US11119660B2

Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for using a machine learning module to determine when to replace a storage device. Input on attributes of the storage device is provided to a machine learning module to produce an output value. A determination is made whether the output value indicates to replace the storage device. Indication is made to replace the storage device in response to determining that the output value indicates to replace the storage device.
US11119657B2

A storage controller coupled to a storage array comprising one or more storage devices receive a request to write data to one of the storage devices. The storage controller determines a first data block on the storage device comprising a list of deallocated data blocks on the storage device, the list comprising a block number of each deallocated data block and an access operation count value at which each deallocated data block was deallocated. The storage controller identifies a second data block from the list of deallocated data blocks on the storage device based on a corresponding access operation count value from the list and writes the data to the second data block.
US11119652B1

A method and system including sensing a touch event on a touchscreen display of an electronic device, and changing a display layout rendered on the touchscreen display in response to determining that the touch event matches a stylus shaft gesture that corresponds to interaction of the stylus shaft with the touchscreen display. The stylus shaft may be located between a first end and a second end of a stylus.
US11119644B2

An electronic device may include a display, a memory storing a plurality of objects, and a processor configured to display at least a portion of a scroll page including the plurality of objects on a screen of the display and to, when a speed of a scroll input is a preset value or more while the scroll input is entered to the screen (quick scroll input), display at least one second object corresponding to at least one first object selected from among the plurality of objects. Other various embodiments are possible as well.
US11119636B2

Embodiments are provided for a system, a computer program product, and/or a method that improves a display of an input selection displayed on a compact screen. To improve this display, embodiments search displayed content for input items, wherein the input items are selections inputted by a user; display different marks, each associated with each of the input items; receive a subsequent input from the user; and change a selection state of each item of the input items corresponding to a mark of the different marks in response to the subsequent input received corresponding to that mark.
US11119626B1

A computing device may include a provider application and data defining perceptible elements that provide users with various functionalities in more easily consumable stages. The application may determine that the user is at a first level of sophistication based on user activities and/or circumstances, and present a first set of perceptible elements in response thereto to provide a first set of functionalities. The application may then determine the user is at a second, higher level of sophistication based on subsequent activities and/or circumstances, and present a second set of perceptible elements to provide a second set of functionalities that includes at least one new functionality not provided via the first set of perceptible elements. Applications can be less resource intensive by evolving to strategically tailor available functionality to the circumstances and needs of particular users.
US11119624B2

An electronic device may include a display for displaying image content to a user and dynamic image stabilization circuitry for dynamically compensating the image content if the device is moving unpredictably to help keep the image content aligned with the user's gaze. The electronic device may include sensors for detecting the displacement of the device. The dynamic image stabilization circuitry may include a usage scenario detection circuit and a content displacement compensation calculation circuit. The usage scenario detection circuit receives data from the sensors and infers a usage scenario based on the sensor data. The content displacement compensation calculation circuit uses the inferred usage scenario to compute a displacement amount by which to adjust image content. When motion stops, the image content may gradually drift back to the center of the display.
US11119620B2

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a first metal mesh layer, a second metal mesh layer and an insulator. The first metal mesh layer is made up of a plurality of first electrode pattern units. The second metal mesh layer is disposed on one side of the first metal mesh layer, and is made up of a plurality of second electrode pattern units and a plurality of third electrode pattern units. The pattern of the second electrode pattern units and the pattern of the first electrode pattern units are at least partially identical in shape. The insulator is at least partially disposed between the first metal mesh layer and the second metal mesh layer. On a virtual projection surface parallel to the first metal mesh layer, a first vertical projection range projected from the shape of a first electrode pattern units distribution area and a second vertical projection range projected from the shape of a second electrode pattern units distribution area are staggered.
US11119617B2

A transparent electrode member includes a translucent base, and first transparent electrodes that are arranged side by side in a first direction on a first surface of the base, that are translucent, and that are electrically connected to each other. Each of the first transparent electrodes has a dispersion layer including a matrix composed of an insulating material and conductive nanowires dispersing in the matrix. A coupling member that electrically connects two adjacent first transparent electrodes to each other is composed of a conductive region. The density of the conductive region in peripheral regions of each first transparent electrode is higher than that in a central region of the first transparent electrode.
US11119608B2

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing that includes a sensing surface, a light emitting unit that outputs a light through the sensing surface, a light receiving unit that collects a reflection light reflected from an external object in contact with the sensing surface, after the light is output from the light emitting unit, and a first Fresnel lens that is disposed between the light receiving unit and the sensing surface. A first surface of the first Fresnel lens total reflects the reflection light introduced in a direction perpendicular to the sensing surface, and a second surface of the first Fresnel lens refracts the total reflected light so as to be introduced to the light receiving unit.
US11119605B2

A method for scanning a touch screen includes: scanning the touch screen in a first scanning manner, the first scanning manner using a first report rate; and switching to a second scanning manner to scan the touch screen in response to detecting that the touch screen is touched in the first scanning manner, the second scanning manner using a second report rate. The number of scan regions into which the touch screen is divided in the first scanning manner is smaller than that of scan regions into which the touch screen is divided in the second scanning manner, and the first report rate is greater than or equal to the second report rate.
US11119594B2

A display device with a touch detection function including: a plurality of elements performing display operation; a plurality of touch detection electrodes arranged side by side to extend in one direction, and each outputting a detection signal based on a change in an electrostatic capacitance caused by an external proximity object; a conductive film insulated from or connected with high resistance to the touch detection electrodes, and disposed to cover the touch detection electrodes; and a touch detection circuit detecting the external proximity object by sampling the detection signal. The conductive film has a sheet resistance equal to or smaller than a predetermined resistance value, and has a time constant larger than a predetermined minimum time constant defined by sampling timings in the touch detection circuit.
US11119586B2

An adjustable pointing device is disclosed wherein the device comprises a base, a grip portion, and an adjusting mechanism, the grip portion being attached to the base by the adjusting mechanism wherein the adjusting mechanism comprises an elastic member biasing the grip portion away from the base and comprising a locking mechanism movable between a locked position in which the locking mechanism is to prevent the grip portion from moving relative to the base and an unlocked position in which the locking mechanism is to allow the grip portion to move relative to the base.
US11119584B2

In various embodiments, a user frustration monitoring and control system may be part of or otherwise be operably coupled to a device to detect and respond to user frustration with the device or with other components in communication with the device. A user frustration monitoring and control system may detect when, out of frustration, a user jars or hits a set-top box or other device in communication with the set-top box, such as a remote-control device or monitor, and will perform an action to address the detected user frustration. This action may be, for example, performing a diagnostic action and/or communicating a helpful message or instructions to the user.
US11119578B2

A method for switching display mode of a mobile terminal includes: detecting gesture operations at a left edge and/or a right edge of a screen of the mobile terminal; upon detection a specified gesture operation for switching display mode, acquiring, according to the specified gesture operation, a mode switching instruction that corresponds to the specified gesture operation; and switching the current display mode according to the mode switching instruction.
US11119577B2

A method and apparatus for controlling an operation of a camera that allows a user to conveniently control a camera apparatus according to a gesture of a subject input through a lens of a camera, and the camera apparatus are provided. The method includes receiving an image input through a camera lens; generating an image frame; detecting a motion of a subject included in the image frame by comparing the image frame with at least one previous frame stored before the image frame is generated; determining whether the motion of the subject is a User Interface (UI) gesture; and performing, if the motion is the UI gesture, an operation corresponding to the UI gesture.
US11119574B1

An electronic device may include touch input components and associated haptic output components. The control circuitry may provide haptic output in response to touch input on the touch input components and may send wireless signals to the external electronic device based on the touch input. The haptic output components may provide local and global haptic output. Local haptic output may be used to guide a user to the location of the electronic device or to provide a button click sensation to the user in response to touch input. Global haptic output may be used to notify the user that the electronic device is aligned towards the external electronic device and is ready to receive user input to control or communicate with the external electronic device. Control circuitry may switch a haptic output component into an inactive mode to inform the user that a touch input component is inactive.
US11119573B2

One exemplary implementation provides an improved user experience on a device by using physiological data to initiate a user interaction for the user experience based on an identified interest or intention of a user. For example, a sensor may obtain physiological data (e.g., pupil diameter) of a user during a user experience in which content is displayed on a display. The physiological data varies over time during the user experience and a pattern is detected. The detected pattern is used to identify an interest of the user in the content or an intention of the user regarding the content. The user interaction is then initiated based on the identified interest or the identified intention.
US11119570B1

A method and a system for modifying the position of a cursor are provided. In the method, the depth information of a human body portion of a user is determined. The user uses the human body portion to move the cursor. The cursor is located at the end of a ray cast emitted from a user side, and the user's head wears a head mounted display. The first position of the cursor is determined. The second position of the cursor different from the first position is determined based on the depth information of the human body portion and the first position. The second position is used as the current position of the cursor, and the current position is located at the end of a ray cast emitted from the user currently. Accordingly, it is easy to control the cursor for different heights or arm lengths.
US11119565B2

In one embodiment, a method may include outputting one or more sensor signals from an electronic device into a portion of a user's body, and detecting one or more deflected signals from the one or more sensor signals. The method may include detecting a bone structure of the user's body based on the one or more deflected signals. Then, the method may include determining a user measurement based on the one or more deflected signals, the health measurement being adjusted by the detected bone structure.
US11119562B2

A method comprises receiving, by a computing device, a desired usage plan for a plurality of user devices associated with a group of users; determining, by the computing device, whether an amount of power available across the plurality of user devices is sufficient to implement the desired usage plan; generating, by the computing device and based on the amount of power available across the plurality of user devices for the desired usage rules, usage rules that allocate the usage of the plurality of the user devices by each user in the group of users; and outputting to the plurality of user devices, the usage rules to cause the plurality of user devices to limit the usage of the plurality of user devices by each user in the group of users based on the allocation.
US11119557B2

A system includes an adapter port and a control circuit coupled to the adapter port. The system also includes host hardware coupled to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to reset the host hardware in response to detecting an adapter removal pattern at the adapter port.
US11119555B2

In one embodiment, a processor includes a plurality of cores and a power controller. This power controller in turn may include a voltage ramp logic to pre-empt a voltage ramp of a voltage regulator from a first voltage to a second voltage, responsive to a request for a second core to exit a low power state. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US11119537B2

A display device includes a display module, a protection film, and a complementary film. The display module is foldable with respect to a first bending axis and a second bending axis spaced apart from the first bending axis. The protection film is below the display module, overlaps the first bending axis and the second bending axis, and includes a polymer material. The complementary film is below the protection film, overlaps only the second bending axis of the first and second bending axes, and includes a metal.
US11119532B2

Methods and apparatus to implement microphones in thin form factor electronic devices are disclosed. An electronic device includes a chassis having an exterior surface and an interior surface. The chassis includes a plurality of holes extending through the chassis. The plurality of holes are within a 1 mm diameter circular area of the chassis. The electronic device further includes a microphone coupled to the interior surface of the chassis adjacent the circular area of the chassis.
US11119523B2

A reference voltage generator is disclosed that may provide a plurality of reference voltages. A reference voltage generator may include a voltage divider, a multiplexer coupled to the voltage divider, an operational amplifier that may receive a voltage from the multiplexer, and a plurality of resistors that may receive an output from the operational amplifier. The reference voltages may be provided from output terminals coupled to the resistors. A reference voltage generator may include a voltage divider, two multiplexers coupled to the voltage divider, an operational amplifier coupled to each multiplexer, and a plurality of resistors coupled between the outputs of the two operational amplifiers. Reference voltages may be provided from output terminals coupled to the resistors.
US11119504B2

Using a set of airflow sensors disposed on an airfoil of an aircraft, first airflow data including an amount of airflow experienced at each airflow sensor at a first time is measured. Using a trained neural network model, the first airflow data is analyzed to determine an airflow state of the aircraft. In response to determining that the aircraft is in the abnormal airflow state, a control surface and a power unit of the aircraft are adjusted. Responsive to the adjusting, the aircraft is returned to the normal airflow state.
US11119501B2

A method of controlling a moving-robot includes creating a plurality of maps having different generation-time information through a plurality of driving processes; choosing any one of the plurality of maps according to a certain map choosing algorithm based on current time information and the generation-time information, and attempting location recognition based on the chosen map.
US11119499B2

A marker system (1) including a sensor array (21) for detecting a magnetic marker laid in a road, a tag reader (34) which acquires marker position information indicating a laying position of the magnetic marker, an IMU (22) which estimates a relative position of a vehicle by inertial navigation calculation, and a control unit (32) which performs an arithmetic process for identifying a position of the vehicle based on the laying position of the detected magnetic marker, and also identifies the position of the vehicle after passage over the magnetic marker based on a relative position of the vehicle estimated by the IMU (22), thereby allowing stable identification of its own vehicle position without being affected by surrounding environment.
US11119494B2

Controlling a vehicle according to a trained neural network model capable of being used to generate an output from which one or more vehicle operating variables can be estimated. The neural network model can be used to process, as input, aggregated data corresponding to operational and/or environmental characteristics experienced by the vehicle during at least a portion of a voyage. The aggregated data can include a range of values collected over a period of time when the vehicle is traversing the portion of the voyage. The output generated by the neural network model, based on processing the input, can be further processed in order to determine, for example, an estimated state of charge and/or an estimated remaining flight time for the vehicle. Such estimated values can thereafter be used by a controller of the vehicle to maintain course or maneuver to a charging station.
US11119486B2

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to provide an improved mobility vehicle are disclosed. An example vehicle includes a sensor positioned with respect to a seat to detect pressure by a user with respect to the sensor and to generate a signal corresponding to the pressure; and a processor to convert the signal into a control command for a powertrain to move the vehicle.
US11119481B2

A system and method are provided for setting parameters in an autonomous working device. The autonomous working device can be controlled based on a plurality of parameters. For each of a plurality of different working environments a set of sensor values is generated. The plurality of sets is partitioned into categories, each category corresponding to a prototypical working environment. The parameters for each category are optimized to find an optimized parameter set for each prototypical working environment. For an individual working environment, an individual set of sensor values that the sensors of the autonomous working device produce is generated. Based at least on the individual set of sensor values, the prototypical working environment showing highest similarity to the individual environment is determined, and the parameters in the autonomous working device are set according to the optimized parameter set corresponding to the determined prototypical working environment.
US11119480B2

A driving assistance system for a vehicle includes a control operable to control the vehicle in an autonomous or semi-autonomous mode. When operating in the autonomous mode, driving of the vehicle is controlled by the control without human intervention and, when operating in the semi-autonomous mode, an occupant of the vehicle at least partially drives the vehicle. The control learns a driving style of a particular occupant when the vehicle is being driven by that particular occupant and when the control is operating in the semi-autonomous mode. The control, when operating in the autonomous mode, controls the vehicle in accordance with the learned driving style of the particular occupant of the vehicle. Responsive to a determination of a characteristic of an occupant in the vehicle, the control, when operating in the autonomous, may adjust control of the vehicle irrespective of the learned driving style of the particular occupant.
US11119479B2

A vehicle control apparatus includes a notification unit configured to notify a driver of a switching request from automated driving to manual driving, and a setting unit configured to set a notification timing of the notification unit. In a case in which a course change of a vehicle is needed up to a predetermined point during the automated driving, the setting unit sets a timing that comes earliest from a plurality of candidates of the notification timing. The plurality of candidates includes a first candidate based on a condition necessary for completing the course change by the manual driving up to the predetermined point, and a second candidate based on a condition necessary for setting the vehicle in a predetermined standby state by the automated driving up to the predetermined point.
US11119478B2

An example method involves detecting a sensor-testing trigger. Detecting the sensor-testing trigger may comprise determining that a vehicle is within a threshold distance to a target in an environment of the vehicle. The method also involves obtaining sensor data collected by a sensor of the vehicle after the detection of the sensor-testing trigger. The sensor data is indicative of a scan of a region of the environment that includes the target. The method also involves comparing the sensor data with previously-collected sensor data indicating detection of the target by one or more sensors during one or more previous scans of the environment. The method also involves generating performance metrics related to the sensor of the vehicle based on the comparison.
US11119475B2

A vehicle control system includes a controller that is configured to generate control signals for moving vehicles in a yard or other facility. The vehicle control system is configured to generate the control signals responsive to a determination that a user selection of vehicle movement is possible within the yard or other facility.
US11119463B2

The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods and devices for facilitating object-based cross-domain industrial automation control. An object library comprising a plurality of objects may be maintained. One or more of the objects may represent physical counterparts for use in an industrial automation process. Each object of the plurality of objects in the object library may have at least one property that an automated control device operation can be programmed to act on. Each object of the plurality of objects may also have at least one property that a human machine interface component can utilize in generating display elements corresponding to the objects for display on the human machine interface. When modifications to objects in the object library are received, those modifications may be automatically deployed and incorporated in controller logic and HMI graphics and control.
US11119453B2

The embodiments herein disclose a system and method for remote and non-intrusive monitoring of a plurality of assets and entities. The system comprises a central platform module, a client module, a plurality of sensor units and a plurality of entity modules. Each sensor device is configured for measuring vibrations and changes in orientation of physical structure in three-dimensional axis to generate sensor data. The system also comprises a machine learning module, which provides the system with the intelligence to extract relevance of a measured physical parameter to contextually provide actions to be taken. The embodiments herein also provide a system and method for remote and non-intrusive monitoring of a level of liquid fuel in an electric power generator device. The system comprises no intrusive mechanism to measure the actual level of liquid present in the electric power generator.
US11119448B2

An electronic visible light sensor is employed to detect the presence or lack of sunlight. The simple, digital light/dark data from the sensor is fed to electronic circuits which control security and other devices dependent upon day and night status. These circuits are directed and controlled in turn by associated electronic circuits that gather data which measures the length of the solar night, that is, between dusk and dawn, and by deduction, the length of the day. Given that these time periods vary daily and in a regular fashion, the result will necessarily differ by a few minutes each and every day during the 365 day solar year. The resulting day/night time data is used to estimate, with say, a four to ten minute accuracy, taken against the Universal Coordinated Time System, to establish start/stop times, durations and cycles of security and other devices dependent upon the presence or lack of sunlight relative to UCT designated within the universally accepted twenty-four day. These results are fed to the security control circuitry to define control of data to security and other devices.
US11119436B2

A driving device for driving a driven member includes a driving source; a driving gear fixed to a rotation shaft of the driving source; at least one gear for transmitting rotational motion of the driving gear to the driven member; a rotation detection gear engaged with the at least one gear; a detector for detecting rotation of the rotation detection gear; and a controller for detecting an angular speed and a rotational phase of the rotation detection gear on the basis of information from the detector and for controlling the rotational speed of the driving source such that a rotation period of the rotation detection gear is a non-integer multiple of a rotation period of the driving gear.
US11119432B2

In an image forming apparatus, a conveyance section forms a conveyance path and conveys a sheet in a conveyance direction. The conveyance section includes a conveyance roller for rotating around a roller shaft extending in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and a guide member. The guide member includes a first guide member for rotating around a first axial line to open/close with respect to a first partial region of the conveyance path, and a second guide member for rotating around a second axial line to open/close with respect to a second partial region different from the first partial region. The first axial line extends in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of the roller shaft. The second axial line extends in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction. The first guide member opens in conjunction with an opening action of the second guide member.
US11119428B2

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a heater, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to generate first energization data based on at least part of first raster image data representing a first image to be formed on a first page, and then compress the first raster image data into first compressed image data. The control circuit is also configured to generate second energization data based on at least part of second raster image data representing a second image to be formed on a second page, and then compress the second raster image data into second compressed image data. The control circuit is configured to further determine whether rotation of the second image by a predetermined degree will lower power consumption based on a comparison of the first energization data to the second energization data.
US11119425B2

If a user is not familiar with the operation for the developer supply container, the rotating operation for the developer supply container may be insufficient, so that developer supply container does not reach a predetermined operating position, with the result of abnormal developer supply. by increasing a rotation load of a second gear 6 which is in an operable connection with a drive gear member 12 of the developer receiving apparatus 10 by a function of a locking member 7, the developer supply container 1 mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 10 is rotated toward the supply position. After the developer supply container 1 rotates to the supply position, the locking by the locking member 7 is released, by which the rotation load applied to the second gear 6 is reduced, so that drive transmission, thereafter, to the feeding member 4 for developer supply is smooth.
US11119424B2

Provided is an image forming unit contained in a flexible bag and held to allow a cushion member to absorb shock. The image forming unit includes: an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; a developing device including a developing unit that is configured to develop the electrostatic latent image by turning around a turning center and coming into contact with the image carrier; and a developer accommodating portion that accommodates a developer for use in the developing device. The image forming unit also includes a restricting portion that is provided on an outermost portion of the developing device to come into contact with the cushion material so that rotation of the developing device is restricted.
US11119422B2

A toner includes toner particles. The toner particles each include a toner mother particle containing a binder resin and an external additive. The external additive includes resin particles. The toner mother particles have a chargeability opposite to a chargeability of the resin particles. Each of the resin particles has an embedded portion embedded in a surface portion of the toner mother particle and a protruding portion protruding outward from the toner mother particle in a radial direction of the toner mother particle. In a cross section of the resin particle, a relationship 0.60≤LA/(LA+LB)≤0.80 is satisfied where LA represents a maximum length of the embedded portion in the radial direction of the toner mother particle and LB represents a maximum length of the protruding portion in the radial direction of the toner mother particle.
US11119418B2

A focus compensation method and apparatus thereof are provided. The focusing compensation method includes steps of: (S11) providing an exposure lens set; (S12) providing an object, measuring line-widths of the object at points of line segments along an axial direction by different focusing conditions, to obtain measured values, and obtaining at least one line-width curve from the measured values; and (S13) calibrating a focusing operation of the exposure lens set according to the at least one line-width curve. Line-widths of a product are measured, and fed back to an exposure machine to calibrate the focusing operations of the exposure machine, thereby improving the focusing accuracy of the exposure machine.
US11119411B2

In a drive method for a spatial light modulator, out of a first boundary region and a second boundary region arranged adjacently in a Y-direction and extending in an X-direction, mirror elements arranged at a first pitch not resolved by a projection optical system, in the X-direction in the first boundary region are set in the phase 0, and the other mirror elements therein are set in the phase π; mirror elements arranged at a second pitch not resolved by the projection optical system, in the X-direction in the second boundary region are set in the phase π, and the other mirror elements therein are set in the phase 0.
US11119399B2

According to the present invention, provided is a mask blank (10), in which: a light shielding film (4) has a single layer structure or a laminate structure of a plurality of layers; at least one layer of the light shielding film (4) is formed of a material which contains a transition metal and silicon and is free from nitrogen and oxygen, or a material which contains a transition metal, silicon, and nitrogen and satisfies a condition of the following expression (1); a phase shift film (2) has a surface layer and a layer other than the surface layer; and the layer other than the surface layer is formed of a material which contains a transition metal, silicon, nitrogen, and oxygen, has a content of oxygen of 3 atom % or more, and satisfies a condition of the following expression (A). CN≤9.0×10−6×RM4−1.65×10−4×RM3−7.718×10−2×RM2+3.611×RM−21.084   Expression (1) 0.04×AS−0.06×AM>1  Expression (A)
US11119396B1

Active areas of image sensors are determined by one or more parameters defining a mergeline or memory addresses where image data is stored. Image data generated by active areas of different image sensors are combined to create a panoramic image. Image distortion is detected in image data generated by an active area of an image sensor. Distortion in image data is addressed by configured image processing instructions. A dedicated image processor is assigned to at least each image sensor. At least one set of instructions assures that connecting image data generated by different image sensors is smoothed and/or blended to create a combined image with a substantially seamless transition between areas.
US11119393B2

A first holding barrel, a first mirror bending a first optical axis of the first holding barrel at 90°, a second holding barrel, a second mirror bending a second optical axis of the second holding barrel at 90°, and a third holding barrel are disposed on an optical axis from a screen side to an image forming panel. A first connection member connects the first holding barrel including the first mirror to the second holding barrel to be rotationally movable in increments of 90°. A second connection member connects the second holding barrel and the second mirror to the third holding barrel to be rotationally movable in increments of 90°. An orientation of a display image of the image forming panel is changed based on rotational movement states of an optical axis of a first sensor and an optical axis of a second sensor to make an orientation of a projection image on the screen match an original image.
US11119392B2

According to principles of the embodiments as disclosed herein, a device for monitoring the use of a handheld device is provided which allows for increased accuracy and ease of monitoring the use of handheld devices during usability testing. The device includes a handheld device mount configured to be releasably coupleable to a handheld device. The handheld device mount includes a cavity and a base and opposing first and second sides and first and second sidewalls extending from the base at the sides of the base. The mast has a first and second end. The first end of the mast is coupled to and extends from a third side of the cavity. A camera mount is located at the second end of the mast and configured to receive a camera.
US11119390B2

A photographing device includes a camera module assembly, a glass disposed external to the camera module assembly to protect the camera module assembly, and a temperature sensor configured to detect an internal temperature of the photographing device. The photographing device also includes a heating element disposed on the glass. The photographing device further includes a controller configured to obtain the external temperature and to control the heating element to heat the glass when a difference between the internal temperature and the external temperature reaches a predetermined temperature.
US11119384B2

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for hermetically sealing a nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal for use in a laser system. A mounted NLO crystal, an enclosure base, a lid, and a plurality of window components are moved into an oven. A vacuum bake process is then performed on the mounted NLO crystal, enclosure base, lid, and plurality of window components until a humidity level that is less than a predefined amount is reached. The mounted NLO crystal, enclosure base, lid, and plurality of window components are moved from the oven onto a stage of a glove box that includes a sealing tool. In the glove box, the mounted NLO crystal is hermetically sealed into the enclosure base by sealing the lid and plurality of window components into openings of the enclosure base.
US11119382B2

A variable focal length lens system includes a tunable acoustic gradient (TAG) lens; a TAG lens controller; a light source; a camera; and processor(s) configured to: (a) drive a periodic modulation of the TAG lens optical power, using a first amplitude driving signal that provides a first amplitude of the periodic modulation at a resonant frequency of the TAG lens, the first amplitude corresponding to a first focal Z range extending between peak focus distances Z1max+ and Z1max−, wherein the first amplitude driving signal is selected based on a first target focus distance Ztarget−1 and calibration data which relates different amplitude driving signals to different target focus distances Ztarget−i; and (b) operate the light source and camera to expose an image using at least one exposure increment wherein the focus distance during the exposure increment moves over a first exposure Z range that includes target focus distance Ztarget−1.
US11119380B2

Optical modulators are described having a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and a pair of RF electrodes interfaced with the Mach-Zehnder interferometer in which the Mach-Zehnder interferometer comprises optical waveguides formed from semiconductor material. The optical modulator additionally comprises a plurality of phase shifters configured to interface with the plurality of interconnected optical waveguides such that at least one phase shifter of the plurality of phase shifters is interfaced with at least one optical waveguide of the plurality of interconnected optical waveguides. A phase shifter controller, including an energy source with a variable output controlled by the controller and a plurality of electrical connections connecting the energy source to each of the plurality of phase shifters, is also included. In various embodiments, the plurality of electrical connections are configured to provide approximately equal power to each of the phase shifting elements from the energy source.
US11119376B2

An electro-optical device includes a contact hole configured to electrically connect a scanning line and a gate electrode of a TFT as a transistor, the contact hole being provided, in plan view, along a semiconductor layer of the TFT and including a body portion spaced apart from a channel region of the semiconductor layer by a first distance, and a protruded portion protruding from the body portion toward a region other than the channel region of the semiconductor layer, and spaced apart from the region other than the channel region by a second distance, which is less than the first distance.
US11119375B1

A display panel and an electronic device are provided. The display panel includes a plurality of data lines positioned in a display region and arranged along a first direction; a plurality of scan lines; a plurality of sub-pixels; a plurality of light-shielding electrodes positioned in the display region and arranged along the first direction; a plurality of connection lines positioned in a non-display region; wherein each of the light-shielding electrodes overlaps corresponding one of the data lines, openings are provided between each two of the light-shielding electrodes so that each two of the light-shielding electrodes are not connected to each other, and each of the connection lines is connected to one of the light-shielding electrodes.
US11119374B2

According to one embodiment, a display device includes a liquid crystal layer between a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a wiring line and a pixel electrode. The liquid crystal layer contains a stripe-shaped polymer extending in a first direction and a liquid crystal molecule. The liquid crystal layer contains a first polymer in an area overlapping the wiring line and a second polymer in an area overlapping the pixel electrode. The first polymer includes a first portion extending in a direction different from the first direction. The second polymer includes a second portion extending in a direction different from the first direction. A density of the first portion is higher than a density of the second portion.
US11119366B2

A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a pixel electrode which is disposed on the first substrate and comprises a first sub-pixel electrode and a second sub-pixel electrode adjacent to the first sub-pixel electrode along a first direction, and a shielding electrode which is disposed on the same layer as the pixel electrode and comprises a first area having a first width and a second area having a second width which is smaller than the first width along a second direction which crosses the first direction, and the first sub-pixel electrode may be adjacent to the first area along the second direction, and the second sub-pixel electrode may be adjacent to the second area along the second direction.
US11119362B1

This application discloses a display panel manufacturing process and a display panel. The manufacturing process includes: forming a common line, a common electrode and a transparent electrode layer, the transparent electrode layer being in communication with the common line; and arranging an Au ball on the transparent electrode layer, and enabling the Au ball to communicate the transparent electrodes layer with the common electrode.
US11119360B2

According to some aspects, a liquid crystal display panel comprising an electrode is provided. The electrode comprises a plurality of convex branch electrode portions arranged in a plane, the convex branch electrode portions being convex when viewed from a first direction perpendicular to the plane and extending from a central region of the electrode to a periphery of the electrode, and a plurality of concave branch electrode portions, the concave branch electrode portions being concave when viewed from the first direction, extending from the central region to the periphery and adjacent to convex branch electrode portions. According to some aspects, a method of applying a pretilt to molecules in a liquid crystal layer of a liquid crystal display panel by applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer via first and second electrodes is provided.
US11119358B2

The present invention provides a backlight structure and a liquid crystal display. The backlight structure includes a heat sink, a glass back plate, a locking member and a buckle. The heat sink includes a first heat dissipation plate and a second heat dissipation plate. The glass back plate is disposed opposite to the heat dissipation plate. The buckle is connected to the glass back plate and the heat sink. A gap is formed between the glass back plate and the first heat dissipation plate. The liquid crystal display includes the above backlight structure.
US11119357B2

A display apparatus (1) comprises: a display panel (3); an optical sheet (4) having rectangular shape; and a support member (5) having a slider (S) supporting at least one side (41a) of the optical sheet, wherein the support member (5) has a support part (51) to which the slider (S) is slidably mounted, the optical sheet (4) has a fixing part to be fixed to the slider (S), the fixing part being provided along an end region positioned from a central region of the at least one side (41a) of the optical sheet (4) toward an end of the at least one side (41a) of the optical sheet (4), and the slider (S) slides with respect to the support part (51) in accordance with expansion and contraction of the optical sheet (4) in a direction along the at least one side (41a) of the optical sheet (4).
US11119350B2

The present application discloses a display panel and a display apparatus. The display panel includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; and a plurality of spacers, supporting the first substrate and the second substrate, and disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, where the spacers are disposed at an interval, and the spacers includes a first spacer and a second spacer, a height gap is formed between the first spacer and the second spacer.
US11119331B2

