Composite structure including a low vinyl acetate layer
Patent No. 8,840,920
A composite structure suitable for making transdermal delivery devices includes in sequence: (a) a liner film layer; (b) a containment layer having from zero to 15 wt % content of vinyl acetate repeating units, the layer including either a thermal bonding copolyester resin or a combination of an ethylene-vinyl acetate component and a nonpolar polymer; and (c) a polyester film layer less than 20 .mu.m in thickness. A drug layer lies either between the liner film layer and the containment layer or within a concave depression in the containment layer. A composition including an ethylene-vinyl acetate component and an ABA block copolymer, wherein the A segments of the block copolymer are styrenic segments, is also provided. The composition includes between 1 and 15 wt % of vinyl acetate repeating units, based on the total weight of composition exclusive of any solvents.
Inventors: Peter N. Nugara (Richmond, Va.), Bruce C. Begnoche (Midlothian, Va.), Stephen K. Franzyshen (Richmond, Va.), Fenghua Deng (Richmond, Va.), Daniel C. Sanders (Richmond, Va.), Christine A. Creegan (Richmond, Va.), Steven R. Cosentino (Quinton, Va.)
Assignee: DuPont Teijin Films U.S. Limited Partnership (Chester, Va.)
September 23, 2014
Determining energy consumption in a structure
Patent No. 8,843,416
Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for measuring the supply of a consumable product/energy source, such as electrical power, to a facility over time and analyzing the measurements to determine the consumption or supply of the product by one or more loads and/or sources in the facility, and to determine induced and residual heat flow through the facility’s envelope. Various aspects compare the measured supply of the consumable product to a database of consumption signatures, which characterize access to the consumable product by particular users. In doing so, costs for the product may be more accurately divided between different tenants of the facility without having to install individual services or measurement equipment for each individual tenant. Operating conditions and facility characteristics, such as temperatures, load factors, insulation factors, etc., may be further considered in determining a particular user’s access of the consumable product. To aid in the controlling of energy use, thermal resistance factors of the building are determined, which are based on the induced and residual heat flow through the facility. Various algorithms are used including smart agents (e.g. neural networks) to determine the consumption of the consumable product by a particular user, to create the database of consumption signatures, and to determine the thermal resistance factors.
Inventors: Michael Craig Scelzi (Glen Allen, Va.), William Shawn Bonwell (Montpelier, Va.), Allan H. Vaitses (Marion, Mass.), Mark Christopher Hartman (Amelia, Va.), James Scelzi (Paducah, Ky.)
Assignee: Netesco (Richmond, Va.)
September 23, 2014
Low GM transconductor
Patent No. 8,841,970
Techniques for designing a transconductor configurable to have a low transconductance. In one aspect, a voltage to current conversion module is coupled to a 1:N current replication module. The voltage to current conversion module may be implemented as an operational amplifier configured with negative feedback to generate a current through a transistor, wherein such current is proportional to the difference between an input voltage and a common-mode reference. The 1:N current replication module is configured to mirror the generated current in another transistor, to a predetermined ratio, such that the output current is also proportional to the difference between the input voltage and the common-mode reference. In exemplary embodiments, the output stage driving the output current may be configured to operate as a Class A, Class B, or Class AB type amplifier.
Inventors: Arash Mehrabi (San Diego, Calif.), Thurman S. Deyerle IV (Midlothian, Va.), Guoqing Miao (San Diego, Calif.)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Inc. (San Diego, Calif.)
September 23, 2014
Apparatus, system, and method for detecting engine fluid constituents
Patent No. 8,842,283
A system for detecting engine fluid constituents includes an engine having a sample channel having a conduit for a working engine fluid. The system includes an electromagnetic (EM) source that emits EM radiation through a first metal tube, where the EM radiation is EM energy at a wavelength of interest. The system further includes an EM detector that receives a remainder radiation through a second metal tube, the remainder radiation including the remaining EM radiation after passing through the sample channel. The system includes a controller that determines a composition indicator signal representative of an amount of a constituent in the working engine fluid in response to a strength of the remainder radiation, and determines a concentration of a component of interest according to the composition indicator signal.
Inventors: John M. Janssen (Henrico, Va.), Frederick H. Lindner (Aesch, Switzerland), Jacob Y. Wong (Goleta, Calif.)
Assignee: Cummins Inc. (Columbus, Ind.)
