway. A command/control system supplies power to the stator coils to generate a magnetic field that levitates the tractor element, magnetized beforehand into a phase II superconducting state, above the runway.
US09932127B2

In one example, a method includes receiving, over an aircraft data communications bus, a plurality of non-pneumatic inputs corresponding to aircraft operational parameters. The method further includes processing the plurality of non-pneumatic inputs through an artificial intelligence network to generate an air data output value, and outputting the air data output value to a consuming system for use when a pneumatic-based air data output value is determined to be unreliable.
US09932126B2

System and method of integrity checking digitally displayed data in a display system having a display comprising a pixel array with a viewable area, including rendering a known value into a QR code graphic, generating an image onto the display including drawing the QR code graphic in the viewable area of the pixel array, monitoring the generated image for the drawn QR code graphic and determining the integrity of the drawn graphical information.
US09932117B1

A parachute canopy release assembly includes a frame assembly with first and second upstanding members. A latching member has a pivot end and a latch end, the pivot end pivotally coupled to a bottom portion of the first upstanding member. A riser bar has a pivot end and latch engaging end, the pivot end of the riser bar pivotally coupled to a top portion of the second upstanding member, the latch engaging end retained by the latch end of the latching member in the locked state. A release linkage assembly includes a lock member configured to transition from a first state to a second state, retain the latching member in a first position in the first, locked state and retain the latching member in a second position in the second, unlocked state.
US09932108B1

A first instruction directed to a first device is received from a controller and via a communication channel with redundancy. The first instruction is sent to the first device via a first communication protocol associated with the first device. A second instruction directed to a second device is received from the controller and via the communication channel with redundancy. The second instruction is sent to the second device via a second communication protocol associated with the second device.
US09932096B1

A boat leveling system includes a boat that has a port side, a starboard side, a port fuel tank, a starboard fuel tank, a port fuel line, a starboard fuel line, an engine, an engine fuel return line and a fuel vent line. A leveling unit is positioned within the boat. The leveling unit is in fluid communication with the engine fuel return line to receive fuel. The leveling unit is in fluid communication with each of the port fuel line and the starboard fuel line. The leveling unit diverts the fuel to the port fuel line when the boat is listing to the starboard side. Thus, the port fuel unit receives additional fuel to level the boat. The leveling unit diverts the fuel to the starboard fuel line when the boat is listing to the port side. Thus, the starboard fuel unit receives additional fuel to level the boat.
US09932095B2

An assembly (3) comprising at least a first module (1) and a second module (2) with respective longitudinal axes (5) is described. Each one of the modules (1, 2) comprises a connection side (6, 7, 8, 9) which is facing the other module (1, 2) and is arranged between the upper side (6, 7, 8, 9) and the underside (20, 42), and at least two elongated bendable members (12) which connects the first module (1) with the second module (2). The first module (1) comprises at least a first connection side (6) which comprises a first recess (13) which is a part of a rotationally symmetrical form with a symmetry axis (43) which is parallel with the connection side (6). The assembly (3) comprises at least a first connection member (17), which comprises an inelastic member (22) and a longitudinal axis (35) which is parallel with the symmetry axis (43), and which is in engagement with and rotatable around the symmetry axis (43) in relation to the first recess (13).
US09932085B2

An ABS modulator support structure of a saddle type vehicle includes a main frame, a down frame, a pair of shroud which cover the right and left side of the frames, a radiator, a reserve tank which stores a coolant for the radiator, and an ABS module. The radiator is arranged on one (left side) side of the down frame 18 in a width direction of the vehicle. The ABS module is arranged on the other (right side) of the sides of the down frame in the width direction of the vehicle. The reserve tank and the shrouds are arranged outside the ABS module.
US09932080B2

A motorcycle comprises a vehicle body frame; a seat mounted to the vehicle body frame and including a seat section on which a rider is seated; and a pair of rear side cowlings which are placed on right and left sides of the seat and mounted to the vehicle body frame, the pair of rear side cowlings including protruding sections, respectively, protruding farther upward than the seat section, when viewed from a side.
US09932078B1

A utility trailer having outboard wheels, the trailer including a deck having a first height, a frame having an axle in which wheels attached to the axle have a second height, the second height extends a predetermined distance above the first height, opposed side panels are rotatably coupled to the frame, at least one of the opposed panels includes an opening having a third height, the third height being greater than the predetermined distance.
US09932077B2

A rubber crawler that has a specified rotation direction. includes a crawler body, rubber projections and lugs. The lugs project out from an outer peripheral face, extend at an angle to the crawler peripheral direction from an inner side end portion toward the crawler width direction outer side and toward an opposite side to a crawler rotation direction with a larger angle at an acute angle side with respect to the crawler peripheral direction on the crawler width direction outer side than on the central line side; have inner side end portions of lugs adjacent to each other in the crawler width direction respectively overlapping a single projection of the projections, and are disposed at positions separated in the crawler width direction with the inner side end portions adjacent to each other in the crawler width direction respectively overlapping each other when viewed along the crawler width direction.
US09932072B2

A vehicle structure includes a battery, a chamber that is arranged on an outer side in a vehicle width direction of the battery and provided on part of an exhaust pipe through which emission gas from a fuel cell system is emitted outside a vehicle, and a side frame that is arranged between the battery and the chamber in the vehicle width direction and extends in a fore-and-aft direction. A slider member inclined inward in the vehicle width direction toward a lower side of the vehicle is arranged between the chamber and the side frame. A lower end portion of the slider member is in a position lower than a position of a lower end portion of the battery.
US09932054B2

A derailer for use in a railroad system, has an outside switch point that selectively overlays a running surface of a first mainline track and rises above the running surface of the first mainline track and an outside switch rail mechanically fastened to the outside switch point. The derailer also includes an inside switch rail including a second switch point that selectively lies adjacent a head of a second mainline track and terminates between the first and second mainline tracks.
US09932033B2

A method is disclosed for analyzing historical accident information to adjust driving actions of an autonomous vehicle over a travel route in order to avoid accidents which have occurred over the travel route. Historical accident information for the travel route can be analyzed to, for example, determine accident types which occurred over the travel route and determine causes and/or probable causes of the accident types. In response to determining accident types and causes/probable causes of the accident types over the travel route, adjustments can be made to the driving actions planned for the autonomous vehicle over the travel route. In addition, in an embodiment, historical accident information can be used to analyze available travel routes and select a route which presents less risk of accident than others.
US09932024B2

A vehicle brake hydraulic pressure control apparatus (control apparatus 100), installed in a vehicle reducing a drive torque when the vehicle is at a halt, that includes vehicle holding control section 113 for performing vehicle holding control by holding a brake hydraulic pressure when the vehicle is at a halt. The vehicle holding control section 113 is configured to release the holding of the brake hydraulic pressure based on the accelerator operation of a driver when the vehicle is at a halt and, in the releasing of the holding of the brake hydraulic pressure, release the holding of the brake hydraulic pressure completely before the drive torque of the vehicle starts increasing.
US09932011B2

An airbag includes a main inflation portion, in which an inflator is arranged, and an auxiliary inflation portion, the volume of which is smaller than that of the main inflation portion. The main inflation portion is deployed forward in a space between an occupant and a side wall of the vehicle. Prior to the deployment of the main inflation portion outside the seat back, the auxiliary inflation portion is inflated inside the seat back with inflation gas from the inflator to push the occupant toward the inner side. The main inflation portion and the auxiliary inflation portion each have a communication port that connects the main inflation portion and the auxiliary inflation portion to each other. The airbag includes an inflation promoting structure, which promotes the inflation of the auxiliary inflation portion compared to the inflation of the main inflation portion.
US09932008B1

A system of bumper spacers that provide for relocation of a vehicle's bumper forward of the body. Single and multiple points of attachment define spacers are provided with varying dimensional aspects to accommodate different vehicle applications. Stabilization and positioning installation engagement tab extensions extend from the respective spacers in both the axial and trans-axial opening alignment extending at right angles from the spacer's body member exterior surface.
US09932006B2

A vehicular energy absorption structure includes a hollow tubular energy absorption body made from a fiber reinforced resin, an opposing face (e.g., an attachment plate) that is provided facing an axial direction end portion of the energy absorption body, and against which the energy absorption body is crushed from the axial direction end portion during a vehicle collision, and a guide section (e.g., peripheral wall, ribs) that projects from the opposing face and that is disposed in an interior of the energy absorption body. The guide section includes an abutting section (e.g., abutting walls) that contacts a wall of the energy absorption body from the inner side of the wall during the vehicle collision, the abutting section being separated from the opposing face by an opening in the axial direction of the energy absorption body.
US09932005B2

A vehicle bumper assembly is provided having an energy absorber, a bracket, a step pad and a bumper fascia. The energy absorber includes an upper horizontal surface wherein the upper horizontal surface may define a deformable structure. The deformable structure may be in the form of flexible fins. The bracket may be mounted to the vehicle frame on a first end of the bracket and the energy absorber affixed to a second end of the bracket. The step pad may be affixed to the energy absorber. The bumper fascia may be affixed to either or both the step pad and the energy absorber.
US09931996B2

In certain embodiments, a mobile entertainment system includes a screen assembly with a display and a signal generating device. A housing pivotally coupled to the screen assembly can have a lower portion, an upper portion, and a housing cavity sized and shaped to receive the screen assembly. The upper portion can receive at least a portion of the signal generating device. At least a portion of the screen assembly can rotate through an opening in the lower portion. A shell can receive the housing.
US09931991B2

A multi-purpose assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. The assembly comprises a rotational assembly comprising a first surface rotationally interchangeable with a second surface. The assembly further comprises a housing configured to pivotally engage the rotational assembly. The first surface comprises a hanger and the second surface comprises a task light.
US09931989B2

A load cover arrangement for an interior luggage compartment of a vehicle. The load cover arrangement comprises a load cover having a fixed end attached to a tailgate of the vehicle, and a front portion having fastening members for releasably attaching to a front side of the luggage compartment. When attached, the load cover extends a distance Dclosed in a closed tailgate position, and a distance Dopen in an open tailgate position, measured from an opening in the tailgate and across the luggage compartment. The fixed end of the load cover is arranged inside of the tailgate and the load cover extends an internal distance Dinternal and projects out through the opening in the tailgate, wherein at least a portion of the load cover is resiliently elastic so that it is stretchable between a retracted position with a length of Dretracted, the closed tailgate position and the open tailgate position.
US09931987B2

A receiver hitch mountable platform that may be configured to a variety of uses, such as a step, carrier, ramp, or other purposes. The platform provides an attachment plate that may receive a plurality of accessories attached thereto via fasteners.
US09931985B1

An apparatus comprising a first sensor, an interface, a second sensor and a processor. The first sensor may be configured to generate a video signal based on a targeted view of a driver. The interface may be configured to receive status information about one or more components of a vehicle. The second sensor may be configured to detect an object within a predetermined radius of the second sensor. The processor may be configured to determine a field of view of the driver based on the status information. The processor may be configured to generate a control signal in response to a cross reference between (i) a field of view of the driver and (ii) the detected object. The control signal may be used to alert the driver if the detected object is not in the field of view of the driver.
US09931973B2

A hay bale transport device facilitates loading and securement of hay bales for transport. The device includes a trailer configured for being coupled to and moved by a vehicle. The trailer has a front end, a back end, and a pair of lateral sides extending between the front end and the back end. Each of a pair of side harnesses extends along an associated one of the lateral sides of the trailer. Each of the side harnesses includes a pair of end bars and a plurality of wires coupled to and extending between the end bars wherein the side harnesses are configured to secure hay bales on the trailer.
US09931970B2

A dump cart comprises a bed, a bed adapter, a frame, and a lift adapter. The bed is configured to carry a load. The bed adapter is configured to receive a bottom wall of the bed and includes a left adapter rail and a right adapter rail. The frame includes a left frame rail pivotally coupled to the left adapter rail and a right frame rail pivotally coupled to the right adapter rail. These connections allow the bed to dump the load to the rear of the dump cart. The lift adapter assists in lifting an object and includes left and right cradle arms that are configured to couple to one or more features of the object and a stabilizer leg that is configured to contact the ground so as to support a portion of the weight of the object.
US09931969B1

An adjustable vehicle cupholder is provided. The adjustable cupholder may include a console including a recessed portion defining a cupholder and a track extending along a length of the console. The track preferably terminates at the cupholder. The vehicle cupholder may also include a spiraling fitting that has an elongated shape and extends from the track. The spiraling fitting may be configured to spiral from a first diameter to a second smaller diameter as the spiraling fitting moves along the track and within an inner periphery of the cupholder.
US09931968B2

A mat structure for a vehicle, in which an edging member capable of preventing impurities such as soil from falling down to an indoor floor of the vehicle is sewed on an upper surface of an edge of a mat, and a sewing device capable of easily sewing the edging member and a magic tape on the mat. The mat prevents impurities remaining on the upper mat from falling down to the indoor floor of the vehicle and contaminating inside the vehicle by using the protrusion portion, and passengers may scrape the impurities off bottoms of the passenger's shoes on the protrusion portion so that the impurities remain on the upper mat. Also, the protrusion portion protects a sewing line of the female magic tape against frictions with the bottoms of the shoes, and prevents the sewing line from being torn off.
US09931960B2

Systems and methods for measuring voltage of a battery pack for an electrified vehicle, such as an electric or hybrid vehicle, include a battery having internal circuits that measure pack voltage and individual cell voltages, an electric machine powered by the battery to propel the vehicle via an external circuit that measures the pack voltage, and a processor programmed to publish the pack voltage to a vehicle network based on a first internal circuit voltage in response to a voltage differential among the internal circuits being less than a threshold and based on the individual cell voltages otherwise. The published pack voltage may be used by one or more battery or vehicle controllers to control various battery and vehicle functions including engine starting in a hybrid vehicle and battery charging and discharging, for example.
US09931956B2

Vehicle battery management systems (BMS) and methods are described, in which the output of a vehicle battery is reduced by activating a shutdown mode. A BMS may be configured to start a timer when the vehicle is turned off, e.g. based on when the main power between the vehicle and the battery is interrupted or based on a signal from the vehicle control system. The BMS may further be configured to store BMS data (e.g. variable data related to operation and/or status of the battery) to an electronic storage device, and to switch the battery to a shutdown mode, when the timer reaches a predetermined value. The BMS may be further configured to load the BMS data from the electronic storage device and/or to deactivate the shutdown mode when the vehicle is turned back on.
US09931953B2

It is intended to provide a safe non-contact charging environment that enables finding an electronic appliance that remains left in a vehicle before start of charging and preventing trouble that an electronic appliance breaks down by electromagnetic waves generated during charging by means of electromagnetic coupling. A process of checking to see that an electronic appliance remains left inside a vehicle, based on wireless communication information emitted by the electronic appliance left inside the vehicle is performed in advance. When it has been detected that an electronic appliance remains left, a charging current value is controlled according to an allowable current of the detected electronic appliance or an alert is generated to notify that the electronic appliance remains left.
US09931946B2

A method is provided for controlling charging of an energy storage system in a vehicle including an electric machine which is arranged for propulsion of the vehicle. The method includes initiating the charging upon connection of the energy storage system to an external power supply via connector elements; and transmitting, between the vehicle and the external power supply, a control signal including data related to the charging by a wireless transmission link. The method furthermore includes evaluating whether the control signal is received; and terminating the charging in the event that the control signal is not received. An arrangement for controlling charging of an energy storage system is also provided.
US09931942B2

A method is provided for controlling braking force in regenerative brake cooperative control of an environmentally friendly vehicle that executes regenerative braking at front wheels and/or rear wheels. A brake system that independently adjusts the braking forces of the front and rear wheels is employed to distribute braking force to assure vehicle stability, to improve fuel efficiency and to have improved braking performance.
US09931938B2

In a vehicle battery relay assembly for disconnecting or isolating a vehicle battery from a connection line, a housing is provided having a solenoid and a switch activated by the solenoid. The switch electrically connects and disconnects a first contact terminal for connection to the vehicle battery and a second contact terminal for connection to the connection line. The solenoid has a solenoid coil. A rotatable ratchet gear rotates by engagement with a pawl, the pawl being connected to a plunger of the solenoid. The switch comprises a contact element coupled to the ratchet gear, the contact element having at least first and second projecting contact points. The contact element is positioned relative to a contact surface of the first and second contact terminals such that given a first rotation of the contact element the first and second contact terminals are electrically connected and given a subsequent second rotation the first and second contact terminals are electrically disconnected.
US09931936B2

An energy management system is provided for a hybrid electric or electric vehicle including an electrical power collector for intermittently collecting electrical power from an external power supply track during driving of the vehicle. The energy management system is arranged to distribute electrical power from the electrical power collector to at least one electrical auxiliary load of the vehicle when collecting electrical power from the external power supply track. The enemy management system includes a control unit configured to control operating characteristics of the at least one auxiliary load depending on if the vehicle operates in a power collecting mode or in a non-power collecting mode.
US09931932B2

The present invention provides a wireless power-supply control assembly 100 for wirelessly controlling a boat's main power supply. The assembly 100 comprises an enclosure assembly 110, wherein a latching relay 600 and a wireless-receiver relay 300 are mounted. The wireless receiver relay 300 is controlled by commands from a wireless transmitter and causes the latching relay 600 to connect or disconnect the boat's main power. In other embodiments, an ignition-sense relay 400 is also mounted within the enclosure and disconnects power to the wireless-receiver relay 300 when the boats ignition is on. In yet another embodiment, a manual override switch 200 is provided within the enclosure for bypassing the latching relay 600 and manually connecting the boat's power.
US09931926B2

An active grille shutter arrangement having a modular frame. The active grille shutter arrangement includes a primary frame piece defining a width and height of an aperture of the modular frame, wherein in the primary frame piece has a motor housing, and upper frame portion having a first end and a second end, a lower frame portion having a first end and a second end and the motor housing extends between the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion. There is a plurality of secondary frame pieces that are adjustably connected to the primary frame pieces, thereby allowing the width of the modular frame to be adjusted.
US09931920B1

A roof assembly includes a vehicle body defining an opening and having a track extending along the opening. The track is elongated along a track axis. The roof assembly includes a panel removably disposed in the opening, a latch attached to the panel and releasably engageable with the vehicle body, and a block attached to the panel and removably engageable with the track. The block is rotatable relative to the panel about a block axis perpendicular to the track axis.
US09931918B2

A vehicle roof structure including roof glass that includes an opaque coating section formed so as to shield a structural object disposed at a vehicle lower side from view from the vehicle cabin outer side, a shielding body, and an extension. The shielding body is provided at the vehicle lower side of the roof glass at a coating width direction inner end of the opaque coating section, includes an upper end on a vehicle upper side attached to the roof glass, and shields a location of the structural object facing the opaque coating section. The extension includes an extension direction leading end positioned further inward with respect to the glass surface than the coating width direction inner end, and shields a location of the structural object jutting out further inward with respect to the glass surface than the shielding body.
US09931910B2

An adsorption heat pump-equipped vehicle air conditioning device comprising: an adsorption heat pump that includes a plurality of vessels, each of which includes an adsorption section housing an adsorbent and an evaporation and condensation section inside which a refrigerant is sealed, an adsorption process and a desorption process being performed repeatedly inside the vessels; first heat exchangers respectively disposed inside each of the adsorption sections; second heat exchangers respectively disposed inside each of the evaporation and condensation sections; a first circulation route for circulating refrigerant between a high temperature heat source and a heater core; a second circulation route for circulating refrigerant between the adsorption heat pump and an interior heat exchanger, wherein the second circulation route is connected to the adsorption heat pump through a switching valve; and a controller that controls switching of the switching valve.
US09931909B2

A computing system for a vehicle is provided. The computing system includes one or more processors for controlling operation of the computing device, and a memory for storing data and program instructions usable by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to estimate at least one characteristic of emissions from at least one forward vehicle expected to enter a ventilation system of an ego-vehicle within a predetermined travel distance ahead of the ego-vehicle and, responsive to one or more estimated characteristics, control the ego-vehicle ventilation system.
US09931908B2

An air inlet system for an automotive HVAC system has a housing comprising a first cylindrical segment enclosing an interior space and having a first radial surface with a first angular divergence. The first radial surface has a fresh air aperture and a recirculation aperture for radially receiving fresh air and recirculated air, respectively. The housing further comprises an outlet body with an exit aperture. A pivoting door element is mounted in the interior space and shaped as a second cylindrical segment with a second radial surface with a second angular divergence which is less than the first angular divergence. The door element has a pivot axis that allows the second radial surface to slide along the first radial surface. The door element pivots to selectably align the opening with the fresh air aperture or the recirculation aperture in order to 1) block the fresh air aperture without blocking the recirculation aperture, 2) simultaneously block portions of the fresh air aperture and the recirculation aperture, 3) block the recirculation aperture without blocking any of the fresh air aperture, or 4) block the recirculation aperture while blocking only a portion of the fresh air aperture.
US09931905B2

A vehicle air conditioner includes a duct in which a partition member forming a first flow path and a second flow path is provided, and a heat pump circuit. In the heat pump circuit, a first indoor heat exchanger that contributes to heating is located in the first flow path or faces an outlet of the first flow path, and a second indoor heat exchanger that contributes to cooling is located in the second flow path. The duct is provided with at least one heating exhaust port for discharging air cooled in the second indoor heat exchanger to the outside of the vehicle interior in heating operation, and a cooling exhaust port for discharging air heated in the first indoor heat exchanger to the outside of the vehicle interior in cooling operation.
US09931902B2