The disclosure is directed toward stabilizing an image projected by a projector in an environment including vibrations or other movements that displace the projected image. In one set of implementations, an image projected by a projector may be stabilized by using an image stabilization system that detects a displacement of the projector from an equilibrium position and controls an optical element of the projector to offset the displacement. In an additional set of implementations, an image projected by the projector may be stabilized by using an image stabilization system that measures a rate of displacement from equilibrium of an image projected by the projector to predict a displacement of the projector and counteract the predicted displacement. In another set of implementations, an image projected by a projector may be stabilized by precalculating a plurality of lookup tables that correct for displacements of the projected image during operation of the projector.
US11119326B1

Eyewear having a camera capturing images, and an image processor configured to process the images and display the processed image in both controlled and uncontrolled regions on the display. In an example, the image processor applies a vignette gradient to soften edges of the displayed image in the uncontrolled regions, which compensates for any discoloration in the uncontrolled regions. The uncontrolled regions may be located above and below the controlled region.
US11119324B2

A display system is configured to direct a plurality of parallactically-disparate intra-pupil images into a viewer's eye. The parallactically-disparate intra-pupil images provide different parallax views of a virtual object, and impinge on the pupil from different angles. In the aggregate, the wavefronts of light forming the images approximate a continuous divergent wavefront and provide selectable accommodation cues for the user, depending on the amount of parallax disparity between the intra-pupil images. The amount of parallax disparity may be selected using an array of shutters that selectively regulate the entry of image light into an eye. Each opened shutter in the array provides a different intra-pupil image, and the locations of the open shutters provide the desired amount of parallax disparity between the images. In some other embodiments, the images may be formed by an emissive micro-display. Each pixel formed by the micro-display may be formed by one of a group of light emitters, which are at different locations such that the emitted light takes different paths to the eye, the different paths providing different amounts of parallax disparity.
US11119314B1

A method includes projecting an object in a digital space. The object is transitioned to a final viewable peripheral location in the digital space. The object is removed from the digital space to define an unviewable path segment. The object is introduced to an initial viewable peripheral location in the digital space substantially opposite the final viewable peripheral location in the digital space. The initial viewable peripheral location to the final viewable peripheral location defines a viewable path segment. The object is returned to the center of the digital space. The operations are performed in an aggregate object path including the viewable path segment and the unviewable path segment. The object has a pre-configured object velocity and a pre-configured cycle time period in the aggregate object path.
US11119313B1

An imaging system for producing extended-reality images for a display apparatus. The imaging system including camera that is employed to capture input image representing captured region of real-world environment; and processor configured to: generate intermediate image by correcting spatial distortion of input image; determine capturing region of intermediate image representing captured region of real-world environment and non-capturing regions of intermediate image corresponding to non-captured regions of real-world environment; generate image data for non-capturing region of intermediate image, based on at least one of: information pertaining to virtual object that is to be virtually superimposed, capturing region neighbouring non-capturing region, previous extended-reality image, photogrammetric model of real-world environment; and process intermediate image, based on generated image data, to produce extended-reality image to be presented at display apparatus.
US11119309B1

A method for determining filtering capabilities of a magnification device suitable for providing protection from light when viewed through the magnification device is disclosed. The filtering capability of the magnification device is determined based at least one of an input power of the inputted light signal, a magnification level of the magnification device and an orientation of the filtering within the magnification device. Further disclosed is an lighting system that generates a light, which when reflected into the magnification device is prevent from causing damage to a user's eyes based on the selection of the filtering system disclosed herein.
US11119305B2

A lens system comprises a first lens group and a second lens group, and is configured to form an image at a first magnification and at a second magnification. The lens system has a common optical axis in both magnifications. The lens system is further configured to form an intermediate image between the first lens group and the second lens group at the first magnification. The intermediate image formed in the first magnification is further imaged onto an optical detector. In the first magnification, the second lens group acts as a relay lens imaging the intermediate image onto the optical detector. In the second magnification, the first and second lens groups together form an image on the optical detector without forming an intermediate image.
US11119304B2

A device may capture, using a camera associated with the device, a first image of a first set of optical fibers associated with an optical connector within a field of view of the camera. The device may determine that an actual distance of a relative movement of the camera and the optical connector and an expected distance of the relative movement of the camera and the optical connector fail to match. The device may perform one or more actions after determining that the actual distance and the expected distance fail to match.
US11119300B2

An assembly for use in a microscope having an objective assembly including an aperture. The assembly includes a lens and a beamsplitter. configured to form a respective aperture image on each of two optical paths. The assembly further includes, on each optical path, a stop structure located on a plane of the respective aperture image, so as to block a portion of the respective aperture image in order to provide an exit pupil, such that a stereoscopic image of an object viewed through the microscope is produceable by the combination of the images of the object visible through each exit pupil. Image sensors are configured to capture an image visible through the respective exit pupil and to output a digital image. A digital image processor is configured to apply a correction to the respective digital image output by each image sensor, based on the position of the respective stop structure.
US11119293B2

An imaging lens system may include a first lens; a second lens; a third lens; a diaphragm; a fourth lens; a fifth lens; a sixth lens; and a seventh lens. The first lens may be a positive meniscus lens. The second lens may be a negative meniscus lens. The third lens may be a meniscus lens comprising. The fourth lens may be a positive lens. The fifth lens may be a positive lens. The sixth lens may be a negative lens comprising a sixth lens concave surface facing the image side. The seventh lens may be a positive lens comprising a seventh lens convex surface facing the object side. The fifth lens may be a glass lens. The second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh lenses may be plastic lenses. The sixth lens concave surface may be joined to the seventh lens convex surface with an adhesive.
US11119283B2

The present disclosure provides an optical fiber connector, comprising an integrated ferrule assembly and an integrated outer housing assembly, the ferrule assembly being adapted to be fitted into the housing assembly. The ferrule assembly at least comprises an inner housing, a spring, a multi-hole ferrule, a multi-fiber optical cable, a sleeve and a thermal shrinkable tube. The housing assembly at least comprises an outer housing, an outer tail tube and an outer protection cap. In the present disclosure, a plurality of components such as the inner housing, the spring, the multi-hole ferrule, multi-fiber optical cable, the sleeve, the thermal shrinkable tube and the like can be preassembled into an integrated ferrule assembly, and a plurality of components such as the outer housing, the outer tail tube, the outer protection cap and the like can be preassembled into an integrated outer housing assembly; then, a worker only needs to insert the integrated ferrule assembly into the integrated outer housing assembly on site, thereby completing assembling operation of the whole optical fiber connector conveniently and quickly.
US11119281B2

A compliant adapter for fiber-optic connectors that are inserted into a cut-out in a panel include a main body extending between a first end and a second end and a compliant piece disposed at the second end of the main body that is movable between a relaxed position and a compressed position. The compliant adapter has a first opening area in the relaxed position and a smaller second opening area in the compressed position.
US11119280B2

Disclosed are grating couplers having a high coupling efficiency for optical communications. In one embodiment, an apparatus for optical coupling is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a substrate; a grating coupler comprising a plurality of coupling gratings over the substrate, wherein each of the plurality of coupling gratings extends in a first lateral direction and has a cross-section having a middle-raised shape in a second lateral direction, wherein the first and second lateral directions are parallel to a surface of the substrate and perpendicular to each other in a grating plane; and a cladding layer comprising an optical medium, wherein the cladding layer is filled in over the grating coupler.
US11119274B2

An optical waveguide includes a core extending in a transmission direction of light, a clad covering the core along the transmission direction, and a mixing layer containing a material for the core and a material for the clad on the interface between the core and the clad, and the mixing layer includes a plurality of regions each having a different thickness in the transmission direction.
US11119268B2

A backlight module is provided. The backlight module includes a light guide plate; a plurality of reflective gratings on a first side of the light guide plate; and a plurality of reflectors on a second side of the light guide plate. A respective one of the plurality of reflective gratings is configured to diffract and reflect a portion of light totally reflected in the light guide plate into diffracted light transmitting across the light guide plate from the first side toward the second side. A portion of the diffracted light has a respective wavelength range to be received by a respective reflector. The respective one of the plurality of reflectors is configured to reflect the portion of the diffracted light having the respective wavelength range transmitting from the second side toward the first side to a position between the respective grating and an adjacent reflective grating.
US11119258B2

A color filter substrate, a method of manufacturing the color filter substrate and a display device. The color filter substrate includes a base substrate, and a plurality of color resists on the base substrate, the plurality of color resists having at least two different heights. Roughness of top surfaces of the plurality of color resists is inversely proportional to the heights of the plurality of color resists.
US11119254B2

A system and a method include a substrate wrinkled coating having a substrate, and a curing layer on top of the substrate. The curing layer includes a partially cured portion directly atop the substrate, and a completely cured portion having light-diffusive wrinkles on top of the partially cured portion. Properties of the light-diffusive wrinkles are controlled by one or more curing parameters, and a composition of the partially cured portion is the same as a composition of the completely cured portion.
US11119237B2

Methods are provided for determining properties of an anisotropic formation (including both fast and slow formations) surrounding a borehole. A logging-while-drilling tool is provided that is moveable through the borehole. The logging-while drilling tool has at least one dipole acoustic source spaced from an array of receivers. During movement of the logging-while-drilling tool, the at least one dipole acoustic source is operated to excite a time-varying pressure field in the anisotropic formation surrounding the borehole. The array of receivers is used to measure waveforms arising from the time-varying pressure field in the anisotropic formation surrounding the borehole. The waveforms are processed to determine a parameter value that represents shear directionality of the anisotropic formation surrounding the borehole.
US11119228B2

There is provided a radiation detector using SiC and of a structure in which an electric field is applied to the interior of the entire SiC crystal constituting a radiation sensible layer, aiming to detect radiation while suppressing a reduction in electric signals generated in the radiation sensible layer. The radiation detector includes: a radiation sensible layer formed of silicon carbide and configured to generate an electron hole pair due to radiation entering it; a first semiconductor region in contact with a first principal surface of the radiation sensible layer and exhibiting a first impurity concentration at least in the region in contact with the radiation sensible layer; a second semiconductor region in contact with a second principal surface on the opposite side of the first principal surface and exhibiting a second impurity concentration at least in the region in contact with the radiation sensible layer; a first electrode connected to the first semiconductor region; and a second electrode connected to the second semiconductor region. The impurity concentration in the radiation sensible layer adjacent to the first semiconductor region, with the first principal surface serving as a border, is discontinuous with the first impurity concentration; the impurity concentration in the radiation sensible layer adjacent to the second semiconductor region, with the second principal surface serving as a border, is discontinuous with the second impurity concentration; and an electric field is applied to the entire radiation sensible layer in the depth direction thereof at a voltage during operation.
US11119226B2

A variety of applications can include a gamma ray logging system having a gamma ray detector, where temperature sensitivity of the gamma ray detector is accounted for in the operation of the logging system. Correction of sensitivity of the gamma ray detector can include using a measure of sensitivity drift derived from temperature binned gamma ray spectra from measurements by the gamma ray detector over a calibration period for a number of calibration periods. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US11119225B2

A measuring device capable of referring to map information, comprising: a first position measuring circuit for measuring a position of the device by receiving a signal transmitted from a positioning satellite; a power source circuit for supplying a power source to the first position measuring circuit; and a processor configured to suspend, in a case of determining that measurement using the first position measuring circuit is not possible, supply of a power source to the first position measuring circuit when determining that a position of the device is indoors based on a latest measurement result by the first position measuring circuit before it is determined that the measurement using the first position measuring circuit is not possible, and the map information.
US11119221B2

A device for mitigating satellite navigation spoofing includes processing circuitry which detects correlation peaks for PRNs in a satellite navigation signal. The TOAs of subframes of navigation messages associated with each of correlation peaks are recorded and analyzed to determine if they fall within a specified time window. Based on the analysis, the correlation peaks are classified as legitimate or as spoofed. A correct geographic location is computed from the navigation data associated with the legitimate correlation peaks. Corresponding methods for mitigating satellite navigation spoofing may be embodied in a hardware-based GNSS receiver and in a software-based GNSS receiver.
US11119212B2

A LIDAR system for vehicle operation that can operate in degraded visual environments (DVE) is described. The LIDAR system may use a spatial light modulator to find the phase conjugate of the DVE being traversed by the laser beam and cancel out the backscatter from the DVE, which allows the detection of extremely small numbers of directly reflected photons reflected by a target surface. If the target is not detected, the LIDAR is iteratively scanned to its maximum available depth of focus until the target is acquired. The LIDAR system is especially useful for autonomous landing of VTOL aerial vehicles in locations where the target landing spot is approximately known but cannot be directly visualized due to DVE media, such as smoke, dust, fog, or the like.
US11119208B2

An echo image generating device may be provided, which includes a signal acquiring module, a sensitivity setting module, and a screen generating module. The signal acquiring module may acquire an echo signal from a target object around a ship. The sensitivity setting module may perform a first sensitivity setting for the echo signal in a first range, and a second sensitivity setting for the echo signal in a second range without including the first range, the second sensitivity setting being different from the first sensitivity setting. The screen generating module may generate an echo image of the first range based on the first sensitivity setting, and generate an echo image of the second range based on the second sensitivity setting.
US11119207B2

Customization of screening procedures based on identity information is described. In embodiments, individuals and items associated with individuals are routed based on, among other factors, identity, categorization, and threshold, such as security threshold. Wayfinding is also described for use in identity verification and physical screening of individuals and associated items. The systems, devices, techniques and approaches described herein can be used in a variety of screening situations including, but not limited to, mass transit, border security, correctional facilities, department of motor vehicles, sporting events, testing centers, and so on as understood by one of skill in the art.
US11119203B2

To provide a radar device capable of improving azimuth estimation accuracy by compensating the Doppler phase shift of a moving target in a TDMA FMCW MIMO radar device. Provided is a radar device that allows transmitting antennas to perform transmission by performing sequential switching such that antenna element numbers are anterior-posterior symmetrical centering on a reference time and synthesizes a beat signal at the reference time from a first beat signal received by a receiving antenna before the reference time and a second beat signal received after the reference time.
US11119196B2

A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor includes a light source, a plurality of avalanche photodiodes, and a plurality of pulse generators. Control circuitry is coupled to the light source, the plurality of avalanche photodiodes, and the plurality of pulse generators, and the control circuitry includes logic that when executed by the control circuitry causes the time-of-flight sensor to perform operations. The operations include emitting the light from the light source, and receiving the light reflected from an object with the plurality of avalanche photodiodes. A plurality of pulses is output from the individual pulse generators corresponding to the individual avalanche photodiodes that received the light, and a timing signal is output when the plurality of pulses overlap temporally. A time is calculated when a first avalanche photodiode in the plurality of avalanche photodiodes received the light.
US11119182B2

A first communication node and method therein for activation of a positioning procedure for a target device in a wireless communication network are disclosed. The first communication node determines whether the target device has moved and activates a positioning procedure for the target device when the movement is larger than a threshold.
US11119172B2

A method for MRI may include obtaining one or more scan parameters. The one or more scan parameters may include information of a plurality of diffusion gradients. The method may include causing, based on the one or more scan parameters, an imaging device to perform a plurality of scans to one or more slices of an object by applying the plurality of diffusion gradients to the one or more slices. For two components in a specific direction of the plurality of diffusion gradients applied in any two successive scans of the plurality of scans, there may be at most one component exceeding a first threshold. The specific direction may be one of a readout direction, a phase-encoding direction, or a slice-selection direction. The first threshold may be less than diffusion gradient energy relating to a duration and strength associated with one of the plurality of diffusion gradients.
US11119167B2

A magnetic resonance imaging system (100, 200, 300, 400) includes a wireless communication station (600) which: receives via a receive antenna element (630) at least one first clock signal among two or more first clock signals which are synchronized with a first clock (510); transmits two or more second clock signals from two or more transmit antenna elements (620-1) of a phased array antenna (620); transmits data representing a sensed magnetic resonance signal from at least two of the transmit antenna elements; outputs a clock synchronization signal in response to the received first clock signal(s); and synchronizes a second clock (610) to the first clock signal in response to the clock synchronization signal. The first clock signals are transmitted by a phased array antenna (520) of another wireless communication station (500). Phase and signal diversity transmission allows the first and second wireless communication stations to maintain clock synchronization in case of a loss of a line of sight path between the stations.
US11119161B2

According to one embodiment, a magnetic sensor includes a first element. The first element includes a first magnetic part, a first magnetic layer, a first nonmagnetic portion, and a first intermediate magnetic layer. The first magnetic part includes first to third portions. The first portion is between the second and third portions. The first portion has a first length and a second length. The second portion has at least one of a third length longer than the first length or a fourth length longer than the second length. The third portion has at least one of a fifth length longer than the first length or a sixth length longer than the second length. The first nonmagnetic portion is provided between the first portion and the first magnetic layer. The first intermediate magnetic layer is provided between the first portion and the first nonmagnetic portion.
US11119158B2

An electronic device including a continuity sensor and electrical circuitry configured to detect and report the continuity state of an article, container or product packaging is disclosed. The continuity sensor includes a first substrate with first and second coils thereon, and a second substrate with a third coil thereon. The first coil has an integrated circuit electrically connected thereto. The first substrate is part of, or is attached or secured to a part of the article, container or packaging. The second substrate is another part of, or is attached or secured to another part of the article, container or packaging. One of the article, container or packaging parts is (re)movable with respect to the other part. The first and second coils have one coupling when the article, container or packaging is closed or sealed, and a different coupling when the article, container or packaging is open or unsealed.
US11119157B2

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for estimating parameters of a battery equivalent circuit model. The battery equivalent circuit model includes a first and second resistors and a capacitor. The method includes reading a pulse discharge profile corresponding to a parameter estimation condition from a plurality of pre-stored pulse discharge profiles, the pulse discharge profile including a first number of terminal voltages sequentially measured from a battery having a specific SOC in a predetermined cycle while the battery is discharged with a specific constant current from an OCV corresponding to the specific SOC to a lower limit of discharge voltage at a specific temperature, extracting a second number of terminal voltages between the OCV and a threshold voltage from the first number of terminal voltages, and estimating resistance values of the first and second resistors based on the OCV, the constant current, and the second number of terminal voltages.
US11119152B2

Electronic scan circuitry includes a decompressor (510), a plurality of scan chains (520.i) fed by the decompressor (510), a scan circuit (502, 504) coupled to the plurality of scan chains (520.i) to scan them in and out, a masking circuit (590) fed by the scan chains (520.i), and a scannable masking qualification circuit (550, 560, 580) coupled to the masking circuit (590), the masking qualification circuit (550, 560, 580) scannable by scan-in of bits by the decompressor (510) along with scan-in of the scan chains (520.i), and the scannable masking qualification circuit (550, 560, 580) operable to hold such scanned-in bits upon scan-out of the scan chains through the masking circuit (590). Other scan circuitry, processes, circuits, devices and systems are also disclosed.
US11119151B2

A method for at least one of identifying and compensating for system errors in a measurement system is disclosed, wherein the measurement system comprises a signal generator and a signal analyzer. The method comprises: generating a test signal via the signal generator, the test signal having predetermined properties; forwarding the test signal to a device under test; processing the test signal via the device under test, thereby generating a transmission signal; receiving the transmission signal via the signal analyzer; determining a response function of the device under test based on the test signal and based on the transmission signal; and determining at least one periodic component of the response function. Further, a measurement system as well as a calibration system are disclosed.
US11119148B2

A test probe assembly includes a probe card, a plurality of test probes mounted to the probe card with each of the test probes having a probe tip segment and a probe end for positioning adjacent respective individual test pads of a semiconductor wafer, and a fiber optic lead mounted to each test probe. The fiber optic leads are arranged to direct incident light toward respective individual test pads of the semiconductor wafer. A plurality of photodetectors may be arranged about the probe card with individual photodetectors configured for reception of light reflected off the respective individual test pads to emit output signals used to generate image data representative of the individual test pads on the semiconductor wafer. The image data may be utilized to align the test pads with the test probes for subsequent testing.
US11119141B2

Activity sensing in the home has a variety of important applications, including healthcare, entertainment, home automation, energy monitoring and post-occupancy research studies. Many existing systems for detecting occupant activity require large numbers of sensors, invasive vision systems, or extensive installation procedures. Disclosed is an approach that uses a single plug-in sensor to detect a variety of electrical events throughout the home. This sensor detects the electrical noise on residential power tines created by the abrupt switching of electrical devices and the noise created by certain devices while in operation. Machine learning techniques are used to recognize electrically noisy events such as turning on or off a particular light switch, a television set, or an electric stove. The system has been tested to evaluate system performance over time and in different types of houses. Results indicate that various electrical events can be learned and classified with accuracies ranging from 85-90%.
US11119132B2

This disclosure relates generally to method and system for low sampling rate electrical load disaggregation. At low sampling rates, disaggregation of energy load is challenging due to unavailability of events and signatures of the constituent loads. The disclosed energy disaggregation technique receives aggregated load data from a utility meter and sequentially obtains training data for determining disaggregated energy load at low sampling rate. Dictionaries are used to characterize the different loads in terms of power values and time of operation. The obtained dictionary coefficients are treated as graph signals and graph smoothness is used for propagating the coefficients from the training phase to the test phase by formulating an optimization model. The derivation of the optimization model identifies the load of interest and estimate their power consumption based on optimization model constraints. This method achieves accuracy greater than 70% for the loads of interest at low sampling rates.
US11119129B1

An improved phasor estimation method for M-class phasor measurement units (PMUs) with a low computational burden is described. The method contains three steps: 1) A phasor measurement filter is designed by selecting parameters of Taylor weighted least square method to prioritize dynamic phasor accuracy and a high level of suppression on high-frequency interferences; 2) A finite impulse response lowpass filter is designed by the equal-ripple method is put forward to suppress low-frequency interferences; and 3) Phasor amplitude is corrected under off-nominal conditions.
US11119125B2

Closed loop current transducer includes a fluxgate sensing unit, a compensation coil wound around the fluxgate sensing unit, and a transducer housing mounted around the compensation coil, the fluxgate sensing unit comprising a fluxgate housing, a ring-shaped fluxgate magnetic field detector mounted in the fluxgate housing, and a magnetic shield mounted in the fluxgate housing, the magnetic shield surrounding the fluxgate magnetic field detector. The fluxgate housing includes first and second central parts, each central part comprising a radially inner side wall, a radially outer side wall and a base wall joining the inner side wall to the outer side wall, a sensor housing portion being formed on one side of the base wall and receiving the fluxgate magnetic field detector therein.
US11119123B2

A power meter includes a power meter housing and a terminal block that is movable relative to the power meter housing between a first orientation where two or more terminals of the terminal block face a first direction, and a second orientation where the two or more terminals of the terminal block face a second direction. A controller is operatively coupled to the two or more terminals of the terminal block in the first orientation and in the second orientation and is configured to determine a number of power monitor parameters for one or more phases of power that is delivered to a load based at least in part on signals at the two or more terminals of the terminal block.
US11119108B2

Methods and reagents are disclosed for preparing a liquid solution of a receptor. The methods comprise combining in a liquid medium the receptor, a chelating agent and a C2-C6 polyol. An amount of the chelating agent and the C2-C6 polyol is sufficient to achieve a stable and active receptor in the liquid solution, which is maintained at a temperature of about 2° C. to about 40° C. The compositions may be employed in assays for the determination of analytes that include receptor-binding analytes.
US11119103B1

Provided herein is a test system comprising severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor binding domain (RBD) antigen, SARS-CoV-2 S2 antigen, and binding moieties that specifically bind to human IgG, human IgA, and human IgM. Also provided are methods of detecting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a sample using the test system.
US11119101B2

A fluidic cartridge and methods of operation are described. The fluidic cartridge includes a substrate having a plurality of contact pads designed to electrically couple with an analyzer, a semiconductor chip having a sensor array, and a reference electrode. The fluidic cartridge includes a first fluidic channel having an inlet and coupled to a second fluidic channel, the second fluidic channel being aligned such that the sensor array and the reference electrode are disposed within the second fluidic channel. A first plug is disposed at the first inlet. The first plug includes a compliant material configured to be punctured by a capillary without leaking fluid through the first plug.
US11119086B2

The disclosure provides materials and methods for conferring improved plant traits or benefits on plants. The materials can include a formulation comprising an exogenous endophytic bacterial population, which can be disposed on an exterior surface of a seed or seedling, typically in an amount effective to colonize the plant. The formulations can include at least one member selected from the group consisting of an agriculturally compatible carrier, a tackifier, a microbial stabilizer, a fungicide, an antibacterial agent, an herbicide, a nematicide, an insecticide, a plant growth regulator, a rodenticide, and a nutrient.
US11119083B2

A system for testing a vapor product with a mouthpiece that has a non-circular cross section includes an adaptor coupled to a neck portion of a filter pad holder. The adaptor includes a nose to receive the neck portion and an adaptor body coupled to the nose. An opening is defined by the adaptor body and the nose, the opening extending through the adaptor body and the nose and configured to receive the neck portion. A sealing member is configured to be received by the adaptor and the filter pad holder. The sealing member includes a sealing member nose configured to be received by the neck portion, and a sealing member body coupled to the sealing member nose and configured to be received by the opening. The sealing member body defines an orifice, the orifice extending through the sealing member body.
US11119077B2

A gas chromatograph includes a display unit, indicators, and a display control unit. The gas chromatograph is provided with a plurality of units having the same function, and the indicators are each associated with any of the plurality of units. When the error has occurred in any of the plurality of units in the gas chromatograph, processing of the display control unit displays an error notification screen on a display screen of a display unit, and in addition, operates an indicator associated with the unit in which the error has occurred. Therefore, a user can recognize in which of the plurality of units the error has occurred.
US11119076B2

Systems for use with liquid chromatography for provision of continuous flow or gradient flow in connection with two pumps providing mobile phase to a valve.
US11119075B2

A gas sensor including a gas sensing device having a resonant frequency that varies with adsorbed chemicals, a frequency detector configured to detect the resonant frequency of the gas sensing device, a calibrator configured to generate current calibration data based on the resonant frequency of the gas sensing device which has been heated to a calibration temperature in a calibration mode, and a compensator configured to adjust an output value of the frequency detector based on the current calibration data in a sensing mode may be provided.
US11119065B2

Provided is an electromagnetic sensor capable of stably measuring electric conductivity and the like even in the case where solid matters are mixed in a sample solution. The electromagnetic sensor includes a substrate, a through hole formed in the substrate, an electrode attached to a surface of the substrate, and a housing that covers the through hole and the electrode, and in this configuration, the sample solution supplied to a surface of the substrate opposite to the surface of the substrate having the electrode attached thereto is allowed to flow into the housing from the through hole and to be accommodated in the housing, so that the sample solution is allowed to be in contact with the electrode.
US11119062B2

Methods, apparatus, and assembly for measuring gas diffusion through tight (nanoporous) rock samples such as shale, and tortuosity of such rock samples.
US11119061B2

The present invention generally relates to a method of using NMR relaxation rates (R2) of water molecules as an indicator of the extent of aggregation of biopharmaceutical formulations. The biopharmaceutical can be evaluated nondestructively without the vial or container being opened or protective seal compromised (i.e., broken). The method is applicable to all biopharmaceuticals and the water signal obtained by magnetic resonance relaxometry is very strong and sensitive because water is used as the solvent and is present in high (>90%) concentrations in every biopharmaceutical formulation.
US11119051B2

A system for processing a substrate is provided. The system includes a process chamber including one or more sidewalls enclosing a processing region; and a substrate support. The system further includes a passageway connected to the process chamber; and a first particle detector disposed at a first location along the passageway. The first particle detector includes an energy source configured to emit a first beam; one or more optical devices configured to direct the first beam along one or more paths, where the one or more paths extend through at least a portion of the passageway. The first particle detector further includes a first energy detector disposed at a location other than on the one or more paths. The system further includes a controller configured to communicate with the first particle detector, wherein the controller is configured to identify a fault based on signals received from the first particle detector.
US11119042B2

A system of writing to and reading from a magnetic nanostructure is disclosed which includes an opto-magnetic write arrangement including a polarizer configured to receive incident light and provide a circularly or linearly polarized light, wherein light polarization is controlled by the polarizer and its orientation with respect to polarization of the incident light, a nanomagnetic structure configured to receive the polarized light including a substrate, and a nanomagnetic stack including a nanomagnet, and a capping layer, wherein the nanomagnetic stack is configured to receive the polarized light and thereby switch orientation of a magnetic moment associated with the magnetic nanostructure whereby the magnetic moment direction specifies a bit value held in the magnetic structure, and a magnetic read arrangement, configured to receive and interpret an optical signal from the magnetic nanostructure indicating the magnetic moment orientation from the nanomagnetic stack.
US11119032B2

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical multipass cell that is compact and low cost, does not require the installation of a cooling mechanism around the mirror, and can increase the number of reflections of laser light, and the present invention provides an optical multipass cell comprising a container (3) to which a sample gas is supplied and a pair of concave mirrors (5 and 7) arranged so as to face each other inside the container (3), a laser beam is incident into the container (3), and the laser beam is multiply reflected between the concave mirrors (5 and 7), wherein at least one convex lens (9) is arranged on the optical path of the laser beam that is multiply reflected between the pair of concave mirrors (5 and 7) so that the central axis (C2) thereof is inclined with respect to the central axis (C1) of the concave mirrors (5 and 7), and an acute angle formed by the central axis (C2) of the convex lens (9) and the central axis (C1) of the concave mirrors (5 and 7) is equal to or less than a critical angle when the laser beam is emitted from the convex lens (9).
US11119024B2

Provided herein are embodiments of a method and apparatus for measuring permeability of a rock core sample in the direction of pressure gradient. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a rock core sample having an inlet primary face, an outlet primary face and one or more sidewalls having a thickness (T) adjoining the inlet and outlet primary face, wherein the inlet primary face has a surface area (SAIF) and the one or more sidewalls have a surface area (SASW), and further wherein a ratio of the inlet primary face surface area (SAIF) to sidewall surface area (SASW) is at least 0.4; placing the rock core sample, unbounded, between an inlet flow plate and an outlet flow plate; directing a fluid through from the inlet flow plate into the rock core sample; and measuring a flow rate of the fluid exiting the outlet flow plate.
US11119023B2

An apparatus for evaluating gas barrier properties, a support having a polymer for supporting a sample, a chamber on a permeation side, and a detection unit, the support being joined to the opening of the chamber on a permeation side; in which a polymer film is provided between the support and a sample; a chamber on a supply side is provided, being disposed so as to be closably attachable to the sample and able to go up and down; and an external chamber covers a region interposed between the polymer film and the support; and a method of evaluating gas barrier properties using the same.
US11119020B2

Provided are embodiments for a system for determining wettability of fluid-fluid-solid systems. The system includes a confocal optical microscope and a storage medium, the storage medium being coupled to a processor. The processor is configured to perform a scan of a sample of a multi-phase system using the confocal optical microscope, wherein a phase defines a structural phase of matter, identify each phase of the sample, and measure a three-phase contact line for the sample, wherein the three-phase contact line is along an interface of first fluid and a second fluid and an interface of a second fluid and solid. The processor is configured to obtain one or more characteristics from the sample based at least in part on the three-phase contact line, and provide the one or more characteristics for the sample. Also provided are embodiments for a method for determining the wettability of fluid-fluid-solid systems.
US11119016B2

