stem Generating a mucin-producing cell from an umbilical cord amniotic membrane epithelial stem cell By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to the generation of a mucin-producing cell using stem/progenitor cells obtained from the amniotic membrane of umbilical cord and therapeutic uses of such mucin-producing cells. Full Article
stem Separator device, deposition device and system for handling of somatic plant embryos By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods and devices for separating fluid-suspended plant somatic embryos and embryogenic tissue based on differences in their fluid drag properties are disclosed. Deposition method and device for depositing plant somatic embryos into embryo receiver comprising growth substrate by means of a fluid jet is disclosed. An automated system for processing plant somatic embryos from the bioreactor to the growth substrate is also disclosed. Full Article
stem Multi-channel system and methods for sorting particles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A multi-channel system and methods for sorting particles according to one or more characteristics of the particles. The system includes multiple flow cytometry units, each unit can have a nozzle for producing a fluid stream containing a desired population of particles in a mixture of particles. Each of the units may be operable to sort said desired population of particles by interrogating the fluid stream with a beam of electromagnetic radiation and classifying particles based on one or more characteristics of the particles. The system also includes a common fluid delivery system for delivering sheath fluid to each flow cytometer unit for producing respective fluid streams. Full Article
stem General composition framework for ligand-controlled RNA regulatory systems By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention provides an improved design for the construction of extensible nucleic acid-based, ligand-controlled regulatory systems, and the nucleic acid regulatory systems resulting therefrom. The invention contemplates improving the design of the switches (ligand-controlled regulatory systems) through the design of an information transmission domain (ITD). The improved ITD eliminates free-floating ends of the switching and the competing strands, and localizes competitive hybridization events to a contiguous strand of competing and switching strands in a strand-displacement mechanism-based switch, thereby improving the kinetics of strand-displacement. The improved regulatory systems have many uses in various biological systems, including gene expression control or ligand-concentration sensing. Full Article
stem Methods and systems for manipulating particles using a fluidized bed By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Jul 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention comprises methods and systems for manipulation of media and particles, whether inert materials or biomaterials, such as cells in suspension cell culture. The methods and systems comprise use of an apparatus comprising a rotating chamber wherein the actions of the combined forces fluid flow force and centrifugal force form a fluidized bed within the rotating chamber. Full Article
stem Mutant receptors and their use in a nuclear receptor-based inducible gene expression system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Oct 2015 08:00:00 EDT This invention relates to the field of biotechnology or genetic engineering. Specifically, this invention relates to the field of gene expression. More specifically, this invention relates to novel substitution mutant receptors and their use in a nuclear receptor-based inducible gene expression system and methods of modulating the expression of a gene in a host cell for applications such as gene therapy, large scale production of proteins and antibodies, cell-based high throughput screening assays, functional genomics and regulation of traits in transgenic organisms. Full Article
stem Crash indication system for a reclining ride down child seat By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT More specifically, the crash indication system for a child safety seat includes a seat bottom. A base is provided for supporting the seat bottom, which is slidably connected to the bases so that the seat body is movable relative to the base, between a resting position and a ride down position, a position due to a change in environmental forces. The seat body is adjustably affixed to a carriage to set a recline position. An indicator member is attached to the carriage and moves therewith to visually track and monitor the movement of the seat. When ride down of the seat occurs due to a change in forces to the seat, the indicator member moves with the sliding carriage to reflect a ride down position of the seat bottom. A ratchet connection is provided to prevent the carriage from going back to its resting position. Full Article
stem Apparatus, system and methods for enabling linearity improvement in voltage controlled variable capacitors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EDT An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising at least one anti-parallel pair VVC network comprised of two parallel VVCs with one biased in the opposite polarity of the other and at least one anti-series VVC network comprised of two VVCs configured in series, one biased in the opposite polarity of the other such that the resulting AC capacitive variations produce a desired capacitance variation. Full Article
stem Receiver apparatus and receiver system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EDT A receiver apparatus 3 has a digital circuit portion 13 that converts a compressed digital signal outputted from a digital demodulating portion 12 into digital video and audio signals and a video/audio output circuit 14 that converts the digital video and audio signals outputted from the digital circuit portion 13 into analog video and audio signals. With this configuration, a video/audio processing IC for digital signal processing no longer needs to be mounted on the circuit board of a video display apparatus 4, and thus a receiver system can be realized with a video display apparatus having a simple configuration. Full Article