A stabilizer bushing has a holding hole for holding a stabilizer bar and is to be mounted on a mounting surface of a vehicle-body-side component. A normal line to the mounting surface extends in a direction intersecting an up and down direction of a vehicle. The stabilizer bushing has at least one separation surface, one end portion of which is located on an inner circumferential surface opposed to the holding hole, and the other end portion of which is located on an outer surface of the stabilizer bushing at a position different from a rigid-component opposed portion opposed to the vehicle-body-side component. The at least one separation surface has a first separation surface located nearer to the rigid-component opposed portion than a plane extending through a central axis of the holding hole and parallel with the rigid-component opposed portion.
US09931891B1

A suspension system for a pneumatic compactor includes a bolster frame and a steering input member coupled to the bolster frame. The suspension system includes at least one support member coupled to the bolster frame. The suspension system includes a support arm coupled to the at least one support member. The suspension system further includes a vibration absorber having a first end coupled to the bolster frame and a second end coupled to the support arm.
US09931887B2

The invention is a paint can holder, allowing a painter to hold a paint container for easy access when painting, having a base with a ledge integrally formed to the base, securely conforming to a sealing lip of the paint can, and a handle with a pair of inwardly bent legs extending through the handle connecting the handle to the base and a pair of hinge connecting means. An over center clamping member connects to the hinge connecting means, allowing the handle to cause the over center clamping member to clamp the base to the sealing lip of the paint can. A connecting component threads through a clip hole in the base simultaneously attaching to a user's garment. The invention may be used for home improvement or construction to carry a paint and other articles, allowing the paint can to remain upright without spilling.
US09931881B2

An arm motor control section controls the operation of an arm motor that drives an arm section for turning a page of a book by pressing an adhesion roller against the page, and a current detection section outputs a current limit notice upon detecting an overcurrent in the arm motor which is limited by a limiter. When a current limit notice is outputted in a page turning operation, a CPU drives and controls the arm motor to perform reverse rotation by the arm motor control section, and thereby controls a pressing period that is a locking period during which the adhesion roller is pressing the page.
US09931880B2

To provide a decorative illumination ink jet recording material having a resin base, an ink accepting layer that is disposed as an outermost layer and contains a resin, a layer that contains a metal oxide, and a white layer that contains white particles and a resin, a decorative illumination image, a method of forming the decorative illumination image, and a decorative illumination signboard.
US09931876B2

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a decorative building board, including: ejecting active ray-curable ink from an ink jet recording head onto a building board that includes a base material selected from a metallic base material and a ceramic base material and an ink receiving layer arranged on the base material, the ink receiving layer being obtained by curing a resin composition and having an arithmetic average roughness (Ra) specified under JIS B 0601:2001 of from 0.4 μm to 3 μm, to thereby perform printing on the ink receiving layer; and irradiating the active ray-curable ink with an active ray from 2.2 seconds to 30 seconds after the active ray-curable ink lands on the ink receiving layer.
US09931868B2

A recording apparatus which includes a transport belt which transports a medium; a pressing roller which presses the medium to the transport belt; and a support unit which can support the transport belt, in which at least a part of a portion of the support unit, which faces the pressing roller through the transport belt is subjected to friction relief processing. By setting to a recording apparatus with such a configuration, it is possible to suppress an increase in friction force between the transport belt and the support unit which can support the transport belt.
US09931855B2

A liquid storage container for storing a liquid has a label member attached to a surface thereof. A bonding face of the label member that is bonded to the surface includes a first area and a second area having a low bonding strength. The second area covers a liquid supply port. A score line is formed on the label member, and the score line extends along a boundary between the first area and the second area and is formed in the second area.
US09931850B2

A housing and a cover member are injection-molded and these housing and cover member are joined within a pair of mold. When the housing and the cover member are joined by molten resin, a mold for suppressing deformation is positioned at a face of the housing opposite to a face receiving a pressure of the molten resin.
US09931846B2

A print device includes a head, a cap, a suction portion, an absorption member, and a plate-shaped member. The head has an ejection surface. The ejection surface has a plurality of nozzles formed in the ejection surface and is directed in a predetermined direction. The cap has a frame-shaped wall portion and a suction opening. The suction portion is connected to the inside of the cap via the suction opening. The absorption member is arranged in a position surrounded by the frame-shaped wall portion and is configured to absorb liquid. The plate-shaped member is surrounded by the frame-shaped wall portion and is arranged in a position facing the absorption member. The plate-shaped member is extending along an inner end surface of the frame-shaped wall portion and has a hole.
US09931829B2

A composite film includes a substrate that is not responsive to relative humidity, and also one or more layers of hygromorphic material. The hygromorphic material expands in response to an increase in relative humidity and contracts in response to a decrease in relative humidity. In some cases, the composite film is bi-layer or tri-layer. The composite films are fabricated such that they undergo a desired bending pattern in response to changes in relative humidity. In some cases, these bending patterns are combinations of two bending primitives: a smooth curve and a sharply angled curve. These two primitives are combined to create a variety of shape transformations including 1D linear transformation, 2D surface expansion and contraction, 2.5D texture change and 3D folding. Any type of hygromorphic material may be employed, including living gram positive and gram negative bacterial cells, yeast cells, plant cells, mammalian cells, cell debris, or hydrogel.
US09931828B2

A three-dimensional printing device includes an optical device and a controller that controls the optical device. The controller includes a dividing section that divides an area of a vat that is irradiated with light of a projector into a plurality of blocks, a counting section that counts a number of times of irradiation with light of the projector, a first determination section that determines whether or not the number of times counted by the counting section has reached a predetermined threshold value, a light output section that changes when it is determined by the first determination section that the number of times has reached the predetermined threshold value from a first energy to a second energy lower than the first energy an energy of light to be output from the projector to the photo-curable resin of the block for which determination has been made.
US09931826B2

A device for manufacturing circumferentially closed tubular tube bodies, comprising conveying means for conveying the substrate in a conveying direction, and also comprising tube-forming means which are designed to form a web-like substrate, which has a first and a second longitudinal edge, into a tubular form in which, in the circumferential direction, the first and the second longitudinal edge form or delimit a contact region, in particular abutting or overlapping region, which extends in the conveying direction, wherein the tube-forming means effect the shaping of the substrate into the tubular form in a shaping region and comprise welding means for welding the tubular form at a weld circumferential position, first sensor means, which are upstream of the shaping region; in the conveying direction, for detecting the position of the substrate web, setting means for setting the position of the substrate web transversely with respect to the conveying direction, and first control means which are designed to actuate the setting means, taking into consideration the measurement values from the first sensor means, such that the web-like substrate is held in a setpoint position transversely with respect to the conveying direction or such that the web-like substrate is adjusted in the direction of the setpoint position.
US09931824B2

A method of laying up a segment on a layup surface using a layup head that is mobile with respect to the layup surface, the layup head supporting a spool of a tape of material which includes at least one layer to be laid up from which said segment is cut and at least one interliner, the method including applying the tape of material against the layup surface and removing the interliner using a separator. The tape of material is pressed firmly by a press roller against the layup surface before the interliner is removed as the layup head moves in an advancing movement. A layup head for implementing the method and a layup machine including the layup head are also described.
US09931822B2

A polyester film made from two kinds of polyester resins and having a specific DSC (and a specific glass transition point) is provided, (i) which is superior in mechanical property, capable of thermocompression bonding with a metal sheet, despite a high degree of crystallization of the film, reduces quality change of plastic film laminated on the metal sheet even if faced with variation of conditions of thermocompression bonding with the metal sheet, and which is capable of thermocompression bonding even at a relatively low temperature, (ii) which is superior in formability, (iii) which is superior in flavoring property and impact resistance, and which obliterates occurrence of whitening or delamination of the film, or microcracks on the film, even if the film in the metal laminated sheet obtained by thermocompression bonding of the film on the metal sheet or on the surface of a metal can obtained by subjecting the metal laminated sheet to various form processings is crystallized, and (iv) which satisfies productivity at an industrial scale.
US09931813B2

A bonding structure and a method of fabricating the same are provided. A first substrate having a first bonding element and a second substrate having a second bonding element are provided, wherein at least one of the first bonding element and the second bonding element is formed with an alloy. A bonding process is performed to bond the first bonding element with the second bonding element, wherein a diffusion liner is generated at the exposed, non-bonded surface of the bonding structure.
US09931807B2

A device for compacting a contoured elongate composite layup includes flexible first and second fiber reinforced resin flexible sections flexible along their lengths. The first section is flexible within a first plane and the second section is flexible within the first plane as well as within a second plane. The second section includes flexible joints reinforced by a spine.
US09931806B2

An embossing/debossing system and method for embossing or debossing an impressionable material, such as paper. The system may comprise a laser cutting apparatus and a stamping apparatus. The laser cutting apparatus may comprise a laser configured for cutting and/or ablating one or more patterns into a stencil material. The stamping apparatus may be configured to receive the stencil material from the laser cutting apparatus and may have an actuatable elastomeric press pad configured to press the impressionable material into the patterns formed in the stencil material by the laser cutting apparatus. The system may also comprise various feeding devices configured to feed the stencil material from the laser cutting apparatus to the stamping apparatus and/or configured to feed the impressionable material through the stamping apparatus.
US09931805B2

A process for realizing blanks for the manufacture of boxes to measure, characterized in that it includes the following stages: —collecting at least a sheet of packing material from at least a store; —transferring it to a cutting station in which the sheet itself is cut so that a plurality of pieces is obtained therefrom, which plurality of pieces exhibits a common dimension and other dimensions which are different from one another according to predetermined ratios; —collecting the pieces, according to the dimensions of the box to be formed, in order to cut them into the predetermined dimensions, after joining, when necessary, one or more of said dimensionally homogeneous pieces so as to form a piece that is longer than the one available and suitable for constituting the “bottom” piece, which includes the bottom and at least two first opposite lateral walls of the box to be formed; cutting to measure said pieces and subjecting them singly to a first and a second marking in order to obtain weakened or folding lines in predetermined positions; —and after removal, if necessary, of corner portions of some pieces, carrying out the composition thereof in order to form a single body constituting the blank, flat, complete and ready to be folded and glued to form the box.
US09931791B2

Three-dimensional printer fabrication is improved receiving a digital model of an object, the digital model specifying two or more different build materials; prioritizing the two or more different build materials with a ranking; identifying exclusive locations in the plurality of layers where a surface layer of the object has one of the two or more different build materials; generating an external structure for the object according to one or more design rules; matching a first build material of the external structure to a second build material of the object at each of the exclusive locations; and generating tool instructions for fabricating the object and the external structure using at least the first build material and the second build material.
US09931789B2

Method and apparatus for producing a large three-dimensional work piece. In a method for producing a three-dimensional work piece, a layer of raw material powder is applied onto a carrier (16) accommodated within a process chamber (12) by means of a powder application device (14), wherein a plurality of irradiation areas (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) is defined on a surface of the carrier (16). Electromagnetic or particle radiation is selectively irradiated onto the raw material powder applied onto the carrier (16) by means of an irradiation system (20), the irradiation system (20) comprising a plurality of irradiation units (22), each irradiation unit (22) being associated with one of the irradiation areas (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) defined on the surface of the carrier (16) and being configured to selectively irradiate electromagnetic or particle radiation onto the raw material powder applied onto the associated irradiation area (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d). Fresh gas is supplied to the process chamber (12) by means of a gas inlet system (30), and gas containing particulate impurities is discharged from the process chamber (12) by means of a gas outlet system (32) such that a gas flow pattern is generated within the process chamber, the gas flow pattern being configured such that each irradiation area (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) defined on the surface of the carrier (16) is overflown with fresh gas which is supplied to the process chamber (12) via the gas inlet system (30) and which, after having overflown the irradiation area (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d), is discharged from the process chamber (12) as gas containing particulate impurities via the gas outlet system (32).
US09931784B2

The present invention concerns a system and method for fabricating a three-dimensional object. A build platform is provided that defines a build area and includes a print bed within the build area. Also provided is an extruder that extrudes build material. An ejector having at least one arm that has at least two opposing ends is used to remove the printed object. The first end of the ejector is adapted to travel in a vertical direction and the second end is adapted to travel in a horizontal direction. A scraper portion extends horizontally, parallel to the print bed from a retracted position to an extended position when the first end travels in a vertical direction towards the print bed.
US09931782B2

A thermoforming device is described. It relates to a mold assembly including a first and second mold, and to a mold that can be used in a thermoforming device. It also relates to a method for thermoforming a product. The thermoforming device is characterized in that the thermoforming device comprises a second pre-stretcher, in addition to a first pre-stretcher and a calibration element, and that the second pre-stretcher is at least partially and moveably arranged in a second mold body. A movement relative to the second mold body and towards the same forming cavity of the first pre-stretcher, the second pre-stretcher, and the calibration element, can be individually controlled, and the second pre-stretcher at least partially surrounds the first pre-stretcher and the calibration element.
US09931765B1

The mixing machine is a motorized cement mixer that designed to mix cement in batches of less than 1 cubic foot. The mixing machine comprises a mixing bucket, a paddle insert, a motor, a drive system, a housing, and a control system. The mixing bucket is used to contain the cement or concrete mixture. The paddle insert is an insert designed to go into the mixing bucket. The paddle insert further comprises a plurality of paddles that are used to agitate the concrete mixture to insure efficient mixing. The motor and drive system are used to rotate the mixing bucket to efficiently mix the concrete mixture, and to prevent the concrete mixture from setting in the mixing bucket. The mixing machine comprises a mixing bucket, a paddle insert, a motor, a drive system, a housing, and a control system.
US09931764B2

A pocketformer includes a pocketformer body having a tapered exterior surface. The exterior surface has at least one portion along a length thereof of substantially constant diameter. The pocketformer body has a feature for engaging an anchor base in a concrete structure prior to pouring concrete and a grout ring having a substantially constant inner diameter substantially equal in diameter to the at least one portion. The grout ring has an exterior surface shaped to cause retention of the grout ring in set concrete.
US09931763B2

The present disclosure provides a method of stiffening an outer layer of a wet extrudate, where the extrudate has a honeycomb cellular structure. The method includes extruding the extrudate through an extrusion apparatus and directing a substantially uniform flow of fluid onto the outer layer of the extrudate. The method also includes increasing the temperature of a binder material of the extrudate to its gelation point and stiffening at least the outer layer of the extrudate.
US09931759B2

A rotary cutting die for cutting corrugated board to form a die cut product including one or more product ejectors that are specifically configured to avoid crushing the flutes of the die cut product.
US09931751B2

A programming device receives a number of local coordinate systems from a user. Each local coordinate system is referenced directly or via at least one other local coordinate system to a global machine coordinate system of a motion-controlled machine. The programming device receives from the user, in each case with reference to one of the local coordinate systems, a number of positions to be approached by the end effector and/or a number of obstacles to be bypassed by the end effector. The programming device determines, with reference to the positions to be approached received from the user and the obstacles received from the user in the global machine coordinate system, the path to be traveled by the end effector The programming device stores the path to be traveled by the end effector as a first file so that it can be retrieved again at a later time.
US09931724B2

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for controlling a quantity of cutting fluid dispensed for a cutting tool within a CNC or other machining system. The devices, systems, and methods may include controlling multiple fluids such that coolant, lubricant, or other fluids can be delivered at different locations, at different flow rates, have their flow rates changed independently, and/or have their flow rates changed dynamically during a machining operation. In some embodiments, a feedback loop or input may be provided to obtain and/or provide information regarding the machining operation—such as cutting force, cutting temperature, cutting friction, machining operation, tool in use, work piece geometry, and/or material—and automatically and/or independently modify the fluid flow rates. The fluid may be atomized with air or other gases to minimize the quantities of fluid used. Components in the system may be modular to allow the system to be used with existing and new machining technologies.
US09931723B2

A collar member is for a collar assembly of a cutting system and method. The cutting system has a spindle and a cutting tool coupled to the spindle. The collar assembly includes a number of components and a gas flow system having a number of gas flow delivery apparatus and a number of conduits. The collar member includes a support portion structured to be coupled to the spindle, and a chamber portion extending from the support portion and being structured to be coupled to each of the number of components, the number of gas flow delivery apparatus, and the number of conduits. The support portion has a side portion having an edge portion defining a thru hole in order to form a passageway from an interior of the support portion to an exterior thereof.
US09931722B2

A conveyor installation for the transportation of articles along a predefined path includes a running rail, at least one running carriage which is freely movable along the running rail, and a driven engagement device which extends at least in sections along the running rail and which includes a multiplicity of engagement elements movable along the running rail. Reliable and quiet operation is achieved in that the engagement elements are movable back and forth between two stable positions, wherein, in the first stable position, the engagement elements can be moved relative to the at least one running carriage past the running carriage without entering into engagement with the running carriage (non-engagement position), and wherein, in the second stable position, the engagement elements, during a movement relative to the at least one running carriage past the running carriage, compulsorily enter into engagement with the at least one running carriage (engagement position).
US09931715B2

A test piece preparation step of preparing a test piece (50) including a welding structure in which a welding material formed of an austenitic alloy is welded to a member formed of low-alloy steel or low-carbon steel, a hydrogen supply step of supplying hydrogen to the test piece (50), and a characteristic stress acquisition step of applying a load (F) to the test piece (50) to which hydrogen was supplied and acquiring a characteristic stress showing material mechanical properties of the test piece (50) are executed.
US09931714B2

A method of forming a cutting element for an earth-boring tool may include directing at least one energy beam at a surface of a volume of polycrystalline superabrasive material including interstitial material disposed in regions between inter-bonded grains of polycrystalline superabrasive material. The method includes ablating the interstitial material with the at least one energy beam such that at least a portion of the interstitial material is removed from a first region of the volume of polycrystalline superabrasive material without any substantial degradation of the inter-bonded grains of superabrasive material or of bonds thereof in the first region.
US09931711B2

A friction stir welding method which permits advantageous production of a product which has a sound welded area without joint defects, by joining together two members formed of the same material or respective different materials selected from a cast aluminum alloy and 2000 series, 4000 series, 5000 series and 7000 series aminum alloys which are considered difficult to be joined together by the friction stir welding method. A termination tab member formed of a 1000 series, 3000 series, 6000 series or 8000 series aluminum alloy is disposed in abutting contact with end faces of joining portions of first and second members (in an abutting part), on the side of termination of the welding operation, and the friction stir welding operation is terminated after a probe of a rotary tool is moved from the joining portions of the two members into the termination tab member.
US09931708B2

A system and method for a plasma system includes a plasma torch actuated by a trigger, a consumable installed in the plasma torch, and a gas flow system constructed to receive pressurized gas and provide a gas flow to the plasma torch. A gas flow regulating system is included and configured to regulate the gas flow, and a sensing device is included and configured to monitor a gas pressure in the plasma torch. The plasma system also includes a controller configured to receive a signal from the sensing device and to determine one of a length parameter of the plasma torch and a type of the consumable therefrom.
US09931704B2

A power tool has a cutting element driven by a motor assembly, the motor assembly driving a fan for flowing air over the motor assembly. The power tool includes a foot plate configured to be supported on a workpiece, the foot plate defining an opening through which the cutting element extends, and at least one alignment opening arranged relative to the cutting element opening to allow the operator to visualize the cut line of the cut created by the cutting element. A motor housing is provided that supports the motor assembly on the foot plate, in which the motor housing defines a cavity substantially enclosing the motor assembly and arranged to receive airflow from the fan. A nozzle is defined in the motor housing that is configured to direct airflow from the cavity of the motor housing in an airflow line of action intersecting the at least one alignment opening.
US09931700B2

A clamping device for clamping a workpiece or a tool or a tool holder to a machine component of a machine tool, including an axially movable tension rod, a clamping assembly which can be moved by the tension rod between a clamped position and a released position, a spring assembly dedicated to the tension rod for generating the clamping and draw-in force of the clamping assembly, and a releasing unit by which the clamping assembly can be moved by the tension rod against the force of the spring assembly into the released position. The spring assembly has a minimum of one spring unit with a plurality of flexible spring members disposed between a first and a second spring holder, with the first and second spring holders being secured against torsion relative to the tension rod.
US09931698B2

A cutting insert for threading of the present invention includes two opposing end surfaces and a peripheral side surface extending therebetween. The peripheral side surface has a first side surface portion and a second side surface portion arranged at different positions in a circumferential direction. A cutting edge is formed at an intersecting ridgeline portion between the first end surface and the first side surface portion and at least a portion of this cutting edge has a shape corresponding to a thread groove. The second side surface portion has an inclined portion which enlarges outward from the side of the first end surface toward the side of the second end surface. This inclined portion is configured to engage with a side wall surface of a tool body so as to prevent floating of the cutting insert.
US09931689B2

A method and manufacturing unit for producing a rotor blade (5) of a wind turbine (1) from at least a first rotor blade element (11, 11′, 12, 12′) and a second rotor blade element (11, 11′, 12, 12′). The first rotor blade element (11, 11′, 12, 12′) and the second rotor blade element (11, 11′, 12, 12′) are positioned in the desired relative arrangement with respect to each other such that a joint gap (13) remains between the first rotor blade element (11, 11′, 12, 12′) and the second rotor blade element (11, 11′, 12, 12′). Adhesive is introduced into the joint gap (13) for joining the first rotor blade element (11, 11′, 12, 12′) and the second rotor blade element (11, 11′, 12, 12′).
US09931675B2

A substrate mark detection apparatus includes: a detecting module, configured to detect a depth at which a mark is embedded in a substrate to be detected and determine whether the substrate is valid or not according to the depth at which the mark is embedded in the substrate; an information extracting module, configured to parse the mark to obtain parsed information in a case where the substrate is valid, query pre-stored information corresponding to the mark, determine whether the parsed information conforms to the pre-stored information or not, and if yes, to extract the pre-stored information and output the pre-stored information; a sorting module, configured to remove the substrate in a case where the substrate is invalid or the parsed information does not conform to the pre-stored information.
US09931674B2