A digital image measurement device and method for the surface deformation of specimen based on sub-pixel corner detection is disclosed. This digital image measurement device is composed of a new type of image pressure cell, a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) camera, a camera bracket, a flexible lens hood, a computer and matching measurement software. This method discretizes the specimen into several four-node finite elements by printing grids on the specimen and takes corners of the grids as the nodes of the finite elements; tracks the deformation of the feature points in real time by edge detection and corner detection based on sub-pixel; captures the deformation of the whole surface of the specimen by the two flat mirrors which are at an 120° angle behind the specimen; achieves the observation of the deformation of the whole surface by conducting splicing and error correction on the three images.
US11119002B2

Provided is an experimental apparatus for simulating lifting operation of deep-sea mining, which relates to the technical field of experimental equipment of deep-sea mining. By this apparatus, dynamic characteristics of a spatial structure when simulating lifting operation of deep-sea mining are solved. The apparatus includes an experimental box, a wave-making mechanism, a flowrate control mechanism, a mining simulation mechanism and a monitoring mechanism. The wave-making mechanism includes a control box and a wave-pushing board for simulating waves. The flowrate control mechanism includes a water pump, a motor, a grating board and a manifold so that the flowrate and the flow volume can be adjusted by the grating board and the manifold. The mining simulation mechanism includes an experimental ship model, a lifting pipe, a material-mixing pipe, a mineral slurry pipe, a material-delivering pipe and a material-returning pipe for simulating lifting operation states. The monitoring mechanism includes a wave height measurer, a displacement sensor, a flowrate measurer and an image collection apparatus for detecting dynamic influence of the wave height and the wave speed on the mining simulation mechanism during a mining process, especially during lifting operation. Further, the apparatus has advantages such as multi-parameter real-time monitoring, low fabrication cost and simple operation.
US11118993B2

The device includes a distal connector portion with a connector for electrical connection to an external electrical circuit, a proximal measuring portion including a detector of the physical parameter configured to be in fluid contact, the detector has a general shape of a wafer delimiting a first electrical contact face and a second opposite measuring face, a member for electrically joining the detector and the connector. The detector is configured in the device such that both faces of the detector are immersed and in direct fluid contact.
US11118986B2

The present invention relates to a shear force measuring device for measuring a shear force of a human body relative to a seat, such as a chair, wheelchair, aircraft seat, the device including: a frame for providing a mechanical, substantially slide-free connection to the seat, a force sensor arranged on the frame, shear force receiving means for receiving the shear force which are coupled to the sensor. The shear force receiving means are arranged and configured such that shear force exerted on the shear force receiving means is transferable to the sensor so that the shear force is detectable by the sensor. The present invention further relates to a wheelchair or seat, a method and a computer-readable carrier including computer program means.
US11118985B2

A load sensor to be used in an electromechanical brake system includes a flange member capable of deflecting when receiving, at a load receiving portion, a load from the axially front side; a support member capable of supporting the flange member from the axially rear side, at a support portion displaced from the load receiving portion in a radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction; and a displacement detecting mechanism configured to detect the amount of relative movement between the flange and support members. A variable detection sensitivity mechanism enables the relative movement amount with respect to the change of the load applied to the flange member to be larger in a low load range in which the load is equal to or lower than a predetermined load value than in a high load range in which the load is higher than the predetermined load value.
US11118983B2

In one aspect, a temperature sensing assembly for measuring temperature of a surface of a structure includes a thermocouple device and a docking device. The thermocouple device includes a temperature sensing junction point disposed within an elongate sheath to measure the temperature of the surface of the structure at a desired location. The thermocouple device further comprises a contact portion configured to contact the surface of the structure. The docking device has a bottom surface to attach to the surface of the structure adjacent the desired location. A line extends through the center of the sheath and the sheath has a cross-sectional area in a plane perpendicular to the line. The contact portion is configured such that, when the docking device is coupled to the surface, an area of contact between the contact portion and the surface of the structure is greater than the cross-sectional area of the sheath.
US11118979B2

A vacuum packaged infrared sensor array with excellent performances is described. The individual pixel of the infrared sensor array has a thermopile made of recrystallized amorphous silicon resulting in low resistance, low thermal noise, high integration and high sensitivity. The vacuum in the packaged infrared sensor array is enhanced by low temperature oxidization of a porous silicon layer formed in a lid silicon substrate which is bonded with the infrared sensor array silicon substrate. The driving force for lowering oxidization temperature is reduction in surface energy of porous silicon. It has been reported that the surface energy is 0.0001 J/cm2 for porous silicon and 0.2 J/cm2 for planar crystal silicon.
US11118973B2

A Raman spectroscopy system is provided. The spectroscopy system includes an optical switch including a first side having a pump inlet and a return outlet, and a second side having a plurality of pump outlets and a plurality of return inlets. The spectroscopy system includes at least one radiation source optically coupled to the pump inlet and a detector optically coupled to the return outlet. The spectroscopy system further includes a pump filter module optically coupled between the at least one radiation source and the pump outlets and a return filter module optically coupled between the detector and the return inlets. The spectroscopy system further includes a plurality of probes, each probe optically connected to at least one of the plurality of pump outlets by at least one excitation fiber and optically coupled to one of the return inlets by at least one emission fiber.
US11118969B2

An electron tube includes a photoelectric surface, an avalanche photodiode, a focusing electrode part that accelerates and focuses the electrons E from the photoelectric surface toward the avalanche photodiode, and a casing including a stem provided with the avalanche photodiode. The stem is provided with a light incident hole through which the light is transmitted, and the periphery of the light incident hole is light-shielded by the stem. The focusing electrode part includes a first region provided with a light passage hole, and a second region provided with an electron passage hole that guides the electrons to the avalanche photodiode. The first region is formed on an axial line that connects the light incident hole and the photoelectric surface. The second region is formed on an axial line that connects the photoelectric surface and the avalanche photodiode.
US11118958B2

Some embodiments may include a system for determining a filling level of a fuel situated in a fuel tank comprising: an air pump; a valve; a pressure sensor; a control unit; a timing element; and a control unit. The control unit may be programmed to actuate the valve to close the fuel tank and subsequently actuate the air pump to increase a pressure in the fuel tank until an upper threshold is reached. The timing element may determine the time required for the pressure to reach the upper threshold. The control unit may calculate the filling level of the fuel based on the time taken to reach the upper threshold.
US11118953B2

There is described a fluid flow measuring and control device for installation within plumbing. The device comprises a main flow channelling system having an inlet and an outlet for connection to the plumbing, and a bypass channelling system in parallel from the main flow channelling system. A flowmeter is provided in the bypass channelling system for measuring the fluid flow in the bypass channelling system and thereby estimating the fluid flow at the inlet or at the outlet of the main flow channelling system. The flowmeter may comprise a wheel and a pair of movement sensors. A valve such as a solenoid valve can be provided as an on/off control for the plumbing. Using a microcontroller, the device can identify which appliance is used and determine consumption, or detect abnormal use or leaks and close the valve and/or notify a user mobile device.
US11118945B2

An adjustable device for mounting an angular position sensor such as an encoder to a large diameter rotating shaft such as a motor shaft is provided. The adjustable device includes a specially configured alignment plate, a coupling shaft, a spherical joint, and a plurality of fixing bolts and adjustment screws that are disposed symmetrically on the adjustment plate and radially offset from the shaft rotation axis. The fixing bolts and adjustment screws are generally disposed the same radial distance from the central rotation axis.
US11118943B2

A sensor device is removably attachable to a drug delivery device. The sensor device comprises an array of optical sensors arranged within the sensor device such that, when the sensor device is attached to the drug delivery device, which has a first movable element configured to move along a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drug delivery device, each optical sensor is operable to detect light received at different locations along the path and to output a signal indicative of an amount of detected light. Circuitry is configured to receive the signals output from the optical sensors and, based on the received signals, determine information associated with a location along the path of the first movable element.
US11118942B2

Mechanical gauges remain a common means to present values of a system or system component to a user. Connecting mechanical gauges to allow for notification messages to be generated, when the value indicated by a needle of the gauge is of particular interest, provides for greater usability. Illuminating a narrow portion of a gauge and utilizing a light detector to determine if the needle is, or is not, reflecting the light emitted, allows for systems to be alerted when the gauge has a particular value. Additionally, the area of interest may be further divided and illuminated by differentiated light to allow the notification to further include the direction from which the needle has entered the area of interest.
US11118935B2

A system creates filters and provides tasks based on a geographic location associated with each task. The geographic location may be in one of several types of coordinate formats, and determined by the actual user location when the task is created of input associated with a desired location. When a user requests tasks for a specified geographic location, the user's tasks are filtered by a particular geographic location associated with the request. The filter may allow tasks that match the location and are within a threshold distance of the location. Tasks having a geographical location that are outside the threshold distance from the location are not provided. When managing tasks from a mobile device, the geographic location can be automatically determined by the mobile device. When managing tasks from a non-mobile device, the geographical location may be received or derived from user input.
US11118934B2

A method and system of route guidance for a vehicle alerts traffic restriction considering its towing status. The vehicle's towing status may be obtained either by automatically detecting a towed vehicle or manually setting such status by a user. When it is determined that the vehicle is towing another vehicle, traffic restriction information such as a speed limit and a dimension limit associated with each link in a route is obtained by accessing to a map database including such traffic restriction information. Based on the traffic restriction information, it is possible to provide the best route with a more correctly estimated time of arrival, while avoiding links which have dimension limits not suitable for the towing vehicle.
US11118922B2

Systems and methods for reconciling a conflict between a rider-selected route and driving preferences of a driver are provided. In example embodiments, a networked system accesses driving preferences of the driver, wherein the driving preferences include preferences derived from past selection of routes by the driver. The networked system detects the conflict between characteristics of the rider-selected route and the driving preferences and determines one or more routes from a location of a vehicle of the driver to a destination based on the driving preferences. The network system reconciles the rider-selected route with the driving preferences by replacing at least one segment of the rider-selected route with at least one segment from the one or more routes to generate a reconciled route. The reconciled route is then displayed on a user interface of a device of the driver.
US11118921B2

An authoritative candidate is selected for determining a location of a point of interest (POI). Source data including name, address, and location for POIs is received from multiple data sources. The received data is normalized for ease of comparison, and coordinates for each candidate are compared to coordinates of other candidates to determine which candidate if any is an authoritative location for the POI. The candidate locations are compared using two models a metric-based scoring system and a machine learning model that may utilize a gradient boosted decision tree. The authoritative candidate can be used to render digital maps that include the POI. In addition, the authoritative candidate's location can be used to provide vehicle route guidance to the POI.
US11118919B2

A method for determining a route and time frame for the travel of a motor vehicle which assists the driver in planning their travel and in making fuller use of the technical potential of the motor vehicle is provided. For this purpose, the method includes the following steps: acquiring at least one destination, determining a travel route to the at least one destination; acquiring an adjustable travel mode of the motor vehicle for at least one first section of the travel route; determining the route and time frame for the travel of the motor vehicle depending on the acquired travel mode; and displaying the route and time frame of the travel.
US11118905B2

A modular video imaging system, and more particularly, a modular video imaging system having a control module connectable to multiple input modules. The input modules each capable of receiving differing types of image data from different types of cameras and processing the image data into a format recognizable by the control module. The control unit providing general functions such as user interface and general image processing that is not camera specific.
US11118899B2

A work support system includes a measurement apparatus measuring a state of each of multiple measurement points on an object surface of a workpiece, a projector apparatus, and an arithmetic apparatus creating a projection image of the projector apparatus based on a measurement result of the measurement apparatus. The arithmetic apparatus calculates a difference between a state measured by the measurement apparatus and a target state for each of the multiple measurement points, and creates the projection image such that a picture of a characteristic point representative of the difference at each of the multiple measurement points is projected by the projector apparatus at a position of a corresponding measurement point on the object surface of the workpiece.
US11118892B2

An apparatus for measuring a deformation distribution of an object having a longitudinal dimension comprises a structure for supporting the object. A sensor unit comprises a base, a contact member having a body connected to the base by a rotational joint such rotational degrees of freedom are provided between the base and the contact member, an end of the body configured to contact and move along the object, and at least one sensor for determining an orientation of the body relative to the base. A displacement module enables relative movement between the sensor unit and the structure for the sensor unit to relatively move along the object in the longitudinal dimension. A method and system for measuring a rigidity distribution of an object having a longitudinal dimension are also provided.
US11118890B2

A jogbox for a coordinate measuring machine with a movable arm has a body forming an interior, and control hardware at least partially within the interior. The control hardware is configured to control the movable arm of the coordinate measuring machine. The jogbox also has an energizing port for energizing or charging the jogbox, and an auxiliary port formed by the body and operatively coupled with the controlling hardware within the interior. The auxiliary port is configured to directly physically connect with at least one hardware accessory that has a hardware interface port. In addition, the auxiliary port is configured to rigidly, removably, and directly couple with the hardware interface port of the at least one hardware accessory. Some embodiments include a counterweight interface configured to receive and retain a counterweight to counterbalance the weight of an accessory.
US11118887B2

A tape rule comprises a blade, a reel, a spring, a lock, and a housing. The blade comprises a substrate and a coating. The coating is configured to provide color, environmental protection, and/or abrasion resistance. In some embodiments, (1) the coating is formed from non-polymer materials; (2) the blade comprises reinforcements metallurgically bonded to the blade at or near a free end; (3) measurement indicia comprise locally annealed portions of the substrate or the coating that create color contrasts; (4) the measurement indicia comprise portions of the substrate visible through gaps in the coating; (5) the measurement indicia comprise voids in the substrate filled with a coating material having a contrasting color; and/or (6) the substrate has a surface texture configured to change an appearance of the coating relative to an appearance of the coating on an as rolled surface finish of the metal substrate.
US11118886B1

Embodiments employ venting features and damping components both inside and concentric to a fuzewell to improve munition fuze survivability. Damping components are selected based on their densities, stiffness properties, and material strengths. A shock damping liner with longitudinal grooves is affixed to an inner surface of the fuzewell and envelops the fuze. A biased equivalent strength threaded shock damping ring is concentric about the outer surface of the fuzewell and attenuates shock between the outermost munition system layer (a munition case) and the fuzewell. The damping components' materials, orientations, and structural geometries provide increased damping, resulting in impedance mismatches across multiple interface surfaces in the munition, which reduces shock vibrational pressures and stresses transferred to the fuze.
US11118876B2

The present invention provides polymer ammunition cartridge having a generally cylindrical neck having a projectile aperture at a first end, a shoulder comprising a shoulder top connected to the generally cylindrical neck opposite a shoulder bottom, a nose junction positioned around the shoulder bottom, a skirt connected circumferentially about the nose junction to extend away from the shoulder bottom, wherein the nose junction and the skirt are adapted to mate to a base junction in a cartridge.
US11118874B2

The invention refers to a cylindrical sleeve (6) for receiving propellant powder (4) with a dimensionally stable jacket wall of combustible, felted fibre material and an insert (5) of a textile fabric in the jacket wall, and to a method of manufacturing a cylindrical sleeve (6).
US11118867B2

Systems, devices, and methods for determining a predicted impact point of a selected weapon and associated round based on stored ballistic information, provided elevation data, provided azimuth data, and provided position data.
US11118864B2

A flashlight assembly includes an elongated housing, a light assembly received within the front of the housing, a battery door assembly at the rear of the housing, a latch assembly on the top of the housing and a clamp assembly also on the top of the housing. Paddle switches for operating the flashlight are integrated into the battery door assembly at the rear of the housing. The battery door assembly is both slidable and rotatable relative to the main housing.
US11118855B2

The invention relates to an extractor for a revolver with a drum for extracting cartridges from cartridge chambers arranged in the drum wherein the extractor rod of the extractor is arranged in the axis of rotation of the drum and the extractor rod loaded by a spring cooperates with a multi-armed extractor star connected to the extractor rod, wherein the extractor star extends in the radial direction relative to the orientation of the extractor rod and the extractor star arms of the extractor star have end portions which correspond to a casing of the cartridge or a circumferential cartridge groove running around the casing of the cartridge.
US11118853B2

Gas-operated firearms, in which the gas system guides gas selectively from the gas removal bore to a gas pipe, with a platelet, movable between at least two positions in the gas system. The platelet may be pivotable about a pivot axis pin. A stop pin, parallel to the pivot axis pin, may protrude into a stop bore of the platelet, thus delimiting the pivoting. The platelet may have at least two recessed catch positions, into which a catch, under the effect of a catch spring, optionally engages, provided that the gas through-bore associated with the catch comes to rest in alignment between the gas bores when the catch engages in one of the recesses.
US11118852B2

A rifle with a barrel firmly mounted in a framework, the barrel including a locking sleeve, a lock, a sliding block, and a gas-powered actuator. Advantageously quiet operation of the gas-powered actuator is accomplished when the actuator has an annular piston, which is movable on a plunger support, forming an expansion chamber, where the actuator acts on the sliding block via push rods and is pushed forward by reset springs, and the rifle further includes a gas borehole penetrating the walls of the barrel and the plunger support, and further where the plunger support includes an outlet channel in its front, upper range, which is fluidly separate from the expansion chamber when the annular piston is at rest, and is fluidly connected with the expansion chamber after a backward displacement of the annular piston.
US11118850B2

A thermal abnormality detection system includes: a first heat dissipation system having a first temperature sensor for measuring an actual temperature of the first heat dissipation system; a second heat dissipation system having a second temperature sensor for measuring an actual temperature of the second heat dissipation system. Assuming that a difference between the actual temperature of the first heat dissipation system and an upper limit temperature of the first heat dissipation system is d1, and a difference between the actual temperature of the second heat dissipation system and an upper limit temperature of the second heat dissipation system is d2, when a value of d1−d2 is greater than an error threshold value Error1_level, the first heat dissipation system is determined to be abnormal, and when the value of d1−d2 is less than an error threshold value Error2_level, the second heat dissipation system is determined to be abnormal.
US11118840B2

A module for constructing therefrom a heat exchanger is provided. The module includes two manifolds and a plurality of parallelly arranged mats spanning between the manifolds. Each mat includes a plurality of heat exchange tubes arranged so as to define a plane, the heat exchange tubes being in fluid communication with the manifolds and spanning therebetween. Each of the manifolds includes selectively sealable end openings formed in facing ends thereof and defining a longitudinal flow path substantially perpendicular to the tubes and parallel with the planes defined thereby. Each of the manifolds further includes selectively sealable side openings on facing sides thereof and each defining a lateral flow path substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal flow path and to the planes defined by the tubes.
US11118833B2

A method of operating a transport refrigeration system including: controlling, using a controller (30), a plurality of components of the transport refrigeration system, the transport refrigeration system comprising a refrigerated trailer (108) and a refrigeration unit (22) configured to provide refrigerated air to the refrigerated trailer, the controlling includes operating at least one of the refrigeration unit and a battery system (190); powering, using an external power source (400), the refrigeration unit when the transport refrigeration system is connected to the external power source; detecting, using the controller, when the external power source is disconnected from the transport refrigeration system; detecting, using the controller, a connection to the battery system when the external power source is disconnected; activating the battery system when the external power source is disconnected; and powering, using the battery system, a select group of components of the refrigeration unit when the external power source is disconnected.
US11118832B2

A refrigerator includes a refrigerator compartment having a rear wall with an inwardly angled portion. A first and second shelf assemblies are disposed within the refrigerator compartment. The first shelf assembly includes a panel supported on a frame assembly to define a cavity positioned below a portion of the panel. The second shelf assembly includes front and top panels that cooperate with a surface of the inwardly angled portion of the rear wall to define a storage cavity therebetween. A water filtration system includes a water filter assembly laterally disposed within the storage cavity of the second shelf assembly. A water dispenser system includes a dispenser paddle operably coupled to the first shelf assembly and interconnected to the water filter assembly by a water supply line that is concealed within the cavity of the first shelf assembly by the opaque portion of the panel of the first shelf assembly.
US11118824B2

A water gathering and distribution system and related techniques for operating in freezing environmental conditions are disclosed. The system may include a water diverter unit or a water flow regulation unit configured to receive water from a water source situated at a location that is remote, inaccessible (or difficult to access), and/or experiences freezing environmental conditions and to deliver a controlled volume of that water for downstream use. The system further may include a water supply unit configured to receive that water and to supply it to downstream snowmaking equipment. In some instances, the supply unit also may cool the water to a temperature suitable, for example, for snowmaking. In a general sense, the disclosed system may be considered modular, in that multiple system components may be placed in flow communication with one another, as desired, to provide a distributed network of water collection and distribution elements.
US11118821B2

A space in which an indoor unit is disposed has its corresponding refrigerant leakage sensor. A remote control for the indoor unit has its corresponding information output device for notifying the user of information visually and/or aurally. When the refrigerant leakage sensor detects a leakage of refrigerant, an alarm outputs a warning sound and a safety measure device is activated. Further, the information output device outputs guidance information for notifying the user action to be taken after the safety measure device takes the safety measure. After outputting the guidance information, the information output device stops outputting the guidance information in response to completion of the user action.
US11118820B2

Servicing devices and methods of use for servicing refrigerant systems are described herein. The servicing device may include a body and a plunger. The body may include a first fluid port, a second fluid port, and a passage. The first fluid port operatively couples to a fluid port of a fluid source. The second fluid port operatively couples to a refrigeration system. The passage is in fluid communication with the fluid ports of the body and in fluid communication with a measuring device. A plunger is at least partially disposed in the passage of the body. A first portion of the plunger is engagable with an integrated valve of the fluid source. Adjustment of the plunger to a released position allows communication between the second fluid port and the measuring device while inhibiting communication between the first fluid port and the fluid source.
US11118815B2

Techniques for hybrid solar thermal and photovoltaic energy collection are provided. In one aspect, a photovoltaic concentrating thermal collector (PVCTC) includes: a thermal absorber collector; and bent solar panels forming a parabolic shaped trough reflector partially surrounding the thermal absorber collector so as to reflect incident light onto the thermal absorber collector. A PVCTC system including an array of PVCTC units and a method for hybrid electrical and thermal energy production are also provided.
US11118810B2

A heat transfer assembly includes a sheath which in one embodiment is elliptical in cross-section and in another embodiment has a complex cross-section with flat wall sections and curved wall sections. The sheath is elastically deformable so as to accept a heat transfer element sub-assembly. Once installed, the sheath holds the sub-assembly in place by an interference fit.
US11118806B2

The present invention relates to a living-type appliance, and provides a multipurpose air controller which may be used for various purposes according to its use, such as a fan, a fan heater, a laundry drier, a fixing type hair drier, an air shutter and a foot heater used while being horizontally placed on a bottom.
US11118803B2

An intelligent control system includes intelligent thermostats and controls an environment, such as a residential living space, commercial building, or another environment. The intelligent control system obtains information related to the controlled environment by collecting sensor data, obtaining data from users during interactive information-exchange sessions, and by directing information queries to users on one or more user devices.
US11118801B2

A hybrid humidity control and air purification device and method for hybrid humidity control and air purification. The hybrid device is a single unit capable of humidifying dry environmental air, dehumidifying humid environmental air and removing particulates and contaminants from the air. The device controls the outgoing air to a relative humidity setpoint between 35-50% with negligible particulate matter content. Particulate matter is transferred to water, which may be supplied and flushed by an automatic water pumping system.
US11118799B2

An outside air handling unit and method for delivering conditioned air to individual heating/cooling zones of a building regardless of whether heating/cooling in needed. The outside air handling unit includes a liquid supply line which is connected to and draws liquid from a chilled supply line of the building.
US11118792B2

An air conditioner includes a housing, a heat exchanger arranged to exchange heat with air flowing into the housing, a blower fan arranged inside the housing for discharging air that has exchanged heat with the heat exchanger to the outside and a discharging plate having an opening formed to discharge air blown from the blower fan out of the housing, and a plurality of discharging holes formed to discharge air to surroundings of the opening, wherein the discharging plate is arranged to discharge the air that has exchanged heat by the heat exchanger out of the housing, and wherein the discharging plate is made of metal. By such configuration, air conditioner increase user satisfaction.
US11118788B2

The instant hot water system CONTROL PANEL for new homes is an on-demand controller for a common residential water pump, installed at the hot water supply/recirculation hot water pipe line back to the regular residential gas or electric water heater, with push button switches in every bathroom, kitchen, laundry room etc. to pump hot water at the touch of said button; from the water heater to faucets throughout the house and dispense the hot water to the user, with no waiting time and very minimal cold water waste down the drain because the hot water has already reached every single faucet in the house as the users with the push of a button demanded it.
US11118787B2

An impingement oven (40) includes an upper housing structure (46) forming the exterior of the upper half of the impingement oven and a lower housing structure (48) to mate with the upper housing structure. An interior impingement housing (62) is positioned interior to the upper and lower housing structures (46) and (48). A conveyor (60) extends through the interior impingement housing (62). The inside surfaces of the upper and lower housing structures (46) and (48) cooperate with the interior impingement housing (62) to define upright supply chambers (80a) and (80b) on opposite sides of the impingement oven to direct cooking medium downwardly upon the work products being carried by the conveyor and also upwardly through the porous belt of the conveyor, thereby to thermally process the work products being carried on the conveyor.
US11118781B2

A vertical heat recovery steam generator, the low-pressure stages of which are designed as a once-through system, having a condensate preheater with at least one condensate preheater heating surface, through which a flow medium flows and which is disposed in a hot gas channel through which hot gas flows, a low-pressure preheater with at least one low-pressure preheater heating surface through which the flow medium flows and which is disposed in the hot gas channel, and a low-pressure evaporator with at least one low-pressure evaporator heating surface through which the flow medium flows and which is disposed in the hot gas channel. The flow medium flows successively through the at least one low-pressure preheater heating surface and the at least one low-pressure evaporator heating surface in one pass and without additional pressure compensation.
US11118778B1

Lighting device embodiments having a housing enclosing one or more interior volumes, a metal core printed circuit board, a multilayer stack of spacers, and a serviceable port in the housing to allow venting of one or more of the interior volumes are disclosed.
US11118776B2

A downlight apparatus includes a light passing cover, a light source module, a surface rim and a driver plate. The surface rim has a rim part, a reflection part and a bottom part. The rim part is connected to the reflection part. The reflection part is connected to a top edge of the bottom part. The bottom part defines an installation cavity with the top edge as a cavity opening. The rim part defines a light opening. A first light of the plurality of LED modules passes through the light passing cover and a second light of the plurality of LED modules is reflected by the reflection part before passing through the light passing cover. The rim part, the reflection part and the bottom part are made of the same material as a unibody module.
US11118775B2

A light source includes a socket connection, a base connected to the socket connection, an LED unit, a mount and a heat conductive material. The socket connection is capable of connecting to a source of electricity. The mount is disposed into the base, and has a top surface on which the LED unit are disposed and a side surface devoid of the LED unit. The heat conductive material directly contacts the LED unit and the side surface of the mount. The heat conductive material enters into a space flanked by the mount and the base and is substantially translucent or transparent such that light emitted from the LED unit is able to pass through the heat conductive material.
US11118772B2

A toilet lamp includes a battery box, a metal flexible bar, an insulative sleeve and a light source. The battery box includes at least one battery, a driving component, a sensing module, a cap and a lens. The sensing module detects human presence in the toilet lamp's proximity. The cap covers the driving component. The lens is mounted on the cap. The lens is optically coupled to the sensing module. The lens amplifies an optical disturbance occurred in the toilet lamp's proximity. The lens relays the amplified optical disturbance to the sensing module as a reference in detecting the human presence. The sensing module activates the light source upon detecting the human presence within the toilet lamp's proximity. The sensing module deactivates the light source upon detecting the human presence's leaving from the toilet lamp's proximity.
US11118766B1

Some fixture mounts include a body that is couplable to a structure, the body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a peripheral surface that connects the upper and lower surfaces and defines one or more ledges, wherein the body is couplable to a fixture such that each of first and second protruding features of the fixture is received between one of the ledge(s) and the upper surface. In some fixture mounts, the protruding features are slidable along the ledge(s) above which they are received such that the fixture is rotatable relative to the body. In some fixture mounts, at least one of the ledge(s) is tapered such that, as a protruding feature of the fixture that is received above the ledge is moved toward the ledge, the fixture is urged toward the upper surface.
US11118757B2

A light emitting device includes: a mounting board; a plurality of light sources positioned on the mounting board; a light diffusion plate; a half mirror positioned between the light diffusion plate and the plurality of light sources; and a plurality of diffuse reflectors positioned between the mounting board and the light diffusion plate, and above at least part of each emission face of the plurality of light sources. The diffuse reflectors comprise a resin, and particles dispersed in the resin. Each of the diffuse reflectors is positioned in an area that, in the top view, is larger than and includes the emission face of each light source. A density of the particles in said area, in the top view, is higher in a first portion located immediately above the emission face of each light source than in a second portion located around a periphery of the first portion.
US11118749B2

A switchable vehicle lamp lens assembly includes a vehicle lamp assembly, which includes a lens having a first transparent layer and a second transparent layer adjacent the first transparent layer. A switchable electrochemical film is disposed between the first transparent layer and the second transparent layer, and one or more light sources is positioned behind the lens. In an active mode, the switchable electrochemical film is adapted to be substantially transparent when a voltage is provided, enabling light transmission through the lens from the one or more light sources. In a non-active mode, the switchable electrochemical film is adapted to be substantially opaque when the voltage is removed, blocking light from the one or more light sources. The switchable electrochemical film is alternately switched between the active mode and the non-active mode thereby switching the lens between a substantially transparent state and a substantially opaque state, respectively.
US11118740B1

A lighting apparatus includes a LED strip having an elongated substrate and multiple LED modules. A light passing cover enclosing the LED strip. The light passing cover have an extending linear surface with a main portion and a transition portion. A first cap and a second cap connect to the light passing cover. The first cap has a first connecting surface, a first contacting surface, and a first side surface. The second cap has a second connecting surface, a second contacting surface, and a second side surface. The first connecting surface and the second connecting surface provide a bridge connecting to the light passing cover. The first contacting surface and the second contacting surface have a transmission between an inner area and an external area of the light passing cover. The first side surface and the second side surface support a structure of the light passing cover.
US11118728B2

A method for controlling an attitude of a payload includes determining an input torque based on an input angle and one or more motion characteristics of the payload, determining an estimated disturbance torque based on one or more motion characteristics of a carrier to which the payload is coupled, and calculating an output torque based on the input torque and the estimated disturbance torque. The output torque is configured to effect movement of the carrier to achieve a desired attitude of the payload.
US11118726B2

To support a handle of a tool in a generally upright position, there is provided an apparatus comprising a guide block releasably securable to the handle of the tool, the guide block having a top end, a bottom end, and a pair of longitudinal channels running there through and diverging from said top end toward said bottom end. A longitudinal slot is operatively associated with each of said channels. Each of said slots has a longitudinal first edge and a longitudinal curved edge. The apparatus includes a pair of rigid legs, each leg dimensioned to be slidably received through one of the channels, has a linear portion with a linear rail extending laterally therefrom and has a curved portion with a curved rail extending laterally therefrom. The linear rail and the curved rail of each leg engage within a respective slot when the legs are received through the guide block's channels.
US11118724B1

An adjustable support for a panel is provided to allow control of the height and the tilt angle of the panel. The support includes a hollow cylindrical base having an outer diameter D1; a first hollow piston having an outer diameter D2 threadably engaged with the base; a second hollow piston having an outer diameter D3 threadably engaged with the first piston; a third piston having an outer diameter D4 threadably engaged with the second piston, such that D1>D2>D3>D4. A ball pod extends from the third piston and accommodates a ball attached to the panel. One or more stepper motors are provided, where each stepper motor is coupled to a bottom portion of a respective piston, and a rotor of each stepper motor is configured to rotate the corresponding piston, thereby causing the piston to move along a longitudinal axis of the support.
US11118723B2

