Recent Patents on Engineering - Volume 17, Issue 4, 2023

This editorial presents the recent advances and challenges of deep learning. We reviewed four main challenges: heterogeneity, copious size, reproducibility crisis, and explainability. Finally, we present the prospect of deep learning in industrial applications.

Background: Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) provide an opportunity to take advantage of wind power in a variety of places unfit for traditional horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT). Despite suffering from a lower efficiency in ideal conditions, other key advantages of vertical axis turbines still give them the ability to outperform traditional wind turbines, especially in urban, low-wind, and turbulent areas around the world. Objective: The purpose of this paper was to conduct a state-of-the-art patent search to analyze recent technological advancements in VAWT designs and deliver an overview of significant patents within this particular field of technology. Methods: An extensive patent search was performed to determine patents issued in the United States pertaining to the design innovation of VAWTs. The research implements an empirical approach to inspect patent information and qualitative analysis of the appropriate patents published in VAWT technology. Results: The patent search returned 506 total patents with almost 64% of advancements made in the past ten years, but with limited advancements made within the last 5 years. This article reviews sixteen patent publications since 2010 that highlight the most distinctive VAWT designs. Conclusion: Although progress has stalled over the last 5 years, VAWTs remain a plausible solution for many different environments and non-traditional implementations. While HAWTs have proved to be more efficient, the versatility of reviewed VAWT designs creates a new and untapped potential for wind as a renewable energy source.

The primary use of human-computer interaction is in the smart home as well as in industry 4.0. Communication between computers and humans can be benefitted from a spontaneous interchange of emotions. The objective of the work is to provide an idea regarding the process of identifying various emotions using facial electromyography signals through the electrode placement method. Here, one contemplated the facial electromyography on masticatory function assessment and emotional articulation monitoring. Furthermore, we have also presented the measurement of facial electromyography including the selection of electrode, location of the electrode, and reduction of noise. Facial emotions have a significant effect on the cognitive process of the human brain such as doubt perception, ability to solve problems, learning capabilities, emotional interactions, and memory which is beneficial while interacting with patients suffering from depression and stress. Through the use of rehabilitation applications, patients are directed through their recovery process while becoming accustomed to their emotional state or wellbeing, which has the dual effect of boosting motivation and accelerating recovery. This review paper will motivate and inspire researchers and engineers for finding more suitable systems for various applications.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2015, which are defined to achieve an improved and more sustainable future, promote safe and affordable drinking water facilities for all, till 2030. The rural and remotely placed population worldwide faces the problem of a shortage of pathogen- free drinking water due to the huge capital and maintenance costs involved in water purification. The current chemical disinfection treatment which is widely used for water disinfection has several disadvantages including the formation of Disinfection By-Products (DBPs). Electrochlorination is one of the best alternatives as per the literature that can be installed as a decentralized system in a remote location and can overcome most of the issues related to chemical disinfection. The present paper provides an overview of the innovations in the area of electro-chlorination as a disinfection technique through a detailed patent analysis. The patenting activity and publications are considered an indicator of research and innovation in the field. The patent analysis is also supported by literature analysis for understanding the research trends and the extent of research in the area. The patent data from the year 2000 to 2021 are analyzed country-wise and year-wise. The paper also discusses the IPC, CPC codes, assignees, investors, US class codes, patents types, and citations analysis for the patents in the field of electro-chlorination and DBPs. The keywords used for patent analysis are ‘Electro- chlorination’ and ‘Water’ and ‘Disinfection’ and ‘Disinfection by Products’.