stem Physiological data acquisition and management system for use with an implanted wireless sensor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST Aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide a system for obtaining, processing and managing data from an implanted sensor. In some embodiments, a patient or other persons can use a flexible antenna to obtain data from the implanted sensor. The flexible antenna includes at least one transmit loop and at least one receive loop. The transmit loop is adapted to propagate energizing signals to the implanted sensor. The receive loop is adapted to detect a response signal from the implanted sensor. The transmit loop includes a capacitor formed by a discontinuous area. The capacitor is adapted to allow the loop to be tuned. The flexible antenna can communicate with a patient device that collects the data from the implanted sensor, creates a data file and transmits the data file to a remote server over a network. A physician or other authorized person may access the remote server using an access device. Full Article
stem Electromagnetic system with no mutual inductance and an inductive gain By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EDT An electromagnetic system consists of an electric circuit comprising two solenoids wired in series, one mounted either side and proximate to a toroid. Voltage is applied across the toroid and the solenoids in a specific sequence which alters the inductance behavior of the system, resulting in an inductance gain and no mutual inductance between the toroid and the two solenoids. Full Article
stem Pattern printing system and data processing method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EDT A pattern printing system and data processing method thereof are disclosed, which are suitable for printing patterns on printed circuit boards or data format rearrangement printing used in displays. The pattern printing method includes a process for interpreting scription data into matrix data, a procedure for modulating the print head resolution and the printing resolution, a procedure for interpreting and transmitting data commands, a procedure for rearranging memory data, and a procedure for firing data synchronously so as to achieve high-resolution printing and to continuously modulate any print data. Full Article
stem System and method of evaluating print shop consolidation options in an enterprise By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST A print shop consolidation system including a print shop consolidation management system with an application is provided. The application is used to (1) evaluate, with a set of information, an operational capacity of a first print shop to process both a first group of print jobs and a second group of print jobs, (2) evaluate, with the set of information, an operational capacity of the second print shop to process both the first and second groups of print jobs, and (3) use the evaluations of (1) and (2) to consolidate processing of the first and second groups of print jobs at one of first and second print shops. Full Article
stem Vehicle image capture system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST A toll violation enforcement system that contains a capture unit that receives a trigger signal and takes vehicle images of passing vehicles. A lighting unit configured to operate continuously is provided to establish a major lighting source incident on the vehicle. A processing unit is provided that processes the vehicle image and controls the settings employed by the capture unit. The processing unit preferably contains a plate location module for extracting an original resolution license plate area image from a first vehicle image; an exposure control module for controlling the exposure setting on the capture unit to provide consistent intensity of the license plate area; a resolution reset module for changing the image resolution for a second vehicle image; an image enhancement module for brightening pixels of the second vehicle image; and an image compression module for compressing the license plate area image and second vehicle image to a predetermined format. Full Article
stem Newspaper production system and production method for newspaper By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST An object of this invention is to provide a newspaper production system, having the structure of a system that is provided with a supply unit for a continuous web provided at an upstream side of a printing unit for printing on one surface and the other surface of a continuous web, and a processing unit for carrying out cutting and folding processing of a continuous web after printing at a downstream side, by making the area of an installation flat region for the printing unit for printing on one surface and the other surface of a continuous web, having an ink jet printing device group for printing one side of the continuous web and an ink jet printing device group for printing the other side of the paper sheet, small, and with which it is easy for a single person to carry out a newspaper production operation of monitoring the entire system. It is also an object of this invention to provide a newspaper production system and newspaper production method that enables production of a few sizes of a plurality of newspaper pages arranged horizontally as sheets constituting a newspaper by sequentially cutting, and being capable of producing a newspaper formed of various page configurations. Full Article