A mounting plate includes arrays of indents and slots to receive brackets to hold a tablet computer on the plate with a connector projecting rearwardly to interconnect a ball and socket joint, providing substantially universal accommodation of common sized tablet computers for mounting, in particular, on a moving vehicle.
US11118721B1

A pipe insulation shield includes a metal sheet having first and second longitudinal edges, an arcuate shape from the first longitudinal edge to the second longitudinal edge, and first and second arcuate edges. The arcuate shape defines a channel with a lower portion that has first and second opposing, U-shaped apertures passing through it, which define opposing first and second metal tabs. Each of the first and second tabs is pivotable from a first position parallel to the lower portion of the sheet to a second position transverse to the lower portion of the sheet, and each of the first and second tabs pivots towards the other when pivoted from the first position to the second position. The tabs are sufficiently spaced apart from each other to accommodate different support structures. In advantageous embodiments, the four corners of sheet are rounded.
US11118720B2

A cable protector including a series of generally cylindrical shells, with adjacent shells pivotable relative to each other; and a support member extending through the shells. The support member holds the shells so that the shells cannot be separated from each other. The support member includes arm sections, corresponding to the shells, connected by flexible linear sections extending along a central axis of the shells. Each arm section includes a base connected to the linear section, and a plurality of arms extending radially outward at equal angles. Each arm has a first end connected to the base, and a second end connected to a surface of the shell toward the central axis.
US11118709B2

A tube clamp may include a tube body, an abutting block, and a clamping member, and a pivot connecting portion is formed at a lateral edge of the tube body. A through hole penetrates through a lateral surface of the tube body, and each of two lateral edges of the through hole has a first locating protrude having a stepped surface. The abutting block is slidably installed in the through hole, and each of two lateral sides of the abutting block comprises a second locating protrude, and the two second locating protrudes are respectively coupled with the two first locating protrudes. The clamping member has a protruding portion and a pulling portion. Through pulling the pulling portion, the protruding portion is adapted to press the abutting block into an inner space of the tube body so as to achieve the clamping effect of the tube clamp.
US11118703B2

A fluid distribution apparatus comprising a fluid chamber, at least one fluid inlet, a plurality of fluid outlets and a distribution unit, including a plurality of valve elements for closing the fluid outlets and a camshaft supported to be rotatable about a rotary axis, having a plurality of cams for operating the valve elements. The valve elements are formed as valve flaps and the cams of the camshaft are provide to lift the valve elements off of the fluid outlets as a function of a rotary position of the camshaft.
US11118700B2

A valve device is made more compact and has improved yield strength against a bending moment. The problem is solved by a valve device including a valve body having a block shape, a casing having a tubular shape, incorporating a drive mechanism that drives a valve element that opens and closes the flow path, connected to the valve body, and extending upward from an upper surface of the valve body, and a protective member that comes into contact with the casing having a tubular shape and the valve body, and is for suppressing a stress concentration that occurs between a casing member positioned on a base portion of a casing and the valve body when a bending moment acts as an external force on the casing.
US11118698B2

A valve has a housing having an inlet and an outlet. A valve element is biased towards a closed position in which the valve element restricts fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet. The valve element is axially movable by fluid pressure at the inlet towards an open position in which the inlet is in fluid flow communication with the outlet. The valve further has a damping chamber having a metering orifice in fluid communication with the inlet. The damping chamber has an axially facing surface defined by the valve element and having a variable volume varying from a minimum volume when the valve element is in its closed position to a maximum volume when the valve element is in its open position.
US11118695B2

Multiport valve with outlets transverse to the inlet useful as a coker switch valve. A sealed lower sleeve assembly provides semi-trunnion ball support. An upper part of the outlet seat recesses is formed in the bonnet, and a lower part in the valve body, which together bias a resilient member to load the seats, independently of end connections. Before bonnet assembly, when the ball is rotated to face a body outlet, there is sufficient space in the seat recesses to insert the seat, slide the seat onto the ball, and then insert the resilient member. When all the seats and resilient members are in place, engagement of the bonnet biases the upper part of the resilient members to load the seat. In valve operation, an enlarged ball outlet bore can straddle two outlet ports and maintain process media flow during switching. Also, methods of assembling, operating, and servicing the valve.
US11118693B2

A gate valve that opens or closes opening parts of a valve box with a valve plate includes a valve rod that moves upward or downward and tilt inside the valve box; a drive mechanism that moves the valve rod upward or downward by a predetermined stroke and tilts the valve rod; a stopper mechanism that includes a spring return type stopper pin, and in which, when compressed air is supplied, a pin rod of the stopper pin moves forward in a horizontal direction, and a cam plate connected to the valve rod or a load receiving roller attached to the cam plate collides with the pin rod to regulate an upward movement of the valve rod. When the supply of the compressed air is stopped, the pin rod moves backward in the horizontal direction due to a reaction force of the spring, so that the cam plate or the load receiving roller does not collide with the pin rod and the regulation on the upward movement of the valve rod is released; and a vibration reducing device that reduces vibration.
US11118685B2

A multi-layered lip seal comprising a dynamic layer optionally having a filler incorporated therein and a static layer optionally having a filler incorporated therein is described. The lip seal has an annular ring shape, wherein an inner diameter of the ring shape is curved in an axial direction so as to give the lip seal a J-shape when viewed from a cross-sectional perspective. Fillers that can be included in static layer include stiffening filler, reinforcement fillers, conductive fillers and/or abrasion resistance fillers. Fillers that can be included in the dynamic layer include wear resistance fillers. The use of specific fillers in specific layers of the multi-layered lip seal allows for certain segments of the lip seal to be imparted with the benefits of the filler without negatively impacting other segments of the lip seal.
US11118684B2

A retainer device is for a seal assembly for sealing between a shaft rotatable about a central axis and a housing having a bore. The seal assembly includes at least one annular seal disposed within the housing bore and about the shaft and at least one spring for biasing the seal along the axis. The retainer device includes a generally annular body disposeable within the housing bore so as to be spaced axially from the at least one seal. The body is coupleable with the housing such that the body is generally nonrotatable about the central axis and includes at least one retainer lug extending at least generally axially from the body. The lug is engageable with the seal to prevent angular displacement of the seal about the axis. The body has at least one generally radially-extending spring contact surface contactable by an end of the at least one spring.
US11118676B2

Gear Select Modules (GSMs) are proposed. The GSMs comprise a GSM controller, an intention detector to detect a gear shift movement intention of a driver, a haptic human machine interface (HMI), in communication with the GSM controller and a gear shifting mechanism. The GSM controller is configured to autonomously instruct the haptic HMI to control the gear shifting mechanism between detection of the gear shift change intention and until the GSM controller receives an actuation signal from a transmission control module (TCM). Automatic powertrain command systems with the proposed GSMs are also proposed and also vehicles with the proposed automatic powertrain command systems.
US11118671B2

The invention concerns a process for the assembly of an epicyclic or planetary gear train from at least one pivot (18) and a planet gear carrier (20) comprising one or more bores, each of said bores being intended to receive a pivot (18), the process comprising the following steps: a) measuring the position of a real axis of each of said at least one pivot (18) and of said one or more bores of carrier (20); b) dividing each of said pivots (18) into n angular sectors i1 . . . iq . . . in extending about the theoretical axis of said pivot and dividing each of said holes of the carrier (20) into k angular sectors j1 . . . jl . . . jk extending about the theoretical axis of said bore; c) for each pivot (18), defining a vector {right arrow over (V)} oriented from the theoretical axis to the real axis, and identifying the angular sector iq including vector −{right arrow over (V)}; d) for each bore, defining a vector {right arrow over (U)} oriented from the theoretical axis to the real axis, and identifying the angular sector jl including vector {right arrow over (U)}; e) for each bore of the carrier (20), mounting a pivot in such a way that for each mounting, the identified angular sectors jl and iq are superimposed.
US11118670B2

A vehicle cooling system comprises an oil circulation circuit in which a cooling oil is circulated by an electric oil pump to cool a predetermined cooling target with the cooling oil; an oil temperature sensor detecting an oil temperature that is a temperature of the cooling oil; and a control device including a cooling control portion outputting a rotation command for operating the electric oil pump so as to cool the cooling target. The control device includes a pump abnormality determination portion outputting the rotation command to the electric oil pump to determine a presence/absence of abnormality based on a rotation state of the electric oil pump when an operation stop time of the vehicle is longer than a predefined determination permission time and an oil temperature detection value detected by the oil temperature sensor is higher than a predefined determination permission temperature.
US11118663B2

A clutch arrangement has a clutch housing and a clutch element carrier, one of which receives at least one clutch element and the other of which is configured as a friction area carrier for a friction area so that, to produce a frictional engagement connection, the clutch element can be brought into operative connection with the friction area or, to cancel the frictional engagement connection, the clutch element can be separated from the friction area. The clutch element has a support for a friction facing, and the clutch element has a holding device radially adjacent to the friction facing for receiving the support of the clutch element. The support has at its side opposite the friction facing a further friction facing acting as seal.
US11118659B2

A power transmission apparatus for a hybrid electric vehicle may include first and second input shafts coaxially mounted and selectively receiving an engine torque, a compound planetary gear set mounted on the second input shaft, receiving a motor torque, and formed by combining two planetary gear sets sharing a sun gear and a planet carrier, an idle shaft mounted in parallel with the first input shaft, a first output shaft mounted in parallel to the first input shaft, receiving a torque from at least the first input shaft, and outputting a torque through the first output gear, a connection element selectively transmitting the engine torque to the compound planetary gear set or the first input shaft, an engagement element selectively connecting the compound planetary gear set to a transmission housing, and a plurality of gear sets mounted on the first and second input shafts and idle shaft and the first output shaft.
US11118656B2

A link chain, in particular bush chain, comprising an inner link plate with a bush, an outer link plate with a pin, wherein the pin and bush form a chain joint, wherein a sealing arrangement is provided for sealing the chain joint, wherein the sealing arrangement is arranged between the inner link plate and the outer link plate, and wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a seal and a seal-accommodating space, characterized in that in that the seal-accommodating space is formed from a thrust washer and an annular cutout, in particular in the outer link plate, wherein a ring, which is designed in the form of a metal ring, is arranged in the seal-accommodating space, or in that the seal-accommodating space is formed from a thrust washer and an accommodating washer.
US11118655B2

An assembling structure for timely and securely locking and releasing a rope includes a housing including two integral side walls for defining a space to allow a rope to pass through; a contact surface on an inner surface of the housing; a pivotal cam including an occlusion section and an engagement surface adapted to pivot about the contact surface from a first position to a second position and vice versa; a torsion spring on one pivot of the cam and having one end fastened in the cam and the other end passing through a limit member of the cam; and a pivotal trigger adapted to pivot about the housing from a third position to a fourth position and vice versa, the trigger including an occlusion member at one end in gear engagement with the occlusion section and a lever at the other end and extending out of the housing.
US11118652B2

A vibration damper is provided with two rotating members, i.e. an oscillating inertial flywheel and a member to be damped driven by a torque following a torque path between a driving member and a driven member, wherein the inertial flywheel is connected kinematically to the torque path between the driving member and the driven member solely by way of the member to be damped. Connecting modules between the two rotating members permit a relative angular displacement θ between the two rotating members on the two sides of a reference relative angular position. Each connecting module is provided with a roller associated with a first of the two rotating members and a cam track connected resiliently by a resilient element to a second of the two rotating members.
US11118648B2

[Problem] The present invention provides a damping force adjustable shock absorber capable of reducing manufacturing cost. [Means for Solving] A shock absorber 1 is configured in such a manner that a main valve 32 is disposed below a piston valve 5, and a sub valve 68 for variably adjusting a set load of the main valve 32 is provided in a piston case 21 above the piston valve 5, with a first valve body 53 of the sub valve 68 slidably sealed to a case member 60 by a metal seal at only one portion. Due to the configuration, the shock absorber 1 can ease precision of components of the sub valve 68, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost.
US11118646B2

An active tuned mass damper applied to the offshore monopile wind turbine belongs to the field of marine technology. A mass block is connected to the inner wall of the tower through a spring. The two ends of the damper and the force actuator are connected to the mass block and the inner wall of the tower, respectively. When the installation of tower is finished, the spring and the damper begin to work. The movement of mass block will partly offset the movement of the tower caused by the wave force. The force actuator starts to work before the mating. The exact position of the nacelle can be obtained from the Global Positioning System (DGPS). The position of tower can be adjusted in the horizontal plane through the force actuator. So, the offshore installation time for nacelle will be saved. The whole installation time and cost will also be reduced.
US11118645B2

A spring seat attachment assembly for use with an axle/suspension system having at least one leaf spring and an axle, said attachment assembly including a band and a spring seat. The band may include a locator structure and is fixed to the axle and extends around a portion of the axle between 180 degrees and 360 degrees. The spring seat receives the leaf spring and is fixed to the band.
US11118639B1

A clutch control method for a vehicle may include determining, by a controller, whether a tip-in has occurred during an in-gear state of a transmission; increasing the clutch slip rapidly to a first target slip by the controller; feedback-controlling, by the controller, so that the clutch slip is reduced toward a second target slip during a predetermined first control time period after the increasing of the clutch slip; controlling, by the controller, a clutch of the transmission with a first target slip angular acceleration after the predetermined first control time period has elapsed; feedback-controlling by the controller so that target slip angular acceleration of the clutch gradually becomes zero during a predetermined second control time period; and feedback-controlling by the controller so that the clutch slip becomes a third target slip after the predetermined second control time period has elapsed.
US11118629B2

A gas turbine engine component includes a bearing configured to support a shaft for rotation about an axis, wherein the bearing includes an outer race and an inner race, and a bearing housing spaced radially outwardly of the outer race. A curved beam centering spring is positioned between the outer race and the bearing housing. A cylindrical wall is radially outward of the bearing housing and engages the outer race and the bearing housing.
US11118625B2

A magnetic bearing includes a ring-shaped first magnet, a ring-shaped second magnet, a first magnetic body and a second magnetic body. The ring-shaped first magnet is magnetized in an axial direction. The ring-shaped second magnet is concentrically arranged with the first magnet and is magnetized in the axial direction. The first magnetic body is provided on a first surface in the axial direction of the second magnet. The second magnetic body is provided on a second surface parallel to the first surface in the axial direction of the second magnet. A thickness of each of the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body is less than or equal to an acceptable fluctuation amount in the axial direction of the second magnet with respect to the first magnet and greater than or equal to 0.1 mm.
US11118624B2

A full-complement anti-friction bearing is disclosed which includes a plurality of rolling elements, an inner bearing body in the form of a shaft or an axle with a cylindrical outer diameter, and an outer bearing body arranged concentrically with the latter and having an inner bore. In an exemplary embodiment, all rolling elements have the same outer diameter and are arranged between the inner bearing body and the outer bearing body in such a way that the rolling elements roll on the outer diameter of the inner bearing body and on the inner bore of the outer bearing body, the outer bearing body being thus rotatably supported relative to the inner bearing body. In addition, the full-complement anti-friction bearing is configured without a cage.
US11118620B2

An aircraft landing gear arrangement may comprise a landing gear bogie having an axle, a torque tube surrounding the axle and mechanically coupled to the landing gear bogie. A brake stack may surround the torque tube. The torque tube may comprise a cylindrical body extending between a first end and a second end. A flange may be disposed at the first end. A mating surface may be disposed on the first end or the second end of the torque tube for mating the torque tube to the landing gear bogie. A bogie flange may extend from the landing gear bogie whereby the torque tube may be mounted to the landing gear bogie.
US11118618B2

A cap for forming a sealed cavity around an end of a fastener protruding from a surface of a structure is disclosed. The disclosure relates to a spark prevention cap. The cap has an annular base with an annular base terminating at a base rim. The base rim surrounds an opening into a central cavity for receiving the end of the fastener. The base rim lies in a base rim plane around at least a majority of a circumference of the annular base. An annular skirt provides an annular pocket in which a sealant material is received. A biasing configuration is configured to positively bias the base rim against the surface of the structure.
US11118611B2

A variable flow hydraulic device having a plurality of cylinders for varying a flow of hydraulic fluid between a reservoir and a load, the device comprising: a housing having the plurality of cylinders with a plurality of corresponding pistons; an input port of the housing fluidly connected to each cylinder of the plurality of cylinders, the input port facilitating introduction of the hydraulic fluid to said each cylinder; a first output port of the housing connected to said each cylinder, the first output port facilitating the ejection of the hydraulic fluid from said each cylinder, the first output port configured for fluidly coupling said each cylinder to the load; a respective flow control valve for said each cylinder, and a fluid pressure sensing device coupled between downstream of the first output port and said respective flow control valve.
US11118610B2

In general, certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electro-hydrostatic actuator comprising a piston assembly and a hydraulic cylinder. The piston assembly, having a piston head and a piston rod extending from the piston head, is located and movable within the hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder includes a hydraulic fluid chamber region including a piston side chamber and a rod side chamber, a reservoir for storing hydraulic fluid located within the hydraulic cylinder which is in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid chamber region. The electro-hydrostatic actuator includes a hydraulic pump system for moving hydraulic fluid in the reservoir and the hydraulic fluid chamber region, the hydraulic pump system in fluid communication with a flow control network in a hydraulic cylinder boss for controlling a direction and flow magnitude of hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic fluid chamber region, and an electric motor for driving the hydraulic pump system.
US11118609B2

A hydraulic system includes a control device to reduce a first movement speed to be lower than a second movement speed, the first movement speed being a speed at which a spool of a first control valve moves from a first supply position to a first stop position under a state where a second control valve is in the second supply position, the second movement speed being a speed at which the spool moves from the first supply position to the first stop position under a state where the second control valve is in the second stop position. The first supply position allows operation fluid to be supplied to a hydraulic actuator. The first stop position prevents the operation fluid from being supplied to the hydraulic actuator. The second stop position prevents the operation fluid from being supplied to a first fluid tube coupling a hydraulic pump to the hydraulic actuator.
US11118608B1

Twin poppet mechanism (100) of a valve positioner (101) with progressively reduced leakage, comprising a poppet valve assembly (150) comprising a swivel assembly (110) and a pair of poppet valve assembly (150), a poppet assembly (320) of the poppet valve assembly (150) has a conical tilting freedom (103) around its axis of assembly (151), in a first stable state, the swivel assembly (110) tilts towards a first side (104A) and a rubbing or a lapping action is caused between the first sealing surface (241) and the outer sealing surface (332), and between an inner sealing surface (352) of the poppet body two (350) and the chamber sealing surface (316) of the guide chamber (301), in a second stable state, the swivel assembly (110) tilts towards a second side (104B) and the lapping action is caused between the second sealing surface (261) and the outer sealing surface (332), and between the inner sealing surface (352) of the poppet body two (350) and the chamber sealing surface (316) of the guide chamber (301).
US11118604B2

This disclosure relates to a hydraulic system for a hydro-mechanical machine comprising a rotary mechanism. The hydraulic system includes a primary accumulator configured to receive and store high-pressure fluid in response to stopping of the rotary mechanism. A control system coupled to the primary accumulator through a hydraulic supply circuit is configured to enable passage of the high-pressure fluid stored in the primary accumulator to a rotary control valve configured to control the rotary mechanism, through the hydraulic supply circuit, based on a predefined pressure threshold associated with the primary accumulator. A secondary accumulator coupled to the primary accumulator and the control system via the hydraulic supply circuit is configured to store surplus high-pressure fluid provided by the primary accumulator through the hydraulic supply circuit.
US11118600B2

An anti-press fan structure includes a fan frame and a fan impeller. The fan impeller has a support shaft supporting the fan impeller disposed in the fan frame. The support shaft has a protrusion section protruding from the fan frame to bear and connect with an external unit positioned above the fan impeller so as to keep an axial space between the fan impeller and the external unit. Accordingly, the fan impeller is prevented from being compressed by the external unit and the pressure applied to the fan frame is dispersed.
US11118597B2

A fan according to the invention is a fan including a motor, a rotating shaft for transmitting rotation of the motor, and a boss part through which the rotating shaft is inserted at a rotation center. A distal end portion of the rotating shaft protrudes from the boss part, the distal end portion is inserted through a center hole of a washer, and is screwed with a fastening part, and the washer includes a washer bearing surface portion that is fastened by being sandwiched between the fastening part and an end surface of the boss part, and a washer outer peripheral portion surrounding an outer periphery of the washer bearing surface portion. The washer bearing surface portion and the washer outer peripheral portion are integrated with each other.
US11118590B2

A circulator blower controller for a circulator blower of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building includes an interface configured to receive a demand signal with an operating mode from a thermostat. A switching circuit selectively connects power to a tap of a motor of the circulator blower. A data store configured to store a mapping from a speed to the tap. For each tap, a processor observes power consumed by the circulator blower while power is connected to the tap by the switching circuit. The processor determines the mapping by sorting the taps based on observed power consumption. The processor selects a first speed based on the demand signal from the thermostat. The processor identifies a first tap from the mapping based on the first speed and generates the tap selection signal to control the switching circuit to connect power to the first tap.
US11118587B1

The disclosure herein includes an electric submersible pump assembly for pumping fluids from a wellbore, which electric submersible pump assembly may include: a pump; a housing coupled to the pump; a body disposed in the housing, wherein the body may have a central aperture, an outer surface, and a flow path disposed in the outer surface; and a shaft assembly disposed in the central aperture of the body, wherein the shaft assembly may have a central flow path disposed therethrough and a port in fluid communication with the central flow path, the central aperture of the body, and the flow path disposed in the outer surface of the body.
US11118581B2

A pump having at least two fluid drivers and a method of delivering fluid from an inlet of the pump to an outlet of the pump using the at least two fluid drivers. Each of the fluid drives includes a prime mover and a fluid displacement member. The prime mover drives the fluid displacement member to transfer fluid. The fluid drivers are independently operated. However, the fluid drivers are operated such that contact between the fluid drivers is synchronized. That is, operation of the fluid drivers is synchronized such that the fluid displacement member in each fluid driver makes contact with another fluid displacement member. The contact can include at least one contact point, contact line, or contact area.
US11118577B2

A Metering pump includes a displacement element (4), a drive system with an electric drive motor (12) driving the displacement element (4) and a control device (22) controlling the electric drive motor (12). The control device (22) is configured in such a manner that it detects the current position of the displacement element (4), detects the torque (M) of the electric drive motor (12) at several positions of the displacement element (4) and monitors the torque (M) in relation to the position of the displacement element (4), and a method for controlling such metering pump.
US11118567B2

A wind turbine includes a hub rotatable about an axis and a blade coupled to the hub. The blade includes an inner blade portion having a first end and a second end. The inner blade portion is coupled to the hub at the first end and extends radially outward from the hub to the second end. The blade further includes an outer blade portion having a first end and a second end. The first end of the outer blade portion is pivotably coupled to the second end of the inner blade portion.
US11118561B2

A modular wind turbine blade is described. The blade has at least a first blade module and a second blade module connected to end to end. An interface is defined between the respective modules. The blade further comprises at least one longitudinally extending spar structure that forms part of the outer shells of the first and second blade modules when the modules are connected. The or each spar structure is substantially continuous and extends across the interface between the first and second blade modules when the modules are connected. The or each spar structure is integrated with the first blade module and the spar structure is folded or coiled to facilitate transportation of the module. The second blade module includes channels defined in the outer shell for receiving the or each spar structure when the modules are connected. In this way the spar structures also form part of the outer shell of the second module. A method of assembling the modular blade and a method of installing a wind turbine having a modular blade are also described.
US11118559B2

A buoyant hydrodynamic pump is disclosed that can float on a surface of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The pump incorporates an open-bottomed tube with a constriction. The tube partially encloses a substantial volume of water with which the tube's constriction interacts, creating and/or amplifying oscillations therein in response to wave action. Wave-driven oscillations result in periodic upward ejections of portions of the water inside the tube that can be collected in a reservoir that is at least partially positioned above the mean water level of the body of water, or pressurized by compressed air or gas, or both. Water within such a reservoir may return to the body of water via a turbine, thereby generating electrical power (making the device a wave engine), or else the device's pumping action can be used for other purposes such as water circulation, propulsion, or cloud seeding.
US11118556B2

An adapter element for a solenoid valve assembly in an irrigation system includes an integral water turbine generator including an impeller positioned in an outlet flow path of a solenoid assembly thereof such that the impeller rotates when water flows to generate electricity.
US11118552B2

Methods and systems are provided for extending a duration of engine idle-stop while reducing a frequency of engine restart from idle-stop. In one example, in response to engine restart conditions where combustion torque is not necessary, an engine can be rotated electrically, without fuel delivery, via an electric motor. The unfueled engine spinning via the motor drives an FEAD which in turns drives an actuator coupled to the FEAD, such as an AC compressor or an automatic transmission oil pump.
US11118549B2

A cover for a fuel tank includes a flange unit configured to close an opening of the fuel tank and a joint member connected to the flange unit. The joint member is movable in an upward/downward direction. The flange unit includes a side tubular portion extending in the upward/downward direction. The joint member includes a support column portion extending in the upward/downward direction. The support column portion is movably disposed in the side tubular portion so as to be movable in the upward/downward direction. The support column portion is connected to the side tubular portion by a snap-fit so as to be movable and suspendable in the upward/downward direction.
US11118544B2

A high-frequency resonator forming a flow passage for an air induction system, includes an outer shell having a cylindrical inner surface at a first radial distance from a centerline, and an inner shell positioned within the outer shell and forming a volume therebetween. The inner shell includes a first cylindrical outer surface positioned at a second radial distance from the centerline, the first cylindrical outer surface forming an inner surface of the volume and having a first plurality of resonator openings, and a cylindrical support structure having a second cylindrical outer surface positioned at a third radial distance from the axial centerline, and having hydrocarbon adsorber openings. The resonator includes a hydrocarbon adsorber positioned over the cylindrical support structure, such that an inner surface of the hydrocarbon adsorber is exposed to the flow passage through the hydrocarbon adsorber openings. The third radial distance is less than the first radial distance.
US11118543B2

The performance of an automotive gasoline fueled spark-ignited internal combustion engine (ICE) optionally operated with a dedicated exhaust gas recycle system is enhanced by reforming the fuel in the presence of injected water to increase the yield of hydrogen which permits higher compression ratios and suppresses engine knock associated with pre-ignition of the fuel. Reforming can occur (a) in the cylinder with the reaction of a fuel-rich mixture and steam from the water injected into the intake manifold of one or more dedicated exhaust gas recirculation cylinders; (b) in a catalytic reformer located upstream of the engine; (c) in a catalytic reformer located downstream of the engine that receives fuel and the exhaust gas stream from the dedicated exhaust gas recirculation cylinder(s), and returns cooled reformate to the intake manifold; and (d) in a catalytic reformer that receives fuel and the exhaust gas stream from the engine exhaust gas manifold, and delivers reformate to the intake manifold.
US11118535B2

A thrust balancing gear assembly for a turbo machine is provided. The gear assembly includes an input gear connected to an input drive shaft, an output gear connected to an output drive shaft, and a compound planet gear including a first planet gear and a second planet gear each connected to one another and positioned in axially adjacent arrangement. The first planet gear is connected to the input gear at a first interface and the second planet gear is connected to the output gear at a second interface.
US11118532B2

A top surface of the piston includes a first region. A heat shielding film is formed on the first area. The top surface further includes a second region. There is no heat shielding film formed on the second region. Instead, the second area is mirror-finished. The top surface includes a central portion. A valve recess portion is formed on an intake side of the central portion. A squish portion is formed the intake side of the valve recess portion. The first area includes at least the central portion. The second area includes at least the squish portion.
US11118513B2

A first duct segment may include a first flange including a first planar mating face and a first recess. A second duct segment may include a second flange including a second planar mating face and a second recess. The first duct segment and the second duct segment may be installed in a gas turbine engine. A first E-seal may be inserted in the first recess, and a second E-seal may be inserted in the second recess. A gap may be measured between the first flange and the second flange. A flat shim may be selected based on the size of the gap. The flat shim may be inserted between the first flange and the second flange. A plurality of bolts may be inserted through the first flange, the flat shim, and the second flange to seal the first duct segment to the second duct segment.
US11118512B2

There is provided a gas turbine (1) including a compressor (2) that generates compressed air, a casing (5) into which the compressed air is introduced, a combustor (3) that generates a combustion gas, a turbine (4) that is driven by the combustion gas, a combustor cooling system (6) that has a sub-compressor (62), which is able to be operated independently of the compressor (2), and a heat exchanger (61), which extracts air in the casing (5) and causes the air to exchange heat after the sub-compressor (62) has increased a pressure of the air, and that introduces the air, which has exchanged heat, into a cooling passage (31) of a cylindrical body (30) of the combustor (3), and a combustor air introducing system that extracts air flowing in the combustor cooling system (6) and introduces the air into the combustor (3).
US11118510B2

An engine inlet for efficient operation at both design Mach number and off-design Mach numbers has a variable geometry caret inlet having an initial compression ramp and a principal compression ramp extending aft from and rotatably attached to the initial compression ramp at a forward hinge line. The principal compression ramp is rotatable from a low Mach position to a design Mach position. A diffuser ramp is engaged by the principal compression ramp at an interface. The diffuser ramp is rotatably mounted at an aft hinge line to a diffuser. The diffuser ramp is rotatable oppositely to the principal compression ramp to maintain contact at the interface. An actuation mechanism has a forward cam drive assembly configured to rotate the principal compression ramp about the forward hinge line. An aft cam drive assembly is configured to rotate the diffuser ramp about the aft hinge line. A motor assembly has at least one motor to drive the forward cam drive assembly and the aft cam drive assembly.
US11118505B2

A combustion control system for an engine mounted on an automobile is provided, which includes an ignition plug, intake and exhaust passages, an EGR passage, an EGR valve, and a control device having a processor which controls the ignition plug and the EGR valve according to an engine operating state and reduces deposit being accumulated inside a combustion chamber. The control device performs a control in which an accumulating amount of the deposit is estimated, and a control in which the deposit is removed when the estimated accumulating amount becomes more than a given setting value. In the deposit removal control, a control of the ignition plug in which a mixture gas is caused to combust by igniting the mixture gas, and a control of the EGR valve in which an amount of exhaust gas introduced into the combustion chamber is decreased, are performed.
US11118503B2

The invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising a combustion cylinder housing a combustion piston, a compressor cylinder housing a compressor piston, an expander cylinder housing an expander piston, and a crankshaft connected to the combustion piston and the expander piston by a respective connecting rod. The internal combustion engine further comprises a connecting element rigidly connecting the compressor piston and the expander piston such that the compressor piston and the expander piston move in unison.
US11118502B2

A vehicle supercharging system and a control method thereof are disclosed. The vehicle supercharging system includes: an engine generating power according to combustion of a fuel; a transmission including at least one friction clutch; an electric supercharger that compresses air by rotational force of a motor; an engine-side supercharging path part branching from an air supplying line that supplies air to the engine, passing through the electric supercharger, and joining the air supplying line; a transmission-side supercharging path part that sucks air separately from the engine-side air supplying line, passes through the electric supercharger, and supplies compressed air to the transmission; and a controller that operates the electric supercharger according to a driving state of a vehicle and that controls the engine-side supercharging path part for boosting the engine and the transmission-side supercharging path part for cooling or warming the transmission through control of valves.
US11118492B1

