Document Document Title
US09073180B2 Quick release structure of woodworking clamp
A quick release structure for a woodworking clamp, which has a clamp body slidingly connected to the transverse rod, and the securing chuck having a securing rod disposed through a securing hole of the transverse rod. One side of the securing chuck is formed with an accommodating portion, both sides of the accommodating portion are connected to a quick release element, a positioning shaft respectively is disposed on the quick release element, the positioning shaft is placed through the shaft aperture; an outer surface of the quick release element is provided with a pressing portion. When the quick release element is connected into the accommodating portion, by compressing the elastic element, the securing rod is driven to release from the securing hole. When the pressing portion is not pressed, the elastic element bounces back to retract the quick release element to secure the securing chuck onto the transverse rod.
US09073178B1 Abrasive element including low thermal expansion constituent
In an embodiment, an abrasive element is disclosed. The abrasive element includes an abrasive body having a plurality of superabrasive grains, and at least one interstitial material interstitially disposed within the plurality of superabrasive grains. The at least one interstitial material exhibits a negative coefficient of thermal expansion over a selected temperature range.
US09073169B2 Feedback control of polishing using optical detection of clearance
A method of controlling polishing includes polishing a first substrate having an overlying layer on an underlying layer or layer structure. During polishing, the substrate is monitored with an in-situ monitoring system to generate a sequence of measurements. The measurements are sorted into groups, each group associated with a different zone of a plurality of zones on the substrate. For each zone, a time at which the overlying layer is cleared is determined based on the measurements from the associated group. At least one second adjusted polishing pressure for at least zone is calculated based on a pressure applied in the at least one zone during polishing the substrate, the time for the at least one zone, and the time for another zone. A second substrate is polished using the at least one adjusted polishing pressure.
US09073162B2 Method and apparatus for cutting a mill plate
A cutting device for a mill plate including a cutting tool supported for movement in a Y-direction and cutting in a Z-direction, and a conveyor for conveying a mill plate in the X-direction. A measuring device is movable in the X-direction along one side of a mill plate supported on the conveyor to map the X-axis and Y-axis positions of the mill plate one side. Positioning guides adjacent one side of the conveyor are adjusted in the Y-direction to follow the mapped Y-axis position of the mill plate one side at the X-axis position of the mill plate one side aligned with the positioning guides as the mill plate is conveyed in the X-direction. A clamp on the side opposite the mill plate one side is adapted to push the mill plate opposite side in the Y-direction to maintain the mill plate one side in engagement with the positioning guides.
US09073144B2 Method for joining two bars end-on by means of electron beam welding
A method for joining a first bar end-on to a second bar by means of electron beam welding at a welding point is provided. The method includes the following steps, aligning the two bars with each other along a longitudinal axis, applying a sleeve, which surrounds the welding point in the circumferential direction with respect to the longitudinal axis, welding at the welding point by means of electron beam welding, wherein an electron beam welding apparatus is made to pass along an advancing direction, along in relation to a surface of the sleeve and along the welding point, and removing the sleeve.
US09073141B2 Electrode for plasma cutting torches and use of same
The invention relates to an electrode for plasma torches for plasma cutting and to a use of the electrode for said plasma torch. The electrode in accordance with the invention for plasma cutting torches is formed from an electrode holder and from an emission insert which are connected to one another in a force-fitted and/or shape-matched manner. The emission insert has at least one section along its longitudinal axis which is arranged between two other sections or next to a section which has a reduced outer diameter in a rotationally symmetrical design of the emission insert or has a reduced cross-sectional surface in a non-rotationally symmetrical emission insert with respect to the other section(s).
US09073133B1 Key blank and carrier adapted for positioning a key blank in a cutter during bit cutting
Implementations of key blank carriers or key blanks with a standard reference features may include alignment features on a key blank head, key blank tip, a key blank carrier coupled to a key blank sleeve and/or a key blank sleeve, and any feature directly attached to any portion of the key that may be used for referencing in the key duplication system, or any combination of these. The standard reference features may allow any key blank brand model to interface with the machine so as to consistently align each key, regardless of its make and model, for cutting in a universally configured key blank clamp that is clamped to reduce the movement of the key blank during duplication cutting.