September 23, 2014
Banded papers, smoking articles and methods
Patent No. 8,844,540
Wrapper for cigarette manufacture includes transversely extending band regions applied by a printing technique, such as gravure printing. The band regions comprise starch, an anti-wrinkling agent such as 1,2 propylene glycol or glycerin, and optionally calcium carbonate. Any suitable printing technique can be used to apply the aqueous solution to the banded regions. The pattern of banded regions may be bands, stripes, two-dimensional arrays, undulated regions, and the like along and/or around the tobacco rod. The pattern can be applied in one or more layers. The pattern may be configured so that when a smoking article is placed on a substrate, at least two longitudinal locations along the length of the tobacco rod have film-forming compound located only on sides of the smoking article not in contact with the substrate.
Inventors: Ping Li (Glen Allen, Va.), Firooz Rasouli (Midlothian, Va.), Rajesh K. Garg (Richmond, Va.), Randall E. Baren (Glen Allen, Va.), Marc W. Rose (Mechanicsville, Va.), Peter J. Lipowicz (Midlothian, Va.), Tony A. Phan (Richmond, Va.), Timothy S. Sherwood (Midlothian, Va.), Szu-Sung Yang (Midlothian, Va.), Donald E. Miser (Chesterfield, Va.), Milton E. Parrish (Midlothian, Va.)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond, Va.)
September 30, 2014
Apparatus and method of backlighting large format graphics
Patent No. 8,844,179
A backlight section is adapted for use in connection with a large format graphic illumination system. The backlight sheet has one or more electroluminescent panels attached to it. This backlight sheet will be mounted onto a display surface. The graphic sheet is then mounted over the assembled backlight sheet having the electroluminescent panels thereon.
Inventors: Steven Paul Pendlebury (Richmond, Va.)
Assignee: Electro-LuminX Lighting Corp. (Richmond, Va.)
September 30, 2014
Wheelchair with lever drivetrain
Patent No. 8,844,959
A manually powered wheelchair includes a first lever associated with a first rear wheel and demountably coupled to a first drivetrain, the first lever having a first brake thereon. The wheelchair also includes a second lever associated with a second rear wheel and demountably coupled to a second drivetrain, the second lever having a second brake thereon. Each drivetrain includes a chainring, a chain, and a freewheel, and each drivetrain has a fixed gear ratio. The freewheel of each drivetrain is actuated by manual pivoting of the lever associated therewith. In use, the wheelchair achieves changes in mechanical advantage when a user shifts the user’s hands up and down the first and second levers.
Inventors: Amos G. Winter V (Chesterfield, Va.) Mario A. Bollini (Sterling Heights, Mo.), Daneille M. DeLatte (Ellicott City, Md.), Harrison F. O’Hanley (Ipswich, Mass.), Natasha K. Scolnik (Washington, D.C.), Gwyndaf M. Jones (Carlisle, Mass.), Daniel D. Frey (Natick, Mass.), Benjamin Judge (Tewksbury, Mass.), Benjamin Gallup Benjamin H. (Norfolk, Mass.), Danielle Hicks (Modesto, Calif.), Nydia Ruleman (Germantown, Tenn.), Xuefeng Chen (Burke, Va.)
Assignee: Global Research Innovation and Technology L3C (Boston, Mass.)
September 30, 2014
Berm and method of construction thereof
Patent No. 8,845,240
A system for reinforcing and facing a wall comprises a plurality of facing baskets and corresponding substantially horizontal reinforcing members, arranged in a plurality of layers. An impermeable membrane is positioned to uninterruptedly span two or more layers. At each of one or more layers, different portions of the impermeable membrane are positioned (a) between the substantially horizontal portion of the facing basket and the bottom surface of the corresponding reinforcing member, (b) around the outer end of the corresponding reinforcing member, (c) along the top surface of the substantially horizontal portion of the facing basket, and (d) angled upward toward an adjacent layer.
Inventors: Carlton Dudding (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: AWT IP (Glen Allen, Va.)
September 30, 2014
Door closing control and electrical connectivity system for refrigerated case
Patent No. 8,845,045
A temperature-controlled case is provided including a frame and a door coupled to the frame and pivotable about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position. The door includes a passage that interchangeably receives a door closure control assembly at one of the top or the bottom of the door, and an electrical connectivity system at the other of the top or the bottom of the door. The electrical connectivity system includes a first electrical connector coupled to the door, and a second electrical connector coupled to the frame so that the first and second electrical connectors are engaged when the door is coupled to the frame. The door closure control assembly includes a torsion spring that is fixed at one end to the door and fixed at another end to the frame, so that when the door is opened the torsion spring provides an increasing force to urge the door toward the closed position.
Inventors: Steven O. Stubblefield (Mechanicsville, Va.)
Assignee: Hill Phoenix Inc. (Conyers, Ga.)