A system and method for reduction of Nitrogen Oxide emissions from marine engines by converting Nitrogen Oxide into Nitrogen is disclosed. The modular reactive cyclic induction apparatus connects to the exhaust of a conventional diesel marine engine and uses air pressure and the sodium chloride in seawater to create a molecular reaction to break down Nitrogen Oxide into Nitrogen by use of an induction apparatus. The system can also include a loop for removing Carbon Dioxide through electrolysis, and removes other environmental pollutants as well, including for example Sulphur oxides, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter during the process.
US11118489B2

A fluid system of a machine. The fluid system includes a fluid reservoir, a pump coupled to the fluid reservoir, a filter coupled to the pump and a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a first port, a second port coupled to the first port and to the fluid reservoir, a third port coupled to the first port, and a first check valve positioned between the first port and the second port. The fluid system further includes a second check valve positioned between the filter and the third port.
US11118486B2

A rotor is provided for a camshaft phaser. The rotor includes a plurality of vanes, a locking pin aperture, a vent passage connected to an end of the locking pin aperture, and an axial face configured to connect with a camshaft. The axial face defines a timing protrusion that is aligned with the vent passage or the locking pin aperture, and configured to be received by the camshaft.
US11118479B2

A casing half shell for a turbine system, a steam turbine system and related method are provided. The casing half shell includes a body having an open interior for enclosing parts of the turbine system; a first inlet in the body for delivering a first working fluid flow into the open interior in a first direction; and a second inlet in the body for delivering a second working fluid flow into the open interior in a second direction that is opposed to the first direction. A working fluid dam extends radially and axially in the body between the first inlet and the second inlet, the working fluid dam includes a stress-mitigating slot extending radially therein. A fill member may be mounted in the stress-mitigating slot to provide full functioning of the working fluid dam.
US11118478B2

Methods and systems are provided for an engine component assembly having one or more fastener retention apparatuses. In one example, a system may include each of the one or more fastener retention apparatuses including a rigid limiter and an integrated fastener retention feature adhered to an inner surface of an interior passage of the rigid limiter. Further, one or more fasteners may be held captive by each of the one or more fastener retention apparatuses capturing one fastener of the one or more fasteners.
US11118477B2

A turbine ring assembly includes both a plurality of ring sectors made of ceramic matrix composite material forming a turbine ring, and also a ring support structure. Each ring sector includes a portion forming an annular base with an inner face defining the inside space of the turbine ring and an outer face from which an attachment portion of the ring sector extends for attaching it to the ring support structure. The ring support structure includes two annular flanges between which the attachment portion of each ring sector is held. Each annular flange of the ring support structure presents at least one sloping portion bearing against the attachment portions of the ring sectors, the sloping portion, when observed in meridian section, forming a non-zero angle relative to the radial direction and relative to the axial direction.
US11118462B2

A turbine blade for a gas turbine engine, the turbine blade having a peripheral blade tip wall surrounding a radially recessed tip pocket, the peripheral blade tip wall having: a wall height; a leading edge; a trailing edge; a pressure side wall; and a suction side wall; and a rib extending between the pressure side wall and the suction side wall defining a leading portion and a trailing portion of the radially recessed tip pocket, the rib having a rib height less than the wall height.
US11118456B2

Pressurized air may be generated within a lightweight opposed piston engine without the need to make use of a supercharger. The lightweight engine may be combined with one or more lightweight micro-generators.
US11118451B2

A system to determine a contamination level of a formation fluid, the system including a formation tester tool to be positioned in a borehole, wherein the borehole has a mixture of the formation fluid and a drilling fluid and the formation tester tool includes a sensor to detect time series measurements from a plurality of sensor channels. The system includes a processor to dimensionally reduce the time series measurements to generate a set of reduced measurement scores in a multi-dimensional measurement space and determine an end member in the multi-dimensional measurement space based on the set of reduced measurement scores, wherein the end member comprises a position in the multi-dimensional measurement space that corresponds with a predetermined fluid concentration. The processor also determines the contamination level of the formation fluid at a time point based the set of reduced measurement scores and the end member.
US11118449B2

This description relates to computer simulation of physical processes, such as computer simulation of multi-species flow through porous media including the determination/estimation of relative permeabilities for the multi-species flow through the porous media.
US11118445B2

A system for improving communication between surface and downhole equipment, in some embodiments, comprises: a first transceiver in a formation; a second transceiver in the formation; and a third transceiver in the formation, the second transceiver positioned between the first and third transceivers, wherein, upon determining that a communication quality metric pertaining to wireless communication in the formation fails to meet a criterion, the first transceiver transmits data to the second transceiver, wherein, upon determining that said communication quality metric meets the criterion, the first transceiver transmits said data to the third transceiver in lieu of transmitting said data to the second transceiver.
US11118440B2

There is described a method for automatically controlling a drilling operation. The method comprises obtaining a recording of one or more controlled drilling parameters adjusted, during a first drilling operation, in response to one or more controlling drilling parameters. The method further comprises, during a second drilling operation subsequent to the first drilling operation, monitoring the one or more controlling drilling parameters. The method further comprises, during the second drilling operation, automatically adjusting the one or more controlled drilling parameters in response to the monitored one or more controlling drilling parameters by using the recording of the one or more controlled drilling parameters. Thus, by recording a driller's instructions once (during a recording phase) and automatically replaying them during successive playback phases, drilling is made more efficient and simpler.
US11118434B2

The present disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized and operations performed in conjunction with a subterranean well and, more particularly, to an improved liner hanger system. A downhole expandable liner hanger positionable in a subterranean wellbore may comprise an expansion element. The expansion element may comprise a tubular body. The expansion element may comprise one or more annular seals bonded to the tubular body. The expansion element may comprise a first spike extending from the tubular body. The expansion element may comprise a second spike extending from the tubular body. The downhole expandable liner hanger may further comprise a first slip ring, wherein the first slip ring is disposed around the tubular body of the expansion element between the first spike and the second spike, wherein the first slip ring is configured to expand radially as the expansion element expands.
US11118433B2

A screen assembly for a production tool, the screen assembly including a tubular member defining an interior passageway; and a plurality of flow paths defined by the tubular member, the plurality of flow paths forming a screen portion that permits fluid flow through the screen portion and into the interior passageway; wherein the plurality of flow paths form a fractal flow network.
US11118424B2

Methods and systems for a remote control flow path system in a wellbore. In one embodiment, the system comprises a plurality of transceivers spaced in the wellbore; a telemetry module operable to wirelessly receive control signals from a surface location by way of the plurality of transceivers and to wireless transmit signals to the surface location by way of the plurality of transceivers; a control module comprising a controller, a pump, and a reservoir of hydraulic fluid; a plurality of valves; and a plurality of control lines for the hydraulic fluid, wherein the plurality of control lines are disposed between the pump and the plurality of valves; wherein the control module is operable to hydraulically actuate one or more of the valves to open or closed positions in response to the control signals from the surface location to create one or more flow paths in the wellbore.
US11118416B2

A device includes a first cavity sized to hold a first cassette of tubulars, a second cavity sized to hold a second cassette of tubulars, and a first lifting mechanism disposed in the first cavity. The first lifting mechanism when in operation lifts the first cassette of tubulars from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation with respect to a drill floor. The device also includes a second lifting mechanism disposed in the second cavity, wherein the second lifting mechanism when in operation lifts the second cassette of tubulars from the horizontal orientation to the vertical orientation and a drive mechanism that when in operation rotates the device by a predetermined amount to dispose the first cavity in a region directly proximate to the drill floor.
US11118406B2

A directional drilling system that includes a drill bit that drills a bore through rock. The drill bit includes an outer portion of a first material and an inner portion coupled to the outer portion. The inner portion includes a second material.
US11118399B2

A frame releasably fixable to a ladder for attaching a mast to the ladder, the frame comprising two sub-frames, each sub-frame comprising two legs, each leg including a stud receiving notch and a support bar at one end thereof, the stud receiving notch for limiting rotation of the sub-frame relative to the ladder, with the frame in place on a ladder and the stud receiving notch engaged with a stud provided on the side of the ladder, the support bar for resting on a surface of the ladder, in use, the two sub-frames releasably attachable to one another at the other end thereof to form a socket for receiving the structural mast.
US11118396B2

A covering for an architectural feature having generally horizontal vane elements extending between generally inner and outer vertical support members that can adjust and control the amount and quality of light transmitted through the covering is described. In one embodiment, the covering has elongate tapes as vertical support members that have a width substantially less than the length of the vane elements, and adjacent inner and adjacent outer elongate tapes are separated by a distance. In one embodiment, the vane elements are multi-layered, cellular vanes. The elongated multilayered vanes may include elongate stiffeners that may be associated with, coupled to, and or inserted within pockets formed in, the multilayered vanes. Also disclosed is a method of operation and manufacture.
US11118395B2

A sealing device of a sliding door having a slidably mounted door leaf has a drop-down seal having a sealing strip and a lowering mechanism for automatically lowering and raising the sealing strip. The lowering occurs against a restoring force. The sealing device also has an activation unit for activating the drop-down seal. The activation unit has a contact surface, which is directed upward in the lowering direction, and a contact element, which lies against said contact surface during the closing of the door leaf and thereby actuates the drop-down seal. In this way, the weight of the door leaf can be used for the lowering of the sealing strip. Furthermore, a position in which the restoring force does not influence a sliding motion of the door leaf in the longitudinal direction of the sealing strip can be achieved.
US11118391B2

A carrier for a vehicle window lifter configured to be connected to a window pane and adjusted by the vehicle window lifter. The carrier including a guide for a cable of the vehicle window lifter. The guide forms a guide surface and the cable lies along the guide surface when the vehicle window lifter is properly mounted. The guide surface defines at least one cutout configured to receive discharged particles from the guide surface of the carrier.
US11118390B2

A rail slide may include a base member having guiding faces for the guide rail of the cable-type window lifter and a curved retention member which is connected via a base to the base member in a resilient manner and which has a locking hook which is arranged at the upper end. The curved retention member has two lateral webs which are connected to the base and a transverse connection element which carries the locking hook.
US11118379B2

A method for controlling a motor vehicle door lock includes using a control unit. After actuating the inner door handle the control unit, the switch positions of the switch are queried, and depending on the position of a locking mechanism sensor, a drive is activated or deactivated.
US11118375B1

A lock for overhead roll doors and particularly a retrofit lock that enables both manual and remote wireless locking and unlocking of a roll door. More specifically, a roll door lock having an interior plate with a cylinder lock aperture, a motorhead gear coupled to a motor and rotationally secured within the housing, and a controller functionally coupled to the motor, wherein the controller may be commanded to operate the motor to lock the roll door lock by causing a blocking coupler edge to reduce the diameter of a ball-pin aperture, and unlock the roll door lock by withdrawing the blocking coupler edge.
US11118374B2

A low profile actuating window lock for casement windows having a longitudinal slot in a sidewall of the casing for the lock, wherein an actuator including a fork component translates within the slot in a direction opposite movement of the handle, the handle pivotable about a restrictor arm that pivots relative to the casing, allowing the handle to rotate from the locked position to the unlocked position with low clearance from the window frame. The pivot points of the handle and restrictor arm configuration allow for an over center linkage that prevents back driving the casement window lock.
US11118372B2

An auto-lock assembly for a telescoping mast having a plurality of telescoping tube sections configurable between a retracted position and an extended position is disclosed herein. Also disclosed herein is a telescoping mast, which includes a plurality of telescoping mast sections including a base tube, an intermediate tube, and an end tube, the intermediate and end tube adapted to be telescopically received in the base tube, a base auto-lock having a collar for mounting to the base tube, and an intermediate auto-lock having a collar for mounting to the intermediate tube. Further disclosed herein is an auto-lock for use with a telescoping mast having a plurality of tube sections.
US11118371B2

A wind turbine steel tower ring segment, a wind turbine tower portion, a wind turbine tower, a wind turbine and a method for producing a wind turbine tower portion. A wind turbine steel tower ring segment for a wind turbine tower, comprising a shell segment with an extent in the direction of a segment height, of a segment ring direction and of a segment thickness and with a first horizontal joint side and a second horizontal joint side, a first vertical joint side and a second vertical joint side, wherein a first vertical flange is arranged at the first vertical joint side and/or a second vertical flange is arranged at the second vertical joint side, wherein the first vertical flange and/or the second vertical flange enclose(s) an angle with the shell segment, wherein at least one connection element for the arrangement of functional elements is formed on the first vertical flange and/or on the second vertical flange, wherein the connection element projects from the first vertical flange and/or the second vertical flange.
US11118370B2

A method of modular pole construction an elongate modular pole structure is disclosed. A first step of the method involves providing hollow pole section modules, each module having an elongated structure with a base end and an opposed tip end. The modules are stacked to form an elongated modular pole structure of a selected length by mating the tip end of a base module with the base end of an additional module. One or more than one of the modules forming the elongated modular pole structure comprise a composite material having fire resistant properties.
US11118367B2

The invention relates to a device for enhancing swimming pools by creating a bubbling and/or sparkling effect on a given surface. The invention relates to a device in the form of a mat for creating a diffusion of air bubbles rising on all or part of the surface of a swimming pool, making it possible to enhance an already-built swimming pool in a simple manner by adding bubbling and/or sparkling water effects. The device is made up of four major elements which are the multi-layer mat, of which the upper surface is perforated so as to provide the sought bubbling effect, the perforated edge strip attached to the appropriate side of the mat and to which a distribution cone is linked that, in turn, is connected to an air compressor. When the compressor is started up, the output flow is distributed evenly over the entire surface of the mat. The device according to the invention is especially intended for enhancing all types of swimming pools and leisure pools.
US11118354B2

The present disclosure relates generally to roofing products, for example, suitable for use covering and protecting the roofs of structures. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a roofing product including an upper section and an exposed section. The roofing product includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a plurality of zones of roofing granules disposed on the top surface of the substrate. The plurality of zones includes first, second and third zones within the exposed section. The first zone includes a first collection of algae-resistant roofing granules and has a first algae-resistance intensity. The second zone includes a second collection of algae-resistant roofing granules and has a second algae-resistance intensity. The third zone has a third algae-resistance intensity that is different from the first algae-resistance intensity.
US11118345B2

A structure is provided, including a concrete body having a first surface and having a second surface arranged at an angle to the first surface; a profiled rail embedded in the concrete body, the profiled rail having a rail body having a rail slot extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the profiled rail, and the profiled rail emerging on the first surface of the concrete body; and a reinforcing body, which emerges on the second surface of the concrete body and which overlaps with the rail body, with regard to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the profiled rail, at least in some regions. A profiled rail assembly for such a structure is also provided.
US11118330B2

A system for controlling water delivery in to and out from a structure. Sensors in the structure determine a water leak from a water delivery system within the structure or an ambient temperature. A transmitter associated with each sensor transmits a signal to a controller, the signal indicating a water leak from the water delivery system or a temperature. Valves within the structure control the flow of water in to the structure, out from the structure, and within the structure. The controller receives the sensor signals and responsive thereto opens or closes one or more valves to stop water delivery into the structure, to drain water out from the structure, or to control water delivery within the structure. A source of pressurized gas activated by the controller applies pressure to water within the water delivery system and thereby assists with draining water from the structure.
US11118316B2

Thermoplastic compositions useful for sealing longitudinal joints of substrates, for example, roadways and pavement, are provided herein. Formulations including the composition and methods of using the thermoplastic composition to seal longitudinal joints are also disclosed.
US11118311B2

A papermaking process including the steps of forming a wet paper web on a papermaking machine, pulling vacuum through the web to remove water from the web and thereby generate discharge air, and diverting at least a portion of the discharge air through a control loop to a hot air drying system within the papermaking process to aid in drying the web, wherein the vacuum is generated by centrifugal blowers.
US11118310B2

A drying hood for drying a fibrous web, such as a tissue paper web, includes a plurality of nozzle boxes for supplying or discharging air and a housing that at least partially surrounds the nozzle boxes. The nozzle boxes are each individually mounted on the housing by a first bearing and a second bearing. The two bearings allow at least one movement of the nozzle box relative to the housing along a longitudinal axis of the nozzle box and/or at least one movement in a direction transverse thereto, along a transverse axis of the nozzle box. The two bearings have translational degrees of freedom differing by one. A drying arrangement having a drying cylinder and the drying hood is also provided.
US11118306B2

A web forming device includes: a defibrator having a variable speed rotor, and configured to defibrate defibration feedstock by rotation of the rotor; an accumulator on which defibrated material defibrated by the defibrator accumulates; a thickness detector configured to detect a thickness of the defibrated material accumulated on the accumulator; and a controller configured to control a rotational velocity of the rotor based on a detection result from the thickness detector. The controller applies either or both a first control and a second control, the first control decreasing the rotational velocity of the rotor when variation in the thickness of the deposited defibrated material detected by the thickness detector exceeds a first tolerance, and the second control increasing the rotational velocity of the rotor when a slope of change over time in a thickness of the deposited defibrated material detected by the thickness detector is less than a second tolerance.
US11118299B2

A washing machine has a cabinet, a wash tub positioned within the cabinet, and a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub. The wash basket is accessible through an opening in the cabinet. The washing machine appliance also includes a door rotatably mounted to the cabinet such that the door is rotatable between an open position and a closed position and a gasket which sealingly engages the door when the door is in the closed position. The gasket includes an S-fold. The S-fold defines a trough and a gap between a front portion of the gasket and a back ring of the gasket. A width of the gap may be at least fifty percent of a width of the trough. A channel may be defined in the trough.
US11118289B2

A flame-blocking nonwoven fabric has excellent processability and high flame-blocking properties. The flame-blocking nonwoven fabric has a density of 200 kg/m3 or more and includes non-melting fibers A whose high-temperature shrinkage rate is 3% or less and whose Young's modulus multiplied by the cross-sectional area of the fibers is 2.0 N or less, and thermoplastic fibers B whose LOI value is 25 or more as determined according to JIS K 7201-2 (2007).
US11118271B2

A method for the preliminary treatment against corrosion of a plurality of metallic components, in which dragging of water-soluble phosphates from an acid passivation process using water-dissolved phosphates as the active components, e.g. a phosphating process, into the dip coating treatment stage, is effectively prevented.
US11118267B2

A method of processing a substrate, includes: mounting at least one substrate on at least one substrate holder configured to rotate about an axis of the at least one substrate holder, the at least one substrate holder being provided along a circumferential direction of a rotary table installed inside a processing chamber; holding the at least one substrate by the at least one substrate holder in a contact manner by bringing a substrate contact portion into contact with at least three points on a lateral surface of the at least one substrate mounted on the at least one substrate holder; and performing a substrate process while rotating the rotary table and rotating the at least one substrate holder about the axis of the at least one substrate holder in a state where the at least one substrate is held by the at least one substrate holder in the contact manner.
US11118265B2

A film deposition method includes steps of: placing a substrate in a substrate receiving area of a susceptor provided in a vacuum chamber; evacuating the vacuum chamber; alternately supplying plural kinds of reaction gases to the substrate in the substrate receiving area from corresponding reaction gas supplying parts thereby to form a thin film on the substrate; supplying plasma including a chemical component that reacts with second reaction gas adsorbed on the substrate from a plasma generation part to the substrate when the thin film is being formed, thereby to alter the thin film on the substrate; and changing plasma intensity of the plasma supplied to the substrate, at a predetermined point of time to a different plasma intensity of the plasma that is generated and supplied to the substrate by the plasma generation part before the predetermined point of time.
US11118260B2

The present invention relates to a zirconium alloy cladding with improved oxidation resistance at a high temperature and a method of manufacturing the same. More particularly, the zirconium alloy cladding includes a zirconium alloy cladding; and a Cr—Al thin film coated on the cladding, wherein the thin film is deposited through arc ion plating and the content of Al in the thin film is 5% by weight to 20% by weight.
US11118258B2

A deposition mask includes a mask body and a through-hole provided in the mask body and through which a deposition material passes when the deposition material is deposited on a deposition target substrate. The mask body satisfies y≥950 and y≥23x−1280 when an indentation elastic modulus is x (GPa) and a 0.2% yield strength is y (MPa).
US11118252B2

A steel sheet includes a hot-dip galvanized layer or a galvannealed layer on a surface of the steel sheet, the steel sheet including: in mass %, C: 0.06% or more and 0.22% or less; Si: 0.50% or more and 2.00% or less; Mn: 1.50% or more and 2.80% or less; Al: 0.02% or more and 1.00% or less; P: 0.001% or more and 0.100% or less; S: 0.0005% or more and 0.0100% or less; N: 0.0005% or more and 0.0100% or less; and a balance: Fe and impurities.
US11118250B2

Ti, N, Al, Mg, and Ca concentrations are controlled in order to prevent aggregation of TiN inclusions. Furthermore, not only is a Fe—Cr—Ni alloy having superior surface property provided, but also a method is proposed in which the Fe—Cr—Ni alloy is produced at low cost using commonly used equipment. The Fe—Cr—Ni alloy includes C≤0.05%, Si: 0.1 to 0.8%, Mn: 0.2 to 0.8%, P≤0.03%, S≤0.001%, Ni:16 to 35%, Cr: 18 to 25%, Al: 0.2 to 0.4%, Ti: 0.25 to 0.4%, N≤0.016%, Mg: 0.0015 to 0.008%, Ca≤0.005%, O: 0.0002 to 0.005%, freely selected Mo: 0.5 to 2.5% in mass % and Fe and inevitable impurities as the remainder, wherein Ti and N satisfy % N×% Ti≤0.0045 and the number of TiN inclusions not smaller than 5 μm is 20 to 200 pieces/cm2 at a freely selected cross section.
US11118249B1

A feedstock material for use in an additive manufacturing apparatus is prepared from a first material and a metal organic framework (MOF). The MOF comprises a plurality of nodes and a plurality of linkers, the plurality of linkers coupled to the plurality of nodes, thereby forming a framework. The MOF has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than a coefficient of thermal expansion for the first material. As a result, the feedstock material has a reduced coefficient of thermal expansion as compared to the first material alone and thus exhibits low thermal expansion as its temperature is increased. The coefficient of thermal expansion for the MOF may be modified by using a different plurality of nodes and/or a different plurality of linkers, as well as by incorporating guest molecules or atoms into the framework of the MOF.
US11118243B2

The invention discloses a measurement apparatus for measuring a volume of a desired solid component in a sample volume of a solid-liquid slurry. The sample volume of the slurry is received into a receptacle and screened to separate out the desired solid component from a remainder of the slurry, whereby the solid component is retained in the receptacle to form a bed therein and the remainder is exhausted. The height of the bed is subsequently measured by a laser being adapted to emit a laser beam into the receptacle, thereby enabling a determination of a volume and/or mass of the solid component retained in the receptacle. The invention further discloses a control system for a leaching plant utilising the measurement apparatus.
US11118237B2

Disclosed are nucleic acid oligomers for amplifying one or more selected regions of HCV nucleic acid. Also disclosed are methods for specific amplification and characterization of HCV nucleic acid using the disclosed oligomers, as well as corresponding reaction mixtures and kits.
US11118236B2

A kit for simultaneously detecting HSV1 and HSV2 includes a forward primer and a reverse primer specific to HSV1, and a forward primer and a reverse primer specific to HSV2. The forward primer specific to HSV1 has a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 4, and the reverse primer specific to HSV1 has a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 7. The forward primer specific to HSV2 has a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6, and the reverse primer specific to HSV2 has a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7.
US11118235B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a method of detecting one or more strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The method may include forming a plurality of mixtures for nucleic amplification. The method can include amplification of specific sequences within the K. pneumonia genome that can provide definitive information to distinguish between one or more types or strains of K. pneumonia.
US11118229B2

One aspect of the invention is a method for amplifying alpha globin genes HBA1, HBA2 and HBA12 in a single PCR tube to determine an HBA genotype of a subject. This method employs five primers selected to accurate and sensitively identify the HBA1, HBA2, and HBA12, a gene found at a higher frequency in citizens of Saudi Arabia, by accurately annealing to nucleic acids in a biological sample and simultaneously amplifying sequences encoding the alpha globin genes. This invention includes a procedure and required reagents for the amplification of alpha globin genes in a single PCR tube.
US11118227B2

A method for assessing whether a test substance or treatment is potentially neuroprotective or anti-oxidant, the method comprising the steps of exposing a cell to the test substance or treatment assessing the TSPO level in the cell, wherein a substance or treatment is considered to be potentially anti-oxidant and/or neuroprotective if the TSPO level is decreased. The method may comprise the step of assessing the level of mitophagy in the cell, wherein a substance or treatment is considered to be anti-oxidant or neuroprotective if the level or induction of mitophagy is increased and the TSPO level is decreased.
US11118222B2

Aspects of the invention include methods for preparing an enriched sequencing library. In some embodiments, the methods involve preparing a sequencing library that is enriched for AT-rich sequences. In certain embodiments, the methods involve determining a presence or an absence of cancer, determining a cancer stage, monitoring cancer progression, and/or determining a cancer classification in a subject by analyzing an enriched sequencing library.
US11118220B2

Methods of volumetric imaging of a three-dimensional matrix of nucleic acids within a cell is provided. An automated apparatus for sequencing and volumetric imaging of a three-dimensional matrix of nucleic acids is provided.
US11118217B2

Emulsion compositions are provided herein. Also provided herein are kits containing one or more emulsion compositions or components for making such emulsion compositions. Also provided herein are methods of using such emulsion compositions, such as for amplification of target nucleic acids in emulsion droplets.
US11118214B2

The invention provides methods and compositions for hybridizing at least one molecule to a target. The invention may, for example, eliminate the use of or reduce the dependence on formamide in hybridization. Compositions for use in the invention include an aqueous composition comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence and at least one polar aprotic solvent in an amount effective to denature double-stranded nucleotide sequences.
US11118211B2

The instant invention provides workflows for the design and characterization of mechanism-based sirtuin modulating compounds, including new or improved sirtuin activating compounds. Workflows for the design of mechanism-based sirtuin activating compounds are provided, based on conditions that must be satisfied by activators if they are to exploit the common catalytic mechanism of all sirtuin enzymes and hence increase catalytic efficiency for any sirtuin and any substrate.
US11118205B2

The present invention discloses a process for producing N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and D-glucosamine salts by microbial fermentation. The invention includes a method to produce N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and/or D-glucosamine salts with higher efficiency and higher yield by increasing the effect of N-acetyl-D-aminomannose-6-phosphate epimerase in microorganisms.
US11118201B2

The invention provides microorganisms genetically modified to co-overexpress a carbohydrate binding module and lysine decarboxylase polypeptides in a mesophilic host to enhance the production of lysine derivatives by the microorganism, method of generating such microorganism, and methods of producing lysine derivatives using the genetically modified microorganisms.
US11118200B2

The present invention relates to the preparation of amines from aldehydes and ketones by reductive amination with enzymes having a reductive aminase activity on aldehydes and ketones devoid of any carboxyl group gamma of the carbonyl group. The invention also relates to the enzymes per se and their uses in biocatalysis. The enzymes are derived from Mycobacterium smegmatis and vaccae, Cystobacter fuscus, Microbacterium sp. and Aminomonas paucivorans.
US11118195B2

Genetically modified cells that are compatible with multiple subjects, e.g., universal donor cells, and methods of generating said genetic modified cells are provided herein. The universal donor cells comprise at least one genetic modification within or near at least one gene that encodes a survival factor, wherein the genetic modification comprises an insertion of a polynucleotide encoding a tolerogenic factor. The universal donor cells may further comprise at least one genetic modification within or near a gene that encodes one or more MHC-I or MHC-II human leukocyte antigens or a component or a transcriptional regulator of a MHC-I or MHC-II complex, wherein said genetic modification comprises an insertion of a polynucleotide encoding a second tolerogenic factor.
US11118190B2

Compositions having pesticidal activity and methods for their use are provided. Compositions include isolated and recombinant polypeptides having pesticidal activity, recombinant and synthetic nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, DNA constructs and vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecules, host cells comprising the vectors, and antibodies to the polypeptides. Polynucleotide sequences encoding the polypeptides can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in organisms of interest. The compositions and methods provided are useful for producing organisms with enhanced pest resistance or tolerance. Transgenic plants and seeds comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a pesticidal protein of the invention are also provided. Such plants are resistant to insects and other pests. Methods are provided for producing the various polypeptides disclosed herein, and for using those polypeptides for controlling or killing a pest. Methods and kits for detecting polypeptides of the invention in a sample are also included.
US11118186B2

The present invention includes compositions and methods for treating an autoimmune disorder or a cancer in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising: administering an effective amount of a composition comprising an oligonucleotide that specifically binds a complementary sequence of the Interleukin-7 receptor (IL7R) pre-mRNA that influences splicing of exon 6, wherein the SM-ASO increases or decreases inclusion of exon 6 in IL7R pre-mRNAs and respectively decreases or increases expression of the soluble isoform of IL7R (sIL7R). In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide is an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), or a splice-modulating antisense oligonucleotide (SM-ASO).
US11118185B2

Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods and compositions for treating retinitis pigmentosa. In some aspects, the disclosure provides compositions and methods for delivering an interfering nucleic acid (for example an interfering RNA) to a subject in order to reduce expression of one or both alleles of an endogenous rho gene (for example a mutant rho allele associated with retinitis pigmentosa) in the subject. In some embodiments, a replacement rho gene that is resistant to the interfering nucleic acid also is delivered to the subject.
US11118184B2

The present invention relates to an asymmetric siRNA which inhibits an expression of male pattern hair loss target genes and a use thereof and, more particularly, to an asymmetric siRNA which inhibits an expression of 3-oxo-5-alpha-steroid-4-dehydrogenase 1 (SRD5A1) gene, 3-oxo-5-alpha-steroid-4-dehydrogenase 2 (SRD5A2) gene or androgen receptor (AR) gene, and a composition for prevention or treatment of hair loss comprising the asymmetric siRNA.
US11118177B2

The present application provides materials and methods for treating a patient with one or more of Usher Syndrome Type 2A and ARRP, both ex vivo and in vivo; materials and methods for editing an USH2A gene containing a guanine deletion at nucleotide position c.2299. In addition, the present application provides one or more gRNAs or sgRNAs for editing an USH2A gene containing a guanine deletion at nucleotide position c.2299; a therapeutic comprising at least one or more gRNAs or sgRNAs for editing an USH2A gene containing a guanine deletion at nucleotide position c.2299; and a therapeutic for treating a patient with one or more of Usher Syndrome Type 2A and ARRP. The present application also provides a kit for treating a patient with one or more of Usher Syndrome Type 2A and ARRP.
US11118176B2

Provided herein are methods and composition for immune repertoire sequencing and single cell barcoding. In some aspects, such methods may comprise steps of: (a) forming a plurality of first vessels each comprising: (i) a single cell, and (ii) a single solid support; (b) copying onto the single solid support: (i) a first copy of a first cell polynucleotide from the single cell, and (ii) a second copy of a second cell polynucleotide from the single cell; (c) forming a plurality of second vessels each comprising (i) a single solid support from the plurality of first vessels, and (ii) a barcoded polynucleotide; and (d) amplifying (i) the first copy and the second copy with a first primer set, and (ii) the barcode with a second primer set, wherein a primer of the first primer set is complementary to a primer of the second set; and (e) forming first and second single cell barcoded sequences.
US11118167B2

Methods and compositions related to the engineering of a protein with MTA/ADO-degrading enzyme activity are described. For example, in certain aspects there may be disclosed an MTase capable of degrading MTA/ADO. Furthermore, certain aspects of the invention provide compositions and methods for the treatment of cancer or SCID with an MTase using the disclosed proteins or nucleic acids.
US11118165B2