US09073132B2 PCD milling cutter for lens processing
Disclosed is a PCD milling cutter for lens processing. The PCD milling cutter includes a shaft having one axial end portion rotatably coupled with a driving unit of a milling unit for lens processing, a rotary head coupled with the axial end portion of the shaft and having a plurality of installation protrusions which protrude outward along a circumference thereof about a rotation center and have outer circumferential surfaces rounded in an axial direction of the shaft, and a plurality of PCD tips coupled with installation surfaces of the installation protrusions positioned in a rotation direction, provided at outer end portions thereof with rounded cutting blades sharply processed in the axial direction of the shaft, and provided in inner end portions thereof, which are opposite to the cutting blades, with cutting grooves formed in a concave shape to increase a welding force.
US09073128B2 Drilling tool
The invention relates to a drilling tool (1) comprising a support shank (2) and an interchangeable cutting insert (3) which is fitted to the support shank (2) and which has an asymmetrical main lip (15) divided into a guide lip (10) having a supporting land (12) and a guide land (23) trailing the supporting land (12), and into a clearance lip (13) having a trailing clearance portion (14), wherein a guide land (28) and a supporting land (29) are formed on the lateral surface of the support shank (2) and continuously extend the guide land (23) and the supporting land (12), respectively, on the cutting insert (3) and additionally guide the drilling tool (1) on the inner wall of a drill hole during a drilling operation.
US09073124B2 Setting mechanism for a settable tool holder adaptor, and tool adaptor
A setting mechanism for a settable tool holder adapter includes a differential screw having two thread portions of differing pitch but identical direction of hand and a pressure piece having a pressure piece thread. One of the thread portions of the differential screw is screwed into the thread of the pressure piece.
US09073123B2 Housing vents
Housing vent techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a molding process is used to form a housing of a computing device that includes a plurality of ribs disposed within an internal surface of the housing. A cutting operation is performed to an outer surface of the housing that is opposite to the internal surface to remove material of the housing between the plurality of ribs to form one or more vents that are configured to permit air to pass between an interior and exterior of the housing.
US09073118B2 Air bearing mold handler
The mold handler includes a mold closer mechanism that supports the cope and drag halves and effects movement in a closing direction whereby cope and drag halves are moved into mating alignment with one another. The cope and drag halves are with respective alignment structures that mediate the mating alignment of cope and drag halves as they are moved into mating alignment with one another. An air bearing mechanism that supports at least one of said cope and drag halves permits low friction lateral movement in a plane perpendicular to the closing direction to thereby adjust the relative positional relationship of cope and drag by interaction of the alignment structures.
US09073113B2 Method for seaming can cover
This method for clinching a can cover has a small diameter center panel formed from a center panel, ring-shaped reinforcing groove, chuck wall, and curled part in which the ratio of the center panel diameter and can cover diameter is 0.65-0.75. The chuck wall is provided with a first inclined part and a second inclined part that are inclined toward the outside. When a flange tip part of a can body and the curled part of the can cover are superimposed in a virtual horizontal plane, a lower end part of the second inclined part or a second curved part that connects the first inclined part and second inclined part is positioned in a position in a range of an angle of 0°-35° to a virtual horizontal plane passing through the center of the curve of a rounded part of the flange.
US09073104B2 Drill cuttings treatment systems
Generally, the present disclosure is related to systems and methods for separating hydrocarbons and/or other liquids from drill cuttings material. One illustrative embodiment disclosed herein is directed to a system that includes, among other things, a thermal reactor that is adapted to remove liquid from drill cuttings material by heating the drill cuttings material to at least a first temperature that is sufficiently high enough to vaporize the liquid. The illustrative system also includes a feeder system that is adapted to controllably feed a flow of the drill cuttings material to the thermal reactor, and a control system that is adapted to control the flow of the drill cuttings material from the feeder system so as to maintain a temperature in the thermal reactor at or above the first temperature.