stem Data processing apparatus, data processing system, method for controlling data processing apparatus, method for adding data converting function, program and medium By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 29 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST A data processing apparatus is monitoring the first port of itself and the second port of itself. If the data processing apparatus receives data via the second port, it conducts a specific process to the data regardless of a data format of the data so as to convert the data into the data format that can be processed regardless of a data format of the data and sends converted data to the first port. Full Article
stem System and method for operating a web printing system to compensate for dimensional changes in the web By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST A method enables changes in the operation of a web printing system in response to web dimensional changes being detected. The method includes identifying a cross-process dimensional change in a web moving through a printing system, comparing the identified cross-process dimensional change to a predetermined threshold, and changing operation of a component in the web printing system in response to the cross-process dimensional change exceeding the predetermined threshold. Full Article
stem Apparatus and system for imaging currency bills and financial documents and method for using the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST Currency bills are received, transported, and imaged to produce image data from which a visually readable image of each currency bill can be reproduced. Each of the currency bills includes a denomination, a serial number, and a set of secondary identifiers. One of the currency bills is determined to be a suspect bill. The suspect bill serial number is attempted to be extracted from the image data associated with the suspect bill. In response to failing to extract a complete serial number of the suspect bill, a serial number field in a suspect report is populated with a serial number snippet image. Full Article
stem For in-field control module for managing wireless seismic data acquisition systems and related methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EDT An exemplary system for managing the deployment of a seismic data acquisition system uses a module configured to execute a plurality of task in the field by receiving one or more seismic devices. The module may include a power source that provides electrical power to the seismic devices. The module may also include a processor programmed to retrieve data stored in the seismic devices, perform diagnostics, facilitate inventory and logistics control, configure seismic devices and update data or pre-programmed instructions in the seismic device. Full Article
stem Printing system and host apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EDT A host apparatus used in a printing system includes the host apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus receives print data and authentication information from the host apparatus so as to perform authentication operation referring to the authentication information. The host apparatus includes: an authentication information obtaining unit configured to obtain login authentication information from an operating system of the host apparatus as the authentication information, wherein the login authentication information obtained from the operating system is one entered when a user logs in to the host apparatus or to a network domain; and an authentication information sending unit configured to send the login authentication information to the image forming apparatus as the authentication information. Full Article
stem System which alternates between displaying and capturing images By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EDT A combined video display and image capture system and method are disclosed. In one embodiment the system alternates between the capture period of the camera (306) and the image display (302) period to isolate the camera (306) from the display (302). Various methods are disclosed to achieve the alternation in the capture and the display periods of the system. Distortions in the captured image can be corrected using an image correction subsystem. Full Article
stem Template-based installation of workflow systems in a print shop environment By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Sep 2013 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods are provided for installing workflow servers for a print shop. One embodiment is a system that installs a workflow server for a print shop. The system accesses installation templates, configured for different categories of print shop, that describe a set of print shop resources expected to exist at the category of print shop. The system also installs workflow server software on a computer system of a print shop. During the installation, the system determines a category for the print shop, selects an installation template that matches the category of the print shop, and performs a dialogue of queries with a user to determine which resources of the set of print shop resources identified by the installation template are available to the print shop, wherein the dialogue excludes queries for print shop resources that are not in the set of print shop resources described by the installation template. Full Article
stem Guide tube, guide tube apparatus, and endoscope system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 08:00:00 EDT A guide tube having a tube; a ciliary portion including many cilia inclined in a longitudinal direction of the tube, provided in an outer peripheral portion of the tube; and a vibration portion provided on the tube for vibrating the ciliary portion so as to move the tube in the longitudinal direction. Full Article
stem Printing system with independently operable printhead service modules By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 08:00:00 EDT A printing system that has a printhead assembly for printing media fed along a media path and a plurality of service modules for the printhead assembly. Each of the service modules is configured to operate in a plurality of different modes and each of the service modules are independently operable. Full Article