An inspection and ejector unit for preforms for plastic containers in a transportation line, has at least one driver device which picks up preforms travelling from an inward conveyor device to the inspection and ejector unit, transports them further and passes on at least some of the preforms to an outward conveyor device, at least one detection device by which faulty preforms in the driver device are detected, and at least one ejection device by which preforms which are detected as faulty are removed from the driver device, and a corresponding method.
US09931670B2

An ultrasonic transmitter includes a piezoelectric integrated thin film transistor (PITFT). The transistor includes a top gate electrode, a bottom gate electrode, and a piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer generates vibrations in response to a voltage applied across the top gate electrode and the bottom gate electrode. The transistor includes micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) mechanically coupled to the PITFT. The MEMS includes a resonator that transmits ultrasonic pressure waves based on the vibrations.
US09931666B2

A mask assembly includes a frame with an opening, at least one support stick in the frame and extending in a first direction to traverse the opening of the frame, the support stick including a communication pattern above the opening of the frame, and a mask positioned on the frame and the at least one support stick, the mask extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to traverse the opening of the frame, and the mask being exposed to the opening of the frame through the communication pattern.
US09931654B2

The disclosure includes a system comprising a first chamber having pressurized gas, a compressor connected to the first chamber (which may be a bladder), and a second chamber connected to the first chamber. The second chamber includes contents. The system also includes an exit from the second chamber. The pressurized gas from the first chamber travels into the second chamber to force the contents out of the exit of the second chamber. The compressor increases the pressure of the gas in the first chamber.
US09931648B2

Apparati for generating a mist are disclosed. One apparatus is disclosed, which has an elongate hollow body (12) and an elongate member (14) located within the body (12). A transport fluid passage (16) and a nozzle (32) are defined between the body (12) and the elongate member (14). The transport fluid passage (16) has a throat portion of reduced cross-sectional area and is in fluid communication with the nozzle (32). The elongate member (14) includes a working fluid passage (26) and one or more communicating openings, such as for example, bores, annuli, and combinations thereof, (30) extending radially outward from the working fluid passage (26). The openings (30) permit a working fluid (e.g. water) to be passed into the transport fluid passage (16), whereupon the working fluid is subjected to shear forces by a high velocity transport fluid (e.g. steam). The shearing of the working fluid results in the generation of a mist formed from droplets of substantially uniform size. Methods of generating a mist using such apparati are also disclosed. Also provided are mists for fire suppression produced using an apparatus disclosed herein, as well as fire suppression systems that include any of the apparati disclosed herein. Further provided are devices, methods, and mists for various other applications including turbine cooling and decontamination.
US09931643B2

A decanter centrifuge includes a rotatable bowl extending along a centrifuge axis of rotation, and a rotatable scroll conveyor with hub mounted coaxially within the bowl. A feed pipe passes centrally within the hub and leads into a feed chamber within the hub. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart nozzles extend radially outward from a round internal wall of the feed chamber to the outside surface of the hub and extend radially inward beyond the internal wall of the feed chamber. A plurality of discrete accelerator inserts are mounted on the internal wall of the feed chamber, wherein each insert is adjacently mounted between two nozzles and each nozzle is circumferentially fixed by abutment with the radially inward extensions of two of the spaced apart nozzles.
US09931642B2

A collection apparatus for a separator. The collection apparatus including a housing at least partially encircling a flow separation passage and defining a chamber and a cutout, the chamber being in fluid communication with the flow separation passage to receive a separated flow therefrom, and the cutout extending outward from the chamber to at least partially deflect the separated flow.
US09931638B2

A garbage disposal cleaning system includes a garbage disposal that may be fluidly coupled to a drain on a sink. A scrubbing unit is removably positioned within the garbage disposal. The scrubbing unit frictionally engages the garbage disposal. The scrubbing unit contains and releases a detergent. The scrubbing unit cleans the garbage disposal when the garbage disposal is turned on. Thus, the scrubbing unit may reduce an odor relating to bacterial decay in the garbage disposal.
US09931637B2

A support apparatus for a filter membrane comprises a base support and a disc-shaped porous support member. The member is removably received in a seat portion of the base support in fluid communication with a drain. A bottom side of the disc-shaped porous support member is supported in a support plane. The bottom side of the member is unsupported in an area and the unsupported area is adjacent to a space in the seat portion of the base support that is located and dimensioned such that application of a force, onto the top side of the member at a location substantially within the boundaries of the unsupported area at the bottom side will cause the member to pivot/tilt into the space and lift above the support plane at a diagonally opposite side from the location where the force is applied so that it can be easily grasped and removed.
US09931632B2

A microfluidic system includes a magnetic source (150) and two chambers (110) that are connected by a channel. The chambers and the channel are filled with different fluids such that a non-zero surface tension is created at the associated fluidic interfaces. Moreover, the magnetic source (150) is arranged to provide at least two separate magnetic gradient regions (GR) and to allow for the attraction of magnetic particles (MP) present in one of the chambers into these different regions. The magnetic forces (F) generated by at least one of the gradient regions (GR) is strong enough to allow for pushing or pulling magnetic particles through the fluidic interfaces. The magnetic source may be realized by a permanent magnet (150) of hexahedral shape. A method achieves dispersion and re-accumulation of an ensemble of magnetic particles in the microfluidic system.
US09931629B2

An apparatus including an array of wells including a number of well channels, each well channel including a plurality of wells in the well channel, the wells containing a substance in use, one or more inlets for receiving respective fluids and channels coupled to the one or more inlets for selectively supplying one or more fluids to each well channel to thereby expose the substance to different conditions allowing a response of the substance to the conditions to be determined.
US09931627B2

A top part for a sampling pipette including a hollow outer body forming a handle, a pipetting control stem, a device for adjusting and displaying a volume to be sampled, including a first threaded member for adjusting the volume to be sampled crossed by the control stem, the device also comprising a set of first volume graduations angularly spaced from one another around the longitudinal axis and cooperating with a first mark so as to inform about the volume to be sampled. The first threaded member is rotatably integral with one of both elements formed by the set of first volume graduations and the first mark, the mark being axially arranged between the hollow outer body forming a handle and the control knob.
US09931625B2

A bottom part of a positive-displacement pipetting system), including a body slideably housing a device for gripping a piston belonging to a capillary-piston assembly the capillary of which is adapted to be fitted onto an end-fitting of the body. The system also comprises means for ejecting the capillary-piston assembly arranged externally with respect to the body. The system is constructed so that a relative rotation between the ejection means and the gripping device causes it to pass from an open configuration enabling the piston to be released to a closed configuration enabling said piston to be retained, and/or the reverse.
US09931623B2

A method for producing a metal nanoparticle complex according to the present invention is a method for producing a metal nanoparticle complex in which metal nanoparticles are supported in pores of a porous body, said method comprising at least: an adsorption step of allowing an organic metal complex to adsorb in pores of a porous body; and a decomposition/reduction step of heating the porous body, which has had the organic metal complex adsorbed in the pores thereof, under a reductive atmosphere to decompose an organic compound in the organic metal complex adsorbed in the pores of the porous body and also reduce a metal cation in the organic metal complex, thereby causing metal nanoparticles to be supported in the pores of the porous body.
US09931621B2

The invention relates to long chain alcohol, to processes for catalytically producing long chain alcohol from carbon monoxide and molecular hydrogen, to equipment useful in such processes, and to the use of long chain alcohol, e.g., for producing fuel, lubricating oil, detergent, and plasticizer. The catalyst is mesoporous and comprises iron and copper.
US09931620B2

Described are catalyst materials and catalytic articles comprising a metal exchanged SAPO material comprising a plurality of substitutional sites consisting essentially of Si(4Al) sites and substantially free of Si(0Al) sites. The materials and catalytic articles are useful in methods and systems to catalyze the reduction of nitrogen oxides in the presence of a reductant.
US09931619B2

Provided are an ethanol dehydration catalyst having a high ethylene yield even at a low temperature region, as an ethanol dehydration catalyst for converting a feedstock including anhydrous ethanol or hydrous ethanol to ethylene, and a method of preparing ethylene by using the same. In the ethanol dehydration catalyst for converting a feedstock including anhydrous ethanol or hydrous ethanol to ethylene of the present invention, the catalyst includes 0.1 wt % to 0.5 wt % of lanthanum (La) or 0.05 wt % to 1 wt % of gallium (Ga) in ZSM-5.
US09931614B2

A ceria-zirconia-based composite oxide including a composite oxide containing ceria and zirconia, wherein the ceria-zirconia-based composite oxide contains at least one member selected from the group consisting of praseodymium, lanthanum, and yttrium in an amount of 0.5 to 5.0 mol % relative to a total amount of the cations contained in the ceria-zirconia-based composite oxide, where the ratio of the content of both cerium and the at least one member selected from the group consisting of praseodymium, lanthanum, and yttrium in the ceria-zirconia-based composite oxide to the content of zirconium therein ([cerium and the at least one member selected from the group consisting of praseodymium, lanthanum, and yttrium]:[zirconium]) is in the range of 43:57 to 48:52 by mole ratio.
US09931613B2

The invention relates to a process for the regeneration of a copper-, zinc- and zirconium oxide-comprising adsorption composition after use thereof for the adsorptive removal of carbon monoxide from substance streams comprising carbon monoxide and at least one olefin, in which the adsorption composition is heated to a temperature in the range from 160 to 400° C. and a regeneration gas is passed through the adsorption composition, wherein the regeneration gas comprises 1000 to 3000 ppm of oxygen in an inert carrier gas.
US09931608B2

A process for separating polymeric and gaseous components of a polymer-monomer mixture at a pressure of from 0.12 MPa to 0.6 MPa and a temperature of from 120° C. to 300° C. in a separation vessel is provided. The separation vessel has a vertically arranged cylindrical shape with a ratio of length to diameter L/D of from 0.6 to 10 and an inlet pipe capable of introducing the polymer-monomer mixture into the separation vessel which the inlet pipe extends vertically from the top of the separation vessel into the separation vessel. Further a process for preparing ethylene homopolymers or copolymers from ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of free-radical polymerization initiators at temperatures from 100° C. to 350° C. and pressures in the range of from 110 MPa to 500 MPa comprising such a process for separating a polymer-monomer mixture is provided.
US09931606B2

A single-lever mixing cartridge includes a head piece, which accommodates a bottom piece having at least one inflow channel and at least one outlet channel, and a disk control having a control disk that can be displaced via an at least pivotably mounted spindle relative to a passage disk which is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner. At least all inlet channels are provided with at least one lip seal for sealing the bottom piece against the passage disk and/or against a fitting receiving the cartridge.
US09931601B2

Exemplary embodiments are directed to venturi bypass systems that generally include a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The systems can include a venturi path disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The venturi path can include a venturi defining a venturi inlet and a venturi outlet. The systems can include a bypass loop connected to the venturi path at a joint upstream of the venturi outlet. The systems can include a separation tube connected to the venturi outlet. The separation tube can extend fluid flowing through the venturi path downstream of the joint at which the bypass loop connects to the venturi path. Exemplary embodiments are also directed to methods of regulating fluid flow through a venturi bypass system.
US09931591B2

A capacitive sensor system for detecting accumulation of dust in a filter of a HVAC system includes a first conductive mesh, a second conductive mesh, a first filter media disposed between the first conductive mesh and the second conductive mesh, and a circuit configured to measure a capacitance of a first capacitive sensor formed by the first conductive mesh, second conductive mesh, and the first filter media. The circuit further is configured to translate a measured capacitance to a dust level indicator frequency that is used to determine a frequency corresponding to level of dust.
US09931588B2

An underdrain apparatus and a method for manufacturing such apparatus are provided. The underdrain apparatus can be extruded in long sections as a unitary part. The underdrain apparatus may be extruded in various sizes, shapes, and materials. Further, the underdrain apparatus may include a passageway for transporting water to and from the filter media and/or air to the filter media. In some embodiments, apertures are formed in the underdrain apparatus during an extrusion process to provide a path between the passageway and the filter media.
US09931584B2

This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for counter-current solids leaching. A multi-stage countercurrent leaching chamber can include a top and bottom end, a barren liquor input, two or more regions for countercurrent mixing, and a barren solids output. The input can be configured to receive barren liquor. The two or more regions for countercurrent mixing and separation can be configured to mix and separate liquid and solid phases. The barren solids output can be configured to collect and discharge barren solids from the bottom end of the multi-stage countercurrent leaching chamber. A fluidized bed chamber and clarifier chamber can also be included, where the fluidized bed receives a fluidizable slurry of pregnant solids and the clarifier chamber aids in separating liquids from solids passing from a top of the fluidized bed chamber to the top end of the multi-stage countercurrent leaching chamber.
US09931577B2

The present invention discloses a servo of an entertainment robot that includes a servo main body and a servo plate. The servo main body includes a casing and an output shaft. The casing is a hexahedron. The servo plate is fixed to the output shaft of the servo main body. The servo plate includes a square drive plate. At least one surface of the servo main body includes a T slot having an opening at one end. The size of the T slot matches the size of the drive plate of the servo plate. Tools are not needed for assembling/disassembling during the assembling of entertainment robots, thereby reducing the complexity during assembling, lowering the assembly difficulty, simplifying the assembling process, increasing the joy of DIY, and providing more space for the users to bring into play their imaginations.
US09931574B2

The present disclosure describes novel systems and methods for teaching and exercising leadership skills and strategies including the use of a narrative-driven role playing game.
US09931565B2

A device for online gaming includes a gaming accessory provisioned with a configuration that includes a group of settings of operating parameters for the gaming accessory. The group of settings corresponds to selections from first equipment of a user via an accessory management application. Upon initiation of a gaming session, the gaming accessory is in communication with second equipment of the user. The gaming accessory is not in communication with the first equipment of the user and is not in communication with the second equipment of the user prior to the initiation of the gaming session. The accessory management application can be a client application of a server remote from the first equipment of the user and the second equipment of the user. The group of settings can be received from the first equipment of the user via a graphical user interface presented by the accessory management application.
US09931560B2

A method for analyzing punching activities of a boxer during a training session is implemented through a glove that is worn by the boxer. The glove includes a microprocessor, an inertial measurement unit, and other related electrical components so that the method of analyzing punching activities can be executed through a single punch analysis. The inertial measurement unit timestamps and collects raw orientation and spatial positioning data for the glove, and enables the microprocessor to execute the single punch analysis throughout the training session. The single punch analysis outputs and displays a forward glove speed, a forward glove force, a forward glove power, heart rate of the boxer, calories burned by the boxer, lag time between multiple punches, and total number of punches throughout the training session.
US09931553B1

This disclosure assists a golfer in these situations. The golf club caddy is adapted to be used in the game of golf. The golf club caddy is a lightweight, portable carrier that is used to carry a plurality of golf clubs as well as a plurality of accessories that may be required by the golfer. The golf club caddy is a self-supporting structure that with sub-structures that are designed to carry the plurality of golf clubs, one or more towels, one or more golf balls, and tools such as range finders or GPS locators. The golf club caddy comprises a plurality of club holders, a container, a cylinder, a plurality of legs, and a leg opening mechanism.
US09931547B2

A golf club head includes a main body having a top portion, a bottom portion, a striking face, and an interior surface. A weight member is coupled to the interior surface of the main body. In an imaginary vertical plane that passes through the weight member, the interior surface of the main body comprises a first point and a second point. An imaginary line passes through the first point and the second point. A first imaginary boundary line and a second imaginary boundary line, both passing through the weight member and being perpendicular to the imaginary line, pass through the first point and the second point, respectively. Between the first point and the second point, the interior surface of the main body has an irregularity factor of at least 1.2 and the weight member comprises a distribution factor of at most 1.0 and a conformity factor of at most 0.07.
US09931546B2

A golf club 2 includes a head 4, a shaft 6, a grip 8, a first member m1 detachably attached, a second member m2 detachably attached, and a tool 102. A minimum force required to detach the first member m1 from the tool 102 in a connection state of the tool 102 and the first member m1 is defined as F1. A minimum force required to detach the second member m2 from the tool 102 in a connection state of the tool 102 and the second member m2 is defined as F2. The force F1 is greater than the force F2.
US09931540B1

A balancing exercise device has a central balancing member having a center of balance. A first foot pad is coupled to the central balancing member on a first side of the center of balance. The first foot pad is pivotable with respect to the central balancing member. A second foot pad is coupled to the central balancing member on an opposite, second side of the center of balance. The second foot pad is pivotable with respect to the central balancing member. An application of equal forces on the first and second foot pads balances the central balancing member with respect to the center of balance. An application of unequal forces on the first and second foot pads causes the central balancing member to pivot about the center of balance until one of the first and second foot pads engages with a support surface on which the central balancing member is supported.
US09931533B2

Weight lifting strap which is looped around the wrist and wrapped in helical fashion about a weight lifting bar or the like and gripped by the hand with opposite sides of the strap facing the bar and the hand, and the strap being fabricated of a woven material with rubberized strands on the side of the strap which faces the bar.
US09931531B2

A weighted vest includes weight attachment points that allow the user to customize the weight distribution when attaching resistance across a body surface. The vest is secured with shoulder straps, side support straps and a chest buckle and can be comfortably worn during any form of physical exercise, freeing the user's hands for other purposes. The vest is reinforced to withstand the stress of the added resistance with the interior of the vest being padded for comfort. Exchangeable rubber disks are removeably fastened to a back panel to modify the resistance in order to achieve the desired exercise intensity. The disks are shaped to fit together to form a continuous, tessellated layer, if desired, and are secured to attachment points on the weight panel with fasteners. The rubber disks are weighted to provide added mass with sufficient flexibility to conform to contours of the user's body.
US09931528B2

A concealed sprinkler including a body having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion includes an annular wall defining a chamber and an opening in communication with the chamber. A deflector assembly is disposed within the chamber. A trigger assembly having a lever assembly engaged with an inner surface of the annular wall supports the deflector assembly in the first position, the trigger assembly including and a thermally rated plate assembly having a lip portion to substantially circumscribe and substantially cover opening and chamber.
US09931526B2

A connecting adjustment assembly for a fall protection assembly including a back plate assembly and a sliding engagement member is provided. The back plate assembly includes a body and a roller. The body has a first side and an opposed second side. The body further has a first edge and an opposed second edge that defines the length of the body. The body also has a third edge and an opposed fourth edge that defines a width of the body. The body still further has a groove in the second side that passes along the width of the body. The roller is rotationally coupled proximate the second edge of the body. The sliding engagement member includes a first portion with a first post and a second portion with a connection head. The first post is configured and arranged to be at least partially received within the groove of the body.
US09931523B2

An apparatus for driving and controlling ultrasonic elements includes a computer-based host unit that determines driving characteristics with which to drive the ultrasonic elements; a microprocessor-based controller that receives an output from the host and provides signals representing a frequency and/or an amplitude characteristic; a frequency control circuit receiving the frequency characteristic signal; an amplitude control circuit receiving the amplitude characteristic signal; an RF amplifier acting on an output from the frequency and/or the amplitude control circuits to provide an amplified output signal corresponding to the frequency and/or amplitude characteristic; a coupling circuit that couples the amplified output signal to the ultrasonic elements and provides a forward output signal to a first RF detector circuit and a reverse output signal to a second RF detector circuit; and an analog-to-digital converter that receives an output of the RF detector circuits and provides a corresponding converted output to the controller.
US09931521B2

A multi level multileaf collimator employs leaves with leaf tips having a non-square shape in a beam's eye view to improve beam shaping effect and penumbra performance. The multi level multileaf collimator includes a first multileaf collimator in a first level comprising beam blocking leaves longitudinally movable in a first direction, and a second multileaf collimator in a second level comprising beam blocking leaves longitudinally movable in a second direction. The first direction may be generally parallel with the second direction and the leaves of the first multileaf collimator may laterally offset the leaves of the second multileaf collimator. The beam blocking leaves of the first multileaf collimator may comprise an end portion having a non-square shape in a beam's eye view.
US09931516B2

Methods are disclosed for treating cell components, cells, organelles, organs, and/or tissues with acoustic energy, electromagnetic energy, static or alternating electric fields, and/or static or alternating magnetic fields in the presence or absence of exogenous particulate agents for therapeutic applications.
US09931514B2

A hermetically sealed filtered feedthrough assembly for an active implantable medical device includes an electrically conductive ferrule hermetically sealed by a first braze to an insulator. A conductor is hermetically sealed to and disposed through the insulator. A filter capacitor has an active electrode plate and a ground electrode plate which are disposed within and supported by a capacitor dielectric in an interleaved, partially overlapping relationship. A first passageway is disposed through the capacitor dielectric having a capacitor internal metallization which is connected to the active electrode plate. A capacitor external metallization electrically connects to the ground electrode plate. An oxide-resistant metal addition includes a conductive core with a conductive cladding of a different material. A first electrical connection is between the oxide-resistant metal addition and the capacitor external metallization. A second electrical connection is between the oxide-resistant metal addition and the ferrule.
US09931510B2

A system and method for controlling non-paresthesia stimulation of neural tissue of a patient. The method delivers a non-paresthesia stimulation waveform, senses sensory action potential (SAP) signals from the neural tissue of interest, and analyzes the SAP signals to obtain SAP activity data for at least one of an SAP C-fiber component or an SAP A-delta fiber component. The method determines whether the SAP activity data satisfies a criteria of interest and adjusts at least one of the therapy parameters to change the non-paresthesia stimulation waveform when the SAP activity data does not satisfy the criteria of interest.
US09931507B2

The present invention is an improved hermetic package for a retinal prosthesis implanted in the human body. The retinal prosthesis includes a flexible circuit electrode array suitable to stimulate the retina while connected to a hermetic package on the outside of the eye, the hermetic package including a cover and a base where the cover is bonded to the base such that the cover and base form the hermetic package.
US09931504B2