With the development of machine tools for high precision and high automation, the problem of thermal deformation has become very prominent. As the spindle speed, feed rate, and effective working time of CNC machine tools are much higher than those of ordinary machine tools, the influence of heat generation and thermal deformation of machine tools on machining accuracy is far greater than that of ordinary machine tools. High-efficiency, high-precision processing machine tools, and CNC machine tools require high accuracy and stability. Therefore, the design and manufacturing of CNC machine tools must fully consider the impact of thermal deformation on machining accuracy and take corresponding measures. The cooling of the CNC machine tools can improve the machining efficiency of the machine tools, the quality of parts processing, and the service life of the CNC machine tools. Various representative patents and papers on the cooling of CNC machine tools at home and abroad have been reviewed. By summarizing a large number of patents and papers on the cooling of CNC machine tools, the cooling methods and methods of CNC machine tools, the recovery, and treatment of coolant are analyzed, and the development trend of CNC machine tools is discussed. The improvement of the CNC machine tools cooling system has a great impact on improving machining accuracy, efficiency, and stability. Therefore, more patents on CNC machine tool cooling systems will emerge in the future.

Background: The internal structure of a high-speed motorized spindle is compact, and a large amount of heat is generated in the process of high-speed operation, which causes thermal deformation of the parts. The thermal characteristics of the motorized spindle become worse when the temperature increases, which seriously affects its machining accuracy. Objectives: This paper studies the thermal error prevention method and thermal error modeling compensation method of the motorized spindle, and introduces the measures to suppress thermal errors, the optimization method of temperature measurement points, and the theoretical method of thermal error modeling. Methods: The advantages and disadvantages of various thermal error suppression methods are reviewed by comparing the literature related to the thermal error of the motorized spindle. Results: This paper reviews the thermal error suppression methods, and discusses the prospect and development direction of the thermal error suppression of the motorized spindle. Conclusion: High-speed motorized spindle is the core component of CNC machine tools, reducing thermal deformation can greatly improve machining accuracy. The thermal error can be reduced by optimizing the design of the structure of the key parts of thermal deformation, using a comprehensive thermal error prediction model, and improving the ability of the thermal error prediction model to maintain accuracy for a long time.

Background: A vascular stent is a kind of internal stent implanted in the lesion segment when the vessel is stenosis or pathologically expanded, but thee will be stenosis complications in the long term after stent implantation. Therefore, the ideal vascular stent material should have good tissue and blood compatibility, which is the key to controlling the stent in the occurrence of stenosis. Besides, it should have good biodegradability, non-toxicity, and good mechanical properties. It should be smooth and flexible enough, and the stent should have good compliance when implanted in the human body. It should also have biological properties and physiological characteristics that are close to normal blood vessels to ensure that cells can be well attached and grown to avoid any adverse immune exclusion or post-metabolism. The resulting undesirable products should be widely available and inexpensive and can be produced on a large scale to meet different clinical needs. Objective: To solve the long-term complications of stenosis after vascular stent placement, the vascular stent material and its preparation have been continuously optimized and improved. Methods: A review of various representative patents and papers on vascular stent materials and their preparation at home and abroad are reviewed. Results: By summarizing a large number of vascular stent materials and their preparation patents and papers, the preparation methods of vascular stents, the optimization of preparation methods, the performance of vascular stents, and the development trend of vascular stent materials and their preparation are discussed. Conclusion: The preparation method of the vascular stent material and the optimization of the structure are beneficial to improving the performance of the vascular stent material. More related patents and papers will appear in the future.

Background: Friction and wear of machine parts seriously affect the service life and efficiency. The assessment of the friction and wear characteristics of parts is important in the mechanical industry. The mechanism of friction and wear is complex. Thus, there is no systematic theory on friction and wear so far. The friction and wear characteristics of materials or parts must be examined through tests. Thus, friction and wear tester plays an important role in tribological research. The functionality and accuracy of the tester are crucial for testing. Objective: This study summarizes the current development status of the friction and wear testers, and explains the development trend of friction and wear testers. Methods: This article reviews various representative patents on friction and wear tester. The friction and wear testers are classified. The characteristics of different detection methods are analyzed, and the problems existing in the current development are summarized and analyzed. Results: The advantages and disadvantages of the related patents of the existing friction and wear testers are analyzed. It is found that there are main problems, such as low detection accuracy, low efficiency, and incomplete functions. The development trend of friction and wear tester is expected in the future. Conclusion: The optimization and progress of friction and wear testers are conducive to improving the wear resistance of materials, the service life of parts, and the working accuracy of machines. In the future, more friction and wear testers will be invented.