stem Essential components for enabling a pervasive wireless digital ecosystem and wireless devices that support the wireless digital ecosystem By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Jan 2014 08:00:00 EST Next generation pervasive wireless ecosystems and mobile information apparatus are herein disclosed and enabling millions of users to migrate to pervasive digital living and enterprise. Wireless communications may include the mobile information apparatus accessing wireless local area network or by direct wireless communication. The mobile information apparatus may include a wireless unit compatible with Bluetooth and/or IEEE802.11. Mobile information apparatus may conduct a local area wireless search within short distances for discovering wireless devices in its vicinity, receive an attribute related to the discovered wireless device, establish secure wireless communication with the discovered wireless device, and transfer or synchronize digital content or applications to/from the discovered wireless device. The discovered wireless device may be other mobile apparatus, wireless televisions, wireless audio devices, wireless speakers, wireless printers, among others, in a digital living room or office. Mobile apparatus may be smart phones, information pads, or laptops with touch sensitive screen interface. Full Article
stem Composite drum for solid ink marking system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EDT A print drum subassembly suitable for ink jet printing applications includes a composite print drum including an outer shell having a wall thickness in a range of about 1.5 mm to about 15 mm and a thermal conductivity greater than about 200 W/m-K disposed around a hollow core having wall thickness in a range of about 4 mm to about 30 mm and a thermal conductivity less than about 10 W/m-K. A radiant heater is arranged within the hollow core and is configured to heat the outer shell without substantially heating the hollow core. Full Article
stem Printer device, temperature adjustment method of printer device, and temperature adjustment system of printer device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT The inside of a housing of a printer device is cooled by the air from a ventilation port and, consequently, the temperature of solder SP on a mask surface supported by a mask holding frame inside the housing can be kept low. Moreover, provided is a mask cover for blocking the air flow from the ventilation port toward the mask, and the drying of the solder SP caused by the wind from the ventilation port is thereby inhibited as a result of the wind from the ventilation port not coming into contact with the solder SP on the mask surface. In this way, the solder SP is cooled while inhibiting the drying of the solder SP and, consequently, it is possible to appropriately inhibit the change in viscosity of the solder SP, and favorable printing can be realized. Full Article
stem Lens holder apparatus and system and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for safely retaining an eye implant lens for transport and access for inspection and use in which a holding apparatus has a chamber for holding a lens. In one embodiment the chamber has a pin on which a lens can be placed and a ramp leading to the pin so that a gripping member can slide up the ramp into proper placement to grip the lens and remove it. The gripper can be configured so that after removing the lens from the holding apparatus, it can be used to implant the lens. Also, a system including the apparatus and a bottle assembly that will hold the apparatus in the bottle. A method for holding an eye implant lens in which a lens is placed in the apparatus which can then be placed in a bottle assembly. Full Article
stem Suction gripper and manipulation system for ophthalmic lenses By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A suction gripper for transferring ophthalmic lenses from a storage cup into a centering cup has a suction head with several suction openings and several suction cups, wherein the suction cups are positioned on a convexly rounded surface. At least some of the suction openings are arranged in the suction cups and at least one suction opening is arranged remote from the suction cups on the suction head. The suction gripper is used in a manipulation system for ophthalmic lenses that encompasses ophthalmic lenses, a storage cup, a centering cup and the suction gripper. Full Article
stem System for lifting, moving and transporting a vehicle via multiple slings connected to a common lifting vertex, and method of retrofitting a vehicle to facilitate lifting By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for lifting a vehicle via multiple slings comprises a vehicle not engineered with structural facility to withstand lifting forces, including a frame which unmodified will deform in response to vertically imposed lifting forces, frame reinforcing elements affixed to the frame at selected locations which are subject to lifting deformation, at least two lifting members at spaced-apart forward frame locations, at least two lifting members at spaced-apart rearward frame locations, and a plurality of elongate slings extending respectively between each lifting member and a common lifting vertex. Each lifting member has an enlarged lower base portion rigidly affixed to the frame and an upper lifting portion. The frame reinforcing elements resist deformation of the frame in response to vertically imposed lifting forces. The enlarged base portions of the lifting members apply forces over a correspondingly enlarged area of the frame and the reinforcing elements without deforming the frame. Full Article