A catheter may include electrodes for transvascular nerve stimulation. The electrodes may be positioned within lumens of the catheter and aligned with apertures in the outer wall of the catheter. The electrodes may produce focused electrical fields for stimulation of one or more nerves. In one embodiment, the catheter may include a set of proximal electrodes and a set of distal electrodes, and the proximal electrodes may stimulate a patient's left phrenic nerve and the distal electrodes may stimulate a patient's right phrenic nerve.
US09931496B2

A microneedle array includes a microneedle unit that includes microneedles; and a microneedle unit support member that includes an opening, guides both ends of the microneedle unit through inclined grooves, and arranges tips of the microneedles so as to project through the opening in an inclined manner.
US09931490B2

A control system for an arterial catheter operable to selectively impede blood flow includes a processor and a storage medium accessible to the processor that bears instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to execute logic including receiving a first signal representing a physical parameter associated with a patient in whom the catheter is disposed, receiving a second signal representative of time, and causing inflation of a first balloon on the catheter to impede blood flow in the first artery. Based at least in part on the first signal satisfying a first condition, the instructions include causing deflation of the first balloon. Based at least in part on the second signal indicating elapse of a predetermined time period, the instructions include causing deflation of the first balloon regardless of whether the first signal satisfies the first condition.
US09931483B2

An improvement to a breathing therapy machine to detect and rate occurrences of periodic breathing and to alter the therapy delivered to a user of the device based on the rating.
US09931481B2

A metered dose inhaler (“MDI”) applicator is disclosed that includes a carrier, a housing, an adjuster and a lever. The carrier defines an aperture configured to receive a boot of a MDI. The housing is configured to be assembled with the carrier and to move in a vertical direction within the MID applicator relative to the carrier. The adjuster is configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when the adjuster is in the locked position, the adjuster is configured to prevent the carrier and the housing from moving in one or more directions relative to one another. The lever is pivotally connected to the housing and is configured to transfer a force applied to the lever to a canister of the MDI and to actuate the MDI to dispense an aerosolized medicine.
US09931480B2

A connector mountable to a syringe barrel has a proximal barrel-engaging portion, a distal luer fitment portion, and a fluid aperture therethrough. The barrel-engaging portion of the connector includes an axial ledge configured to abut the axial distal edge of a glass syringe barrel. The connector facilitates mounting a luer assembly to the barrel. The luer assembly may be a tip cap having a complementary luer fitment for connection to the luer fitment portion of the connector. The luer assembly may be a luer needle assembly having a complementary luer fitment for connection to the luer fitment portion of the connector. The connector and syringe may further include an immobile, compressible needle seal. The needle seal is adjacent to or engageable with the barrel-engaging portion of the connector. The syringe may be configured with a plunger capable of engaging a retractable needle.
US09931479B2

A system for use in filling one or more reservoirs. The system includes a fill station including a fill station base, a fill station cover hingably attached to the fill station base, and a filling aperture attached to the fill station cover, wherein the fill station may be opened to accommodate the one or more reservoirs. The system also includes a vial having an interior volume for containing a fluidic medium, the vial configured to removably attach to the filling aperture, and a plunger located within the vial, the plunger advancable within the vial to reduce the interior volume.
US09931476B2

The present invention discloses a disposable safety self-destruction insulin needle. The invention uses a sleeve-connected linkage structure and realizes an instant reset of the safety sleeve by means of the spring located in the middle axis so as to ensure that the needle tube is not exposed and preferably realizes a tilting and deflection of the self-destruction pressure base due to a plurality of flexible plates unevenly distributed on the inner wall in the needle base so as to finally ensure that the insulin needle cannot be used a second time, in so doing the safety self-destruction operation of the insulin needle is realized.
US09931475B2

A retractable needle device attachable to the front of a fluid collection or infusion device such as a syringe, the retractable needle device comprising a housing having an engagement member, a slide support surface, a retraction cavity and a first pinch surface; a needle; a needle alignment member comprising a needle tube and a second pinch surface; and a needle retraction mechanism positioned within the needle tube and configured to bias the needle rearwardly; wherein the first and second pinch surfaces are configured so that a pinching force applied to them will cause relative lateral movement between the housing and needle alignment member. This translational movement from an injection position, wherein the needle is aligned with the syringe connector, to a retraction position, wherein the needle is aligned with the retraction cavity, allows the needle retraction mechanism to force the needle into the retraction cavity.
US09931471B2

Auto-injector for administering a dose of a liquid medicament includes a housing to contain a syringe with a hollow needle and a stopper for sealing the syringe and displacing the medicament (M), the housing having a distal end (D) and a proximal end (P) with an orifice to apply against an injection site. A spring means, upon activation, can push the needle from inside the housing through the orifice and past the proximal end (P), operate the syringe to supply the dose of medicament (M), and retract the syringe with the needle after delivering the medicament (M). An activating means can lock the spring means in a pressurized state prior to manual operation and capable of, upon manual operation, releasing the spring means for injection.
US09931469B2

An auto-injector device for administering a liquid pharmaceutical composition, in which an end-user can select between doses that the device is capable of delivering. The end-user choices that translate into the selected doses can be based on end-user perceived severity of symptoms, end-user weight and other such factors. In some embodiments the auto-injector is configured to administer the one chosen dose only. In other embodiments, the auto-injector can deliver second and subsequent doses up to full dose of the pharmaceutical composition disposed in the injector. The auto-injector can provide visual, audio, and tactile feedback, alone or in combination, to the user to indicate the dose selected, instructions for use, and when the dose has been administered.
US09931467B2

An autoinjector includes a body (1; 1010), a reservoir containing fluid product, a piston, a needle, a piston rod (5 5; 1005) that is displaceable between a loaded position and an injection position, and an injection spring (8; 1008) to stress 10 the piston rod towards the injection position. The autoinjector also includes an injection lock having a control sleeve (4; 1004) containing the piston rod and the injection spring. The piston rod includes a radial recess (50; 1050) receiving a substantially spherical blocking element (7; 1007) mobile between a blocking position and an unblocking position, stressed radially towards the exterior by the piston rod, and held in the blocking position by a blocking member (23; 1004) that is displaceable relative to the piston rod to release the blocking element.
US09931465B2

There is provided a compact flow restriction device having a housing and tubing, the housing holding the tubing within it, the tubing reducing liquid pressure from a higher pressure at a first tubing end to a second pressure at a second tubing end, the housing adapted to be worn by a patient and the liquid delivered to said patient at the second end at the second pressure.
US09931460B2

A method and apparatus for a connection interface between a reservoir or syringe, infusion set tubing, and an infusion pump is provided. The reservoir, a base and a cap are connected to form an integrated unit that is capable of being inserted and secured in an infusion pump housing. The cap and the infusion pump are each provided with at least one sensor or at least one detectable feature, arranged to interact with at least one corresponding detectable feature or sensor on the other of the cap and infusion pump device, to detect one or more of the presence, position or other characteristic of the cap when the cap is aligned or coupled with the infusion pump housing. The detectable feature and sensor may be magnetic, RF, mechanical, optical or any combination.
US09931457B2

The invention concerns polymer systems comprising at least one polymer with a plurality of pores where the polymer is initially functionalized on substantially all surfaces followed by a stepwise surface specific functionalization such that a different functional group resides on the external or internal pore surface of the bead. The invention also concerns use of such polymer systems in blood, blood product, or physiologic fluid purification.
US09931453B2

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a dialysis agent A, which is able to set the total acetate ion content in the dialysate to a low value, excellent in storage stability of glucose, able to reduce the acetic acid odor, and able to suppress the corrosion of the dialysate delivery system and the dialysis machine, as well as to provide a two pack type dialysis agent utilizing the dialysis agent A.In the dialysis agent A used in the preparation of a bicarbonate dialysate, which is used as one part of a two pack type dialysis agent, it becomes possible to prepare a bicarbonate dialysate having the total acetate ion concentration of between 2 mEq/L or more and less than 6 mEq/L by allowing to include glucose, acetic acid and acetate salt and to satisfy the molar ratio of 1:0.5 to 2 of acetic acid and acetate salt, and include acetic acid and acetate salt in a total amount of between 2 mEq or more and less than 6 mEq in the dialysis agent A required to prepare 1 L of the bicarbonate dialysate. Moreover, according to the dialysis agent A, in addition to the excellent stability of glucose, it is possible to reduce the acetic acid odor, and furthermore possible to suppress the corrosion of the dialysate delivery system and the dialysis machine.
US09931452B2

Blood treatment apparatus and methods of using the same are described herein that include two or more intermediate containers located between a treatment solution source and a port through which the treatment solution is to be delivered with the blood treatment apparatus. The weight of the intermediate containers is measured and used to control the refilling and emptying of treatment solution in the intermediate containers.
US09931451B2

A multifunctional handle for a blood treatment machine for moving the blood treatment machine by hand and also for the coiling of cables, with a placement segment and a slip prevention segment which protrudes from a first end of the first flat section at an angle from the first flat section and which is designed ergonomically to be grasped by a hand.
US09931448B2

A system and apparatus for treating a tissue site with reduced pressure and collecting fluids from the tissue site is disclosed. The system may include a reduced-pressure source, a pouch in fluid communication with the reduced pressure source, and a dressing in fluid communication with the pouch. The pouch may include a first wall, a second wall having a periphery coupled to the first wall to form an interior, and a third wall extending through the interior to form a first chamber in fluid communication with the dressing and a second chamber in fluid communication with the reduced pressure source. A plurality of filters are positioned in the third wall. The filters permit fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber.
US09931443B1

The present invention relates to a hemostatic injection needle coated with a chitosan in which a catechol group and an oxidized catechol group are introduced and cross-linked. The hemostatic injection needle according to the present invention can suppress bleeding during and after injection, and thus can be effectively used for injection not only into coagulopathy patients, including diabetic patients, patients under anticancer treatment, and haemophilia patients, who have a low hemostatic ability, but also into patients showing blood rejection responses, and children.
US09931441B2

The present invention relates generally to specially designed magnesium-aluminum (“Mg—Al”) alloys and medical uses thereof in a hemodynamic environment, and, more particularly to devices for sealing an opening formed through biological tissue (such as blood vessels) made from such specially designed magnesium-aluminum alloys.
US09931439B2

Described are medical graft materials and devices which can be usefully modified with liquid additives such as cell suspensions, bioactive agents, or combinations of these. The medical graft materials and devices can have a first outer surface and a second outer surface and can define an internal chamber between the first outer surface and the second outer surface. The medical graft materials and devices can also have at least one region of the graft material interrupting the chamber and surrounded by the chamber. Also described are methods for making and using these medical graft materials and devices.
US09931438B2

The objection of this invention is to provide an article with a foamed surface having a porous structure in the surface of a plastic base, an implant and a method of producing them. The article has a body and a superficial layer formed in a surface of the body, the layer including small-diameter and large-diameter pores, wherein part of the small-diameter and large-diameter pores are open pores which are open at the surface of the layer; the open pores have small open pores with an average diameter of 5 μm or less and large open pores with an average diameter from 10 to 200 μm; and the large open pores have an inner wall with passages connected with the small-diameter large-diameter pores. The implant is the article itself or the article with a bioactive substance in the layer thereof. The method provides an example of producing the article and implant.
US09931437B2

The invention provides a scaffold of extracellular matrix polymers with recombinant chimeric peptides tethered thereto. The invention also provides recombinant chimeric peptides of antimicrobial peptides and extracellular matrix binding domains. The invention also provides methods for treating chronic wounds using the scaffold and/or recombinant chimeric peptides.
US09931427B2

A method of operating a sterilization system having a vacuum chamber for sterilizing instruments, the chamber connected to a reservoir of sterilant by a valve in a closed state, is disclosed. The method comprises placing the instruments in a non-sterile state in a sterilization pack, opening the chamber, placing the pack into the chamber, closing the chamber, withdrawing a first volume of air from the chamber, changing a volume of liquid water into vapor, opening the valve, introducing the sterilant into the chamber, withdrawing the sterilant from the chamber, introducing a second volume of air into the chamber, opening the chamber, removing the pack from the chamber, and removing the instruments in a sterile-state from the pack. The method may also include taking a baseline humidity measurement while the pressure within the chamber is a first pressure, lowering the pressure within the chamber to a conditioning pressure, maintaining the conditioning pressure for a dwell time, increasing the pressure within the chamber, acquiring a second humidity measurement from within the chamber, and comparing the baseline humidity measurement to the second humidity measurement.
US09931417B2

The present invention concerns improved methods and compositions for preparing SN-38 conjugates of proteins or peptides, preferably immunoconjugates of antibodies or antigen-binding antibody fragments. More preferably, the SN-38 is attached to the antibody or antibody fragment using a CL2A linker, with 1-12, more preferably 6-8, alternatively 1-5 SN-38 moieties per antibody or antibody fragment. Most preferably, the immunoconjugate is prepared in large scale batches, with various modifications to the reaction scheme disclosed herein to optimize yield and recovery in large scale. Other embodiments concern optimized dosages and/or schedules of administration of immunoconjugate to maximize efficacy for disease treatment and minimize side effects of administration.
US09931407B2

Described herein are silicon based conjugates capable of delivering one or more payload moieties to a target cell or tissue. Contemplated conjugates may include a silicon-heteroatom core, one or more optional catalytic moieties, a targeting moiety that permits accumulation of the conjugate within a target cell or tissue, one or more payload moieties (e.g., a therapeutic agent or imaging agent), and two or more non-interfering moieties covalently bound to the silicon-heteroatom core.
US09931406B2

Disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition comprising an amide derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a non-metallic salt lubricant, which can be used as an effective cancer cell-growth inhibitor owing to its enhanced storage stability with no quality changes over time.
US09931403B2

Non-aqueous patches comprising lidocaine, which is not dissolved and is present in a crystalline state, have poor permeability to the skin. Therefore, non-aqueous patches have a high concentration of lidocaine. It is pointed out that lidocaine has an adverse effect on the heart. Prolonged use of a high concentration of lidocaine causes side effects, such as shock, rubor, and irritating sensation. External preparations comprising more than 5 mass % of lidocaine are designated as powerful drugs, and cannot be used as household (nonprescription) medicine. Provided is a non-aqueous patch that is effective to relieve muscle pain, the non-aqueous patch comprising lidocaine and/or its reactant, and a dissolving agent composed of an organic acid and a polyalcohol, which are contained in a base.
US09931400B2

Provided is a method of combination therapy for prevention or treatment of c-Met-induced or angiogenesis factor-induced diseases including co-administering an angiogenesis inhibitor and an anti-c-Met antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof to a patient.
US09931399B2

The invention improves TdaP vaccines by including a TLR agonist in them. This agonist can provide stronger protection, longer-lasting protection, and/or can reduce the amount of antigen which is required to achieve a particular immune response.
US09931397B2

The present application relates to an immunogenic composition comprising at least 2 conjugates of N. meningitidis capsular saccharide and protein carrier, wherein said conjugates comprise at least 2 different N. meningitidis capsular saccharides selected from the group consisting of MenA, MenC, MenY and MenW, wherein at least one capsular saccharide is conjugated to a protein carrier with a saccharide:protein ratio (w/w) between 1:2-1:5, and wherein at least one different capsular saccharide is conjugated to a protein carrier with a saccharide:protein ratio (w/w) between 5:1-1:1.99.
US09931393B2

Methods of eliciting an immune response to a JC polyomavirus (JCV) by administering an effective amount of an immunogenic composition including an isolated JCV VP1 polypeptide or a nucleic acid encoding the VP1 polypeptide to a subject are provided. VP1 polypeptides and immunogenic compositions suitable for use in the methods are provided, including JCV genotype 2 VP1 polypeptides and/or JCV genotype 3 polypeptides. Methods of identifying a subject at risk of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) are also provided. In some embodiments, the methods include obtaining a biological sample from a subject, detecting presence or absence of JCV neutralizing antibodies in the sample from the subject, and identifying that the subject is at risk of developing PML if there is an absence of detectable JCV neutralizing antibodies in the sample from the subject.
US09931392B2

The invention relates to microbial host cells engineered to produce glycoconjugate vaccines by stable integration of an acceptor protein and an oligosaccharyltransferase into the host's genome, wherein expression of the oligosaccharyltransferase is regulated.
US09931390B2

The present disclosure relates generally to therapeutic compositions comprising recombinant bacteria. Further, the disclosure elaborates upon methods of utilizing the taught therapeutic compositions to treat autoimmune and inflammatory disease. The present teachings also relate to the disclosed recombinant bacteria and methods of producing the recombinant bacteria utilized in the compositions and methods. Further taught herein are dietary supplements and food additive compositions comprising the taught recombinant bacteria.
US09931381B2

Physiologically acceptable anti-biofilm compositions comprising Serratia peptidase and optionally one or more of bromelain, papain and a fibrinolytic enzyme. Additional components can include antimicrobials, antibiotics, antifungals, herbals, chelating agents, lactoferrin and related compounds, minerals, surfactants, binders, and fillers useful for the inhibition and treatment of gastrointestinal biofilms in humans. Physiologically acceptable anti-biofilm compositions containing these enzymes are useful in the inhibition, reduction and/or treatment of biofilms such as in the ear, vagina, joints, bones, gut, surgical sites and other locations, and are useful for the inhibition, reduction and/or treatment of associated systemic symptoms caused by biofilm associated microorganisms.
US09931379B2

Provided are oxyntomodulin analogs. The peptide analogs have at least two cysteines. The two cysteines are separated by six amino acids such that they can be crosslinked using suitable crosslinking moieties. The crosslinked peptides have long half-lives and/or efficacy. For example, peptide analog compositions are used for inducing weight loss and/or reducing blood glucose levels.
US09931378B2

A method of treating human papillomavirus (HPV), by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a primary cell-derived biologic to a patient infected with HPV, and inducing an immune response to HPV. A method of overcoming HPV-induced immune suppression of Langerhans cells (LC), by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a primary cell-derived biologic to a patient infected with HPV, and activating LC. A method of increasing LC migration towards lymph nodes, by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a primary cell-derived biologic to a patient infected with HPV, activating LC, and inducing LC migration towards lymph nodes. A method of generating immunity against HPV, by administering an effective amount of a primary cell derived biologic to a patient infected with HPV, generating immunity against HPV, and preventing new lesions from developing.
US09931377B2

The present invention relates to agents that modulate interleukin-15 (“IL-15”) signal transduction or function (“Therapeutic Agents”) and the use ol″ those agents to modulate immune function. The Therapeutic Agents target the interaction between IL-15 and its receptor and modulate IL-15-induced signal transduction. The Therapeutic Agents may be formulated with polymers, such as poly-β-1-♦4-N-acetylglucosamine. for administration to a human subject to modulate IL-15-mediated immune function.
US09931373B2

Disclosed are pharmaceutical and synergistic compositions human recombinant alpha-fetoprotein expressed in eukaryotic cells for preparation of therapeutic agents for use in oncology, immunotherapy, stem cell therapy, and cosmetology and also for the diagnosis of cancer and embryogenic pathologies.
US09931356B2

Compositions and methods to improve the pharmacokinetic profile of S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) are provided, as are methods of treating various disorders using SAMe formulations with improved pharmacokinetic profiles. More specifically, the invention is directed to methods of treating a disease or disorder in a subject and/or improving the nutritional status of a subject by administering formulations exhibiting improved pharmacokinetic profiles of exogenous SAMe. The method also includes the step of orally administering compositions of the invention to the subject once per day after overnight fast; that is prior to food intake in the morning.
US09931351B2

The present invention provides a compound of formula (I) which improves leptin resistance, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound, a method for manufacturing a pharmaceutical for improving leptin resistance comprising using the compound, use of the compound for manufacturing a pharmaceutical for improving leptin resistance, and a method for improving leptin resistance comprising administering the compound or the pharmaceutical composition. The improvement of leptin resistance can lead treatment and/or prevention of a disorder associated with leptin resistance, including, particularly, metabolic disorder, obesity, hyperphagia, steatosis, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.
US09931348B2

A method for repairing an injury of cartilage in a patient by local administration of an organovanadium agent or use of an implantable device for delivery of an organovanadium agent. Implantable devices containing an organovanadium agent and methods of making these implantable devices are also disclosed.
US09931347B2

Provided is a tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) and/or indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) inhibitor compound for use in medicine, which compound comprises the following formula: wherein X2, X4, X10, and X11 may be the same or different and each is independently selected from C and N; X1, X3, X5, X6, X7, X8, and X9 may be the same or different and each is independently selected from C, N and O; each bond having a dotted line may independently be a double bond or a single bond, provided that valencies at each atom are maintained; the dotted lines joining X4 with the carbon atoms either side of X2 are single bonds, and are only present when X2 is absent, X3 is absent and X4 is C, and when these bonds are present the ring carbons on each side of X2 are not directly bonded to each other; each R1 may be present or absent and may be the same or different and is selected from H and a substituted or unsubstituted organic group, provided that the number of R1 groups present is such that the valency of X1 is maintained; each R12, R13, R13′, R14, R15 and R15′ may be present or absent and may be the same or different and each is independently selected from H and a substituted or unsubstituted organic group, provided that the number of such R groups present is such that the valency of the ring carbon atoms is maintained; R16 may be present or absent and is selected from H and a substituted or unsubstituted organic group, provided that the number of R16 groups present is such that the valency of X2 is maintained; each R17 may be present or absent and may be the same or different and is independently selected from H and a substituted or unsubstituted organic group, provided that the number of R17 groups present is such that the valency of X3 is maintained; each R2, R3, R4, and R5 may be present or absent and may be the same or different and is selected from H and a substituted or unsubstituted organic group, provided that the number of such R groups present is such that the valencies of X6, X7, X8, and X9 are maintained; each R7, R8 and R9 may be present or absent and may be the same or different and is selected from H and a substituted or unsubstituted organic group, provided that the number of such R groups present is such that the valencies of X10, X11, and X5 are maintained; and R6 is selected from H and a substituted or unsubstituted organic group, preferably H and a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl group; and wherein any R group may form a ring with any other R group on an adjacent and/or proximal atom.
US09931342B2