The present invention provides a cytokine-based culture method for ex vivo expansion of NK cells from postembryonic hematopoietic stem cells into a fully closed, large-scale, cell culture bioprocess. We optimized enrichment of CD34+ cells followed by efficient expansion in gas-permeable cell culture bags. Thereafter, expanded CD34+ cells could be reproducibly amplified and differentiated into CD56+CD3− NK cell products with a mean expansion of more than 2,000 fold and a purity of >90%. Also provided are collections of cultured cells having specific properties.
US11118162B2

The present invention relates to a cytopheretic cartridge for use in treating and/or preventing inflammatory conditions within a subject and to related methods. More particularly, the invention relates to a cytopheretic cartridge that includes a housing and, disposed within the housing, a solid support capable of sequestering activated leukocytes and/or platelets.
US11118161B2

The present invention relates to a method for direct transdifferentiation into neurons using metal nanoparticles magnetized by an electromagnetic field, and to a cell therapeutic agent for the treatment of cerebral nerve diseases, comprising neurons differentiated by the method. In the present invention, it was specifically verified that the direct transdifferentiation efficiency into neurons can be remarkably improved through the above method and the symptoms of cerebral nerve diseases, such as a stroke, can be effectively alleviated. Therefore, in the treatment of degenerative cerebral nerve diseases, the target therapy is expected to be implemented through a more fundamental approach.
US11118159B2

It has been discovered that the desert endophytic bacterium SA187 SA187 can provide resistance or tolerance to abiotic stress conditions to seeds or plants. Compositions containing SA187 can be used to enhance plant development and yield under environmental stress conditions.
US11118151B2

A fixed-bed bioreactor system is provided that includes a vessel with a media inlet, a media outlet, and an interior cavity disposed between and in fluid communication with the media inlet and media outlet. The vessel further includes a cell culture substrate disposed in the interior cavity between the media inlet and the media outlet in a packed-bed configuration, the cell culture substrate including a plurality of porous disks in a stacked arrangement. The interior cavity includes a cell culture section and a spacer section, the cell culture substrate defining the cell culture section and the spacer section being disposed between the cell culture section and the media outlet, and each of the plurality of porous disks has a surface configured to culture cells thereon.
US11118144B2

The invention provides formulations and a process for disinfection, cleansing, and establishing a residual biostatic surface protection for dentures and removable oral appliances. These appliances include complete and partial dentures, removable dental applications, and other products used in an individual's mouth.
US11118139B2

The object of the present invention is to provide a detergent, especially a dishwashing detergent, with improved detergency. Detergent compositions having metal complexes with certain salicylidene ligands, which may be created in situ, solve this problem.
US11118133B2

The present technology provides a method that includes contacting a composition with a caustic solution to produce a caustic-treated composition; combining the caustic-treated composition with silica particles to produce a slurry; and removing the silica particles from the slurry to produce a treated composition; wherein the composition includes one or more of animal fats, animal oils, plant fats, plant oils, vegetable fats, vegetable oils, greases, and used cooking oil and the composition includes: at least about 10 wppm of total metals, at least about 8 wppm of phosphorus, at least about 10 wppm of chlorine, at least about 10 wppm of sulfur, at least about 20 wppm of nitrogen, at least about 5 wt. % of free fatty acids; and has an acid number from about 10 mg KOH/g to about 150 mg KOH/g, and the silica particles has a particle size from about 10 microns to about 50 microns, a BET surface area from about 200 m2/g to about 1000 m2/g.
US11118130B2

Disclosed is a metalworking oil composition containing: at least one base oil (A) selected from a mineral oil and a synthetic oil; sulfurized oils and fats (B) having a kinematic viscosity at 40° C. of 60 mm2/s or more and 1,600 mm2/s or less; and a polymer (C) of an unsaturated fatty acid having a carbon number of 10 or more.
US11118124B1

A diamondoid fuel comprising a cage structure including 10, 14, 18, or 22 carbons. The diamondoid fuel also includes one of one to four cyclopropyl groups bonded to the cage structure or two to four functional groups bonded to the cage structure where the functional groups are an alkyl group, an allyl group, a cyclopropyl group, or combinations thereof. Additionally, at least one functional group is an allyl group and at least one functional group is a cyclopropyl group.
US11118118B2

The present disclosure relates to a process for reducing the content of sulfur compounds in a hydrocarbon feed using an adsorbent. The process of the present disclosure is simple, economic, efficient and environment friendly.
US11118107B2

A treatment additive for hydraulic fracturing made of heated silica to create amorphous silicate with a Mohs hardness between 4.5 and 6 and a particles distribution with maximum diameter between 5 and 2600 microns that has been heated and shaped into amorphous shapes with large surface area to weight ratio and ultra-low settling velocity used to prop microfractures distal from well bore, especially in low viscosity and high temperature wells. The microparticle size and shape allow the treatment to effectively hold microfractures open, stimulate backpressure, and prevent leakoff; which has the added benefit of improving primary fracture development; refrac and frac protect productivity; and reduces the likelihood of interference between offset wells. An additional benefit is that the treatment doesn't contain crystalline silica.
US11118099B2

Emulsions of mobility control polymers can be used to increase recovery of crude oil from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation. A flooding fluid comprising the polymer emulsions are injected into a well that is in contact with the subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation. The polymers can be temporarily cross-linked and have protected shear degradation and improved injectivity into the well; the shear resistance can be measured in terms of viscosity loss due to shear, and the improved injectivity can be measured in terms of the flooding fluid's filter ratio, flow rate, and viscosity.
US11118097B2

This invention provides a composition comprising I. at least one reaction product between a nitrogen-free monohydric alcohol and an aldehyde or ketone, and II. at least one reaction product between a nitrogen-free sugar alcohol and an aldehyde or ketone, and optionally III. at least one reaction product from III.a) formaldehyde, and III.b) an amine, selected from the group consisting of primary alkyl amines having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and primary hydroxy alkyl amines having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and optionally IV. at least one solid suppression agent selected from the group consisting of IV(a). alkali or alkaline earth metal hydroxides IV(b). mono-, di- or tri-hydroxy alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl amines, IV(c). mono-, di- or tri-alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl primary, secondary and tertiary amines or IV(d). multifunctional amines and IV(e). mixtures of compounds of groups IV(a) to IV(c). wherein alkyl is C1 to C15, aryl is C6 to C15 and alkylaryl is C7 to C15.
US11118093B2

A micronized date tree particle mix loss prevention material (LPM) is provided. The micronized date tree particle mix LPM includes date palm seed particles produced from date palm seeds and date tree fiber particles produced from date tree waste such as date tree trunks. The date palm seed particles may have a size in the range of 1 micron to less than 150 microns. The date tree waste fiber particles may have a size in the range of 1 micron to less than 250 microns. Methods of loss prevention and manufacture of a micronized date tree particle mix LPM are also provided.
US11118088B2

An adhesive article including: a flexible backing; a first cushion layer permanently bonded to a first surface of the flexible backing, wherein the first cushion layer: has an average thickness of at least 10 micrometers; and includes an acrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive having a Fox Tg of up to −30° C., wherein the acrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive includes a (meth)acrylate copolymer; and a first continuous shell layer adjacent the first cushion layer, wherein: the first continuous shell layer has an average thickness of up to 25 micrometers; the ratio of the first cushion layer average thickness to the first shell layer average thickness is at least 2:1; the first continuous shell layer includes an adhesive having a Fox Tg of −20° C. to +50° C.; and the first continuous shell layer adhesive includes a copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of at least 100,000 Daltons.
US11118083B2

The present invention relates to latex paints containing a) a multistage carboxylated polymer latex binder obtainable by multistage aqueous emulsion polymerisation of at least one non-ionic monomer which is selected from C1-C20-alkyl esters of acrylic acid, C1-C20-alkylesters of methacrylic acid, and vinyl aromatic monomers; one or more monoethylenically unsaturated monomers M2, which are selected from monoethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acids having 3 to 6 carbon atoms and monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acids having 4 to 6 carbon atoms, and where in at least one stage, monomers M2 added in this stage is at least 6% by weight; b) a titanium dioxide pigment; c) a polymeric dispersant selected from monoethylenically unsaturated monocarboxylic acids having 3 to 6 carbon atoms and monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acids having 4 to 6 carbon atoms, where the monomers make up at least 85% of the monomers forming the polymeric dispersant; and d) a thickener polymer.
US11118076B2

Provided is a more versatile black marker composition which achieves excellent adhesion between a mark and an electronic component element body and excellent contrast of a mark regardless of the composition of the electronic component element body, the black marker composition containing borosilicate glass and a black oxide, in which a crystallization temperature of the borosilicate glass is less than 910° C., and an amount of Zn in terms of ZnO is 0.05% by mass or less based on 100% by mass of an inorganic solid content in terms of an oxide contained in the black marker composition.
US11118068B2

A solar reflective coating composition includes: a film-forming resin; a plurality of near-IR transparent pigments dispersed in the film-forming resin, the plurality of near-IR transparent pigments including a first perylene pigment and a second perylene pigment different from the first perylene pigment; and a near-IR reflective pigment dispersed in the film-forming resin, the near-IR reflective pigment different from the first perylene pigment and the second perylene pigment. When formed into a cured coating over a substrate, the cured coating exhibits an off-white or grey color. The solar reflective coating composition is substantially free of carbon black. The present invention is also directed to a substrate having a surface at least partially coated with a solar reflective coating composition and a method of preparing a low weight aerospace component.
US11118067B2

The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces. Roughened (e.g., porous) surfaces can be utilized to lock in place a lubricating fluid, referred to herein as Liquid B to repel a wide range of materials, referred to herein as Object A (Solid A or Liquid A). Slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces outperforms other conventional surfaces in its capability to repel various simple and complex liquids (water, hydrocarbons, crude oil and blood), maintain low-contact-angle hysteresis (<2.5°), quickly restore liquid-repellency after physical damage (within 0.1-1 s), resist ice, microorganisms and insects adhesion, and function at high pressures (up to at least 690 atm). Some exemplary application where slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces will be useful include energy-efficient fluid handling and transportation, optical sensing, medicine, and as self-cleaning, and anti-fouling materials operating in extreme environments.
US11118066B2

The present invention relates to novel compounds containing fluorinated end groups and to the use thereof in, for example, dirt-repellent coatings.
US11118062B2

A LiDAR reflecting dark colored pigment includes a core layer formed from a reflecting material and a first layer formed from a first absorber material or a first dielectric material extending across the core layer. A second layer formed from a second absorber material different than the third absorber material extends across the first layer and a third layer formed from a third absorber material or a second dielectric material extends across the second layer. The third absorber material is different than the second absorber material. The LiDAR reflecting dark colored pigment reflects less than 10% of incident visible electromagnetic radiation and more than 60% of incident near-IR electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between and including 850 nm and 950 nm for all incident angles of the visible and near-IR electromagnetic radiation between and including 0° and 45°. A color reflected by the multilayer stack has a lightness in CIELAB color space less than or equal to 40.
US11118057B1

The attenuation material composition disclosed in the present disclosure comprises a room temperature vulcanized silicone rubber, an epoxy resin, a first curing agent and a second curing agent, wherein the first curing agent comprises ethyl orthosilicate and dibutyltin oxide; and the weight ratio of the room temperature vulcanized silicone rubber to the epoxy resin is (0.1-1):1.
US11118051B2

The present invention relates to a polylactic acid resin composition and a molded product using same. Since the polylactic acid resin composition according to the present invention has excellent environmental friendliness and biodegradability, has excellent heat resistance characteristics due to high heat deformation temperature (HDT), and may be injection molded within a commercially reasonable cycle time due to high crystallinity and crystallization rate, it is suitable for the preparation of a molded product.
US11118043B2

The crosslinked polyolefin resin foam of the present invention is a crosslinked polyolefin resin foam obtained by crosslinking and foaming a polyolefin resin composition comprising a polypropylene resin and an olefin rubber; the olefin rubber having a Mooney viscosity (ML1+4, 100° C.) of 15 to 85; the olefin rubber being contained in an amount of 10 to 150 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the polypropylene resin; the foam having a 25% compressive hardness of 30 to 70 kPa and a compressive strength ratio, 25% compressive strength/5% compressive strength, of 2.0 to 4.5. According to the present invention, a crosslinked polyolefin resin foam from which a molded product excellent in appearance can be obtained even in a secondary processing to a complicated shape without impairment of flexibility, and a molded product made from the same are provided.
US11118039B2

The invention relates to a conductive article made from a composite material comprising: from 50 to 99 wt % of a first polyethylene resin as based on the total weight of said composite material, wherein the first polyethylene resin has a melt index MI2 of at most 0.45 g/10 min as determined according to ISO 1133 (190° C.—2.16 kg), and a density ranging from 0.920 g/cm3 to 0.980 g/cm3 as determined according to ISO 1183 at a temperature of 23° C.; and from 0.2 to 10 wt % of carbon particles as based on the total weight of said composite material as determined according to ISO 11358 selected from nanographene, carbon nanotubes or any combination thereof; wherein the composite material further comprises from 0.10 to 0.48 wt % of polyethylene glycol as based on the total weight of the composite material, and in that said polyethylene glycol is selected to have a weight average molecular weight Mw of at most 20,000 g/mol. The invention also relates to a process to produce such conductive article as well as to the use of polyethylene glycol such a conductive article.
US11118031B2

Polysaccharide filaments and fibrous structures containing such polysaccharide filaments and more particularly polysaccharide filaments that exhibit birefringence are provided.
US11118028B2

Embodiments of organic peroxide formulations provide longer scorch time protection and require fewer additives. The peroxide formulations may include, for example, at least one organic peroxide, at least one nitroxide-containing compound (e.g., 4-hydroxy-TEMPO), and at least one quinone-containing compound (e.g., mono-tert-butylhydroquinone).
US11118024B2

The present invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional ordered porous microstructure. In the method of the invention where the three-dimensional ordered microstructure is produced using the colloidal crystal templating process, the three-dimensional ordered microstructure thus formed is subjected to heat treatment to soften the particles, so as to effectively increase the contact between orderly arranged particles while removing the solvent used to suspend the particles. The present invention further relates to a monolithic column produced thereby. Compared to the monolithic columns produced by conventional methods, the monolithic column according to the invention is characterized in having a higher aspect ratio and a higher pore regularity, while the connecting pores in the column are relatively large in pore size.
US11118020B2

Disclosed herein is method for preparing a masterbatch by dispersing chemically modified cellulose nanofibers having carboxy groups under acidic conditions and then mixing the dispersed cellulose nanofibers with rubber latex. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a method for producing a masterbatch, including: (A) a step of introducing a carboxy group to a cellulose-based raw material to prepare a modified cellulose; (B) a step of carrying out defibration treatment and dispersion treatment of the modified cellulose to prepare a cellulose nanofiber; (C) a step of acidifying the cellulose nanofiber to prepare an acid type cellulose nanofiber; and (D) a step of mixing the acid type cellulose nanofiber and a rubber component. The rubber composition having excellent strength such as tensile strength can be provided by using the obtained masterbatch.
US11118009B2

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an aromatic polycarbonate oligomer solid with substantially reduced low-molecular-weight components, no or a substantially reduced amount of chlorine-containing compounds, high loose bulk density, and ease of handling. The aromatic polycarbonate oligomer solid contains a repeating unit represented by general formula (1), has a weight average molecular weight of 500 to 10000, low-molecular-weight components less than or equal to 5.0 area % measured with high-speed liquid chromatography, and a loose bulk density of greater than or equal to 0.30 g/cm3.
US11118004B2

Methods for fabricating three-dimensional objects by 3D-inkjet printing technology are provided. The methods utilize curable materials that polymerize via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) for fabricating the object, in combination with acid-activatable pre-catalyst and an acid generator activator. Kits containing modeling material formulations usable in the methods are also provided.
US11117993B2

To provide a fluorinated elastic copolymer having a low content of metal elements and being excellent in crosslinkability. This fluorinated elastic copolymer has iodine atoms and has units a based on tetrafluoroethylene, units b based on a monomer having one polymerizable unsaturated bond (but excluding tetrafluoroethylene), and units c based on a fluorinated monomer having at least two polymerizable unsaturated bonds, wherein the metal content is at least 0.3 ppm by mass and at most 20.0 ppm by mass.
US11117987B2

Vulcanizates with desirable properties can be obtained from compounds incorporating polymers that include hydroxyl group-containing aryl functionalities. The functionalities can be incorporated by using any or all of appropriate initiators, monomers and optional terminating compounds. Such polymers exhibit excellent interactivity with both conventional and non-conventional fillers.
US11117984B2

Provided are a novel catalyst component for producing an α-olefin (co)polymer, and a production method using the same. A metal complex is obtainable by contacting a compound represented by the general formula [I] or [II] with a transition metal compound containing a transition metal belonging to 9th to 11th group: wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 represent (i) hydrogen, (ii) a halogen, (iii) a linear alkyl or the like, or (iv) OR9 or the like; R5 and R6 represent a linear alkyl group or the like; any one of R1-R6 may have a heteroatom or a heteroatom containing group; E1 represents phosphorus, arsenic or antimony; X1 represents oxygen or sulfur; Z represents hydrogen or a leaving group.
US11117979B2

Processes and apparatus for preparing bimodal polymers are provided. In some embodiments, processes include introducing a monomer, a first diluent, a catalyst, hydrogen, at a first hydrogen concentration, and optional comonomer, to a first loop reactor to produce, under polymerization conditions, a first slurry of polymer solids. Processes may also include continuously discharging the first slurry of polymer solids from the loop reactor as a first polymerization effluent to a first flash tank; separating the first polymerization effluent in the first flash tank to provide a first concentrated polymer slurry with significantly lower hydrogen concentration; and transferring the first concentrated polymer slurry from the flash tank to a re-slurry mixer. Processes may further include introducing a re-slurry mixer diluent to the first concentrated polymer slurry to form a second concentrated polymer slurry in the re-slurry mixer that can be pumped to a second slurry loop reactor.
US11117976B2

The present application discloses a previously unknown function of CD24 expressed on a subset of dendritic cells. The invention encompasses regulating CD24 on these cells to regulate erythropoiesis, induce EPO production and levels, increase RBC levels, and to treat, for example, stress-mediated erythropoiesis. The compositions and methods of the invention are useful, for example, in treating anemia.
US11117973B2

The disclosure relates generally to molecules that specifically engage death receptor 5 (DR5), a member of the TNF receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) and methods of treatment. More specifically the disclosure relates to multivalent and multispecific molecules that bind at least DR5.
US11117968B2

Provided herein are activatable anti-human CTLA-4 antibodies comprising a heavy chain comprising a VH domain and a light chain comprising a masking moiety (MM), a cleavable moiety (CM), and a VL domain. Such activatable anti-human CTLA-4 antibodies have CTLA-4 binding activity in the tumor microenvironment, where the masking moiety is removed by proteolytic cleavage of the cleavable moiety by tumor-specific proteases, but exhibit greatly reduced binding to CTLA-4 outside the tumor. In this way, the activatable anti-human CTLA-4 antibodies of the present invention retain anti-tumor activity while reducing the side effects associated with anti-CTLA-4 activity outside the tumor.
US11117959B2

The present invention provides binding molecules (e.g., antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof) that specifically bind to and inhibit the biological activity of IL-6 (e.g., human, mouse and non-human primate IL-6). In a preferred embodiment, the antibodies or antigen binding fragments of the invention bind to IL-6 and inhibit its binding to an IL-6 receptor. Such antibodies or antigen binding fragments are particularly useful for treating IL-6-associated diseases or disorders (e.g., inflammatory disease and cancer).
US11117958B2

Provided is an antibody that binds to human interleukin-2 (hIL-2), and more particularly to an anti-hIL-2 antibody that binds specifically to a particular epitope of hIL-2, thereby inhibiting the binding of the hIL-2 to CD25. The anti-hIL-2 antibody of the subject matter binds specifically to a particular epitope of hIL-2, thereby inhibiting the binding of the hIL-2 to CD25, thereby minimizing expansion of Treg cells. In addition, it stimulates the CD8+ T cells and NK cells that exhibit anti-tumor activity. Thus, the anti-hIL-2 antibody of the present invention is useful as a new anticancer therapeutic agent.
US11117953B2

The present invention relates to a microorganism for drug delivery, which has been transformed with a gene construct including a therapeutically active peptide, is delivered safely into the intestines through oral administration, and expresses and secretes a cystatin in the gastrointestinal tract, and also relates to a pharmaceutical composition for prevention or treatment of gastrointestinal disease, which includes the same. The present invention demonstrates the safety and superiority of lactic acid bacteria as a system for delivering a protein-based drug, and thus it is expected the lactic acid bacteria will be widely used as an agent for treatment of gastrointestinal disease in the medical field.
US11117948B2

Provided herein are variant CD80 polypeptides, immunomodulatory proteins comprising variant CD80 polypeptides, and nucleic acids encoding such proteins. The immunomodulatory proteins provide therapeutic utility for a variety of immunological and oncological conditions. Compositions and methods for making and using such proteins are provided.
US11117946B2

The present invention refers to a method for preparing a glucagon-like peptide, comprising precipitation of the peptide or of a precursor peptide by means of mixing with an anti-solvent comprising diisopropyl ether and acetonitrile. Further, the present invention also relates to a peptide conjugated to a solid phase and a pharmaceutical composition comprising a Liraglutide peptide obtainable from a method according to the present invention.
US11117944B2

De novo designed polypeptides that bind to IL-2 receptor βγc heterodimer (IL-2Rβγc), IL-4 receptor αγc heterodimer (IL-4Rαγc), or IL-13 receptor α subunit (IL-13Rα) are disclosed, as are methods for using and designing the polypeptides.
US11117941B2

The present invention relates to peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that can for example serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions that stimulate anti-tumor immune responses, or to stimulate T cells ex vivo and transfer into patients. Peptides bound to molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or peptides as such, can also be targets of antibodies, soluble T-cell receptors, and other binding molecules.
US11117933B2

Provided herein are methods of selective screening. In addition, various targeting proteins and sequences, as well as methods of their use, are also provided.
US11117931B2

An antimicrobial peptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, except that i) the 1st and the 14th amino acids are deleted, ii) the 4th and the 8th amino acids are substituted with lysine (K), iii) the 7th amino acid is substituted with leucine (L), iv) the 9th amino acid is optionally substituted with lysine (K), and v) the 12th amino acid is optionally substituted with lysine (K). A method for antimicrobial treatment in a subject including administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of the antimicrobial peptide to a subject.
US11117928B2

The present disclosure relates generally to methods of preparing glycoconjugates containing a saccharide conjugated to a carrier protein by use of stable nitroxyl radical related agent/oxidant as an oxidizing agent, to immunogenic compositions comprising such glycoconjugates, and to methods for the use of such glycoconjugates and immunogenic compositions.
US11117924B2

Compounds are provided according to Formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof; wherein R1, R2, and R3 are as defined herein. Compounds of the present invention are contemplated useful for the prevention and treatment of a variety of conditions.
US11117919B2

An icariside compound as shown in Formula I wherein the compound is a natural chemical component in the traditional Chinese herbal epimedium or a chemically modified or a totally synthetic product based on the natural component. The compound can be used for preparing pharmaceuticals, health care products, cosmetic and skin care products and the like for improvement of immunity in a human body.
US11117916B2

The present invention relates a process for the recovery of one or more steviol glycosides from a steviol glycoside-containing fermentation broth, which method comprises (a) providing a fermentation broth comprising one or more steviol glycosides and one or more non-steviol glycoside components; (b) separating the liquid phase of the broth from the solid phase of the broth; (c) providing an adsorbent resin; (d) contacting the liquid phase of the broth with the adsorbent resin in order to separate at least a portion of the one or more steviol glycosides from the non-steviol glycoside components, thereby to recover one or more steviol glycosides from the fermentation broth containing one or more steviol glycosides. The invention also relates to a purified steviol glycoside composition prepared using such a process.
US11117914B2

The present invention provides carbohydrate-based surfactants and methods for producing the same. Methods for producing carbohydrate-based surfactants include using a glycosylation promoter to link a carbohydrate or its derivative to a hydrophobic compound.
US11117900B2

The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of ATR protein kinase. The invention also relates to pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of this invention; methods of treating of various diseases, disorders, and conditions using the compounds of this invention; processes for preparing the compounds of this invention; intermediates for the preparation of the compounds of this invention; and methods of using the compounds in in vitro applications, such as the study of kinases in biological and pathological phenomena; the study of intracellular signal transduction pathways mediated by such kinases; and the comparative evaluation of new kinase inhibitors. The compounds of this invention have formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, wherein the variables are as devined herein. Moreover, The compounds of this invention have formula I-A: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, wherein the variables are as defined herein.
US11117899B2

Provided are a compound represented by formula (I), an isomer or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and an application of the same in preparing a drug for treating a disease related to A2A receptor. The R1, R2, R3, ring A, ring B, n, and m are as defined in the specification.
US11117889B1

The present invention provides compounds, compositions thereof, and methods of using the same.
US11117883B2

The invention relates to c-Kit inhibitors useful in the treatment of cancers, and other serine-threonine kinase mediated diseases, having the Formula: (I) where A, L, R1, R2, R3, and n are described herein.
US11117873B2

The present invention provides an oxazine compound having a specific structure, which contains a group having an aromatic ring structure and a plurality of specified carbon-carbon triple bond structure. The present invention further provides a composition containing the oxazine compound having a specific structure of the present invention, a cured product containing the composition, and a laminate having a layer of the cured product. The present invention further still provides a composition for a heat-resistant material and a composition for an electronic material, which contain the composition containing the oxazine compound of the present invention.
US11117872B2

The present invention provides an oxazine compound having a specific structure, which contains a group having an aromatic ring structure and a plurality of specified carbon-carbon triple bond structure. The present invention further provides a composition containing the oxazine compound having a specific structure of the present invention, a cured product containing the composition, and a laminate having the layer of the cured product. The present invention further still provides a composition for a heat-resistant material and a composition for an electronic material, which contain the composition containing the oxazine compound of the present invention.
US11117871B2

The present disclosure relates to crystalline form CS1 and CS9 of a hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor compound (I) GSK1278863, processes for preparation, and uses for preparing drugs treating and/or preventing anemia thereof.
US11117859B1

A compound with anti-drug resistant bacteria activity having the following formula (I) is disclosed. The methods of preparing the compound of formula (I) are also disclosed.
US11117856B2

Disclosed herein are efflux pump inhibitors and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same. The efflux pump inhibitors may be used in methods of preventing antibiotic resistance in a subject, and in methods of treating a bacterial infection in a subject. The efflux pump inhibitor may be co-administered with an antibiotic.
US11117847B1

In the present method a reaction mixture is comprised of a source of adamantane, mixed with an alkane or cycloalkane. A Lewis acid catalyst is added to the reaction mixture which is heated and then purified. The resulting alkyl diamondoid mixtures have significantly higher densities and volumetric net heats of combustion while maintaining low viscosities which allow for use at low temperature.
US11117838B2

A method of making a fiber preform for ceramic matrix composite (CMC) fabrication that utilizes a fugitive binder and a machining step is described. The method includes, according to one embodiment, laying up a plurality of plies to form a stack, where each ply comprises an arrangement of fibers. The stack is infiltrated with a polymer at an elevated temperature to form an infiltrated stack that is cooled to form a rigid preform. The rigid fiber preform is machined to have a predetermined shape, such that a machined fiber preform is formed. A composite assembly including the machined fiber preform is formed and then the composite assembly is heated at a sufficient temperature to pyrolyze the polymer. Thus, a porous preform of a predetermined geometry is formed for further processing into a CMC.
US11117835B2

The present invention provides a calcium sulphate-based product (e.g. a wall board) comprising gypsum, a pozzolan source such as a clay additive, rice husk ash or diatomaceous earth and a metal salt additive. The product may be produced by drying an aqueous slurry comprising calcined gypsum, the pozzolan source and the metal salt additive. The clay additive may be a kaolinitic clay. The metal salt additive may be a magnesium salt e.g. magnesium nitrate, magnesium chloride or magnesium hydroxide.
US11117821B2

The present invention relates to a process and device for selectively removal of deflocculated sludge below a pre-selected size from a sludge mixed liquor. The invention resides in the concept of removing from the sludge mixed liquor deflocculated sludge. The removal is preferably carried out by a two-step separation providing a fraction comprising sludge flocs, substantially freed from deflocculated sludge, and a fraction containing mostly deflocculated sludge. The fraction comprising sludge flocs is returned into the sludge mixed liquor, while the fraction containing mostly deflocculated sludge is removed from the system.
US11117820B2

An automated descaling system can be integrated into a tankless water heater or can be a separate system that is attached to a tankless water heater. The automatic descaling system comprises a cleaning media chamber and a four way valve with a motor. The descaling system can be set on an automatic cleaning schedule.
US11117813B1

The present disclosure is directed to filtering technologies that combine elements of continuous and batch NF/RO based on the constraints of the end-user facility to achieve a target balance between, for instance, recovery and power consumption, and to reduce long term operating cost of a plant. A method for extending batch operation into a second induction period with antiscalant injection is also disclosed herein, with the second induction period allowing for yet higher water recovery.
US11117806B2

A silicon carbide-graphite composite is described, including (i) interior bulk graphite material and (ii) exterior silicon carbide matrix material, wherein the interior bulk graphite material and exterior silicon carbide matrix material inter-penetrate one another at an interfacial region therebetween, and wherein graphite is present in inclusions in the exterior silicon carbide matrix material. Such material may be formed by contacting a precursor graphite article with silicon monoxide (SiO) gas under chemical reaction conditions that are effective to convert an exterior portion of the precursor graphite article to a silicon carbide matrix material in which graphite is present in inclusions therein, and wherein the silicon carbide matrix material and interior bulk graphite material interpenetrate one another at an interfacial region therebetween. Such silicon carbide-graphite composite is usefully employed in applications such as implant hard masks in manufacturing solar cells or other optical, optoelectronic, photonic, semiconductor and microelectronic products, as well as in ion implantation system materials, components, and assemblies, such as beam line assemblies, beam steering lenses, ionization chamber liners, beam stops, and ion source chambers.
US11117795B2

A MEMS vibration element includes: a base unit; a fixed unit fixed to the base unit; a movable unit that is movable relative to the fixed unit; and an elastic support unit that elastically supports the movable unit at the base unit. The elastic support unit is made of a material different from a material of the fixed unit and the movable unit.
US11117792B2

Keg sensors and keg sensor assemblies are disclosed. In some embodiments, the keg sensor may include a main body and a first connector attached to the main body and configured to be connected to a keg dispensing coupler. The keg dispensing coupler may be configured to be moved between a closed position and an open position; The keg sensor may additionally include a second connector attached to the main body and configured to be connected to a valve of a keg. The keg sensor may further include a sensor assembly attached to the main body and configured to detect one or more operating parameters of liquid dispensed, via the keg dispensing coupler, from the keg through the keg sensor. In some embodiments, the keg sensor assembly may include a keg sensor and a stack cage assembly. The stack cage assembly may include a cage sized to surround the keg sensor.
US11117789B2

A telescoping boom includes a boom actuator having a fixed part and a movable part, the movable part configured to move along a length the fixed part, a rotary actuator operably connected to the movable part and configured to rotate relative to the movable part, a coupling pin connected to and configured to rotate with the rotary actuator, and a telescoping boom having a plurality of boom sections including a base section and one or more telescoping sections configured for telescoping movement along a longitudinal boom axis relative to the base section. A rotary extension and locking system is mounted on at least one telescoping section and is configured for selective coupling to the boom actuator and selective locking with a nearest outwardly adjacent boom section.
US11117783B2