September 30, 2014
Composite structure including a low vinyl acetate layer
Patent No. 8,840,920
A composite structure suitable for making transdermal delivery devices includes in sequence: (a) a liner film layer; (b) a containment layer having from zero to 15 wt % content of vinyl acetate repeating units, the layer including either a thermal bonding copolyester resin or a combination of an ethylene-vinyl acetate component and a nonpolar polymer; and (c) a polyester film layer less than 20 .mu.m in thickness. A drug layer lies either between the liner film layer and the containment layer or within a concave depression in the containment layer. A composition including an ethylene-vinyl acetate component and an ABA block copolymer, wherein the A segments of the block copolymer are styrenic segments, is also provided. The composition includes between 1 and 15 wt % of vinyl acetate repeating units, based on the total weight of composition exclusive of any solvents.
Inventors: Peter N. Nugara (Richmond, Va.), Bruce C. Begnoche (Midlothian, Va.), Stephen K. Franzyshen (Richmond, Va.), Fenghua Deng (Richmond, Va.), Daniel C. Sanders (Richmond, Va.), Christine A. Creegan (Richmond, Va.), Steven R. Cosentino (Quinton, Va.)
Assignee: DuPont Teijin Films U.S. Limited Partnership (Chester, Va.)
September 23, 2014
Determining energy consumption in a structure
Patent No. 8,843,416
Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for measuring the supply of a consumable product/energy source, such as electrical power, to a facility over time and analyzing the measurements to determine the consumption or supply of the product by one or more loads and/or sources in the facility, and to determine induced and residual heat flow through the facility’s envelope. Various aspects compare the measured supply of the consumable product to a database of consumption signatures, which characterize access to the consumable product by particular users. In doing so, costs for the product may be more accurately divided between different tenants of the facility without having to install individual services or measurement equipment for each individual tenant. Operating conditions and facility characteristics, such as temperatures, load factors, insulation factors, etc., may be further considered in determining a particular user’s access of the consumable product. To aid in the controlling of energy use, thermal resistance factors of the building are determined, which are based on the induced and residual heat flow through the facility. Various algorithms are used including smart agents (e.g. neural networks) to determine the consumption of the consumable product by a particular user, to create the database of consumption signatures, and to determine the thermal resistance factors.
Inventors: Michael Craig Scelzi (Glen Allen, Va.), William Shawn Bonwell (Montpelier, Va.), Allan H. Vaitses (Marion, Mass.), Mark Christopher Hartman (Amelia, Va.), James Scelzi (Paducah, Ky.)
Assignee: Netesco (Richmond, Va.)
September 23, 2014
Low GM transconductor
Patent No. 8,841,970
Techniques for designing a transconductor configurable to have a low transconductance. In one aspect, a voltage to current conversion module is coupled to a 1:N current replication module. The voltage to current conversion module may be implemented as an operational amplifier configured with negative feedback to generate a current through a transistor, wherein such current is proportional to the difference between an input voltage and a common-mode reference. The 1:N current replication module is configured to mirror the generated current in another transistor, to a predetermined ratio, such that the output current is also proportional to the difference between the input voltage and the common-mode reference. In exemplary embodiments, the output stage driving the output current may be configured to operate as a Class A, Class B, or Class AB type amplifier.
Inventors: Arash Mehrabi (San Diego, Calif.), Thurman S. Deyerle IV (Midlothian, Va.), Guoqing Miao (San Diego, Calif.)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Inc. (San Diego, Calif.)
September 23, 2014
Apparatus, system, and method for detecting engine fluid constituents
Patent No. 8,842,283
A system for detecting engine fluid constituents includes an engine having a sample channel having a conduit for a working engine fluid. The system includes an electromagnetic (EM) source that emits EM radiation through a first metal tube, where the EM radiation is EM energy at a wavelength of interest. The system further includes an EM detector that receives a remainder radiation through a second metal tube, the remainder radiation including the remaining EM radiation after passing through the sample channel. The system includes a controller that determines a composition indicator signal representative of an amount of a constituent in the working engine fluid in response to a strength of the remainder radiation, and determines a concentration of a component of interest according to the composition indicator signal.
Inventors: John M. Janssen (Henrico, Va.), Frederick H. Lindner (Aesch, Switzerland), Jacob Y. Wong (Goleta, Calif.)
Assignee: Cummins Inc. (Columbus, Ind.)