stem Assembling apparatus and production system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT To enable positioning a robot arm and a workpiece with high accuracy while reducing vibrations of a camera. According to the claimed invention for this purpose, a robot station 100 includes a pedestal 103 to which robot arms 101 and 102 are fixed, a camera 106 which images an area including a working area 209 of the pedestal 103, and a booth 104 to which the camera 106 is fixed. The pedestal 103 is fixed to a floor surface, and the booth 104 is fixed to the floor surface without contacting the pedestal 103. The booth 104 is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having a short side parallel to a workpiece conveying direction T and a long side perpendicular to the workpiece conveying direction T in a plan view. In the booth 104, the length of the long side y of the booth 104 is set to not less than the sum of a maximum length by which the robot arms 101 and 102 protrude from the pedestal 103 in a direction perpendicular to the workpiece conveying direction T and the length in the direction perpendicular to the workpiece conveying direction T of the pedestal 103 in a plan view. Full Article
stem Waste scoop containment system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A containment system to safely store a waste scoop includes: an outer receptacle including a bottom surface, at least one side wall, an opening and a first coupling element; an inner receptacle including a bottom surface and at least one side wall housed within the outer receptacle and including an opening, wherein the inner receptacle is removable from the outer receptacle via the opening of the outer receptacle; a scoop assembly including a scoop, a handle, and a lid, wherein the scoop is housed within the inner receptacle and is removable from the inner receptacle via the opening of the inner receptacle; a compartment including a second coupling element for connecting the compartment to the outer receptacle via the first and second coupling elements; and a third and fourth coupling element to secure a planar surface of the lid to cover the opening of the outer receptacle. Full Article
stem Nuclear power plant using nanoparticles in emergency systems and related method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A nuclear power plant with an improved cooling system using nanoparticles in solid or fluid form is provided. The nanoparticles are delivered in locations such as the cold leg accumulator and high and low pressure pumps of an emergency core cooling system. Motor driven valves and pressurization can aid in the delivery. Methods for providing the nanoparticles are also provided. Full Article
stem System, method and apparatus for providing additional radiation shielding to high level radioactive materials By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system, method and apparatus for providing additional radiation shielding to a ventilated cask for holding high level radioactive materials. The invention utilizes a tubular shell that is ancillary to the ventilated cask that circumscribes the ventilated cask to add radiation shielding protection while improving heat removal by natural convective air flow. Because the tubular shell and cask are non-unitary and slidably separable from one another, crane lifting capacity is not affected. In one aspect, the invention is an apparatus for providing additional radiation shielding to a cask holding high level radioactive materials comprising: a tubular shell extending from an open bottom end to an open top end, the tubular shell having an inner surface that forms a cavity about a longitudinal axis; a plurality of primary apertures forming passageways through the tubular shell and circumferentially arranged in a spaced-apart manner about the tubular shell; a plurality of secondary apertures forming passageways through the tubular shell and circumferentially arranged in a spaced-apart manner about the tubular shell; and an annular seal coupled to the tubular shell and extending from the inner surface of the tubular shell; wherein the secondary apertures are located at an axial height above the annular seal and the primary apertures are located at an axial height below the annular seal. Full Article
stem System and method for reclaiming energy from heat emanating from spent nuclear fuel By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a system and method for reclaiming energy from the heat emanating from spent nuclear fuel contained within a canister-based dry storage system. The inventive system and method provides continuous passive cooling of the loaded canisters by utilizing the chimney-effect and reclaims the energy from the air that is heated by the canisters. The inventive system and method, in one embodiment, is particularly suited to store the canisters below-grade, thereby utilizing the natural radiation shielding properties of the sub-grade while still facilitating passive air cooling of the canisters. In another embodiment, the invention focuses on a special arrangement of the spent nuclear fuel within the canisters so that spent nuclear fuel that is hotter than that which is typically allowed to be withdrawn from the spent fuel pools can be used in a dry-storage environment, thereby increasing the amount energy that can be reclaimed. Full Article
stem System for producing electromagnetic radiation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a system for producing electromagnetic radiation with enhancement from a drift tube containing a cylindrical Smith-Purcell structure. The system includes a magnetically insulated linear oscillator. The oscillator includes a cylindrical resonant cavity having a traveling wave electron gun and a cooperating anode. The drift tube is formed of a hollow cylindrical conductive element that is positioned within a resonant cavity of the oscillator. The drift tube includes an inner surface and a pair of ends. The drift tube may be adapted such that the interaction between an electron beam, from the electron gun, passes through the inner space of the drift tube, and the internal grating, so as to produce RF radiation by the Smith-Purcell Effect. Spacing, face angle and shape of the grating, and the energy of the electron beam are determinants of the frequency of the RF radiation. Full Article