This invention is directed to a self-propelled elevator system having multiple motors or one motor, and methods for synchronizing said multiple motors. This invention is also directed to an elevator brake system to be used in said self-propelled elevator system or other types of elevators to increase their level of safety.
US11117781B2

A vertical bounce detection system of an elevator system includes at least one sensor operable to detect vertical movement of an elevator car in a hoistway. The vertical bounce detection system also includes a processing system communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and a memory system having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processing system, cause the vertical bounce detection system to determine a bounce energy level of the elevator car based on sensor data from the at least one sensor. The instructions further cause the vertical bounce detection system to compare the bounce energy level to a bounce condition threshold. A speed reduction of the elevator car is commanded to continue movement of the elevator car at a reduced speed based on determining that the bounce energy level exceeds the bounce condition threshold.
US11117776B1

A squeegee device for applying a film material to a surface includes a selection of squeegee card components formed of a rubber, rubberized plastic or other rubber-like composition; the selection of squeegee card components being provided in varying degrees of hardness (i.e., durometer) and each squeegee card component including a blade portion with a working edge having a specific length and configuration (e.g., straight, curved, V-shaped) and an attachment portion structured for cooperating interlocked attachment with the attachment portion of another select one of the squeegee card components, with no tools or additional fastening elements required, to provide a double-sided squeegee card with interchangeable card components having two different working edges which may be the same or different length, shape and/or hardness and the same or different durometer.
US11117773B2

A cutting apparatus includes a blade configured to cut a sheet that is conveyed along a sheet conveyance path, a scrap path through which scrap generated when the sheet is cut by the blade passes, a guide member configured to guide the sheet conveyed, and a blowing unit configured to blow air such that the air crosses the sheet conveyance path from a side opposite the scrap path with the sheet conveyance path therebetween, wherein the blowing unit blows air such that the air flows along the guide member positioned at a second position at which the scrap is allowed to enter the scrap path.
US11117767B2

A printing apparatus includes a feeding roller configured to feed a printing sheet stacked on a stacking unit, a conveyance roller configured to convey the printing sheet fed by the feeding roller, a printing unit configured to print the printing sheet conveyed by the conveyance roller, a conveyance control unit configured to control conveyance of printing sheets so that the trailing edge of a preceding sheet as a printing sheet precedingly fed from the stacking unit and the leading edge of a succeeding sheet as a printing sheet succeedingly fed from the stacking unit overlap each other, and a determination unit configured to determine whether to convey the succeeding sheet to a position facing the printing unit while keeping an overlap state between the preceding sheet and the succeeding sheet.
US11117763B2

A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet conveyor, a processing tool, a tool contact separation device, a tool moving device, and a tool facing device. The sheet conveyor is configured to convey a sheet. The processing tool is configured to perform processing to the sheet. The tool contact separation device is configured to contact and separate the processing tool with respect to the sheet. The tool moving device is configured to move the processing tool in a direction intersecting a conveyance direction of the sheet. The tool facing device includes a tool facing portion and a sheet gripper. The tool facing portion includes a rotary member supported by a shaft and is disposed at a position facing the processing tool via the sheet. The sheet gripper includes a rotary member supported by a shaft and is configured to grip the sheet with the tool facing portion.
US11117762B2

An image processing apparatus includes: a memory configured to store a machine-learned model produced by performing machine learning using teaching data associating image data generated by reading a document by an image reading device with device abnormality information on abnormality of the image reading device; and when the image reading device reads a document, a processor configured to obtain the device abnormality information based on generated image data and the machine-learned model.
US11117759B2

An automated robotic depalletizing system includes at least one robot for transferring inventory that arrives on a pallet to different storage locations within a warehouse. The robot may perform the automated depalletizing by moving to the pallet having a stacked arrangement of a plurality of objects, identifying, via a sensor, a topmost object of the plurality of objects, aligning a retriever with the topmost object, engaging the topmost object with the retriever, and transferring the topmost object from the pallet to the robot by actuating the retriever. The automated depalletizing may also be performed via coordinated operations of two or more robots. For instance, a first robot may retrieve objects from the pallet, and a second set of one or more robots may be used to transfer the retrieved objects into storage.
US11117751B2

An enclosed belt conveyor system has a rail track (1) and spaced apart carriages (35) that run on wheels (40) supported by the trail track. A continuous carry belt (10) is supported by the carriages (35) and has an enclosed configuration where the carry belt (10) encloses a bulk material for transport by the system. One or more belt guides (45) are positioned along the rail track (1) and engage the continuous carry belt to maintain it in its enclosed configuration.
US11117749B2

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) with at least two modules that are selectively transferable into a specific operating position (BL) for handling of individual articles or article sets. The apparatus (1) comprises at least one transport module (3) that moves individual articles or article sets with a first packaging type and at least one work module (5) that moves individual articles or article sets with a second, different, packaging type. The work module (5) can handle packaging material during the movement, with the packaging material being in contact with the individual articles or article sets. The apparatus (1) has an operating position (BL) and a waiting position (W1), into which operating position (BL) the transport module (3) or the work module (5) can be selectively inserted, and into which waiting position (W1) the transport module (3) is transferable by removing it from the specific operating position (BL).
US11117746B2

A transfer or distribution chute for conveying bulk material by gravity flow includes an elongated chute casing defining a flow path for bulk material and a wear-resistant lining arrangement covering at least part of a flow path facing an upper side of the elongated chute casing. The wear-resistant lining arrangement includes a perforated plate affixed to the chute casing and has a plurality of perforations through which wear-resistant inserts having a body and an enlarged base are fitted in the perforations from a side opposite the flow path, such that their body protrudes through the perforation within the flow path, and their enlarged base abuts the borders of the perforation from the side opposite the flow path on one side and is held in place by the chute casing on the other side.
US11117742B2

A pallet storage system and method are provided. A rack for storing pallets loaded with goods is constructed with a corresponding pair of left and right rails. Carts for supporting the pallets ride on those rails. The rails can have an I-beam shape cross section, include a lower horizontal wall, a vertical wall extending up from the lower horizontal wall and an upper horizontal wall at the top of the vertical wall. The lower and upper horizontal walls include an outer flange extending from the vertical wall in a sideways direction away from the corresponding other rail and an inner flange, extending sideways towards the corresponding other rail. The carts can nest, until loaded and the front of the carts can be flush at the front of the rack.
US11117733B2

A plurality of integrally interconnected wipes collectively define a web. The plurality of wipes includes a first wipe, a second wipe, and a third wipe. A first transverse intermittent cut line defines a right side major tie that connects the first wipe to the second wipe, and the right side major tie has a width. A second transverse intermittent cut line defines a left side major tie that connects the second wipe to the third wipe. In particular embodiments, the first wipe and the second wipe are connected to each other only within the right side of the web, and the second wipe and the third wipe are connected to each other only within the left side of the web. In certain embodiment, the wipes are also connected to each via minor ties that are transversely narrower than the major ties.
US11117730B2

a vacuum container and a system which includes a complementary base, including a three-part airway, a sealing lid, and a lid release button. The three-part airway features an internal air chamber, an extraction airway, and a one-way check-valve preventing ambient air from penetrating the internal air chamber through the extraction airway when vacuum sealed. The extraction airway extends between the top and the bottom of the container and includes an internal air extraction outlet, disposed at the top of and within the internal air chamber, and an external air extraction outlet outside the container, disposed at the bottom of the container, and configured to be coupled to an external air pump. A complementary method is also provided.
US11117718B2

Multiple seal spouts is provided. The multiple seal spout include an outer frame, inner frame flange, a template, a seal and sliding door on all version. The seal spout will have multiple fasteners to secure seal spouts to bag, container or flat surface. The multiple seal spout are releasable attachable to bag, container or any flat surface. The seal spout can be used to pour or dispense product. The present invention further invention includes a u/j-shape seal spout bag holder bracket that may be screwed to wall to hold bag with attached seal spout. The present invention may include an option horse shoe frame with u/j hooks seal spout holder that will hold bag with attached seal spout.
US11117711B2

Bag made of paper material for archiving articles comprising a first and a second sheet-like element and a closure flap projectingly extended from the first sheet-like element and susceptible of being folded in partial superimposition on the second sheet-like element in order to close the bag. The closure flap is provided with a first portion for a first closure of the bag and with a second portion for a second closure of the bag, and between such first and second portion a tear tape is arranged which is susceptible of being torn in order to separate the first portion from the second portion. In addition, the bag is provided with a removable flap projectingly extended from the second sheet-like element between a second free end and a weakening line, which is susceptible of being torn in order to remove the removable flap from the second sheet-like element.
US11117710B2

A present application relates to a valve assembly for use with a liquid container. The valve assembly includes a spout containing an opening to the liquid container, the spout being configured to form a liquid-tight seal with a housing. A sleeve extends through the housing toward the liquid container through the opening. A valve is secured to the housing and extending into the opening through the sleeve and forming a liquid-tight seal with the sleeve. The valve includes a body portion with a cutaway section and a leg fixed to the valve by a hinge, wherein the leg is configured to flex outwards against the sleeve upon insertion of a tube into the valve causing the cutaway section to open a flow channel to allow liquid to flow through the valve assembly.
US11117708B2

A glass container and a process for forming an inorganic silica coating on an exterior surface of the glass container to improve one or more surface characteristics of the glass container. A sol-gel solution including a polysilazane and an organic solvent is applied to the exterior surface of the glass container to form a sol-gel coating thereon. The glass container and the sol-gel coating are then exposed to a water vapor-containing environment and heated at a temperature of between 150 degrees Celsius and 600 degrees Celsius to transform the sol-gel coating into an inorganic silica coating. The as-formed silica coating has a hardness of greater than 8.5 GPa and is bonded to the exterior surface of the glass container through a plurality of siloxane bonds.
US11117699B2

A rotary machine for the treatment of containers is described. This rotary machine comprises a stationary underframe, a rotatable container table for receiving the containers, a motor designed as an internal rotor for direct drive of the container table, a bearing for supporting the container table and/or a non-rotatably connected supporting structure on the underframe radially outside the motor, and a rotary encoder for determining the rotational position of the container table. By positioning the rotary encoder radially outside the motor, the accuracy of the rotary position determination can be improved, especially for rotary machines with comparatively large pitch diameters and the accessibility of the rotary encoder for maintenance measures.
US11117697B2

The present disclosure is directed to a compression belt for inflation and sealing devices. The device may include an inflation assembly, a heating assembly, and a drive mechanism. The inflation assembly may direct fluid between first and second overlapping plies of a flexible web material to inflate chambers between the plies. The heating assembly may be operable to heat the first and second plies of the web material to create a longitudinal heat seal that seals the fluid in the inflated chambers. The drive mechanism may drive the web material in a downstream direction. The drive mechanism may tension the web material against the heating assembly. The drive mechanism may include a first belt including a high grip material on a surface that contacts the web material to grip the web material during heating by the heating assembly.
US11117680B2

A landing pad receives and stores packages delivered from an aerial vehicle are awaiting pickup from an aerial vehicle. The landing pad can be placed outside of a window and can contain a transmitter for sending out an identification signal via radio frequency to aid aerial vehicles in finding the landing pad. The landing pad contains a landing platform with a trapdoor that leads to a storage compartment. The trapdoor can be configured to only open when it receives a signal from an authorized aerial vehicle. The storage compartment can be accessed via a storage compartment door which can contain a locking mechanism. The storage compartment can be climate controlled. The landing pad can also have a transmitter that emits sounds to discourage animals from nesting on or near the landing pad. The landing pad can also include a solar power generator as a source of electrical energy.
US11117676B2

An aircraft includes a fuselage; a propulsion system including a power source and a plurality of vertical thrust electric fans driven by the power source; and a wing extending from the fuselage. The plurality of vertical thrust electric fans are arranged along a length of the wing, the wing including a variable geometry assembly moveable generally along a horizontal direction between a forward thrust position and a vertical thrust position, the variable geometry assembly at least partially covering at least one vertical thrust electric fan of the plurality of vertical thrust electric fans when in the forward thrust position and at least partially exposing the at least one vertical thrust electric fan when in the vertical thrust position.
US11117672B2

A runback system for receiving fluid from a deicing system may comprise a body and a first channel and a second channel defined by the body. A first end of the first channel may be spaced apart from a first end of the second channel. A second end of the first channel and a second end of the second channel may meet and form an outlet at an end of the body.
US11117664B2

In one embodiment, a method includes limiting functionality of a remote controlled device during a first period of time where a user of the remote controlled device is not authenticated, receiving, from a separate authentication device, identity information of the user of the remote controlled device and information of the remote controlled device via an authentication process, authenticating the user prior to allowing full functionality of the remote controlled device, sending an indication of the identity of the user to the remote controlled device; and in response to determining during the authenticating that the user is verified as a trainee for the remote controlled device, enabling a trainer/trainee setting that allows a trainer to provide control of the remote controlled device to the trainee without functionality of the remote controlled device being limited.
US11117659B2

The exemplary embodiments herein provide a tether for use with an airborne device, where the tether contains an elongate member having a first end for attaching to a ground attachment point and an opposing second end for attaching to the airborne device where the elongate member has a cross-sectional area which varies across the member. In some embodiments, the tether contains one or more electrically conductive elements, an optional strength element, insulation separating any adjacent electrically conductive elements, and a jacket which surrounds and protects each of the tether components.
US11117657B2

An aeronautical apparatus is disclosed that has two pairs of wings. Each wing has a thrust-angle motor. A propeller and propeller motor are coupled to each thrust-angle motor. Propeller pitch is controlled by a propeller-pitch motor. The thrust-angle motor allows the propeller axis of rotation to be parallel to the fuselage's longitudinal axis; vertical (perpendicular to longitudinal axis, as in well-known fixed-position, four-propeller drones); and any position between as well as a given range exceeding these bounds which is used for control. An electronic control unit is electronically coupled to the thrust-angle motors, propeller motors, and propeller-pitch motors, which can be independently controlled, to provide the desired thrust and trajectory. Such an apparatus can provide efficient operation in vertical take-off/landing (hovering) and forward (translational) flight modes. Control surfaces, such as ailerons, which are provided on airplanes, are unnecessary due to the many degrees of freedom in control.
US11117641B2

A shade system for a structure includes a pair of support posts attachable to the structure, a shade panel including a plurality of attachment points around a periphery thereof, and at least one flexible lateral support member secured to the shade panel. The plurality of attachment points includes a fixture pair securable to a fixture of the structure, a post pair securable to the pair of support posts, respectively, and a side pair cooperable with the at least one flexible lateral support member and securable to the structure.
US11117636B2

A tilting motor cycle with at least three wheels including: a frame, at least one front wheel, a rear end comprising an engine group and a couple of rear wheels, where the rear end is hinged to the frame in order to allow a rolling of the frame around a rolling axis and a pitching of the rear end around a pitching axis, where the rear end is further connected to the frame by means of a suspension system including: a couple of uprights connected at the bottom by means of two first hinges to the engine group, at least one first crosspiece hinged at the distal ends thereof to the uprights, the center of the first crosspiece being connected to the frame directly or indirectly by means of a transmission element, the uprights or the transmission element including a suspension to dampen the rear end with respect to the frame.
US11117633B2

This adjustment mechanism/assembly for a backrest/headrest includes a series of parts connected by a threaded rod with a knob on each end. The parts are arranged such that they sandwich two support members so that when the knobs are loosened the unit can easily slide up and down, changing the elevation of the backrest/headrest pad unit with respect to a seat bottom or seat back. Further, when the knobs are loose the upper member and its attached pad can be pivoted fore and aft and slide back and forth. Tightening the two knobs locks the entire unit in place.
US11117629B1

A slide-out undercarriage mounted on an underside of a first trailer pulled by a highway tractor. The slide-out undercarriage is adapted for attaching a rear of the first trailer to a front of a second trailer. The slide-out undercarriage includes a fixed undercarriage frame mounted on an underside of a first trailer. A front axle with front wheels is mounted on a front axle frame and a rear axle with rear wheels is mounted on a rear axle frame. The rear axle frame includes a fifth wheel adapted for engaging a king pin on the front of the second trailer. A pair of first slide out tubes are attached to the front axle frame. A pair of second slide out tubes are attached to the rear axle frame. The first and second slide out tubes provide for allowing an operator of the first trailer to adjust the front and rear axles in various load positions under the first trailer when pulling the second trailer.
US11117626B2

A vehicle assembly includes, among other things, a bumper assembly, a skid plate, and a capacitive sensor system of the skid plate. A sensing method for a vehicle includes using a capacitive sensing system to detect a proximity of a vehicle to an object. The capacitive sensing system is incorporated into a skid plate that is vertically beneath a portion of a bumper assembly of the vehicle.
US11117622B2

A bow of a motor vehicle has a fiber-reinforced plastic upper band, a fiber-reinforced plastic lower band and an injection-molded rib structure connecting the plastic upper band and the plastic lower band. The injection-molded rib structure is injection-molded onto the plastic lower band and the plastic upper band.
US11117619B2

A vehicle includes a pair of frame rails elongated along a longitudinal axis, each of the frame rails having a downward deformation zone, the frame rails bendable at the downward deformation zones from a first position to a second position beneath the first position. The vehicle includes a tire supported between the pair of frame rails at the downward deformation zones. The vehicle includes a spare tire retention member supported between the pair of frame rails forward of the downward deformation zones.
US11117616B2

A lane maintaining assistance device 1 is provided with the following: a first assistance unit that performs steering assistance of a vehicle by hydraulic pressure; a second assistance unit that performs steering assistance of the vehicle using a motor; and a steering assistance control unit 83 that reduces the steering assistance amount of the first assistance unit and starts steering assistance by the second assistance unit if the vehicle is determined to have entered a curve on the basis of a captured image in which a portion of the lane which is forward in the vehicle advancing-direction is captured.
US11117611B2

A steering system includes a rod member, a housing, and a clamping member. The housing has a clamping slit and includes a first clamp-receiving portion and a second clamp-receiving portion that project so as to sandwich the clamping slit therebetween. The clamping member includes a fixed cam, a clamping shaft, a rotary cam, and a clamping lever. The fixed cam is fitted in the first clamp-receiving portion from an outer side of the first clamp-receiving portion. The fixed cam has a third through hole extending through the fixed cam coaxially with a first axis. The third through hole has a small diameter portion at a first portion close to the rotary cam and a large diameter portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of the small diameter portion at a second portion away from the rotary cam.
US11117608B2

An adjustable all-terrain dolly system (100) having a chassis assembly (110) that includes a frame (120) which has a right-side rail (122), a left-side rail (124), a first-adjustable cross member (126) and a second-adjustable cross member (128), and a first-rolling assembly (160) to include a first-set of inline wheels (164) and a second-rolling assembly to include a second-set of inline wheels (174) and at least one adjustable-locking mechanism (180). The frame of the dolly system defines a load-supporting platform, and the platform has a length which is at least about twice the front-to-rear length of each of the two sets of wheels. Furthermore, each wheel of the dolly system has a peripheral surface which is shaped to engage the underlying surface at a substantially single point to enhance the maneuverability of the dolly.
US11117603B1

The motorized medicine cart is a motorized vehicle. The motorized medicine cart is configured for use in distributing medication. The motorized medicine cart transports the medication and an individual designated to distribute the medication within a medical facility. The motorized medicine cart is driven by the designated individual. The motorized medicine cart comprises a medication cabinet, a vehicle structure, and a control circuit. The medication cabinet and the control circuit attach to the vehicle structure. The vehicle structure transports the medication cabinet and the individual through the medical facility. The control circuit controls the operation of the vehicle structure.
US11117595B2

A display device for a vehicle is provided, the device including personal information acquisition section, environment information acquisition section, information conversion section and display section. The personal information acquisition section acquires personal information about a driver of the vehicle from an identification tag in which the personal information of the driver is recorded. The environment information acquisition section acquires environment information about a vicinity of the vehicle. The information conversion section converts the environment information in accordance with the personal information of the driver. The display section displays the converted information to the interior of a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
US11117593B2

An information system includes an in-vehicle terminal that is mounted on a host vehicle and a server that communicates with the in-vehicle terminal. The server includes a running history DB in which a running history of the host vehicle is stored for each driver, a driving skill-level determination unit, a driving skill-level DB in which a driving skill-level determined by the driving skill-level determination unit is stored, and a distribution information control unit that distributes driving assistance information based on the driving skill-level stored in the driving skill-level DB to the in-vehicle terminal. The driving skill-level determination unit determines a driving skill-level of a driver based on the running history stored in the running history DB and a driving skill element definition list representing a difficulty level of driving predefined for each driving skill element.
US11117588B2

When controlling a driving source torque in order to accelerate a driving wheel, a driving source torque controller performs shock suppression control of controlling the driving source torque based on an acquired driving source torque so that at least one of (i) an absolute value of relative speed between power transmission members on a power transmission path decreases when backlash between the power transmission members decreases or (ii) a transmission torque which is transmitted between the power transmission members on the power transmission path decreases when the backlash between the power transmission members is eliminated.
US11117581B2

A vehicle travel control device controls travel of a vehicle toward a target stop position. Travel state information indicates a travel state of the vehicle and includes vehicle position information indicating positions the vehicle and each wheel. Difference-in-level position information indicates a position of a difference-in-level on a travel path. The vehicle travel control device determines whether the vehicle goes beyond the target stop position when a subject wheel of the vehicle passes the difference-in-level, based on the difference-in-level position information and the vehicle position information. When determining that the vehicle goes beyond the target stop position, the vehicle travel control device changes the target stop position so as to prevent the subject wheel from passing the difference-in-level, or generates a braking force to stop the vehicle before the subject wheel passes the difference-in-level.
US11117578B1

A method of operating a vehicle cruise control includes confirming, by a cruise controller, a cruise input while a vehicle travels, and releasing, by a clutch protection cruise control, a cruise operation based on an increase in a clutch temperature confirmed by a cruise control release condition one or more times during the cruise operation.
US11117572B2

A method, and associated computer system and computer program product, for cognition enabled driving pattern detection that includes receiving driving related data, storing the driving related data in one or more data repositories, receiving real-time driving data from at least one sensor related to an active driving situation, analyzing the driving related data and the real-time driving data, detecting a predictive driving outcome prior to the occurrence of the predictive driving outcome based on the analyzing, and notifying a driver based on the predictive driving outcome.
US11117560B2

A membrane valve arrangement (1) includes a disc-shaped valve membrane (10) made from an elastic material and a disc (14) having a central opening (15). The valve membrane (10) is arranged with one side on the disc (14) and has a circumferential sealing bead (11) radially outside on the side opposite from the disc. The disc (14) is arranged, along with the valve membrane (10), between a housing upper part (2) and a housing lower part (6) of the membrane valve arrangement (1). The sealing bead (11) is clamped between the housing upper part (2) and the housing lower part (6). The sealing action in the region of the sealing bead is largely independent of tolerances because, on at least one of the housing parts in the region of the sealing bead (11) and/or in the radially outer peripheral region of the disc (14), additional sealing arrangements are present.
US11117548B2

A method for opening and/or using at least one vehicle may include receiving, by a mobile terminal, an identifier assigned to a target vehicle. The identifier may be transmitted to a server, and a key data set may be received from the server. The key data set and/or a code based on the key data set may be transmitted as a remote code to the target vehicle. The target vehicle may generate at least one local code after receiving the remote code, and may compare the remote code to the local code(s). The target vehicle may be opened and/or released, or a vehicle command may be executed if at least one of the local codes corresponds to the remote code.
US11117544B2

An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes a curtain airbag inflatable from a stored condition in which the airbag is rolled and/or folded to a deployed condition in which the curtain airbag is positioned between a side structure of the vehicle and the vehicle occupant. The curtain airbag comprises an inflator mouth configured to receive an inflator. The curtain airbag comprises a bracket tab proximate to the inflator mouth and configured to receive an inflator bracket. A tether has first and second end portions. The first end portion of the tether is connected to a portion of the curtain airbag adjacent to the bracket tab. The second end portion of the tether is connected to the bracket tab.
US11117541B2

An airbag arrangement comprising a flap, which closes a passage opening for an airbag, a hinge section along a side of the flap, an chute wall, which is connected to the flap via the hinge section; and a material web, which is partially arranged in the flap and partially in the chute wall, and transverses the hinge section, wherein the material web is molded into the chute wall and is anchored in the material of the chute wall.
US11117539B2

A seat device for a vehicle includes a seat for supporting a lower body of a vehicle occupant, and a backrest for supporting an upper body of the occupant. The seat device further includes an arresting portion that is stored in a storage position disposed in the seat. The arresting portion is configured to be deployed from the storage position and restrain a part of the lower body of the occupant from moving forward in the event of a collision of the vehicle.
US11117537B2

A vehicle seat for supporting an occupant in a vehicle. The vehicle seat includes a backrest and a headrest.
US11117535B2

Aspects of the present disclosure involve projecting an interactive scene onto a surface from a projecting object. In one particular embodiment, the interactive scene is projected from a vehicle and may be utilized by the vehicle to provide a scene or image that a user may interact with through various gestures detected by the system. In addition, the interactive scene may be customized to one or more preferences determined by the system, such as user preferences, system preferences, or preferences obtained through feedback from similar systems. Based on one or more user inputs (such as user gestures received at the system), the projected scene may be altered or new scenes may be projected. In addition, control over some aspects of the vehicle (such as unlocking of doors, starting of the motor, etc.) may be controlled through the interactive scene and the detected gestures of the users.
US11117521B2

A rear view assembly for a rear view device of a vehicle includes a rear view element, a carrier plate for the rear view element, and a heating and lighting unit arranged between the rear view element and the carrier plate. The heating and lighting unit may include a light module including a printed circuit board having at least one LED and having no power stripes, and a heater pad. The heater pad may include a circuit or printed circuit board, at least one recess or at least one transparent window, and first contacts or contact elements for contacting a printed circuit board of the light module.
US11117519B2

A display of roadside objects on a vehicle windshield within a primary field of view of a driver, with an indication of a level of importance of the object is provided. A method includes: detecting, by a computer device, a roadside object in a vehicle driver's peripheral view; analyzing, by the computer device, the detected roadside object to assign a level of importance to the object based on predefined levels of importance; and displaying, by the computer device, the roadside object as a semi-transparent object in a display area of a windshield of the vehicle with an indication of the level of importance of the object.
US11117517B2

A vehicle control system for moving a vehicle to a target location is disclosed. According to examples of the disclosure, a camera captures one or more images of a known object corresponding to the target location. An on-board computer having stored thereon information about the known object can process the one or more images to determine vehicle location with respect to the known object. The system can use the vehicle's determined location and a feedback controller to move the vehicle to the target location.
US11117514B2

A motor vehicle warning system for use with a stationary motor vehicle that informs on-coming traffic of the presence of the stationary motor vehicle and in turn alerts outside workers near the stationary motor vehicle that nearby on-coming traffic is approaching. The warning system includes a warning arm that extends away from the motor vehicle in use, lights on the warning arm to warn on-coming traffic of the stationary motor vehicle, and a siren that alerts workers outside of the motor vehicle of the presence of on-coming motor vehicles.
US11117513B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and apparatus for vehicle interaction for an autonomous vehicle. The method may include: determining, in response to determining that a running route of the autonomous vehicle at a currently arriving intersection overlaps with a running route of an opposing vehicle at the currently arriving intersection, a party having a right of way at the currently arriving intersection from the autonomous vehicle and the opposing vehicle a based on the running route of the autonomous vehicle and the running route of the opposing vehicle; and generating and transmitting a prompt message based on a determining result of the right of way, the prompt message being used for prompting the party having the right of way to go first and a party having no right of way to give way.
US11117503B2

A reduced-impact-and-recoil headrest that includes a ratchet mechanism, allowing components to incrementally translate with respect to each other. The reduced-impact-and-recoil headrest includes an exterior housing surface that is deformable, providing cushioning for a vehicle occupant's head. The headrest also includes an interior compartment within the housing, with the ratchet mechanism disposed within the interior compartment. The headrest is configured to decrease the force of a collision experienced by the occupant, thereby decreasing the likelihood and severity of traumatic brain injuries resulting from the occupant's head striking a stationary headrest. Instead, the reduced-impact-and-recoil headrest is configured to incrementally move with the occupant's head, providing an incremental cushion for the occupant's head. The ratchet mechanism also prevents the reduced-impact-and-recoil headrest from automatically translating back to its pre-impact position, thereby decreasing the occupant's risk of ligament tear and whiplash.
US11117499B2

A vehicle seat includes a seat main body and a hinge member. The seat main body is disposed in a state facing to a vehicle rear side. A seat back of the seat main body is attached to a vehicle body side vertical wall portion of a passenger compartment front portion. An end portion at the vehicle rear side of a seat cushion of the seat main body can be flipped up. One end portion of the hinge member is fixed to an end portion at the vehicle front side of the seat cushion and another end portion is rotatably coupled to a passenger compartment floor portion. The hinge member is provided with a weakened portion that, during a vehicle front collision in a state in which the seat main body is unfolded, plastically deforms and allows movement of the seat cushion toward the vehicle front side.
US11117495B2

A motorized seat that may be used in various marine applications to help improve adjustability and user comfort. In one implementation, a left armrest motor, a right armrest motor, and a footrest motor are selectively controllable and configured to move the left armrest between a left armrest stowed position and a left armrest lowered position, the right armrest between a right armrest stowed position and a right armrest lowered position, and the footrest between a footrest stowed position and a footrest lowered position.
US11117489B2

Provided is a control method which includes: obtaining battery information which is information regarding a battery; calculating a present residual value of the battery based on the battery information obtained; calculating a first residual value using a first model which has been trained, the first residual value being a residual value of the battery in a case where a user uses the battery with a tendency identical to a tendency of a plurality of other users; and issuing a token to the user according to an evaluation value calculated based on the present residual value and the first residual value calculated.
US11117473B2

A bicycle power supplying device is configured to easily obtain the power needed to drive a subject electric component and a bicycle electric device that includes the bicycle power supplying device. The bicycle power supplying device includes a holder and a power storage unit. The holder holds a dry cell so that the dry cell is attachable to and removable from the holder. The dry cell includes a body, a first electrode arranged on the body, and a second electrode arranged on the body. The power storage unit is configured to store power of the dry cell and supply the stored power to a subject electric component.
US11117472B2

In a parking assistance system comprising: a power transmission device provided on a ground side and configured to transmit power; and a power receiving device provided in a vehicle and configured to receive the power transmitted by the power transmission device and supply the power to an electric load, the power transmission device includes: a power transmission coil configured to transmit the power; imaging means for imaging the power transmission coil; and sending means for sending the power receiving device an image captured by the imaging means, and the power receiving device includes: a power receiving coil configured to receive the power transmitted by the power transmission coil; receiving means for receiving the image; and display control means for displaying the image received by the receiving means on display means.
US11117464B2

This disclosure is directed to vehicle fuel systems that include door opening modules for controlling a fuel door opening sequence. An exemplary door opening module may include an actuator (e.g., a motor, an electromagnet, a solenoid, etc.) for automatically moving the fuel door to an ajar position after a fuel tank depressurization sequence is completed. Sound messages may be communicated to a user during the depressurization sequence by an audio actuator.
US11117463B2

A utility vehicle includes a vehicle interior, a front panel that defines a front side of the vehicle interior and extends in a vertical direction, a floor panel that defines a lower side of the vehicle interior and extends from a lower side of the front panel to a rear side, and is provided with a tunnel portion extending in a front-rear direction on a center side in a vehicle width direction, a propeller shaft that is disposed in the front-rear direction in the tunnel portion and extends to a front side with respect to the front panel, and a cover member that covers space between the propeller shaft and the tunnel portion on a front side of the tunnel portion.
US11117458B2