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for the treatment of cancer, relating to the specific inhibition of Abelson (ABL) kinases.
US09931341B2

The present invention relates to the treatment or prevention of skeletal disorders, in particular skeletal diseases, developed by patients that display abnormal increased activation of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), in particular by expression of a constitutively activated mutant of FGFR3.
US09931334B2

The present invention relates to solid state forms of N-[2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-5-hydroxyphenyl]-1,4-dihydro-4-oxoquinoline-3-carboxamide (Compound 1), pharmaceutical compositions thereof and methods therewith.
US09931333B2

The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating or preventing atrial fibrillation (AF). In particular, the present invention provides administration of muscarinic receptor antagonists (e.g., M2-selective muscarinic receptor blockers), administered alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents (e.g., beta-adrenergic receptor blockers) to treat and/or prevent atrial fibrillation.
US09931332B2

Methods for treating primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) are provided. The methods include administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of an immunomodulatory compound. Suitable immunomodulatory compounds include compounds having the formula: wherein X in Formula IV may be independently selected from the group that includes hydrogen, a halide, an aliphatic group and an amine group.
US09931319B2

The present invention provides a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; a method for manufacturing the compounds of the invention, and its therapeutic uses. The present invention further provides a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a pharmaceutical composition.
US09931317B2

The present invention relates to compounds of formula I: in which n, m, X, Y1, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are defined in the Summary of the Invention; capable of being both potent antagonists and degraders of estrogen receptors. The invention further provides a process for the preparation of compounds of the invention, pharmaceutical preparations comprising such compounds and methods of using such compounds and compositions in the management of diseases or disorders associated with aberrant estrogen receptor activity.
US09931312B2

The invention relates to a novel lipid composition. Further, the invention relates to the use of a lipid composition for the treatment, alleviation and prevention of skin problems.
US09931306B2

A nanostructured biocompatible wafer for placement in the conjunctival cul-de-sac. The wafer contains a tissue-reactive mucoadhesive polymer and a mesh formed of a plurality of hydrophobic polymer fibers. Also provided is a method for treating glaucoma, an ocular surface disorder, or an ocular surface infection using the nanostructured biocompatible wafer. Additionally, an injectable sustained-release formulation for treating an ocular disorder is disclosed. The formulation includes a drug contained within a plurality of microparticles formed of a biodegradable polymer and are coated with a tissue-reactive compound. Further provided is a method for treating an ocular disorder by injecting the microparticulate sustained release formulation.
US09931297B1

An edible animal medicine container for delivering medicine or other ingestible material, contained therein, to an animal, includes first and second edible housing shells. The first shell includes a first peripheral ledge, surrounding a first central hollow, and a first interlocking feature extending therefrom. The second shell includes a second peripheral ledge, surrounding a second central hollow, and a second interlocking feature extending into, and at least partially defined by, the second peripheral ledge. The second shell is positionable relative to, and connectable to, the first shell to define an interior in which the ingestible material may be disposed. In such connected state the first interlocking feature is seated and frictionally held within the second interlocking feature of the second edible housing shell so as to retain the first and second shells together and thereby retain the ingestible material within the interior until ingested by an animal.
US09931296B2

The present invention recognizes that medical devices, such as but not limited to contact lenses, can be made having a coating made at least in part using printing technologies to provide drug storage and drug release structures. The coating preferably includes at least one drug reservoir layer and a least one barrier layer, and can include structures, such as but not limited to capillary structures, that alone or in combination modulate the release of the drug from the coating. One aspect of the present invention is a medical device that incorporates a drug in at least one coating. A second aspect of the present invention is a method of making a medical device that incorporates a drug in at least one coating. A third aspect of the present invention is a method of using a medical device of the present invention to treat or prevent a disease, disorder or condition.
US09931292B2

Described herein are whitening compositions comprised of a peroxide component, and an adhesion system, which effectively provide whitening using a remarkably low level of peroxide. Methods of making and using these compositions are also described herein.
US09931290B2

Disclosed are surfactant compositions containing at least one crosslinked acrylic copolymer. The crosslinked acrylic copolymer is polymerized in the presence of at least two different classes of crosslinking monomers. The crosslinked acrylic copolymers provide desirable rheological, clarity, and aesthetic properties in aqueous surfactant containing compositions.
US09931273B2

A package includes a container having an open end and a closed end, and a slider slidably mounted within the container. The slider has sidewalls a facing panel and an end wall. The slider has a first end that is closest to the end wall of the container and opposite second end defined by the end wall of the slider. The end wall of the slider is connected to the facing panel of the slider at a first edge thereof, and is connected to a panel of a blister pack carrier at an opposite second edge thereof, the first and second edges of the end wall being connected by side edges of the end wall. The sidewalls of the slider terminate at a position spaced from the end wall of the slider, and a pair of flaps are connected to respective side edges of the end wall of the slider along respective foldlines, each flap being folded toward an end of the sidewall on its respective side of the slider and extending over at least a portion of the distance between the end of the sidewall and the end wall of the slider.
US09931270B2

An electromagnetic valve system for carrying out a compressed air supply to and evacuation from a plurality of air chambers of massage instruments of a pneumatic massage device includes a plurality of first electromagnetic valves each to be connected to a corresponding one of the air chambers; a second electromagnetic valve including a first aperture which communicates with external air; and a plurality of first check valves each within a header in an intermediate location between the second electromagnetic valve and a corresponding one of the air chambers with a connection tube therebetween, the first check valves allowing air to pass from the air chambers toward the second electromagnetic valve only when air pressure on a second electromagnetic valve side is lower than air pressure on an air chamber side.
US09931263B2

Disclosed is a therapeutic stretching apparatus, which in particular provides a user with a system for providing an assist to increase knee extension as well as for maintaining stability of the knee after surgery. This device can not only act as a therapeutic stretching apparatus but also can act as a primary post-op knee brace with locks/limits on hinge to prevent user from further injuring the joint.
US09931259B2

A bariatric patient management system includes a single-wheel drive system having bi-directional variable speed control through use of a variable control joystick. The single-wheel drive system is disposed on an underside of the bariatric patient management system and engages a floor surface when the bariatric bed is in a lowermost position. The bariatric patient management system further includes a removable headboard having a disconnect feature for disconnecting the variable control joystick from the single-wheel drive system when the headboard is removed. A plurality of three-setting casters is used in conjunction with the single-wheel drive to allow the bariatric patient management system to be manually turned when transported from one location to another. The bariatric patient management system further includes an improved trapeze boom that allows for additional access to a patient adjacent the headboard of the bariatric patient management system.
US09931254B2

A powered wheelchair 100 with a tilt mechanism having multiple pivots that allows the wheelchair 100 to be driven and steered with or without the use of hands. The wheelchair 100 has two spaced apart drive wheels 101, each mounted to a separate shaft 104 that is independent of the other drive wheel. A drive controller drivingly coupled to the shafts 104 and the drive controller is housed within a base 102 that is pivotally situated on the shafts 104. A seat 103 mounted on a tilt mechanism enables the seat to tilt in a forward, backward, left and right direction as a result of the user displacing their body weight in either of those directions. The tilt mechanism includes three pivots, a primary pivot P1, secondary pivot P2 and tertiary pivot P3. The primary pivot P1 pivotally connects the base 102 to the shafts 104. The secondary pivot P2 is situated above and adjacent the base 102 so that the respective ends of the rod 105 are pivotally connected to the base 102.
US09931251B2

An aspect of the invention is a liquid sensor having a galvanically energizable power source capable of activating a remotely detectable signal in response to liquid. In a preferred embodiment, a liquid sensor includes a plurality of electrodes, a circuit, and a transmitter thereon. The electrodes are coupled to generate electrical power when in contact with liquid. The circuit is electrically connected to the electrodes so as to be activated by the electrical power, detect an electrical parameter of the electrical power, and generate a plurality of data packets indicating a degree of wetness corresponding to the detected electrical parameter. The transmitter is electrically coupled to the circuit to receive the plurality of data packets and transmit representations of the plurality of data packets as electromagnetic signals. Other aspects include a liquid absorbent wetness sensor and a computer-based wetness monitoring system, and method of detecting liquid.
US09931246B2

A steerable laser probe may include a handle, an actuation structure having an actuation structure distal end and an actuation structure proximal end, a flexible housing tube, and an optic fiber disposed within an inner bore of the handle and the flexible housing tube. An extension of the actuation structure distal end relative to the actuation structure proximal end may be configured to gradually curve the flexible housing tube and the optic fiber. A retraction of the actuation structure distal end relative to the actuation structure proximal end may be configured to gradually straighten the flexible housing tube and the optic fiber.
US09931245B2

A device for treatment of an ocular pathology characterized in that it comprises at least one eye ring (1) wherein the proximal end of said eye ring (1) is suitable to be applied onto the glove and means (2,17) to generate ultrasound beam fixed on the distal end of the eye ring (1), said means to generate ultrasound beam presenting a concave segment shape conformed along a single curvature corresponding to a single direction wherein the concavity is designed to be tuned towards the eyeglobe.
US09931239B2

An asymmetric multilayer film for an ostomy pouch includes a barrier layer including a first side and a second side. At least one layer is arranged on the first side of the barrier layer, and at least one layer arranged on the second side of the barrier layer, in which the combined thickness of the at least one layer arranged on the first side of the barrier layer is at least two times greater than the combined thickness of the at least one layer arranged on the second side of the barrier layer. The asymmetric multilayer film has a thickness of about 25 μm to about 50 μm.
US09931238B2

Described herein are systems and apparatuses for enhanced comfort through contact pressure reduction. In particular, the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein prevent or otherwise mitigate pressure by actively orienting a patient over an anatomy-specific pressure-mitigating contact surface on which the patient rests. A pressure-mitigating contact portion of the contact surface includes a plurality of independently pressurized chambers configured in a specific geometric pattern that is designed to mitigate contact pressure between a support surface (e.g., bed or chair) and a specific anatomic region of a patient's body when the specific anatomic region of the patient's body is oriented over an epicenter of the geometric pattern. In one embodiment, the geometric pattern includes a first independently pressurized relief chamber that intersects the epicenter of the geographic pattern, and second and third independently pressurized relief chambers that collectively encompass the first independently pressurized relief chamber.
US09931237B2

The portable resetting device (100) has a portable pedestal (126) with telescoping sections (172/170). An underarm support (102) of adjustable height is mounted to a lower support (114) that is mounted to the pedestal (126). A traction structure (112) for transmitting forces to an injured arm is mounted to the lower support (114). A computer controllable motor (124) is operatively connected between the lower support (114) and the pedestal (108) so that an angle of tilt (116) may be placed thereon. An arm-holding plate (136) is attached to the lower support (114) and moves in a longitudinal direction by means of another computer controllable motor (118) operatively connected therebetween. An auxiliary arm support (122) is operatively connected by a computer controllable motor (120) on the lower support (114) and provides an additional force to the humerus head. A computer (302) controls the resetting device (100) and may communicate to a support computer (210) for treatment advice.
US09931229B2

The present invention is a switchable gripping terminal device that can be switched from a voluntary open prehension mode to a voluntary closed prehension mode, at will by the user. In an embodiment of the present invention, the terminal device may comprise a movable digit attached to a fixed digit, whereby the user can actuate the movable digit, such that the movable digit rotates relative to the fixed digit. The terminal device may comprise a lever, which enables the user to switch from a first mode, voluntary open (VO), to a second mode, voluntary closed (VC). This switchable biasing means, allows the user to decide the prehension mode, and easily switch the mode at will, according to the circumstances.
US09931228B2

An orthopedic implant system includes a set of provisional orthopedic implants having different implant sizes, in which each provisional implant facilitates an intraoperative selection of the next-smallest implant size without removing the provisional implant from the bone. All of the implant sizes share a common sagittal configuration of distal and anterior bone contacting surfaces, but have variable sagittal configurations only in the posterior bone contacting surfaces. Thus, where a relatively larger femoral provisional component is mounted to a femur, changing to a smaller provisional component (i.e., “downsizing”) can be accomplished by recutting only two of five original femoral cuts. Cut slots provided in each provisional implant are sized and positioned to correspond to the posterior bone contacting surface geometry of the next-smallest provisional implant size. Thus, the cut slots in a mounted, relatively larger implant can be used to further resect posterior femoral surfaces to accept the next smallest implant component size.
US09931226B2

An intervertebral spacer inserter includes a sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a hollow sleeve bore extending through the sleeve along the longitudinal axis, a sleeve tip end and an opening of a passage disposed in the sleeve tip end. The passage extends into the sleeve to the sleeve shaft along a passage axis that intersects the longitudinal axis at an angle less than about 90°. A sliding tip with an elongated slot is in contact with the sleeve tip end and is moveable with respect to the sleeve tip end between a first position with the opening accessible through the elongated slot and disposed adjacent a first end of the elongated slot and a second position with the opening accessible through the elongated slot and disposed adjacent a second end of the elongated slot opposite the first end.
US09931222B2

A spinal implant which is configured to be deployed between adjacent vertebral bodies. The implant has at least one fixation element with a retracted configuration to facilitate deployment of the implant and an extended configuration so as to engage a surface of an adjacent vertebral body and secure the implant between two vertebral bodies. Preferably, the implant is expandable and has a minimal dimension in its unexpanded state that is smaller than the dimensions of the neuroforamen through which it must pass to be deployed within the intervertebral space. Once within the space between vertebral bodies, the implant can be expanded so as to engage the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae to effectively distract the anterior disc space, stabilize the motion segments and eliminate pathologic spine motion. Angular deformities can be corrected, and natural curvatures restored and maintained.
US09931221B2

A cannulated screw having a resilient balloon structure capable of supporting compressive and cyclic loads. The balloon provides an artificial disc prosthesis by use of the balloon that mimics the porperties of the natural disc by maintaining the intervertebral disc space through a full range of natural motion, absorbing shocks and permitting a natural range of motion.
US09931219B2

An implant assembly comprising an implant having a load bearing surface with a contour corresponding to a patient's articular surface, and a bone facing surface including a fixation element, an anchor configured to be secured to bone beneath said patient's articular surface, said anchor including a second fixation element, and wherein said first fixation element is configured to be secured to said second fixation element.
US09931214B2

A method of reinforcing a femoral neck comprises creating a bore proximate to at least one of a Ward's triangle and a greater trochanter, creating at least one cavity in a cancellous bone region of the femoral neck, inserting a substantially collapsed support structure through the bore and into the at least one cavity, expanding the support structure, and allowing at least a portion of the load from the femoral neck bone to be transferred to the support structure. The support structure compresses at least a portion of the cancellous bone upon expansion. A cavity created by the expansion is adapted to receive a filler material such as, but not limited to, bone cement.
US09931210B2

A variable angle blade augment including an augment component and a blade component. The blade component includes a buttress portion and a neck portion, with the neck portion having a body segment and a face segment that is contoured for mating engagement with an outer surface of the acetabular shell. The augment component has a first opening sized and shaped to receive insertion of the body segment, and which is also sized to accommodate selective adjustment of, when the body segment is positioned in the first opening, linear and angular orientations of the blade component relative to the augment component. Additionally, the body segment has a length that is sized to facilitate direct contact of the face segment with the acetabular shell when the variable angle blade augment is in an assembled configuration. Further, cement can be injected into the internal cavity to unitize the connection between the acetabular shell and the blade component.
US09931206B2

A transcatheter atrio-ventricular valve prosthesis for functional replacement of an atrio-ventricular valve in a connection channel, having a circumferential connection channel wall structure, between atrial and ventricular chambers of a heart, including an inner device to be disposed in the interior of the connection channel, the inner device having a circumferential support structure which is radially expandable and having a valve attached to the circumferential support structure, and an outer device to be disposed on the exterior of the connection channel, wherein the outer device at least partly extends around the inner device at a radial distance to the inner device, wherein the inner and outer devices form a securing mechanism for securing the circumferential connection channel wall structure therebetween.
US09931204B2

A transcatheter heart valve prosthesis configured in accordance herewith includes an expandable frame having a plurality of commissure posts extending therefrom, a radially expandable inflow member attached to the plurality of commissure posts, and a locking mechanism operably coupled to a wire. The wire is at least partially slideably disposed within a channel formed in a wall of the inflow member and the locking mechanism is configured to permit the wire to be advanced within the channel to thereby transition the inflow member into a deployed configuration that at least partially engages tissue at the native heart valve.
US09931196B2

A connector for attaching a connective tissue to bone includes a sling for supporting and holding the connective tissue. A trap generally cooperates with the sling. The trap includes an anchor end and a sling end and a generally tubular section configured to decrease in diameter upon application of a longitudinal tensile force. The trap is dimensioned to fit within a tunnel through bone so that the connective tissue emerges from one end of the tunnel and so that an interference screw can be inserted into the tubular section at the anchor end of the trap at the other end of the tunnel whereby a pulling force exerted on the sling causes the generally tubular section of the trap to constrict more tightly about the interference screw to prevent slippage and to deter withdrawal of the trap from the tunnel.
US09931193B2

A stent graft including (1) a stent having a wall having at least one opening, an outer surface, and an inner surface and (2) a covering of a composite material having a least one expanded fluoropolymer membrane and an elastomer is provided. The cover can be used to cover the outer and/or the inner surface of the stent. The expanded fluoropolymer membrane contains serpentine fibrils. In exemplary embodiments, the fluoropolymer is polytetrafluoroethylene. The composite material may be axially and/or circumferentially wrapped around the stent. The composite material is fold-free throughout its operating diameter range and exhibits a sharp increase in stiffness at a predetermined diameter. The stent graft can be designed to have a stop point in either a radial or axial direction. The stent graft can advantageously be implanted undersized with respect to a nominal diameter without having material infolding.
US09931191B2

The invention relates to a device (1), especially a tube or a catheter, for at least partially introducing into a body passage, said device comprising a long outer envelope body (10), a long inner body (11) that is partially peripherally surrounded by the envelope body (10), and a device (12) by which means the possibility of a relative movement between the envelope body (10) and the inner body (11) is enabled or impeded in a targeted, controllable manner. According to the invention, the control device (12) is formed by the arrangement and embodiment of the envelope body (10) and the inner body (11) and comprises no additional mechanical means in the annular intermediate region (13) between said two bodies (10, 11). Preferably, the control device is embodied in such a way that it acts on the friction between the envelope body and the inner body (10, 11).
US09931189B2

Veterinary devices with a light source and antimicrobial solution includes a solution retainer adapted to retain an antimicrobial solution against an animal; a fiber optic cable; a light termination on the fiber optic cable that provides light from the fiber optic cable to the antimicrobial solution in the solution retainer; and a light source that provides a light of a predetermined wavelength to the fiber optic cable.
US09931181B2

A frictionally-retained detachable dental attachment assembly or anchor device is designed to attach a dental appliance with a tooth root or implant. The assembly includes a denture attachment housing for securing in the dental appliance, an abutment attached with a tooth root or implant, and a compressible retention member with a first end in fixed attachment with the cap and a second end in snap engagement with the abutment via a frictionally-retained ball secured within a cavity of the abutment. The retention member is formed using a compressible material to allow the ball to compress and the retention member to flex while inserting the ball into the cavity. Additional friction-retained and fixed attachment configurations of the dental anchor device are provided, along with methods of securing a dental appliance in a subject's mouth by means of the friction-retained and fixed attachment dental anchor devices.
US09931175B2

A container includes a base, and a jacket adjoining the base and having a peripheral flange which defines an opening cross section which can be closed by a cover. The cover includes first snap-fit hooks distributed about a periphery of the cover for engagement in complementing first latching openings in the peripheral flange to thereby establish a form fit that prevents a movement away from the base and parallel to a vertical axis of the container in perpendicular relation to the base. The peripheral flange has four corner regions, each provided with a second latching opening for engagement of a second snap-fit hook of the cover. The second latching opening has at least one portion configured curved or inclined in relation to both a transverse axis and a longitudinal axis of the container, or has at least two straight portions extending at an inclination in relation to one another.
US09931173B2

A method may include coupling a proximal end of a first cannula to a first manipulator of a surgical system, the first manipulator being configured to remotely actuate movement of the first cannula, wherein the first cannula comprises a rigid portion disposed between the proximal end and a distal end of the first cannula, the rigid portion having a curved longitudinal axis, and coupling a proximal end of a second cannula to a second manipulator of a surgical system, the second manipulator being configured to remotely actuate movement of the second cannula, wherein the second cannula comprises a rigid portion disposed between the proximal end and a distal end of the second cannula, the rigid portion having a curved longitudinal axis. The coupling of the first and second cannulas to the respective first and second manipulators can further include positioning respective first and second centers of motion of the first and second cannulas proximate to each other, and positioning respective longitudinal axes of the first and second cannulas at the first and second centers of motion across one another.
US09931171B1

An integral laser imaging and treatment apparatus, and associated systems and methods that allow a physician (e.g., a surgeon) to perform laser surgical procedures on an eye structure or a body surface with an integral laser imaging and treatment apparatus disposed at a first (i.e. local) location from a control system disposed at a second (i.e. remote) location, e.g., a physician's office. In some embodiments, communication between the integral laser imaging and treatment apparatus and control system is achieved via the Internet®. Also, in some embodiments, the laser imaging and treatment apparatus is further configured to provide photodynamic therapy to a patient.
US09931169B2

One of the many factors that contribute to the successful outcome of a procedure, such as hair transplantation procedure, is the natural-looking appearance of hair throughout the patient's head. Methods and systems for generating a proposed procedure sites are provided, for example, based on desired density. Various methods for generating a hair transplantation treatment plan are also provided. Various techniques and methods described in the application provide for improved planning for natural looking hair.
US09931167B2