US09073101B2 Method and apparatus for unplugging hydrocarbon drains or vents
Embodiments of an apparatus can be used for unplugging a component of a hydrocarbon transportation or storage unit. Embodiments can include a main body, which can have a central passage through a length of the main body; a secondary passage transverse to the central passage; and a connector end operable to connect the body to the component. Embodiments of the apparatus can also include a valve in fluid communication with the secondary passage, a pressure gauge in fluid communication with the valve, a system connector in fluid communication with the valve, operable to connect the apparatus to a dosed system, and a poker rod operable to move within the central passage of the main body.
US09073089B2 Ore screening panel
A modular screening panel in which the apertures in the screening surface extend through the surface and the shape of the aperture parallel the plane of the panel surface varies with the depth of the aperture so that as the surface wears the visible shape of the aperture changes. The apertures can be any convenient shape at the surface but at the depth which means the worn panel needs replacing the shape is distinctly different to the shape of the apertures in a new or partly worn panel.
US09073087B2 Injector mechanism
The invention employs a particle separation mechanism utilizing a generally circular passage using an air flow for the separation of particles. Ideally, within the passage is a conduit employing a hollow winding. Particles are introduced through an input end and drawn through the winding portion forcing, through centrifugal force, the particles to press against the exterior surface of the winding. Openings in the winding allow the particles to be flung from the winding into the circular passage either directly or via feed tubes.
US09073083B2 Process and seal coat for improving paint adhesion
Aqueous compositions useful as pretreatments prior to painting and to reduce the formation of rust in the uncoated condition consist essentially of water, an organo-functional silane, a compound of a Group IV-B element, and optionally a polyvinyl alcohol, stabilizing agents, wetting agents, thickeners, and biocides, and have an alkaline pH>7. A process for treating a metal surface includes contacting the surface with such an aqueous composition. The compositions and processes were found to have further benefits in comparison to the zinc phosphate metal pretreatment thought to be the standard in the industry. Preferably, the pH of the compositions is alkaline, which has been found to improve the efficacy of a silane as a surface treatment to improve uniformity of paint adhesion. By operating in the alkaline pH range, it was found that flash rusting and/or blush rust were significantly reduced.
US09073082B2 Method for producing homogeneously matted coatings by radiation curing
The present invention relates to a method for producing matt and scratch-resistant coatings that takes place under exposure to actinic radiation on coating systems containing activated double bonds under radical polymerization.
US09073080B2 Discharge device for a liquid
A discharge device for liquids, which includes a pump chamber that is limited by two valves, which in each case include a valve body section and a valve seat. Channels are arranged concentrically and a fixing region of a valve body of one or of both valves is attached to an intermediate wall between the channels.
US09073078B2 Member joint and spray nozzle unit using the same
A member joint, in which a great rotating force is inevitably transmitted to a union nut connecting two members at the time of relatively rotating both the members, is structured such as to reliably carry out corotation prevention of the union nut, without complicating fixation of the nut and releasing of the fixation and without causing enlargement in size and deterioration of durability of a connecting portion. In a member joint (10) connecting a first member (1) and a second member (2) by pinching a flange (6) provided in the second member (2) with respect to the first member (1) by a union nut (3), an outer periphery of the first member (1) is provided with a projection (7) having a leading surface (7a) and a trailing surface (7b), a lock ring (4) is rotatably attached to an open leading end portion of the union nut (3), an inner periphery of the lock ring (4) is provided with a lock pawl (9) which can pass over the projection (7) by being elastically deformed, the union nut (3) is provided with a pinching piece (8) which is engaged with the lock pawl (9), and a leading end side of the lock pawl (9) is pinched between the pinching piece (8) and the trailing surface (7b) when the union nut (3) screwed into a screwing end point rotates by itself in a loosening direction, whereby loosening of the union nut (3) is prevented.
US09073065B2 Cyclone device for separating sticky material from gas stream
A cyclone device for separating a sticky material from a gas stream, comprising a tin body; an introducing tube, connected to the tin body and arranged on a facet of the tin body; a central exhaust pipe, arranged within the tin body on a top position thereof, a conical tin connected to a bottom of the tin body at one end and having a particle discharging exit at the other end; a supporting wheel set, arranged within the tin body and adjacent to an end of the conical tin; and a scraping mechanism arranged movably on the supporting wheel set.