It is an object of the invention is a fuel cell system architecture provides a good weight distribution, improved trunk space without reducing the security against front-end and rear end collision. The above objective is accomplished by a fuel cell vehicle comprising:—A rear vessel for hydrogen gas located in the rear part of the vehicle,—A front vessel for hydrogen gas located in the front part of the vehicle,—A hydrogen dosing unit,—A hydrogen control unit connected to the hydrogen dosing unit, to the rear vessel and to the front vessel, the hydrogen control unit being provided with first means for equalizing the pressure between the first rear vessel and the front vessel, the hydrogen control unit being provided with second means for transferring hydrogen at a predetermined pressure level to the hydrogen dosing unit from the two vessels,—An air supply,—A fuel cell connected to the hydrogen dosing unit and the air supply, the air supply being provided with means for providing the fuel cell with air, the hydrogen dosing unit providing the fuel cell with hydrogen,—A battery,—A DC/DC-converter,—The fuel cell being connected to the battery so as to provide the battery with energy, the battery and the DC/DC-converter being interconnected so as to exchange energy, the fuel cell and the battery, being located at the bottom of the vehicle.
US11117456B2

A seal arrangement for sealing a corner region of a window against a vehicle body component of a motor vehicle. The seal arrangement defines a seal plane, a first seal axis and a second seal axis which extends transversely with respect to the latter. A fastening section serves for fastening to the vehicle body component. A seal section has a sealing lip which can be deflected elastically transversely with respect to the seal plane when the corner region of the window comes into contact with the sealing lip, and which extends arcuately from the first seal axis to the second seal axis. The sealing lip is configured as a molded sealing lip over its entire arcuate extent.
US11117454B2

A seal component includes a division bar arranged between the movable glass and the fixed glass, a flexible first seal molded integrally with the division bar and sealing both a vertical side portion of the movable glass and a vertical side portion of the fixed glass, a flexible second seal coupled to an upper end of the first seal and sealing a portion of a periphery of the fixed glass excluding the vertical side portion, and a coupling member that couples a lower side portion of the second seal to the first seal. The first seal includes a first groove into which the vertical side portion of the fixed glass is fitted thereby sealing the vertical side portion, and the second seal includes a second groove into which the portion of the periphery of the fixed glass excluding the vertical side portion is fitted thereby sealing the fitted portion.
US11117451B2

A motorized vehicle visor system, which expands and contracts about a central body; pitches towards and away from the windshield, and pivot towards the side window of the vehicle about a supporting rod. The visor can truncate to a shorter width and pitch upward at body position trailing the rod pivot motion towards the side of the window of the vehicle. When pivoted to the side window, the visor system expands, contracts, and pitches towards or away from the side window. In a reverse movement, the visor system truncates into a smaller width, pitch upward at body position trailing the rod pivot motion away from the side window, and pivots towards the frontal position along the windshield. The visor panel system, when in non-operation mode, may truncates about its body, rest in a plane position parallel to the roof of the vehicle. The visor panel system can operate manually.
US11117446B2

A blower device includes a passage-forming section that forms a passage through which air flows inside. A partition section is provided within the passage-forming section. The partition section divides at least a part of the passage into a first passage and a second passage. The partition section has a hole. The hole passes through the partition section and provides a constant communication between the first passage and the second passage.
US11117445B2

A vehicle air conditioning device includes a compressor, a radiator, an outside heat exchanger, an evaporator, a first decompressor, a second decompressor, a switching portion, and a controller. The radiator exchanges heat between a refrigerant discharged from the compressor and air. The outside heat exchanger exchanges heat between outside air and the refrigerant flowing out of the radiator. The evaporator is exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing out of the outside heat exchanger and the air flowing through the radiator. The switching portion switches between a series dehumidifying-heating mode and a parallel dehumidifying-heating mode. The controller is configured to control the switching portion to switch from the parallel dehumidifying-heating mode to the series dehumidifying-heating mode when the amount of the refrigerant oil flowing from the outside heat exchanger to the compressor is insufficient in the parallel dehumidifying-heating mode.
US11117443B2

An HVAC module for an automotive vehicle includes a housing defining an air inlet, an upper front zone outlet, a lower front zone outlet, and a rear zone air outlet. An evaporator and a heater downstream of the evaporator are disposed in the housing. The air inlet of the housing is divided by a first divider into an OSA portion exclusively receiving outside air and a REC portion exclusively receiving recycled air. Each of the evaporator and the heater has a respective OSA portion receiving the outside air and a REC portion receiving the recycled air entering the HVAC module through the inlet. A second divider between the evaporator and the heater directs the outside air from the REC portion of the evaporator to the REC portion of the heater. Two temperature doors control access of separate partial streams of the recycled air from the evaporator to the heater.
US11117441B2

An air conditioner for a vehicle includes: a condenser that includes a core for allowing heat exchange between a refrigerant discharged from a compressor of a refrigeration cycle and air; and a switching unit that switches a refrigerant passage in the condenser. The switching unit switches the refrigerant passage between a first refrigerant passage that allows the refrigerant to flow throughout the core, and a second refrigerant passage that allows the refrigerant to flow through a part of the core by allowing the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to flow into a middle part of the core.
US11117432B2

Components and devices are disclosed which are made from or otherwise include a protective material configured to release corrosion protection molecules. These exemplary components and devices can be included with trailer hitch mounts, hitch mount assemblies, and associated hardware to provide protection against rust and corrosion.
US11117428B2

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a tire pressure sensor structure includes a housing, a tire pressure sensor, a valve connector and a molding body. The housing is with an opening and has a receiving portion and an assembly portion. The receiving portion is located on the inner surface of the housing, and the assembly portion is located between the receiving portion and the opening. The tire pressure sensor is placed into the receiving portion. The valve connector includes a base and a connecting port. The base fixes with the assembly portion for limiting the tire pressure sensor. The connecting port protrudes from the base to connect a valve of a tire. The molding body is formed on the surface of the base and adjacent to the connecting port to close the opening.
US11117427B2

A device is disclosed, which includes: a charge portion with a plurality of piezoelectric elements embedded in a tire configured for a vehicle, a capacitor mechanically coupled to the tire and electrically coupled to the plurality of piezoelectric elements; a transmitter coil, mechanically coupled to the tire and electrically coupled to the capacitor through a discharge portion; wherein in response to an external radial pressure on the tire resulting from movement of the vehicle which causes a pressure on the plurality of piezoelectric elements, the plurality of piezoelectric elements produce an electrical charge on the capacitor, and wherein the discharge portion electrically connects the electrical charge on the capacitor to the transmitter coil to send electromagnetic power to the vehicle.
US11117424B2

A pneumatic tire includes a band-shaped sound absorbing member bonded along a tire circumferential direction to the tire inner surface in a tread portion; at least one full cover layer covering the entire width of belt layers on the outer circumferential side of the belt layers; and a center cover layer disposed on the outer circumferential side of the full cover layer, the center cover layer locally covering the tire lateral direction center region of the belt layers; a width SW of the band-shaped sound absorbing member and a width BW of the belt layers satisfying a relationship SW/BW=0.3 to 0.8, and a width CW of the center cover layer and the width SW of the band-shaped sound absorbing member satisfying the relationship CW/SW=0.05 to 0.35.
US11117421B2

A wheel bearing arrangement for a motor vehicle with a wheel hub and a wheel bearing for the rotatable bearing of the wheel hub at a wheel mount. The wheel bearing has an outer ring and an inner ring, which is rotatable with respect to the outer ring around an axis of rotation and is connected to the wheel hub. A wheel flange extends from the wheel hub and, as viewed in the axial direction, has a brake disk mount, which is open in the direction facing away from the outer ring and which, as viewed in longitudinal section with respect to the axis of rotation, is formed by a recess of the wheel flange, and has a support surface for a brake disk.
US11117420B2

A wheel rim guard includes a body having an outer surface and an inner surface each radiating from a central point and the outer surface and the inner surface each co-terminating and defining a circumferential peripheral edge. The guard also includes a returnably-resilient seal disposed along the circumferential peripheral edge, the seal engaging a wheel rim berm. The guard also includes a handle depending from the outer surface of the body.
US11117407B2

The present invention embraces printers such as hand-held printers and mobile/portable printer. One exemplary embodiment includes “print as you glide” (PAYG) devices. Such printers may comprise a modular print engine that is removable from the printer and may allow a user to easily access and load the ribbon in the mobile print engine. The modular print engine may comprise a modular print head and an encoder that may determine the movement of the print head relative to a stationary media. When a printer is pressed against the media, the print head's burn line may be resting on the media. When the printer is stationary relative to the media, the encoder may not trigger the printing. Once PAYG is being slid or glided across the media, the encoder may start to rotate and then send a signal to a processor, causing the printer to start printing.
US11117403B2

Printhead carriers and adapters are disclosed. An example disclosed print mechanism includes an adapter to simultaneously couple a printhead assembly to both a logic circuit of a media processing device and a power source of the media processing device; a printhead carrier coupled to the adapter; and wherein a first connection, between data input connector and the logic circuit, and a second connection, between the power input connector and the power source, are maintained when the printhead assembly is removed from the print mechanism.
US11117400B2

A paper processing device includes a casing and a paper pressing mechanism. The casing includes a paper placement platform. The paper placement platform is extended externally from the casing so as to support the plural papers. The paper pressing mechanism includes a pressing bar, a driving mechanism and a linking mechanism. The pressing bar includes a pressing structure. The linking mechanism is connected between the driving mechanism and the pressing bar. While the linking mechanism is driven by the driving mechanism, the pressing bar is moved with the linking mechanism and rotated relative to the paper placement platform, so that the pressing structure is moved from an initial position to a target position. When the pressing structure is moved to the target position and contacted with the plural papers, a guiding channel is defined between the pressing structure and the paper placement platform.
US11117399B2

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a printing system. In one example, the printing system comprises a print substrate supply mechanism and a conveyor belt. The print substrate supply mechanism is to supply print substrate to the conveyor belt and the conveyor belt is to advance the supplied print substrate. During a substrate loading operation of the printing system, the print substrate supply mechanism prevents motion of the substrate such that when the conveyor belt is activated the supplied substrate slides over the conveyor belt.
US11117398B2

Provided is a photo printer including: a paper supply unit for accommodating stacked sheets of paper and having a pickup roller protruding from a bottom surface thereof; a platen roller provided at a front end of the paper supply unit; a head provided above the platen roller so as to form an image on the paper fed; a motor for providing a driving force to the platen roller; deceleration gears for decreasing revolutions per minute of the motor; a gear plate provided at one side of the paper supply unit and having the deceleration gears shaft-coupled thereto; and a motor plate having an aligning hole adapted to pass the shaft of the deceleration gear therethrough and a motor hole adapted to pass a rotary shaft of the motor therethrough.
US11117397B2

Provided is a photo printer including: a base for accommodating paper therein; a pick-up roller protruding from a bottom surface of the base to feed the paper accommodated in the base in a forward direction; a platen roller for discharging in the forward direction the paper; a head provided above the platen roller to apply heat to the paper; a swing bracket having a front side to which the head is coupled and a rear side rotatably coupled to the base; pressurizing means for pressurizing the swing bracket down to allow the swing bracket to come into close contact with the paper; and head supporting members provided on side walls of the base to support the front side of the swing bracket under the swing bracket and each having an eccentric portion adapted to lift the head up through rotation.
US11117395B2

A drying device includes a first-heating rotator configured to contact a sheet twice from different directions, and at least three second-heating rotators each configured to contact the sheet once. The at least three second-heating rotators are in a conveyance path configured to guide the sheet to contact the first-heating rotator again after the sheet contacts and passes the first-heating rotator.
US11117390B2

A printing apparatus includes a printing unit configured to perform printing onto a medium, a supporting unit configured to support the medium to be printed by the printing unit, a pressing unit configured to be attachable and detachable with respect to the supporting unit and to be attached to the supporting unit to press the medium supported by the supporting unit, and a retainer configured to retain the pressing unit that is removed from the supporting unit. The retainer has a first portion on which the pressing unit is placed, and a second portion positioned closer to a leading end of the retainer than the first portion and above the first portion in a vertical direction.
US11117389B2

A handheld recording device includes a first face, a second face, a third face pair, a recorder, and a connector. The first face has an opening. The second face is disposed opposite the first face. The third face pair is different from the first face and the second face. One of the third face pair is disposed on one side in a given direction of the second face and configured to be held by a user for recording. The recorder is configured to discharge ink from the opening. The connector is configured to be connected to a cable to receive at least one of power and image data. The connector is disposed at a position closer to the second face than the first face, on another one of the third face pair disposed on another side in the given direction of the second face.
US11117387B2

A circulation head includes an upstream port and a downstream port that are in communication with a pressure chamber, and includes three ink tanks (first to third tanks). Each of the ink tanks (the first to third tanks) includes an ink inlet/outlet port that is in communication with the upstream port and the downstream port, and an opening/closing valve that independently opens and closes the ink inlet/outlet port of each of the ink tanks (the first to third tanks) with respect to the upstream port and the downstream port.
US11117385B2

A liquid discharge head includes: a channel member having a nozzle surface and a back surface disposed separately from the nozzle surface, the channel member formed having nozzles arranged in the nozzle surface, individual channels connected to the nozzles, first and second common channels connected to the individual channels, a first opening that is opened in the back surface and communicates with an end of the first common channel, and a second opening that is opened in the back surface and communicates with an end of the second common channel, and a filter member disposed on the back surface and having a filter that covers the first opening. The second opening is not covered with the filter, and an area of the first opening is larger than an area of the second opening.
US11117382B2

A liquid supplying device includes a tank and a cartridge. The cartridge is configured to be detachably attached to the tank in an attachment-detachment direction crossing a vertical direction. The cartridge includes a first storage chamber. The tank includes a second storage chamber, a liquid passage, and a gas passage. The liquid passage has a first end, a second end, and a first extending portion. The second end is formed with a second opening open to an atmosphere. The first extending portion extends from the second opening in the attachment-detachment direction. The gas passage has a third end, a fourth end, and a second extending portion. The fourth end is formed with a fourth opening open to the atmosphere. The second extending portion extends from the fourth opening in the attachment-detachment direction. The second opening is at a position different from the fourth opening in the attachment-detachment direction.
US11117374B2

A liquid ejection head includes an ejection orifice for ejecting a liquid; a flow path in which an energy generating element is disposed, generates an energy to be used for ejecting the liquid; a liquid inside the flow path; an ejection orifice part that allows the ejection orifice and the flow path to communicate with each other; a supply flow path for supplying the liquid from the outside; and a recovery flow path for recovering the liquid to the outside. The moisture content of the liquid is 65 wt % or less. The liquid inside the flow path is circulated between the inside and the outside of the flow path.
US11117372B2

The nozzle is provided so that a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of distances, at the second position, between the center portion and edge portions of the nozzle is smaller than a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of distances, at the first position, between the center portion and edge portions of the nozzle.
US11117371B2

A recording system records a multi-tone image with liquid droplets of different amount discharged from nozzles. This recording system has a first nozzle and a second nozzle. The minimum amount of a liquid droplet discharged from the first nozzle is larger than the minimum amount of a liquid droplet discharged from the second nozzle.
US11117370B2

A liquid discharging apparatus includes a nozzle hole configured to discharge liquid; a liquid chamber provided so as to communicate with the nozzle hole; a piezoelectric element configured to change a pressure applied to the liquid in the liquid chamber to discharge the liquid from the nozzle hole; a driving waveform generation circuit configured to generate a driving waveform signal during a discharge control period having a predetermined cycle, to apply a driving waveform voltage to the piezoelectric element; a switch configured to selectively supply, to the piezoelectric element, a waveform included in the driving waveform signal; and a controller configured to perform voltage setting control for applying a predetermined voltage to the piezoelectric element, in a case where a non-discharge control period, having a predetermined cycle, causes the piezoelectric element to change by a voltage greater than or equal to an allowable voltage.
US11117367B2

There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus, including: a conveyer; a head having a nozzle surface formed having a nozzle from which a liquid is discharged on a recording medium conveyed by the conveyer; a carriage carrying the head and configured to be movable in a scanning direction parallel to the nozzle surface in a movement range including a facing range that faces a passing area where the recording medium conveyed by the conveyer passes; a first conductor for detection arranged at a first side in the scanning direction relative to the passing area; and a second conductor for detection arranged at a second side, which is opposite to the first side, in the scanning direction relative to the passing area.
US11117361B2

The present disclosure relates to a method for performing a three dimensional (3D) printing process. A primary light beam having a wavelength sufficient to initiate polymerization of a photoresin is generated and patterned into a patterned primary beam. The patterned primary beam is directed toward an ultraviolet (UV) or visible light sensitive photoresin to initiate polymerization of select areas of the photoresin. The photoresin is also illuminated with a secondary light beam having a wavelength of at least one of about 765 nm, 1064 nm, or 1273 nm. The secondary light beam stimulates triplet oxygen into singlet oxygen, which controls oxygen inhibition in additional areas bordering the select areas, to enable controlled polymerization inhibition in the additional areas bordering the select areas.
US11117348B2

Provided is a high-strength hot-rolled coated steel sheet with excellent formability, A high-strength hot-rolled coated steel sheet has a constituent composition containing, in a mass percent, C: 0.03% to 0.15%, Si: 0.4% or less, Mn: 1.2% to 1.9%, Ti: 0.05% to 0.25%, B: 0.0005% to 0.0050%, P: 0.03% or less, S: 0.005% or less, Al: 0.005% to 0.4%, and N: 0.01% or less, the balance being Fe and incidental impurities. The total area fraction of one or more of ferrite and tempered bainite is 90% or more. The steel sheet has a structure in which the volume fraction of Ti carbides having particle sizes of 20 nm or less is 0.05 vol % or more.
US11117346B2

A method of forming a component includes depositing a ceramic material within an open-cell void of a polymer body. The ceramic material deposited around the periphery of the open-cell void structure forms a thermally-conductive path through the polymer body. The ceramic material circumscribes an open volume extending the entire length of the thermally-conductive path that is filled with a sealant such that fluids are incommunicable from the first surface to the second surface via the thermally-conductive path. A method of forming a heat exchanger includes forming a plurality of plates, each plate formed as a thermally-conductive polymer body. The method of forming the heat exchanger further includes arranging the plurality of plates within a housing to form a plate and frame heat exchanger configured to place a first flowpath in a heat exchange relationship with a second flowpath.
US11117345B2

The problem of the present invention is to offer a nonwoven fabric for reinforcing foam molded articles that enables cushion materials to be efficiently foam molded by improving adhesiveness of the reinforcing nonwoven fabric to a mold. The present invention is a nonwoven fabric for reinforcing foam molded articles, having a reinforcing nonwoven layer and at least one resin layer, wherein the reinforcing nonwoven layer and the at least one resin layer are laminated, the reinforcing nonwoven layer has a discontinuous part including a magnetic material, the at least one resin layer has a resin having softening point A of 20° C. or higher and 60° C. or lower, and the nonwoven fabric has an air permeability of 30 cc/cm2/sec or more and 300 cc/cm2/sec or less.
US11117342B2

An embossing tool including a female die (5) and a male die (7). A raised section (9) is formed on the female die, which corresponds to the area to be embossed. An elastic compensating element (13) is located in a recess (11) of the male die (7), which protrudes from the surface of the male die (7) by a few tenths of a millimeter. This embossing tool allows the undoing of existing embossments on a film (1).
US11117334B2

A fiber placement head for applying a plurality of composite tape segments on a mold, including one or more lane assemblies each having one or more fluid passageways that receive compressed air; a piston assembly that selectively moves relative to the lane assembly in response to receipt of compressed air; an attachment site configured to releasably couple the lane assembly to a portion of the fiber placement head; an aperture in the lane assembly configured to receive a fastener that releasably couples a subassembly to the lane module, wherein a piston from the piston assembly engages the subassembly; and a subassembly releasably coupled to each lane module by the fastener received by the aperture.
US11117328B2

A manufacturing system is disclosed herein. The manufacturing system includes one or more stations, a monitoring platform, and a control module. Each station of the one or more stations is configured to perform at least one step in a multi-step manufacturing process for a product. The monitoring platform is configured to monitor progression of the product throughout the multi-step manufacturing process. The control module is configured to dynamically adjust processing parameters of each step of the multi-step manufacturing process to achieve a desired final quality metric for the product.
US11117327B2

Method for operating an apparatus (1) for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects (2) by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material (3) which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam (4), wherein at least one part of a first layer (7) is irradiated based on at least one first irradiation parameter and at least one part of a second layer (8) is irradiated based on at least one second irradiation parameter, wherein the at least one first irradiation parameter and the at least one second irradiation parameter are different for the at least two layers (7, 8).
US11117325B2

Apparatus and methods are disclosed to provide a guide for sand blasting a fiber-reinforced object. The proposed guide consist of three-dimensional (3D) features that will result in reflective ray-like protrusions that can be detected and displayed by Augmented Reality (AR) hardware including a head mounted display. The AR hardware determines a virtual object to be presented in a field of view, a position in the field of view, and a perspective of the virtual object in the field of view based on position information from the reflective ray-like protrusions. At least a portion of the sand blasting area is observable through the display and lens when the display is presenting the rendered virtual object.
US11117316B2

A method of forming a three-dimensional object can be carried out by: (a) providing a carrier and an optically transparent member having a build surface, the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid, the polymerizable liquid comprising: (i) a polymerizable component; (ii) upconverting particles that are excited by light at a first wavelength and upon excitation emit light at a second wavelength that is shorter than the first wavelength; and (iii) a photoiniator that catalyzes polymerization of the polymerizable component upon excitation by light at the second wavelength; (c) irradiating the build region through the optically transparent member with an excitation light at the first wavelength, and optionally but in some embodiments preferably also advancing the carrier away from the build surface, wherein the excitation light is temporally and/or spatially modulated, to thereby form the three-dimensional object from the polymerizable liquid.
US11117314B2

Methods and apparatuses (400) suitable for use in 3D-printing of gels from a solution (470) comprising a polymerizable material dispersed in a solvent are described. Such methods and apparatuses (100) include features (493) to control the relative saturation of the solvent in a gas phase region around the gel during the 3D-printing process.
US11117301B2

Mould for producing plastic items obtained by the injection of thermoplastic material of the “hot melt” or polyamide type, the mould being made of flexible vulcanised silicone, rubber or other elastomers, the mould being formed by two parts which, when facing each other and attached, generate a series of compartments and channels that allow for the introduction of the melted thermoplastic material and the filling of the cavities with the shape of the item desired, and, in turn, allow for a vacuum to be generated, also removing the inside air from the mould by means of a series of conduits and channels; and a method or methodology for producing said plastic items by means of said mould, allowing for the reproduction of short and medium series of items produced with plastic materials, and in which a control system and a mould incorporating a means to be identified can be added to the method.
US11117297B2

A reconfigurable melt delivery system is disclosed for use with a first injection unit and a second injection unit. The reconfigurable melt delivery system may include a first arm manifold configured to receive a moldable material from a second injection unit, an exchangeable second arm manifold in fluid communication with the first arm manifold that is configured to receive the moldable material from the first arm manifold and to transfer the moldable material to an outlet nozzle, and a repositionable and replaceable insert plate configured to be repositioned or replaced relative to remaining plates of the melt delivery system, wherein the outlet nozzle is secured within a mold facing surface of the insert plate and is radially offset from a central machine nozzle opening of the melt delivery system for delivering the moldable material to a corresponding offset mold gate of a two-material mold.
US11117294B2

The invention refers to a method for producing expanded polymer pellets, which comprises the following steps: melting a polymer comprising a polyamide; adding at least one blowing agent; expanding the melt through at least one die for producing an expanded polymer; and pelletizing the expanded polymer. The invention further concerns polymer pellets produced with the method as well as their use, e.g. for the production of cushioning elements for sports apparel, such as for producing soles or parts of soles of sports shoes. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method for the manufacture of molded components, comprising loading pellets of an expanded polymer material into a mold, and connecting the pellets by providing heat energy, wherein the expanded polymer material of the pellets or beads comprises a chain extender. The molded components may be used in broad ranges of application.
US11117287B2

A method of impregnating a fiber texture of hollow shape, the method including introducing a first suspension containing a first powder of solid particles of ceramic or carbon material into an inside volume defined by an inside face of a fiber texture of hollow shape placed in a mold, an outer face of the fiber texture being presented facing a wall of the mold; and using the action of centrifugal force to impregnate the fiber texture with the first suspension by causing the mold to rotate and varying the speed of rotation of the mold during the impregnation of the texture with the first suspension.
US11117284B2

Disclosed is a line catcher-type waterjet cutting apparatus in which a workpiece is subjected to the waterjet processing in a state of being clamped by a workpiece edge clamping device and a separate driving unit for the workpiece edge clamping device is provided, and in which the workpiece is clamped by the workpiece edge clamping device during the waterjet processing, while the workpiece is easily decoupled from the workpiece edge clamping device after the waterjet processing is completed, so that the waterjet processing is carried out while reciprocally conveying the workpiece in an X-direction, thereby increasing the processing accuracy of the waterjet processing and easily automating the waterjet processing.
US11117282B2

A slitter for slitting a guide catheter has a handle and a blade assembly coupled to the handle. The blade assembly includes a shroud for receiving an elongated body of a medical device and a slitting blade having an exposed cutting edge to slit the guide catheter. The blade assembly includes a user-deflectable portion coupled to the shroud for causing the shroud to flex in response to deflection of the user-deflectable portion. The handle and the blade assembly may be assembled from piece parts in a manufacturing method.
US11117279B2

A razor handle and a method for releasing an exchangeable razor blade cartridge from the razor handle. The razor handle including a connector for connecting the exchangeable razor blade cartridge to the razor handle, a release mechanism for releasing the exchangeable razor blade cartridge from the razor handle, and a release trigger. The release trigger is rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the razor handle relative to the connector to actuate the release mechanism.
US11117277B2

A shaving cartridge includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front edge, a rear edge, and a pair of side edges extending between the front edge and the rear edge. The housing includes at least one blade having a cutting edge and being disposed between the front edge and the rear edge, and a pair of retainers each having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a portion connecting the top portion to the bottom portion. The retainers extend along the pair of side edges between the front edge of the housing and the rear edge of the housing.
US11117270B2

A safety system for safeguarding cooperative operation of people, robots, and machines with respect to a technical installation includes a safety-related device. The safety-related device is configured to monitor a first hazardous area of the technical installation and bring the technical installation into a safe state in response to detection of a hazardous condition. The safety system is configured to identify an autonomously operating technical unit, register the autonomously operating technical unit in response to the autonomously operating technical unit satisfying a defined condition, and restrict monitoring of the first hazardous area by the safety-related device in response to the registration. The safety system is configured to, in response to a defined event, revoke the registration of the autonomously operating technical unit and lift the restriction on monitoring.
US11117265B2

Exemplary substrate processing systems may include a transfer region housing defining a transfer region fluidly coupled with a plurality of processing regions. A sidewall of the transfer region housing may define a sealable access for providing and receiving substrates. The systems may include a transfer apparatus having a central hub including a shaft extending at a distal end through the transfer region housing into the transfer region. The transfer apparatus may include a lateral translation apparatus coupled with an exterior surface of the transfer region housing, and configured to provide at least one direction of lateral movement of the shaft. The systems may also include an end effector coupled with the shaft within the transfer region. The end effector may include a plurality of arms having a number of arms equal to a number of substrate supports of the plurality of substrate supports in the transfer region.
US11117264B2

A robotic system includes a docking station, a mobile working machine, and an electronic device. The mobile working machine includes a machine body and a transmission wheel device disposed on the machine body for loading and moving the machine body. The electronic device is detachably connected to the mobile working machine. The docking station includes a station base and a transferring device disposed on the station base for selectively carrying the electronic device away from the mobile working machine.
US11117263B2

An apparatus for labeling support structures includes: a chassis having a locomotive assembly, and supporting an effector assembly with an end movable relative to the chassis and carrying a label modification unit with an image sensor; a controller coupled to the locomotive assembly, effector assembly and label modification unit, and configured to: obtain label modification data defining a location relative to a support structure reference feature for a label modification operation; control the locomotive assembly to travel to the support structure; detect the reference feature via image data captured at the image sensor; control the effector assembly to place the label modification unit at the location relative to the reference feature; control the effector assembly and the label modification unit perform the label modification operation.
US11117258B2

A force transmission system as part of a surgical system which may be configured to be a minimally invasive and/or computer assisted surgical system. Operation of the system may be controlled by transmission of a force from a first section to a second section of the system. The first section and the second section may be separated by a partition or a barrier. The first section may be a non-sterile section and the second section may be a sterile section of the surgical system.
US11117256B2

A system and method for operating a transport robot to simultaneously grasp and transfer multiple objects is disclosed. The transport robot includes a multi-gripper assembly having an array of addressable vacuum regions each configured to independently provide a vacuum. The robotic system receives image data representative of a group of objects. Individual target objects are identified in the group based on the received image data. Addressable vacuum regions are selected based on the identified target objects. The transport robot is command to cause the selected addressable vacuum regions to simultaneously grasp and transfer multiple target objects.
US11117253B2

The present disclosure is directed to methods, computer program products, and computer systems for instructing a robot to prepare a food dish by replacing the human chef's movements and actions. Monitoring a human chef is carried out in an instrumented application-specific setting, a standardized robotic kitchen in this instance, and involves using sensors and computers to watch, monitor, record and interpret the motions and actions of the human chef, in order to develop a robot-executable set of commands robust to variations and changes in the environment, capable of allowing a robotic or automated system in a robotic kitchen to prepare the same dish to the standards and quality as the dish prepared by the human chef.
US11117250B2

A machine tool includes a tool holder and a pneumatic striking mechanism that includes, on a working axis, an exciter piston, a beater, and a pneumatic chamber disposed between the exciter piston and the beater. The exciter piston is drivable by the motor and includes a pot-shaped base body, a seal ring, and a tube-shaped cladding body. The pot-shaped base body has a lateral wall enclosing the working axis and a collar which protrudes in a radial direction. The tube-shaped cladding body is disposed on the pot-shaped base body surrounding the lateral wall. A groove is defined between the collar and the tube-shaped cladding body and the seal ring is disposed in the groove.
US11117241B2

Pliers have two pliers handles guided such that they cross one another in a joint region having a stationary joint bolt. Gripping regions are formed on the pliers handles on one side of the joint region, and working regions are formed on free ends of the pliers handles on the other side, said working regions extending to form a pliers jaw. The working regions have first and second toothed regions that come into contact when the pliers jaw is closed. In the first toothed region, in a sequence in the longitudinal extension of the pliers handle, the tooth tips end in a surrounding surface that is flat in the longitudinal section and in contact with same, and the tooth tips of the opposing second toothed region end in a surrounding surface that is convex in the longitudinal section and in contact with same.
US11117230B2

In a flexible ring fitting device 1, a flexible ring disposition mechanism includes at least two ring support members 411 and 412 disposed relative to each other and movable so as to be separated from each other. Notches 4113 and 4123 recessed in a direction in which the two ring support members 411 and 412 are separated from each other are formed along surfaces 4114 and 4124 of the two relative ring support members 411 and 412 in the relative surfaces 4114 and 4124 of the two ring support members 411 and 412. A flexible ring R is fitted into an annular groove G of a workpiece W by a workpiece disposition mechanism moving in one direction along with the workpiece W.