stem Method and system for in situ depositon and regeneration of high efficiency target materials for long life nuclear reaction devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Aspects of the invention relate to several methods to deposit and regenerate target materials in neutron generators and similar nuclear reaction devices. In situ deposition and regeneration of a target material reduces tube degradation of the nuclear reaction device and covers impurities on the surface of the target material at the target location. Further aspects of the invention include a method of designing a target to generate neutrons at a high efficiency rate and at a selected neutron energy from a neutron energy spectrum. Full Article
stem Electromagnetic flow regulator, system and methods for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed embodiments include electromagnetic flow regulators for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, nuclear fission reactors, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant, and methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant in a nuclear fission reactor. Full Article
stem System and method for annealing nuclear fission reactor materials By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Illustrative embodiments provide systems, methods, apparatuses, and applications related to annealing nuclear fission reactor materials. Full Article
stem Coolant with dispersed neutron poison micro-particles, used in SCWR emergency core cooling system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a coolant with dispersed neutron poison micro-particles, used in a supercritical water-cooled reactor (SCWR) emergency core cooling system. Since the neutron poison micro-particles are uniformly dispersed in the coolant of the emergency core cooling system for a long period time, their fluidity is not lowered even though the polarity of water is changed in a supercritical state. Therefore, the neutron poison micro-particles absorb neutrons produced from nuclear fission in a nuclear reactor core. Accordingly, the neutron poison micro-particles can be appropriately used as a means for controlling neutrons and stopping a nuclear reactor in the SCWR emergency core cooling system. Full Article
stem Axial power distribution control method, axial power distribution control system and axial power distribution control program By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT This document's object is to provide an axial power distribution control method in which only the control of an axial power distribution in a nuclear reactor with a simple operation with a clear operational target keeps the control of a xenon oscillation, thereby suppressing the xenon oscillation to an extremely small magnitude in advance at the same time. An axial power distribution control method comprises an axial offset calculation step of calculating an axial offset of the current power distribution (AOP) and axial offsets of the power distributions (AOX, AOI) which would give the current xenon and iodine distributions under equilibrium conditions, respectively, based on relative powers (PT, PB) in the upper and lower halves of the nuclear reactor core, a parameter calculation step of calculating parameters (DAOPX, DAOIX), a trajectory display step of displaying a trajectory to plot the parameters (DAOPX, DAOIX) on one and the other axis, respectively, an allowable range excess judgment step of judging if the axial offset of the current power distribution (AOP) exceeds an allowable range, an alarming step of giving the alarm when the AOP exceeds the allowable range, and a control rod moving step of controlling the movement of control rods to guide the plot to the major axis of an ellipse formed by the trajectory of said parameters upon receipt of the alarm. Full Article
stem Emergency core cooling system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An emergency core cooling system is provided with a hybrid safety system composed of an active safety system and a static safety system for ensuring the safety against a severe natural phenomenon such as a giant earthquake and a mega hurricane. An emergency core cooling system for a boiling water reactor includes four safety divisions in total: three safety divisions for an active safety system having a high pressure reactor core cooling system, a low pressure reactor core cooling system, a residual heat removal system, and an emergency diesel generator; and one safety division for a static safety system having an isolation condenser, a gravity drop reactor core cooling system, and a static containment vessel cooling system. Full Article
stem Method and system for inertial confinement fusion reactions By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a system for extracting energy from inertial confinement fusion reactions, which includes a central target chamber for receiving fusion target material. A plurality of energy drivers are arranged around the target chamber so as to supply energy to fusion target material in the chamber to initiate an inertial confinement fusion reaction of the material, releasing energy in the forms of fusion plasma and heat. A plurality of structures for extracting energy from the fusion reaction are provided, and comprise devices to extract high voltage DC energy from the fusion plasma, and means to extract thermal energy from the central target chamber. Power to the energy drivers may be supplied from high voltage DC energy extracted from the fusion reactions. The energy drivers may use an apodizing filter to impart a desired shape to the wavefront of the driving energy for causing the fusion reactions, to avoid hydrodynamic instabilities. Full Article