September 23, 2014
Banded papers, smoking articles and methods
Patent No. 8,844,540
Wrapper for cigarette manufacture includes transversely extending band regions applied by a printing technique, such as gravure printing. The band regions comprise starch, an anti-wrinkling agent such as 1,2 propylene glycol or glycerin, and optionally calcium carbonate. Any suitable printing technique can be used to apply the aqueous solution to the banded regions. The pattern of banded regions may be bands, stripes, two-dimensional arrays, undulated regions, and the like along and/or around the tobacco rod. The pattern can be applied in one or more layers. The pattern may be configured so that when a smoking article is placed on a substrate, at least two longitudinal locations along the length of the tobacco rod have film-forming compound located only on sides of the smoking article not in contact with the substrate.
Inventors: Ping Li (Glen Allen, Va.), Firooz Rasouli (Midlothian, Va.), Rajesh K. Garg (Richmond, Va.), Randall E. Baren (Glen Allen, Va.), Marc W. Rose (Mechanicsville, Va.), Peter J. Lipowicz (Midlothian, Va.), Tony A. Phan (Richmond, Va.), Timothy S. Sherwood (Midlothian, Va.), Szu-Sung Yang (Midlothian, Va.), Donald E. Miser (Chesterfield, Va.), Milton E. Parrish (Midlothian, Va.)
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc. (Richmond, Va.)
September 30, 2014
Apparatus and method of backlighting large format graphics
Patent No. 8,844,179
A backlight section is adapted for use in connection with a large format graphic illumination system. The backlight sheet has one or more electroluminescent panels attached to it. This backlight sheet will be mounted onto a display surface. The graphic sheet is then mounted over the assembled backlight sheet having the electroluminescent panels thereon.
Inventors: Steven Paul Pendlebury (Richmond, Va.)
Assignee: Electro-LuminX Lighting Corp. (Richmond, Va.)
September 30, 2014
Wheelchair with lever drivetrain
Patent No. 8,844,959
A manually powered wheelchair includes a first lever associated with a first rear wheel and demountably coupled to a first drivetrain, the first lever having a first brake thereon. The wheelchair also includes a second lever associated with a second rear wheel and demountably coupled to a second drivetrain, the second lever having a second brake thereon. Each drivetrain includes a chainring, a chain, and a freewheel, and each drivetrain has a fixed gear ratio. The freewheel of each drivetrain is actuated by manual pivoting of the lever associated therewith. In use, the wheelchair achieves changes in mechanical advantage when a user shifts the user’s hands up and down the first and second levers.
Inventors: Amos G. Winter V (Chesterfield, Va.) Mario A. Bollini (Sterling Heights, Mo.), Daneille M. DeLatte (Ellicott City, Md.), Harrison F. O’Hanley (Ipswich, Mass.), Natasha K. Scolnik (Washington, D.C.), Gwyndaf M. Jones (Carlisle, Mass.), Daniel D. Frey (Natick, Mass.), Benjamin Judge (Tewksbury, Mass.), Benjamin Gallup Benjamin H. (Norfolk, Mass.), Danielle Hicks (Modesto, Calif.), Nydia Ruleman (Germantown, Tenn.), Xuefeng Chen (Burke, Va.)
Assignee: Global Research Innovation and Technology L3C (Boston, Mass.)
September 30, 2014
Berm and method of construction thereof
Patent No. 8,845,240
A system for reinforcing and facing a wall comprises a plurality of facing baskets and corresponding substantially horizontal reinforcing members, arranged in a plurality of layers. An impermeable membrane is positioned to uninterruptedly span two or more layers. At each of one or more layers, different portions of the impermeable membrane are positioned (a) between the substantially horizontal portion of the facing basket and the bottom surface of the corresponding reinforcing member, (b) around the outer end of the corresponding reinforcing member, (c) along the top surface of the substantially horizontal portion of the facing basket, and (d) angled upward toward an adjacent layer.
Inventors: Carlton Dudding (Glen Allen, Va.)
Assignee: AWT IP (Glen Allen, Va.)
September 30, 2014
Door closing control and electrical connectivity system for refrigerated case
Patent No. 8,845,045
A temperature-controlled case is provided including a frame and a door coupled to the frame and pivotable about a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position. The door includes a passage that interchangeably receives a door closure control assembly at one of the top or the bottom of the door, and an electrical connectivity system at the other of the top or the bottom of the door. The electrical connectivity system includes a first electrical connector coupled to the door, and a second electrical connector coupled to the frame so that the first and second electrical connectors are engaged when the door is coupled to the frame. The door closure control assembly includes a torsion spring that is fixed at one end to the door and fixed at another end to the frame, so that when the door is opened the torsion spring provides an increasing force to urge the door toward the closed position.
Inventors: Steven O. Stubblefield (Mechanicsville, Va.)
Assignee: Hill Phoenix Inc. (Conyers, Ga.)
September 30, 2014