A surgical instrument is provided that includes a first input mechanism having axial slots formed in a periphery and a second input mechanism having helical slots formed in a surface. The instrument also includes an insert having pins extending from a surface thereof, the insert coupled to the second input mechanism such that the one or more pins extend into the helical slots, and a surgical device coupled to an end. The surgical device is moved in a first degree of freedom in response to a mechanical driving force applied to both the first input mechanism and the second input mechanism, respectively, and the surgical device is moved in a second degree of freedom in response to a mechanical driving force applied to the second input mechanism while the first input mechanism is held stationary.
US09931165B2

A light diffuser, which is particularly suitable for introducing diffuse light into a tissue, is produced by interpenetration of a diffuser material in a liquid state into a boundary layer of a porous shaping material, by which process a diffuser surface is formed having a surface structure which represents essentially a negative of the pore structure of the shaping material and includes undercut structures induced by a surface tension. The light diffuser is e.g. produced by introducing a diffuser blank including material that is liquefiable through mechanical vibration into the shaping material and simultaneously stimulating it with mechanical vibrations, such that the liquefiable material liquefies at least there where it is in contact with the shaping material and is pressed into the shaping material. An in situ production of the diffuser is particularly advantageous for photodynamic therapy in bone tissue.
US09931162B2

Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue. The treatment systems are capable of delivering a coolable ablation assembly that ablates targeted tissue without damaging non-targeted tissue. The coolable ablation assembly damages nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input.
US09931157B2

Surgical instruments and methods for controlling temperature are described herein and can have particular utility when sealing tissue. In one embodiment, an end effector can include first and second jaw members configured to clamp tissue therebetween, and an electrode having a single continuous conductive surface that is coupled to the first jaw member. The end effector can also include a plurality of electrical insulators of varying thermal conductivity disposed between the electrode and the first jaw member coupled thereto. The electrode can be divided into a plurality of thermal zones by at least one opening formed therein and the plurality of electrical insulators can be arranged such that at least a first thermal zone contacts an electrical insulator having a first thermal conductivity and at least a second thermal zone contacts an electrical insulator having a second thermal conductivity that is higher than the first thermal conductivity.
US09931151B2

An impactor having a housing including an upper portion and a lower portion at least a part of which extends perpendicularly from the upper portion, a ram having a first end positioned in the upper portion and positioned in axial alignment with the lower portion, an opposite end of the ram extending from the lower portion of the housing, at least one drive assembly including a first drive shaft operably coupled to a cam shaft, a cam operably coupled to the cam shaft, a cam operably coupled to the cam shaft, the drive shaft operably connectable to motor, wherein the cam is operable to rotate and positioned to contact the proximal end of the ram upon rotation of the cam, a circuit board comprising circuitry operable to receive instructions from a plurality of switches electrically coupled to the circuit board to operate the impactor, wherein the impactor is operable to deliver low amplitude pulsed strikes to a workpiece at variable frequencies.
US09931150B2

An anchor delivery tool is described. The tool includes a shaft and a handle coupled to a proximal portion of the shaft. The handle includes a hub, with a knob and a nose cone coupled to the hub. The knob and nose cone may be spring loaded so as to selectively retain a length of suture disposed therebetween. The tool further includes an anchor, such as a suture anchor, coupled to a distal portion of the shaft.
US09931147B2

Provided herein is an osteosynthesis device for articular fracture fixation, more particularly for fixation of shoulder, knee, elbow, ankle and wrist fractures. The osteosynthesis device comprises an articular supportive plate for supporting the articular surface of a long bone, said articular supportive plate comprising (i) at least one pin receiving feature for receiving a pin or a screw; and (ii) at least one fin projecting from a first side of said articular supportive plate, said fin being provided with one or more pin receiving features for receiving a pin or screw. Further provided herein are systems for articular fracture fixation, and methods of fixating an articular fracture in a long bone using such systems.
US09931142B2

Devices and methods are provided for immobilizing facet joints of the vertebral column. Embodiments of the invention provide an implant that is inserted in a facet joint from which cartilage has been removed, and which retains the approximate original spacing of the facets in the joint. A retaining arrangement, such as an adhesive, a threaded fastener, or a screw is then used to secure the implant in the joint.
US09931137B2

A fixation device comprises a first body having a threaded end, a longitudinal axis, and a bore perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A second body is received in the bore. The second body has an exterior thread and an interior passage for receiving a pin or wire. The second body has a wire locking device for retaining the pin or wire. An advance nut engages the exterior thread. The advance nut abuts the first body for moving the wire locking device away from the first body when the advance nut is turned, for tensioning the pin or wire.
US09931132B2

Methods and devices described herein facilitate improved access of locations within the body by providing a variety of dissection modes on a single access device.
US09931112B2

Endoscopic devices and methods used for fastening multiple tissue layers, such as, for example, an endoscopic fundoplication procedure, are disclosed. The endoluminal device includes a tissue fastener, a flexible needle having means for grasping and releasing a portion of the tissue fastener, and a deflector for deflecting and guiding the needle toward the multiple tissue layers.
US09931109B2

A retractor for implanting a paddle lead of an electrical stimulation system includes a shaft defining a length, an interior lumen, a first end for receiving tools or paddle lead, and a second end opposite the first end and configured and arranged for insertion into tissue of a patient; a handle coupled to the shaft; and at least one divider disposed within the interior lumen and dividing a portion of the interior lumen into at least two compartments, wherein the at least one divider extends from at or near the first end of the shaft and no more than 70% of the length of the shaft. At least one of the compartments is sized for implantation of a paddle lead of an electrical stimulation system therethrough.
US09931103B1

A urinary funnel has proximal and distal openings and is preferably made from a resilient web scored to define two side panels foldable at a lower fold line that attach mutually together at a top flap. The funnel is collapsible so as to be carried in a wallet or purse. At least one biological indicator is fixed with the inner surface of the funnel structure proximate the distal opening for detecting the use of illicit drugs, pregnancy, or other biological conditions. The web may further includes a transverse slot proximate the lower fold line that is adapted to receive a biological indicator test strip therethrough. The biological indicator is applied to the biological indicator test strip that is in turn positioned through the transverse slot to rest against the inner surface of the funnel structure within the stream of urine flowing from the proximal opening to the distal opening.
US09931102B1

A urine collection method and apparatus, the apparatus including a storage container for holding urine; a first closeable opening in the storage container for allowing urine to enter and exit the storage container, the shape of the opening configured for contacting a patient to allow the patient to urinate into the storage container; a second opening for allowing fluid transfer from the interior of the storage container to the exterior of the storage container; vacuum a seal for the second opening, the seal maintaining the urine within the storage container being sealed until an analysis vial is connected to the urine collection apparatus, the connection of the analysis vial opening the seal to allow urine to leave the storage container when the analysis vial is connected.
US09931094B2

A method is for generating X-ray image data of an examination object with reduced calcium blooming. The X-ray image data is based on X-ray projection data acquired with an energy-selective X-ray detector and in respect of at least two energy windows. An embodiment of the method includes determining a calcium content in the X-ray projection data by way of a base material analysis, the calcium content describing the calcium-determined part of the X-ray attenuation caused by the examination object; generating a mixed X-ray projection data record with calcium content suppressed by way of a weighting factor of less than one; and reconstructing the X-ray image data from the mixed projection data record by applying a reconstruction algorithm.
US09931091B2

According to one embodiment, a dose distribution display apparatus includes storage circuitry, processing circuitry, and display circuitry. The storage circuitry stores position information of a support frame which supports an X-ray tube, and X-ray information concerning X-rays generated by the X-ray tube. The processing circuitry edits at least one of the X-ray information and the position information in accordance with an operator instruction, and generates a plurality of simulated dose distributions in time series based on the X-ray information and the position information, at least one of which has been edited, The display circuitry sequentially superimposes and displays the simulated dose distributions on an object model.
US09931086B2

This application discusses, among other things, curved plates for immobilizing a breast of a subject for medical imaging. In an example, an immobilization assembly Can include a curved compression plate assembly, a curved support plate assembly, an assembly coupling configured to position a first concave major surface of the curved compression plate assembly opposite a second concave major surface of the curved support plate assembly, wherein a cross section view through the curved compression assembly and the curved support plate assembly includes two portions of a single ellipse separated by a distance, and wherein the curved compression plate assembly and the curved support plate assembly are configured to immobilize the biological specimen between the first concave major surface and the second concave major surface.
US09931082B2

A system and method for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is disclosed that facilitates the phase sensitive reconstruction of inversion recovery magnetization prepared data with minimal scan time penalty by acquiring the phase reference data with low spatial resolution. The technique can be applied for the investigation of myocardial tissue characterization by acquiring 2D and/or 3D late Gadolinium enhancement (LGE) scans after the injection of a Gadolinium contrast agent. Regional areas of contrast accumulation in scarred myocardial tissue appear bright on these T1-weighted images. As disclosed here the proposed technique for phase sensitive inversion recovery acquisition with low resolution phase reference is robust against changes in inversion time, change in T1 due to Gadolinium contrast washout, high signal-to-noise ratio, and low scan time penalty compared to magnitude LGE.
US09931069B2

Systems and methods are provided to measure reaction times and/or responses for head, eye, eyelid movements, and/or changes in pupil geometry. The system includes eyewear or headwear including one or more eye-tracking cameras for monitoring the position and geometry of at least one eye and its components of the user, one or more scene cameras for monitoring the user's surroundings, and one or more processors to determine reaction times. Optionally, the system may include one or more of a multi-axis accelerometer to monitor head movements, light sources to trigger visual evoked responses, and/or electronic inputs that may be used to indicate the time of occurrence of external reference events. Measured reaction times and other measurements may be monitored for use in a range of applications. Responses and reaction times may be measured continuously over extended periods, even over a lifetime to measure consequences of the aging process.
US09931064B2

A measurement system and method for operating a measurement system is disclosed for an analyte determination. The system includes an analysis unit, which is configured to determine a measured analyte value for a body fluid specimen that is applied, a fingerprint sensor, which is configured to detect fingerprint sensor signals for one or various users, and a control unit, which is connected to the analysis unit and the fingerprint sensor unit for data transmission. The control unit is configured to perform a user identification using the detected fingerprint sensor signals and after successful user identification to enable a determination of a measured analyte value with the analysis unit for an identified user. The control unit is additionally configured to analyze the detected fingerprint sensor signals and optionally additional detected fingerprint sensor signals in addition to the user identification in order to provide control signals for performing additional measurement system functions.
US09931059B2

Orthopedic systems and methods are provided for use in preparing joints for implants. Specifically, hip preparation systems and methods are disclosed which can include a surgical orientation device. The hip preparation systems and methods can be used, for example, to orient the hip during the procedure, determine the orientation of an anatomical plane or planes, and orient a prosthetic component or components.
US09931040B2

Systems and methods are provided for detecting the flow of blood or other fluids in biological tissue by illuminating the biological tissue with two or more beams of coherent light and detecting responsively emitted light. A difference in wavelength, coherence length, beam divergence, or some other property of the beams of illumination causes the beams to preferentially scatter from, be absorbed by, or otherwise interact with respective elements of the biological tissue. Flow properties in one or more regions of the biological tissue (e.g., a region with which both beams of light preferentially interact, a region with which only one of the beams preferentially interacts) could be determined based on detected responsively emitted light from the biological tissue. Variations in speckle patterns over time and/or space, Doppler shifts, or some other properties of the detected light could be used to determine the flow properties.
US09931037B2

Systems and methods for processing, transmitting and displaying data received from an analyte sensor, such as a glucose sensor, are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for transmitting data between a first communication device associated with an analyte sensor and a second communication device configured to provide user access to sensor-related information comprises: activating a transceiver of a first communication device associated with an analyte sensor at a first time; and establishing a two-way communication channel with the second communication device; wherein the activating comprises waking the transceiver from a low power sleep mode using a forced wakeup from the second communication device.
US09931032B2

A device providing an indication of eye disease in a patient comprises a light emitter; an optical assembly arranged so that light emitted from the light emitter reaches an eye of the patient; a camera arranged to image the eye of the patient; and a controller. The controller measures the eye's pupil area using images received from the camera and adjusts the luminance of the light emitted from the light emitter as a non-constant function of the eye's pupil area so as to create a plurality of stimulus intervals. At least two of the stimulus intervals differ in their average retinal illuminance. The controller analyzes the pupil measurements and/or an electrical response in at least two of the stimulus intervals to provide an indication of eye disease based. In some embodiments, the patient's age is also used in the analysis. Methods of using said device are also contemplated.
US09931028B2

A light assembly for a hand-held medical diagnostic instrument. The light assembly includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a light source mounted to the top surface, and the bottom surface having first and second electrical terminals. The light assembly further includes a circuit board disposed inclined to the substrate, the circuit board having first and second electrical terminals, a first connector mounting and electrically connecting the first electrical terminal of the substrate to the first electrical terminal of the circuit board, a second connector mounting and electrically connecting the second electrical terminal of the substrate to the second electrical terminal of the circuit board, a heat sink, and a thermal conductor thermally connecting at least one of the first and second electrical terminals of the substrate to the heat sink.
US09931022B2

A capsule medical device guidance system includes: an imaging unit arranged inside a capsule medical device; a guidance unit configured to guide the capsule medical device inside a subject; a display unit including a screen is displayed; a first operation input unit configured to input first instruction information for changing at least one of a position and a posture of the capsule medical device; a second operation input unit configured to input second instruction information for rotating within the screen, the image displayed on the screen, around a center of the image; a guidance controller configured to control the guidance unit so as to change at least one of the position and the posture of the capsule medical device, based on the first instruction information; and a display controller configured to control a direction of the image displayed on the screen based on the second instruction information.
US09931021B2

A method of identifying objects in a subject's ear, comprising the following steps: introducing an optical electronic imaging unit and a light source into an ear canal of a subject's outer ear, wherein the electronic imaging unit exhibits an optical axis directed in a distal direction, especially directed at the eardrum of the subject's ear; using the electronic imaging unit to capture an image from an eccentric observation point positioned on the optical axis and positioned eccentrically within the ear canal; and determining brightness or color information to identify objects shown in the image by electronic means, in order to automatically identify the objects, especially the eardrum.
US09931005B2

A reconfigurable upright vacuum cleaner has a portable surface cleaning unit removably mounted to an upper portion and is securable thereto by a portable surface cleaning unit lock. The portable surface cleaning unit has the operable members of the portable surface cleaning unit lock provided on the portable surface cleaning unit and removable with the portable surface cleaning unit from the upper portion.
US09931000B1

The toothbrush and toothpaste holder is a storage device intended for use with toothbrushes and toothpaste. The toothbrush and toothpaste holder comprise a plurality of toothbrush storage compartments and a toothpaste storage compartment. Each of the toothbrush storage compartments is fitted with an ultraviolet light for sanitation.
US09930999B1

The disposable sink cover is a hygienic cover that is adapted for use with a sink. The disposable sink cover is adapted for personal grooming use. The disposable sink cover is a water-impermeable sheeting that is placed over the sink. The disposable sink cover further comprises drain aperture. The drain aperture is an aperture that allows water to drain through the water impermeable sheeting into the sink. The drain aperture is lined with a mesh filter that removes the detritus resulting from the personal grooming activities. The disposable sink cover attaches to the sink with an adhesive. The disposable sink cover comprises a sheeting, a mesh, a mesh collar, and a plurality of adhesives. The mesh collar secures the mesh to the sheeting. The plurality of adhesives attaches the sheeting to the sink.
US09930995B2

A cooking utensil handling device is provided. The device comprises a covering body that defines a receiving space, an opening to the receiving space adapted for insertion of a hand of a user, a first aperture in communication with the receiving space and adapted for extension of a first portion of a utensil therethrough, and a second aperture in communication with the receiving space and adapted for extension of a second portion of the utensil therethrough. The receiving space is adapted to receive a handling portion of the cooking utensil such that the handling portion of the cooking utensil can be grasped by the hand of the user within the receiving space. The covering body comprises a flexible intermediate portion disposed between the first aperture and the second aperture.
US09930994B1

The electrically powered butter storage device is adapted for use in storing butter. The electrically powered butter storage device is designed to cool and warm butter while it is being stored within the electrically powered butter storage device. The electrically powered butter storage device is adapted to use one or more commonly available butter dishes that may or may not have a lid. Each of the one or more butter dishes are placed upon one or more electrically controlled heating and cooling elements which can be used to chill or warm the individual butter dishes as desired. The electrically powered butter storage device comprises a housing, one or more temperature elements, a control system, a fan, and a power connection.
US09930984B1

The present invention relates to a garment hanger that is especially suited for life vests. The hanger may include a hanger body having a central portion with angled left and right legs that meet at an apex, generally flat left and right shoulders, and left and right ends that extend from the left and right shoulders, respectively, toward the apex. The hanger may also include a hook located adjacent to the apex of the hanger body. Hangers with an aperture at the top of the hanger and a cable to secure the hanger to an object are also described.
US09930983B2

Described is a hat holding device having a pair of arms pivotally secured to a housing such that the arms can pivot towards or apart from one another. The opposing ends of the arms attach to gripping members adapted to support the brims of one or more hats arranged in a stacked configuration. A rectangular loop is disposed around the arms of the hat holding device and is used to maintain the holding device in a closed or open configuration. The arms include exterior ridges therealong and are curved such that they are further apart from one another at the gripping member ends. By sliding the loop along the arms and towards the gripping members, the gripping members are forced together in a closed configuration and the ridges resist movement of the loop once positioned. Further provided is a hook pivotally secured to the housing for hanging the device.
US09930959B2

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to furniture, housing and office accessories, and interior design. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to modular furniture, modular structures, a modular furniture system, and a modular unit for use in the modular furniture, the modular structures, the modular furniture system, and an interior design system. In some embodiments, the modular furniture system comprises a plurality of modular units that can be interconnected to one another to form furniture and other structures. Each modular unit comprises a plurality of side members interconnected to one another using connectors. The connectors can also be used to interconnect one modular unit to another modular unit.
US09930956B2

A radio retention device designed to provide a secure attachment into the back of the majority of portable radios. A clip strap attaches through a belt loop that locks with a clip strap male buckle and a clip strap female buckle. The clip strap is attached to a radio strap which is then attached to a radio male buckle. The radio male buckle snaps into a radio clip which is secured to the back of a radio. A user of the radio retention device can attach the device to the radio and holster providing a secure attachment that will not interfere with the use of the radio. The device can also be embedded into a new holster (FIG. 4) by securing the radio strap directly to the inside of the holster. The security of the device will ensure that the lifeline of communication will not be removed from the professionals that use portable radio systems.
US09930946B2

A sterile case for an electronic device used during medical procedures includes a rigid housing with at least one transparent face. An opening in the housing permits movement of the device into and out of the housing in, for example, a direction parallel to the length or width of the housing. A door attached to the housing moves between open and closed positions to seal the opening. A sleeve is configured to be received, when the door is in the open position, partially within the housing and to extend outward from the housing through the opening. The sleeve defines a bore aligned with the opening and configured to receive the device and to permit insertion of the device through the sleeve into the housing without contact between the device and a rim of the housing surrounding the opening.
US09930936B2

The present invention relates to a quick release buckle belt, comprising a strap and a buckle. The buckle includes a connecting piece and a buckle body. The connecting piece is firmly secured to one end of the strap, and the connecting piece is substantially made of non-metal materials. One end of the buckle body is configured to fasten or unfasten another end of the strap. Another end of the buckle body is configured to quickly attach to or detach from the connecting piece. The buckle body is made of metal materials unacceptable for metal detectors at security checkpoints. Therefore, a user who wears such belt needs to do before walking through the metal detectors is to remove the buckle body, without taking off the strap and the non-metallic connecting piece which is acceptable for the metal detector at security checkpoint.
US09930932B2

A stopper for securing an end of a lace in an article having at least one eyelet, such as a shoe, without having to form an exposed knot. A thin, rigid body includes a series of openings arranged in a row, including a first, middle opening through which the lace is routed from the eyelet, a second opening proximate one end through which the lace is routed from the middle opening, and a third opening proximate an opposite through which the lace is routed from the second opening via the first end of the body, the third opening having a slot-shaped configuration. When tension is applied to the lace, as by a foot being inserted into a shoe, a locking engagement is formed between the lace and stopper and the stopper reacts against the eyelet. The stopper may be hidden from view behind the eyelet stay of a shoe.
US09930922B2

A branched braid member has a central braid portion and one or more tensile strands or small braids at either end of the central braid portion. The branched braid member may be incorporated into a shoe upper.
US09930914B2

An oral pouch product has no seams or fewer seams than conventional pouch products. The pouch includes a seamless or single seam tube of a hosiery web material. An elastomeric thread is placed inside the tubular enclosure. One end of the tube is sealed and connected to one end of the elastomeric thread. A filling material, in one example including tobacco products or other plant materials, is also placed inside the tubular enclosure. The second end of the tubular enclosure is then fixed and connected to a stretched end of the elastomeric thread. The thread and attached ends of the enclosure are then sheared away and simultaneously released so that the ends of the tube are drawn inside the tubular space of the tubular enclosure.
US09930910B2

A rod for use in a smoking article is provided, the rod including a gathered sheet of homogenized tobacco material circumscribed by a wrapper. The sheet may include one or more aerosol-formers and have an aerosol-former content of greater than 5% on a dry weight basis or of between 5% and 30% by weight on a dry weight basis. The rod may include a continuous element to which one or more additives have been applied, which is incorporated into the gathered continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material. A method of forming the rod includes providing a continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material; gathering the continuous sheet transversely relative to the longitudinal axis thereof; circumscribing the gathered continuous sheet with a wrapper to form a continuous rod; and severing the continuous rod into a plurality of discrete rods. The sheet is preferably crimped or otherwise textured.
US09930895B2