stem Thermal target system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A thermal signal generating device, including at least two parallel buss bars operable for carrying a current and a heating element having at least a first region and a second region. The heating element includes a plurality of horizontal traces and a plurality of vertical traces. Widths of each of the plurality of horizontal and vertical traces may be greater in a first region of the heating element than in a second region of the heating element, allowing for a gradient heat differential to be emitted by the heating element. Full Article
stem Ball ejection system and method for wheel games By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A ball ejection system for a roulette game is provided. The system includes a roulette wheel including a plurality of slots, at least one sensor, at least one ejector element, and a first driving mechanism. Each slot is defined by side walls and a bottom surface. Each bottom surface further includes an opening. The at least one sensor is position within each of the plurality of slots and are configured to emit a signal when detecting a ball within the slot. The ejector element is positioned below the roulette and includes at least one air blower. The air blower is configured to blow air circumferentially around the roulette wheel due to the detection of a ball on one of the sensors. Finally, the first driving mechanism is in communication with the at least one ejector element and configured to cause the initiation of the at least one air blower. Full Article
stem Target positioning systems and methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The system includes a rotation disengagement mechanism configured to disengage a rotatable shaft from a powered drive unit such that upon disengagement the powered drive unit is no longer able to rotate the shaft. After disengagement, the rotatable shaft may reengage the powered drive unit at only one rotational position relative to the rotation disengagement mechanism. A target coupled to the shaft is thus always in a known home position. The systems and methods further comprise smart positioning logic that assigns a number designation to four rotational orientations spaced 90° from one another. Full Article
stem Rotational motion dice game system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A rotational motion dice game system is provided. The system includes a circular surface centered around a central vertical axis. Then, a first driving mechanism is connected to the circular surface and configured to move between a first position and a second position along the central vertical axis. A ring surface is positioned above the circular surface and configured for rotational motion around the central vertical axis. A plurality of bumpers is arranged in a circumference along the ring surface. Finally, a controller is connected to the first driving mechanism and configured to cause the movement of the driving mechanism from the first position to the second position, further causing the movement of the circular surface from the first position to the second position in order to cause the movement of at least one die residing on the circular surface. Full Article
stem Card disposal system for table game By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A card disposal system for a table game is provided that is capable of assuring the disposal of all of cards corresponding to a predetermined number of decks that are used at a game table without any deficiency and without any fraudulent diversion being made over such cards. A card disposal system for a table game of the present invention includes a discharge opening (4) for disposal of cards (3) after a game, a disposed card receiving board (5) for receiving the cards 3 from the discharge opening (4), a disposed card information acquiring means (6) that acquires information on the number (rank) of the card 3 placed in the discharge opening (4), a group information acquiring means (7) that acquires group information of the card (3) disposed of, a card counter (8) serving as a number counting means that counts the number of cards (3) that are placed in the discharge opening (4) for disposal, a deck examination means (13) that determines whether cards (3h) to be disposed of includes all the cards within a predetermined number of decks, for example, 416 cards in case of 8 decks (52 cards×8 decks), and an output means (10) that outputs a result of the determination. With the card disposal system, a void hole is made on the card to be disposed of, and the disposal of all the cards without any deficiency and without any fraudulent diversion being made over such cards is assured. Full Article
stem Projectile target system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to one aspect of the present invention, a projectile target is disclosed comprising a target having a substantially sealed chamber having a front face and a rear face with an enclosing side wall disposed intermediate. The front and rear faces are formed by membranes configured to allow a projectile to pass therethrough and then substantially seal to maintain the substantially sealed chamber. Pressure wave sensors are disposed within the chamber and are configured to detect pressure waves created by the projectile. A target controller receives signals from the pressure sensors indicative of the pressure sensed by the sensors and determines an impact point of the projectile on the front face of the target. Full Article
stem Reusable card-based gaming system and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for gaming, comprising a card reader system for reading card data from a game card associated with a player. An instant win game system for associating an instant win game entry with the card data. A jackpot game system for associating a jackpot game entry with the card data. Full Article