A twisting apparatus comprising a loading device intended to load a food product into a casing, and a braking device, is described. The loading device comprises two tubular filling bodies, or filling tubes, intended to support the casing and a twisting device intended to rotate each filling tube about its axis, and a movable frame or carriage able to support the loading device. The twisting apparatus includes a rotation unit intended to cause rotation of the loading device and angularly displace the two tubular filling bodies with respect to the braking device. Also provided is a displacement drive member connected to said movable frame or carriage so as to move with an approaching and separating displacement, or to-and-fro movement, the two tubular filling bodies away from and towards the braking device. The rotation unit includes a rotation drive member fixed to said movable frame or carriage and is able to be moved by said displacement drive member together with the loading device. The displacement drive member is also configured to move the loading device with respect to an entry member for supplying the product.
US09930894B2

A method and template for preparing small, tender cakes is provided. The method includes preparing sheet cakes and slicing them into sleeves of cake. Frosting is template and frozen, and then rolled around the narrow cake leaf. Fillings may be added inside the cake leaf before rolling. The cake is then rolled similarly to maki-style sushi, sliced into shorter segments, and presented vertically on a serving dish. Decorations and additional frosting may be used.
US09930891B2

A synergistic mixture of penoxsulam and pyroxsulam controls weeds in rice, cereal and grain crops, tree and vine crops, pome, stone and citrus crops, pastures, rangelands, industrial vegetation management (IVM), and turf.
US09930872B2

A fishing pole including a handle, a lighting unit, a switch and a power storage unit. The lighting unit is located at least partially internal to the handle. The switch is configured to regulate operation of the lighting unit and the power storage unit is configured to energize the lighting unit.
US09930870B2

According to an example, artificial ovulation and spawning of freshwater eels may be induced to promote artificial ovulation without employing intraperitoneal injection, by feeding a feminization-inducing material (e.g., 17β-estradiol) for inducing feminization during a predetermined period into a raising bath in which broodfish are raised and, when an ovulation induction period arrives, adding pituitary extracts of catadromous fish as an artificial ovulation-promoting substance to the bath. Raising water of the raising bath may be prepared by selectively setting fresh water, brackish water and seawater conditions, a feminization-inducing material for inducing complete feminization of broodfish of the freshwater eels is fed to the raising bath, including the raising water under a fresh water condition, and pre-treatment for feminization is performed. Subsequently, the raising water is set to a seawater condition and the ovulation-inducing substance is fed to the raising water, thereby inducing ovulation and spawning of the broodfish.
US09930865B1

A height adjustable pet food bowl is capable of being secured to a flat surface by means of a suction cup contained within a base portion. The pet food bowl is positioned at a tilted orientation for easier feeding by the pet. The bowl utilizes volumetric graduations displayed on an inner surface. In an exemplary embodiment, measurements are denoted in increments of cups.
US09930863B2

A system for cleaning a dairy animal milker unit and applying dip to a dairy animal, the system includes a main control, an air supply, a water supply, a backflush fluid supply, a dip supply, a stall control for receiving the air, water, backflush fluid and dip supplies, and a safety valve that is adjacent to a downstream portion of the milker unit to control backflush and dip fluids being fed to the milker unit.
US09930860B2

A lettuce cultivar, designated Pasadera, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds, plants and plant parts of lettuce cultivar Pasadera and to methods for producing a lettuce plant by crossing the cultivar Pasadera with itself or another lettuce cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic lettuce plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to lettuce cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar Pasadera, to methods for producing other lettuce cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar Pasadera and to the lettuce plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid lettuce seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar Pasadera with another lettuce cultivar.
US09930854B1

The present invention is in the field of soybean variety CL1563238 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety CL1563238 and its seed, cells, germplasm, plant parts, and progeny, and methods of using CL1563238 in a breeding program.
US09930851B1

The present invention is in the field of soybean variety CL1462947 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety CL1462947 and its seed, cells, germplasm, plant parts, and progeny, and methods of using CL1462947 in a breeding program.
US09930846B1

The present invention is in the field of soybean variety CL1462706 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety CL1462706 and its seed, cells, germplasm, plant parts, and progeny, and methods of using CL1462706 in a breeding program.
US09930845B1

The present invention is in the field of soybean variety CL1463057 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety CL1463057 and its seed, cells, germplasm, plant parts, and progeny, and methods of using CL1463057 in a breeding program.
US09930835B2

A wrapping device to wrap an object in foil material including a frame, a wrapping table mounted on the frame and configured to support the object during wrapping, one or more roll support devices to support one or more rolls of foil material to be rotated about the object during wrapping, a carrying structure mounted on the frame and configured to carry the one or more roll support devices, and a clamping and cutting device to clamp the foil material after wrapping of an object, and to cut the clamped foil material, wherein the clamping and cutting device is mounted on the carrying structure, and wherein the carrying structure is pivotable about a substantially horizontal pivot axis with respect to the frame.
US09930829B2

A self-cleaning, energy efficient blade assembly for use on lawn maintenance equipment and devices is provided. The blade assembly includes a shell and plurality of blades releasably attachable to the shell, wherein the shell is generally bowl-shaped. The blade assembly may also include a stabilizer ring that is positioned immediately adjacent to the shell for added structural rigidity and strength.
US09936619B2

An electronic circuit component mounter equipped with a moving type component supply device which supplies electronic circuit components to a component holding tool and which is moved together with the component holding tool. In a state with passage-equipped component case is attached to the head main body, a dropped component catch plate is positioned below the rotational axis path of a suction nozzle and catches dropped components, while the raising/lowering of the suction nozzle is allowed at the component mounting position by opening and components are mounted on a board. Further, a sheet is affixed that prevents the movement of dropped components, and a dropped component catch plate is attached/detached to/from the head main body together with passage-equipped component case, and dropped components are removed in a state removed from the head main body.
US09936618B2

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of board level shields that include film and/or foil (e.g., electrically-conductive plastic film, metallized or metal plated film, metal foil, reinforced foil, poly-foil, etc.) covers or lids. Also disclosed are exemplary embodiments of methods relating to making EMI shielding apparatus or assemblies. Additionally, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of methods relating to providing shielding for one or more components on a substrate.
US09936614B2

An information handling system includes a pressure transducer and a fan controller. The pressure transducer produces a pressure reading in response to airflow through the information handling system. The fan controller is configured to communicate with the pressure transducer, the fan controller to operate a fan of an information handling system at a first duty cycle, to receive a first pressure reading from the pressure transducer, to determine a first airflow amount for the first duty cycle based on the first pressure reading, to create a first updated airflow-duty cycle table based on the first airflow amount at the first duty cycle, and to update a temperature control algorithm based on the first updated airflow-duty cycle table.
US09936612B2

An example apparatus is provided and may comprise a housing, an electronic blade system, and a plurality of airflow management components. The housing may have an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The electronic blade system may be located between the upper chamber and the lower chamber. The plurality of airflow management components may be configured to be removable and to manage airflow in the housing.
US09936605B2

A method for controlling air flow in a server rack includes storing, by a switch, a connection table, the connection table comprising information for rack positions corresponding to switch ports of the switch. The switch obtains address information of at least one management controller corresponding to at least one device connected to the switch ports of the switch. The switch determines a rack position for each of the at least one device, based on the table and the address information. The switch receives from a rack management controller (RMC), a request for the rack position for each of the at least one device. The switch sends to the RMC, the rack position for each of the at least one device. The RMC controls fan speed for the at least one device, based on the rack position for each of the at least one device.
US09936599B1

An assembly mechanism and a server system therewith are disclosed. The server system includes a casing, a first module and a second module. The first module is installed inside the casing. The second module is selectively installed inside the casing. The assembly mechanism includes a frame mechanism, a tray, a first fixing member and a handle member. The frame mechanism is disposed around the first module. The tray is combined with the second module and supports the second module above the first module cooperatively with the frame mechanism. The first fixing member is fixed on the frame mechanism. The handle member is pivoted to the tray. The handle member activates the tray to approach the first module as being rotated in a first direction. The handle member activates the tray to separate from the first module as being rotated in a second direction.
US09936594B2

A wiring module includes: an insulating protector that has connection member holding portions for holding connection members that electrically connect adjacent electrode terminals; and a temperature detection member that detects the temperature of one of the connection members. The temperature detection member has a temperature detection element, electrical wires that are connected to the temperature detection element, an element accommodating portion that accommodates the temperature detection element and from which the electrical wires extend, and a detection portion that is continuous with the element accommodating portion and is arranged to be in contact with the connection member. The insulating protector has a locking portion that locks the element accommodating portion on the outer side of the connection member holding portions.
US09936586B2

An attaching apparatus for chip-on-films includes: a base; a rotary table; a first driving device configured to drive the rotary table to rotate around the axis of the rotary table; a TCP side adhesive-attaching mechanism configured to attach a conductive film onto a chip-on-film on a carrier located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region; a PCB side adhesive-attaching mechanism configured to attach a conductive film onto a chip-on-film on a carrier located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region; and a pre-pressing mechanism configured to pre-press conductive films attached on a chip-on-film on a carrier located in the pre-pressing region. The rotary table is in a first operating position, a second operating position, a third operating position and a fourth operating position successively during a rotation around its axis. When the rotary table is in any one of the operating positions, there is always one carrier in each region of the base.
US09936584B2

The present invention relates to the field of voice signal collecting device, more specifically, to a PCB, a waterproof microphone and a production process thereof. A waterproof microphone, comprising: a first PCB; a second PCB, stacked along two parallel ends of the first PCB; a third PCB, configured with an acoustics through-hole and located at an upper end of the second PCB; wherein, an acoustics cavity is formed at a space surrounded with the first PCB, the second PCB and the third PCB; the third PCB is formed by a plurality of substrate; each of the substrates is configured with an through-hole at same location and with same shape; an opening is formed on the PCB by interconnecting the through-holes; between every two adjacent ones of the substrate, a waterproof membrane is configured. The waterproof performance of the waterproof membrane is better, and the efficiency of the attachment is higher.
US09936581B1

An electrically interconnected assembly is a technology enabler for mechanical and electrical interconnects between conductive threads, such as those within fabrics and textiles, to electrical connection points, such as contact pads on a printed circuit board (PCB), a flexible printed circuit (FPC), and/or rigid-flexible circuit board. The electrically interconnected assembly uses an anisotropic conductive coated fabric to make an electrical and mechanical interconnect in fabrics or textiles. All fabrics or textiles can be anisotropic conductive coated and cut into sheet form or supplied in roll form.
US09936580B1

Circuit assemblies can be electrically interconnected by providing a circuit assembly having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a perimeter edge connecting the top and bottom surfaces, the perimeter edge being formed of insulative material and having a plurality of conductive features embedded in and exposed on the surface of the edge. The conductive features are arranged in contact sets, and each contact set is separated from adjacent contact sets by a portion of the perimeter edge that is free of conductive features. Each contact set includes conductive features that together form a distributed electrical connection to a single node. The insulative material is selectively removed to form recesses adjacent the conductive features exposing additional surface contact areas along lateral portions of the conductive features in the recesses.
US09936577B1

The present disclosure illustrates a dual-channel flexible circuit bridge connector and a dual graphics card system using the same. The dual-channel flexible circuit bridge connector includes a dual-channel flexible circuit board, a first connection interface and a second connection interface. The dual-channel flexible circuit board includes, in a sequential order, a first insulating layer, a first circuit layer, a second insulating layer, a ground layer, a third insulating layer, a second circuit layer and a fourth insulating layer. The first connection interface and the second connection interface can be used to link two graphics cards spaced apart by a non-fixed distance, thereby forming a bridging status. Therefore, the dual graphics card system can manipulate two graphics cards to perform parallel computation, so as to achieve better efficiency in computing process and graphics display.
US09936570B2

An interconnect topology is disclosed that includes a plurality of interconnections, each of which is coupled together using a via, where at least two of the vias are staggered with respect to each other. In one embodiment, the interconnect topology comprises a substrate, multiple signal traces routed through the substrate on multiple layers, and a plurality of vias, where each via couples a pair of the signal traces to form an interconnection between different ones of the multiple layers, and where a pair of vias comprise a first via to carry a positive differential signal via and a second via to carry a negative differential signal that are coupled to signal traces to form a differential signal pair. The differential first and second vias are staggered with respect to each other.
US09936564B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for cooperatively controlling ambient level lighting in a controlled area, and task-level lighting for task areas in the controlled area, where each task area is a separate sub-area of the controlled area.
US09936560B2

The present invention aims to provide an organic EL panel control device, a light source device, and an organic EL panel control method, capable of inhibiting the change (shift) in color temperature of white light produced by an organic EL panel to be controlled. The organic EL panel control device according to the present invention includes a luminance control unit. The luminance control unit controls, among a plurality of organic EL elements with different emission colors in an organic EL panel to be controlled, luminances of organic EL elements other than a reference organic EL element having a shortest luminance life in such a manner that, with reference to a luminance of the reference organic EL element, white light produced by additive color mixture of different colors of light emitted from the plurality of organic EL elements has the same color temperature as a previously set color temperature.
US09936559B2

A light-emitting device (10) includes a first light-emitting region (100) and a second light-emitting region (200). The first light-emitting region (100) emits a light ray having a first color by making a first light-emitting layer group including at least two or more kinds of light-emitting layers emit light. In addition, the second light-emitting region (200) emits a light ray having the first color (for example, daylight color, natural white color, white color, warm white color, or incandescent color) by making a second light-emitting layer group including at least two or more kinds of light-emitting layers emit light. In addition, at least one kind of light-emitting layer included in the second light-emitting layer group emits a light ray having a different spectrum peak from all of the light-emitting layers included in the first light-emitting layer group. Therefore, the color-rendering properties of light emitted from the light-emitting device (10) are improved.
US09936556B2

Disclosed is a lighting unit (10) that utilizes sensor data to select a fade-in or fade-out profile for one or more light sources (12). The lighting unit includes a clock module (20), an ambient light level sensor (18), and a controller (16). The controller receives ambient light level data from the ambient light level sensor and time of day data from the clock module, and utilizes the received information to automatically select a fade-in or fade-out profile. The controller can also use the received ambient light level data to calibrate the clock module.
US09936555B2

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for lighting configuration, contemplating analysis of a plurality of distance values from a plurality of distance sensors to set one or more light output characteristics of a plurality of LEDs. The light output characteristics of the LEDs are set as a function of the distance values from the distance sensors.
US09936553B2

A controller for controlling a generator arranged to the generate a frequency signal for controlling a converter in a driver for driving a light circuit, the controller receiving feed-back information from the light circuit, and a processor; the processor configured to produce, in response to the feed-back information from the light circuit, a control signal arranged to control the generator, the feed-back information comprising a value of a feed-back signal that flows through at least a part of the light circuit or that defines a light intensity of at least a part of the light circuit, and the control signal defining a frequency of the frequency signal, adapt, in response to data information, the control signal, wherein the data information comprises a code for coding light produced by the light circuit; determine a static transfer of a combination of the converter and the light circuit defined by values of the feed-back signal and corresponding values of the frequency of the frequency signal; divide the values of the feed-back signal into intervals of a substantially equal size; and adapt the control signal in interval steps.
US09936546B2

A method of driving a number of high-power light-emitting diodes (LEDs) which are divided into two or more groups, each group being separately energizable by a corresponding one of the power supplies, includes: a) energizing or deenergizing a supply current from the corresponding one of the power supplies into a first one of the groups; b) waiting for a predetermined wait time period; and c) repeating step a) and b) for a second one of the groups. Besides, a supply unit for performing the method comprises a control input, a control unit, and at least two power supplies for correspondingly feeding the two or more LEDs groups.
US09936544B2

A current regulator for non-isolated, line voltage LED Driver circuits solves the problem of LED flicker caused by line noise in the visible frequency range. In one aspect of the invention, LED flicker frequency may be increased beyond the line frequency. In another aspect, line voltages in excess of LED voltage ratings may be tolerated. The driver may be implemented using discrete circuit elements or in software and utilizes separate current regulation for different segments of an AC line voltage cycle.
US09936541B2

An induction furnace comprising a upper furnace vessel; an induction coil positioned below the upper furnace vessel; and a melt-containing vessel positioned inside the induction coil and communicably connected to the upper furnace vessel, wherein the positioning of the melt-containing vessel inside the induction coil defines a gap between an outside surface of the melt-containing vessel and an inside surface of the induction coil. A system for direct-chill casting comprising at least one an induction furnace; at least one in-line filter operable to remove impurities in molten metal; at least one gas source coupled to a feed port associated with the gas; and at least one device for solidifying metal by casting. A method of cooling an induction furnace comprising introducing a gas into a gap between an induction coil and a melt-containing vessel positioned inside the induction coil; and circulating the gas through the gap.
US09936534B2

The present invention discloses a data transmission method and apparatus. According to the present invention, when transmitting data by using a first radio bearer, a UE receives radio resource control connection reconfiguration information sent by a base station; the UE obtains a second radio bearer according to the radio resource control connection reconfiguration information; the UE sends radio resource control connection reconfiguration completion information to the base station; the UE transmits a part of the data which has not been transmitted by using the second radio bearer. The solutions provided by the embodiments of the present invention are suitable to be adopted during switch between an adaptive streaming mode and a progressive download mode.
US09936532B2

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may perform, for example, operations including receiving a request from a communication device to initiate a communication session, obtaining a first name authority pointer (NAPTR) record that replaces a second NAPTR record responsive to an undesirable fault level in a voice over long term evolution (VoLTE) network, obtaining the second NAPTR record responsive to determining that there is no fault or a tolerable level of faults in the VoLTE network, and initiating the communication session according to one of the first NAPTR record or the second NAPTR record obtained by the system. The first NAPTR record can include instructions for initiating the communication session utilizing a circuit-switched communication network, and the second NAPTR record can include instructions for initiating the communication session utilizing the VoLTE network. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09936518B2

A method for transport block transmission and blind reception is disclosed. The method is used in an UE and includes: receiving multiple candidate transport blocks, wherein each candidate transport block occupies a set of radio resources; and decoding the candidate transport blocks according to pre-defined encoding information to detect a potential transport block intended for the UE.
US09936514B2

In a wireless communication system, a secure communication link is provided by selecting a decoy data signal vector for transmission, generating a MIMO precoding matrix from a message to be sent; and multiplying the decoy data signal vector by the MIMO precoding matrix to construct a precoded signal vector. The MIMO precoding matrix produces information-bearing synthesized channel distortions in the transmitted signal. An undistorted version of the decoy data may be transmitted to an intended receiver. The receiver distinguishes between the synthesized information-bearing channel distortions and natural channel distortions to decrypt the information, while an eavesdropper would find it difficult to distinguish between natural and synthesized channel distortions in the signals it receives.
US09936507B2

A wireless device (e.g., Machine Type Communications (MTC) device), a wireless access node (e.g., Base Station Subsystem (BSS)), and various methods are described herein for utilizing an access request message (e.g., an 11-bit Enhanced General Packet Radio Service (EGPRS) packet channel request message that comprises a three bit Short Access Request code point “100” and eight bits thereafter, where at least a portion of the eight bits is used to indicate at least one capability of the wireless device) within a wireless communication network.
US09936503B2

This disclosure provides a method and for determining WLAN channel in a base station which supports both WLAN access and cellular network access, and a first WLAN channel is allocated for its WLAN access. According to this disclosure, if frequency space between the first WLAN channel and frequency range occupied by the cellular network access is not larger than a threshold, the base station detects available WLAN channels which are not occupied by surrounding WLANs. If the frequency space between the available WLAN channels and the frequency range occupied by the cellular network is not larger than the threshold, the base station changes its WLAN channel from the first WLAN channel to a second WLAN channel occupied by one of the surrounding WLANs. The frequency space between the second WLAN channel and the frequency range occupied by the cellular network access is larger than the threshold, thus interference between the cellular network and the WLAN is reduced or eliminated. This disclosure also provides a base station.
US09936501B2

A method and apparatus reduce latency of Long Term Evolution (LTE) uplink transmissions. A Downlink Control Information (DCI) message can be transmitted in a first subframe. The DCI message can indicate a resource assignment and a modulation and coding scheme and indicating a plurality of cyclic shifts from which a User Equipment (UE) may select one cyclic shift for transmission in a second subframe on an uplink carrier. A data packet can be received on a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) in a resource indicated by the resource assignment and modulation and coding scheme, and using a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) based on a selected cyclic shift in the second subframe on the uplink carrier.
US09936497B2

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a node scheduling method, where the method includes: configuring, for a node, a working period matched with a performance indicator of the node, where duration of the working period is an integer multiple of duration of a super frame, and the super frame is a super frame corresponding to a beacon frame in a network in which the node is located; and sending, to the node, an updated beacon frame that includes information about the working period, so that the node acquires the information about the working period from the updated beacon frame, receives a working beacon frame, establishes a super frame corresponding to the working beacon frame until the working period ends, and then repeats the receiving a working beacon frame and establishing a super frame corresponding to the working beacon frame until the updated beacon frame is received again.
US09936493B2

A method for optimizing network traffic that is delivered to a client via a RAN is disclosed. The method includes: receiving, at a first node, a request for content transmitted by the client, including an indication pertaining to a first traffic optimization functionality into the request, and forwarding the modified request to a second node located upstream. At the second node, receiving the request and forwarding the request to a server. At the second node, receiving downlink traffic related to the request, optimizing the downlink traffic, and forwarding the downlink traffic to the first node. In optimizing the downlink traffic, the second node omits traffic optimization functionality corresponding to the first traffic optimization functionality. The first node then receives the downlink traffic, optimizes the downlink traffic, and forwards the optimized downlink traffic to the client.
US09936486B2

The present invention provides a method and a user equipment for reporting a demodulation reference signal pattern preferred by the user equipment among demodulation reference signal patterns of which locations of demodulation reference signals, demodulation reference signal densities and the like are defined differently within a predetermined time-frequency resource region, and a method and a base station for receiving the report of the preferred demodulation reference signal pattern.
US09936485B2

A method for obtaining scheduling information of a data channel is disclosed. The method includes: receiving a set of radio resources for a set of candidate control channels, wherein a part of the set of candidate control channels constitute the enhanced common search space (ECSS) for an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH); attempting to decode each candidate control channel to obtain a physical control channel; and obtaining scheduling information of the data channel from the decoded physical control channel.
US09936481B2

A mobile communication system according to the present invention is a mobile communication system including base stations each of which forms a cell and transmits MBMS data to a mobile station existing in the cell, and control stations each of which controls the base station connected thereto, wherein the control stations include at least a control station and a second control station that determines a frequency and timing for transmitting the MBMS data in the cell and instructs the first control station of the determined frequency and timing, and wherein each of the first and second control stations establishes time synchronization with another control station and instructs the connected base station to set the cell to the frequency determined by the second control station and transmits the MBMS data to the connected base station in accordance with the transmission timing determined by the second control station.
US09936480B2

A method for adaptive call notification in a user equipment (UE) includes detecting an incoming call indication such as a ring signal. The ambient sound level for the UE is measured in response to the incoming call indication. A UE vibration device is activated in response to the detected incoming call indication and the ambient sound level being greater than a user-selectable threshold.
US09936477B2

Disclosed herein is a technology for detecting the location of a mobile computing device. A method for detecting the location of a mobile computing device includes the steps of (a) obtaining time, (b) storing the time and location information including GPS information and base station information associated with the time, and (c) obtaining base station information at the present time and estimating current GPS information without using a GPS if a correlation between the stored time and base station information is a specific reference or more.
US09936474B2

Mobile devices may be paged via non-cellular or cellular radio access technologies (RATs). Mobile devices may determine that they are capable of receiving a paging message via a non-cellular RAT, and they indicate to a network that they are capable of such paging. Accordingly, in addition to cellular paging, mobile devices may be paged for cellular or non-cellular data via a non-cellular RAT. Non-cellular paging may be facilitated by a non-cellular paging server, which may be an independent network-side entity or may be an aspect of another network entity, such as an mobility management entity (MME).
US09936469B2

Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communication. In one method, a method of wireless communication at a user equipment (UE) includes receiving a synchronization signal. The synchronization signal may be common to a plurality of cells within a network. The method further includes acquiring a timing of the network based on the synchronization signal, and transmitting a pilot signal in response to acquiring the timing of the network. The pilot signal may identify the UE and be concurrently receivable by the plurality of cells within the network. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also claimed and described.
US09936466B1

Methods and systems are disclosed for managing the emission of data from RF enabled tags. In an example embodiment, data is emitted from a tag via RF communications. An operation can be implemented to detect one or more non-official applications running on a mobile device (e.g., a nearby mobile device). The emission power level for emitting such data can then be automatically varied until an answer is received from an official application running on another mobile device so as to prevent said mobile device running said non-official application from preventing said official application running on said another mobile device from completing a transaction with respect to said data emitted from said tag via said RF communications.
US09936455B2

Systems and methods for reducing the emission of radiation by wireless headsets during sleep mode are provided. One system comprises a mobile device and a wireless headset. The mobile device includes a transmission module for transmitting data or voice signals over a microwave frequency band. The wireless headset comprises a transceiver that enables the wireless headset to wirelessly communicate with the mobile device during a time when the mobile device and wireless headset are linked within a personal area network (PAN). The wireless headset is configured to receive instructions from the mobile device to enter a sleep mode, wherein the transceiver is turned off during the sleep mode.
US09936448B2

A method for transmitting and receiving data in a wireless communication system, performed by a first device, includes transmitting a first message including device connection information to at least one second device via a first network, receiving a response with respect to the first message from the at least one second device via the first network, transmitting a connection request message for requesting wireless connection of a second network to the at least one second device via the first network on the basis of the response, the connection request message including information regarding connection of a network indicating the second network, receiving a connection response message corresponding to a response with respect to the connection request message from the at least one second device via the first network, and transmitting and receiving data to and from a second device via the second network.
US09936443B2

An apparatus and a method for controlling discoverability are disclosed. The solution includes obtaining information of at least one scan on at least one communication channel and selecting a discovery mode for an access point from at least two different modes on the basis of the information.
US09936441B2

Infrastructure-based client management uses synthesized beacon reports to effect client association with APs in a wireless digital network. Beacon reports are synthesized by having a plurality of APs in the network collect client reports and send those reports to a report process on the network. The report process accumulates client reports from the plurality of APs and selects one or more candidate APs to support a client. Selection may be made on reported SNR, AP loading, channel loading, AP characteristics, or a combination. The report process may produce blacklists and optionally whitelists for use by APs to use in processing client probe and connection requests.
US09936435B2

A method of establishing a communication link between a mobile terminal of a wireless network and a subscriber of a network, such as an enterprise network, and/or a residential network.
US09936430B1

An example embodiment may involve receiving an attach request related to a WCD. It may be determined that the WCD already has an established bearer session with a first PGW device. Possibly in response to receiving the attach request from the WCD and the WCD already having the established bearer session with the first PGW device, a request for PGW device assignment may be transmitted to a server device. A response from the server device may be received, where the response may indicate assignment of a second PGW device. A create session request may be transmitted to an SGW device. Reception of the create session request may cause the SGW device to establish, for the WCD, a new bearer session to the second PGW device. Establishment of the new bearer session may involve the second PGW device retrieving, from the first PGW device, context information related to the WCD.
US09936426B2

The present invention provides a processing method for a radio link failure, a small cell and a mobile communication system. The method includes: determining, by a small cell, whether or not a signaling radio bearer transmission connection between a user equipment and a macro base station is interrupted; receiving, if the signaling radio bearer transmission connection is interrupted, signaling radio bearer configuration parameters sent by the macro base station, wherein the signaling radio bearer configuration parameters comprise an SRB identification, a radio link control layer configuration and a logic channel configuration; establishing a signaling radio bearer for the user equipment according to the signaling radio bearer configuration parameters; and notifying the user equipment to hand over the signaling radio bearer transmission connection to the signaling radio bearer established by the small cell. In the present invention, service interruption time of the UE is reduced and continuity of service is guaranteed.
US09936425B2

Methods and apparatuses for controlling a handover of a device communicating via coexisting radios separated in time. It is determined whether to continue the communications via the coexisting radios during the handover and information is signaled to the device regarding communications via the coexisting radios based on the determination. The determination can include negotiations between a source and a target station. The source and/or the target station may determine whether to continue the communications via the coexisting radios during the handover, and selectively signaling information regarding communications during the handover via the coexisting radios based on the determination. The device, upon receiving signaling containing information whether to continue the communications via the coexisting radios during handover, processes the handover and selectively communicates via at least one of the coexisting radios during the handover based on the information.
US09936423B2

Enhancements are provided for the radio link control (RLC) protocol in wireless communication systems where variable RLC packet data unit (PDU) size is allowed. When flexible RLC PDU sizes are configured by upper layers, radio network controller (RNC)/Node B flow control, RLC flow control, status reporting and polling mechanisms are configured to use byte count based metrics in order to prevent possible buffer underflows in the Node B and buffer overflows in the RNC. The enhancements proposed herein for the RLC apply to both uplink and downlink communications.
US09936417B2

Methods and systems for optimizing bandwidth utilization in an in-home network may comprise determining usage and/or quality of communication links operating in accordance with first and second communication protocols in a multi-protocol wired and wireless network. Data communication may be routed from a first communication link operating in accordance with the first communication protocol to a second communication link operating in accordance with the second communication protocol, based on the determining. The first communication protocol may comprise a multimedia over cable alliance (MoCA) standard and the second communication protocol may comprise an IEEE 802.11x standard. The determining and routing may be performed by a MoCA network controller. The first communication protocol may comprise an IEEE 802.11x standard and the second communication protocol may comprise a MoCA standard. The rerouting may increase bandwidth usage efficiency and/or data throughput of the network. The determining and rerouting may be performed dynamically.
US09936415B2

A drive test information exchange method and apparatus are disclosed. The method includes: receiving, by a positioning controller, a positioning request message sent by user equipment UE; sending, by the positioning controller, positioning assistance information to the UE after the positioning controller receives the positioning request message sent by the UE; receiving, by the positioning controller, a measurement result sent by the UE; obtaining, by the positioning controller, positioning information according to the measurement result; and sending, by the positioning controller, drive test information to a drive test unit according to the indication information. The method and the apparatus of the present invention may be used to enable a process of obtaining drive test information by a drive test unit to be simpler, and a delay to be shorter.
US09936404B2

The invention introduces a method and an apparatus for fast recovery. The fast recovery method comprises: evaluating data download qualities of non-current RATs (Radio Access Technologies) to obtain a candidate RAT list; determining whether a PS (Packet Service) download quality of a current RAT becomes worse; and if the PS download quality of the current RAT becomes worse, selecting one RAT from the candidate RAT list and switching to the selected RAT. The method and the apparatus for fast recovery introduced by the invention realize the seamless RAT switch and maintain the continuous data transmission.
US09936381B2

A master terminal transmits sound waves that are a synchronization signal from a speaker to a slave terminal at random time intervals. Upon acquiring the sound waves that are the synchronization signal by microphone, the slave terminal promptly transmits a response signal through wireless communication to the master terminal. The master terminal receives the response signal and a terminal ID transmitted from the slave terminal. The master terminal receives the response signal multiple times and determines whether time intervals when synchronization signals were transmitted and time intervals when response signals were received match. When the synchronization signal time intervals and the response signal time intervals match, the master terminal recognizes the slave terminal that transmitted response signals at time intervals matching the synchronization signal time intervals as a wireless communication connection target. Slave terminals that transmitted response signals at time intervals not matching the synchronization signal time intervals are excluded from wireless communication connection targets.
US09936377B2

A software defined networking controller can be provided to manage sharing of information relating to roaming requests for mobile devices that are roaming on visited networks. The software defined networking controller can be a sub-instance of a main software defined networking controller that manages traffic within the home network, and the software defined networking controller can sit at the edge of the home network and control edge routing elements. The edge software defined networking controller may communicate with roaming partner's edge software defined networking controller and/or with the roaming interconnect operator's software defined networking controller to exchange roaming related information.
US09936374B2

In CE4, a communication terminal transmits data including a latency_off value “1”. After receiving the data, an environment information measuring apparatus transmits data since a latency counter value is “0”. The latency counter value becomes “2” and a latency_off counter value becomes “1”. In CE5, the communication terminal transmits data including a latency_off value “0”. Since each of the latency counter value and the latency_off counter value is not “0”, the environment information measuring apparatus does not receive the data from the communication terminal. The latency counter value becomes “1” and the latency_off counter value becomes “0”. In CE6, since the latency_off counter value is “0”, the environment information measuring apparatus receives the data from the communication terminal.
US09936364B2

An emergency caller location system uses enterprise Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) location systems to provide more accurate location information on an emergency caller. A cellular telephone modifies its WLAN identifier, such as its Media Access Control (MAC) address, in response to a user initiating an emergency call. The MAC address is modified based on an identifier known to the cellular network, such as the phone number, subscriber name, International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI), International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI), and/or International Circuit Card Identifier (ICCID). The cellular telephone may additionally modify the probe timer of the WLAN interface to enhance the ability of the WLAN location system to determine the location of the device.
US09936363B2

A multi-standard indoor mobile radio access network having a centralized device is provided. In one embodiment of the present invention, a centralized device is configured to transmit a wake-up signal to a wireless device once the wireless device has entered a service area, wherein the wake-up signal triggers the downloading and/or opening of an application on the wireless device configured to determine whether a 911 call has been made. If a 911 call has been made, the application transmits a notification signal to the centralized device. In response thereto, the centralized device transmit location information of the wireless device to an emergency responder. The centralized device also transmits a “ping” to the wireless device during predetermined periods of time in order to keep the application open and/or installed on the wireless device.
US09936352B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques and apparatus for estimating a distance between a first and second apparatus. For example, the first apparatus may obtain a plurality of training signals received in a plurality of directions from a second apparatus and estimate, based on the plurality of training signals, a distance between the first apparatus and the second apparatus. In certain aspects, the distance may be estimated based on a ratio of receive powers of first and second training signals of the plurality of training signals.
US09936333B2

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for selecting one or more mobile device applications using context data describing the current environment of a mobile device and application metadata describing environment conditions where applications are more likely to be relevant, in order to improve the experience of discovering, downloading, and installing mobile device applications. According to one embodiment, a method comprises associating metadata with mobile device applications automatically receiving context data representing a current geographical location from a mobile phone, searching the metadata to determine which applications are likely of interest based on the current geographical location, and transmitting notification data to the mobile phone indicating the determined applications.
US09936325B2

There is provided a system for use in an environment, the system comprising a microphone, a plurality of speakers, a memory storing an executable code, and a processor executing the executable code to receive a media content including an audio component, play the audio component of the media content over at least one of the plurality of speakers, detect, while playing the audio component, an ambient sound in the environment using the microphone, and adjust playing of the audio component of the media content for the at least one of the plurality of speakers based on the ambient sound in the environment.
US09936324B2

A novel system and method for spatial sound generation is disclosed. A system and method for generating bodiless mid-air speakers includes the steps of: generating a modulated signal by modulating an ultrasonic carrier signal with an audio signal, determining a phase delay value for each ultrasonic transducer of an array of ultrasonic transducers with respect to one or more focal points, and driving each such ultrasonic transducer with the modulated signal in accordance with the phase delay value determined for each ultrasonic transducer to generate audible sound at the one or more focal points.
US09936323B2

A system for generating and outputting one or more audio output signals has a decomposition module, a signal processor, and an output interface. The decomposition module can receive two or more audio input signals, to generate a direct component signal, having direct signal components of the audio input signals, and to generate a diffuse component signal, having diffuse signal components of the audio input signals. The signal processor can receive the direct component signal, the diffuse component signal and direction information, to generate one or more processed diffuse signals depending on the diffuse component signal, for each of the one or more audio output signals, to determine, depending on the direction of arrival, a direct gain, to apply the direct gain on the direct component signal to obtain a processed direct signal, and to combine the processed direct signal and a processed diffuse signal to generate the audio output signal.
US09936312B2

A hearing aid includes: a hearing aid component configured to be arranged at a head of a user, and away from an ear canal of the user, the hearing aid component configured to provide a signal to an earpiece; the earpiece configured to be arranged at the ear of the user, and configured to provide an acoustic output to the user; and a coupling element configured for coupling the hearing aid component and the earpiece, the coupling element having a tube and an electrically conducting element; wherein the electrically conducting element in the coupling element of the hearing aid is configured to operate as a part of an antenna for wireless communication, and wherein the electrically conducting element is configured for electromagnetic signal emission and/or electromagnetic signal reception.
US09936305B2

Provided is an acoustic transducer including: a semiconductor substrate; a vibrating membrane, provided above the semiconductor substrate, including a vibrating electrode; and a fixed membrane, provided above the semiconductor substrate, including a fixed electrode, the acoustic transducer detecting a sound wave according to changes in capacitances between the vibrating electrode and the fixed electrode, converting the sound wave into electrical signals, and outputting the electrical signals. At least one of the vibrating electrode and the fixed electrode is divided into a plurality of divided electrodes, and the plurality of divided electrodes outputting the electrical signals.
US09936302B2

Some embodiments of the present invention provide miniature sounder which includes a frame and a vibration system and a magnetic path system fixedly connected to the frame. The magnetic path system includes a lower clamping board, a primary magnet disposed on the lower clamping board, secondary magnets disposed on the lower clamping board and arranged around the primary magnet, and a cushion provided on the lower clamping board and located outside the secondary magnets, a gap being provided between two adjacent secondary magnets. The vibration system includes a voice diaphragm, a voice coil which drives the voice diaphragm to vibrate and generate a sound, and a vibrating diaphragm which elastically supports the voice coil. The vibrating diaphragm includes a first connecting portion connected to the voice coil, a second connecting portion connected to the cushion, and a corrugated rim connecting the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion.
US09936301B1

An embodiment discloses the present disclosure includes a transducer having a yoke. The yoke includes a pair of arms. The yoke further includes a layer high permeability steel located between the pair of arms. The yoke also includes a metal coil wrapped around a post located at a central location on the layer of high permeability steel. The apparatus also includes a pair of permanent magnets attached to the single layer high permeability steel, where the permanent magnets each flank the post. The apparatus further includes a pair of springs, each includes a first end and second end, where the first end of each spring is attached to one of the respective arms. Yet further, the apparatus includes a diaphragm coupled to the second end of each spring configured to vibrate in response to a signal supplied to the metal coil.
US09936290B2

A method for multi-channel echo cancellation and noise suppression is described. One of multiple echo estimates is selected for non-linear echo cancellation. Echo notch masking is performed on a noise-suppressed signal based on an echo direction of arrival (DOA) to produce an echo-suppressed signal. Non-linear echo cancellation is performed on the echo-suppressed signal based, at least in part, on the selected echo estimate.
US09936284B2

An earphone comprising an earphone housing having a body portion, the body portion having an acoustic output opening to output sound from a driver positioned therein into an ear of a user. An acoustic tuning member is positioned within the body portion. The acoustic tuning member defines a back volume chamber of the driver and includes an acoustic output port for outputting sound from the back volume chamber of the driver to improve an acoustic performance of the earphone.
US09936278B1

Headset assemblies and systems for mobile application control and power savings are provided. Headset assembly includes headband with proximity sensor activation element and receiver assembly configured to be rotated with respect to the headband between a first position and a second position. Receiver assembly has memory, proximity sensor, processor communicatively coupled to memory and proximity sensor, microphone boom having first and second ends, and microphone located adjacent first end and speaker located adjacent second end. Processor comprises PIO port. Proximity sensor activation element is positioned to trigger proximity sensor to activate PIO port when receiver assembly is rotated to the second position and to deactivate PIO port when receiver assembly is rotated to first position. Proximity sensor is configured to transmit at least one signal representing receiver assembly position.
US09936266B2

A video encoding method and apparatus are provided, in which the method comprises the steps of obtaining respective original picture data in sequence; generating respective multi-media audio and video files in sequence according to the obtained original picture data; parsing each multi-media audio and video file, encapsulating the result of parsing according to a predetermined standard to obtain encoded picture data corresponding to each multi-media audio and video file and conforming to the predetermined standard, and outputting the encoded picture data. The solutions in the present disclosure may meet the need of stream-typed video traffic for small granularity encoded picture data in frame level.
US09936260B2

An IPTV terminal is provided. It is possible to provide an additional service allowing a user to watch video content, in addition to a service for reproducing an audio file, by extracting metadata on the audio file if a reproduction command of the audio file is input, searching for the video content related to the audio file based on the extracted metadata, and receiving and reproducing the video content.
US09936259B2

A method for rendering text onto moving image content. The method comprises receiving a request to translate dialog associated with moving image content, transmitting an interface, transmitting a time-stamped transcription, and receiving a translation of the dialog.
US09936258B2

An online system generates a feed of content items for a user subject to a limitation restricting the number of content items including video data (“video content items”) included in the feed. If the user interacts with a video content item the feed, the online system selects candidate video content items based on characteristics of the video content item in the feed and characteristics of the user. The online system determines likelihoods of the user interacting with various candidate video content items and selects candidate video content items based on the determined likelihoods. To present the user with additional video content items, the online system generates an interface including the selected candidate video content items and presents the interface to the user. The interface may be presented in place of the feed or may be presented as within the feed and presents different video content items based on user interactions.
US09936257B2

The present disclosure discloses a method and terminal for displaying an application. According to an example, in the method, a terminal creates a user interface (UI) operation controller and an UI operation window for an application when receiving an operation command from a user for the application, wherein when a video displaying command for a video application is received, the created UI operation controller is a video decoder, the created UI operation window is a video displaying window and the video displaying window is displayed in a designated area in a UI provided by the terminal, when the UI operation window for another application is received, the entire UI operation window covers the entire designated area and has a same size with the designated area, or the entire UI operation window is within the designated area. The terminal configures an attribute of the UI operation window with transparency and semi-transparency, and configures the UI operation window on the video displaying window when both the video displaying window and the UI operation window are displayed in the UI. According to the technical solution of the present disclosure, utilization of a screen in the terminal is improved.
US09936252B2

There are provided an image signal receiving apparatus, a method for setting a receiving channel of the image signal receiving apparatus, and a display apparatus. The method for setting the receiving channel comprises: storing (101) map information in the image signal receiving apparatus, wherein the map information comprises correspondence relationship between a transmitting channel and the receiving channel at each of different geographical positions; automatically determining (102) a geographical position where the image signal receiving apparatus is located; inquiring (103) the correspondence relationship between the transmitting channel and the receiving channel according to the geographical position where the image signal receiving apparatus is located; and setting (104) the receiving channel of the image signal receiving apparatus according to result of the inquiry. In the image signal receiving apparatus and the method for setting the receiving channel of the image signal receiving apparatus, a geographical position, where the image signal receiving apparatus is located, is determined automatically by a positioning module without inputting the geographical position where the image signal receiving apparatus is located manually, such that setting of the receiving channel of the image signal receiving apparatus after it moves in geographical position becomes more convenient, the troublesome manual setting is removed, and efficiency of the setting for the receiving channel is also improved.
US09936236B2

The present invention relates to a video processing method and a video processing apparatus. An embodiment of the present invention provides a video processing method comprising the steps of: transmitting display related information on a display device to a source device through an interface; receiving video option information on a UHD video processed according to a video expression function of the display device through the interface; receiving the processed UHD video through the interface; and expressing the received UHD video on the display device.