US09073063B2 Liquid treatment system
A liquid treatment system using gas flotation to separate suspended matter from liquid influent, including a flotation tank into which the liquid influent is fed through an inlet, an outlet conduit through which treated effluent is fed from the flotation tank, a separation conduit for feeding liquid to a bubble release point, means for pressurising the liquid in the separation conduit and dissolving gas in the pressurised liquid, wherein an energy recovery device is used for reducing pressure of the liquid before the bubble release point such that gas bubbles are released into the flotation tank for floating said suspended matter to a surface of the liquid in the tank, and wherein the energy recovery device supplies energy obtained through said pressure reduction of the liquid.
US09073061B2 Heat stabilized composite filter media and method of making the filter media
Composite filter media which are highly resistant to thermal degradation and retain filter efficiency and extended lifetime in high temperature environments are disclosed. Methods of making the filter media are also disclosed. A composite filter media for removal of particles from a gas stream includes a layer of a porous polymeric membrane, the layer having an upstream side and a downstream side relative to the direction of the gas stream; and at least one layer of an electrostatic microfiber web containing an antioxidant in an amount ranging from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight; the at least one layer of microfiber web disposed on the upstream side of the porous polymeric membrane layer.
US09073049B2 Adsorbents for the recovery of catalyst from block co-polymer process and method for regenerating of the same
Provided is a process for isolating a catalyst from a solution having a copolymer and a catalyst dissolved therein, after performing copolymerization with the catalyst. More specifically the invention provides selection and application of an adsorbent to be used for the isolation.
US09073048B2 Exhaust gas-purifying catalyst and method of manufacturing the same
An exhaust gas-purifying catalyst whose activity is less prone to be decreased even in the case where used in a high-temperature atmosphere containing oxygen at a high concentration can be realized. The catalytic layer of the catalyst includes an oxide particle, a simple oxide of alkaline-earth element or rare-earth element, and alumina and/or aluminum hydroxide. The oxide particle contains an oxide of rare-earth element and/or zirconium, a composite oxide and a precious metal. The composite oxide contains an alkaline-earth element and at least one of the rare-earth element and zirconium. The composite oxide and a part of the precious metal form a solid solution.
US09073046B2 Catalyst and process for oxychlorination of ethylene to dichloroethane
In an oxychlorination process of the type where ethylene is converted to 1,2-dichloroethane in the presence of a supported copper catalyst, the improvement comprising: the use of a supported catalyst prepared by (i) impregnating, within a first step, an alumina support with a first aqueous solution including copper, an alkaline earth metal, and an alkali metal to thereby form a first catalyst component; and (ii) impregnating, within a subsequent step, the first catalyst component with a second aqueous solution including copper and alkaline earth metal, where the second aqueous solution is substantially devoid of alkali metal, to thereby form the supported catalyst.
US09073044B2 Exhaust gas purifying catalyst and production method thereof
An object is to maintain an effect of enhancing activity of noble metal particles by transition metal without increasing production cost and an environmental load.An exhaust gas purifying catalyst 1 is composed of: noble metal particles 2; first compounds 3 which contact the noble metal particles 2 and suppress movement of the noble metal particles 2; and second compounds 4 which contain the noble metal particles 2 and the first compounds 3, suppress the movement of the noble metal particles 2, and suppress coagulation of the first compounds 3 following mutual contact of the first compounds 3, wherein the first compounds 3 support the noble metal particles 2, and simplexes or aggregates of the first compounds 3 supporting the noble metal particles 2 are included in section partitioned by the second compounds 4.
US09073040B2 Water-absorbent polymer particles
The present invention relates to a process for producing water-absorbent polymer particles by polymerizing droplets of a monomer solution in a surrounding heated gas phase and flowing the gas cocurrent through the polymerization chamber, wherein the temperature of the gas leaving the polymerization chamber is 130° C. or less, the gas velocity inside the polymerization chamber is at least 0.5 m/s, and the droplets are generated by using a droplet plate having a multitude of bores.
US09073035B2 Catalyst and catalyst carrier
The carrier of the present invention includes at least 85 wt percent alpha alumina, at least 0.06 wt percent SiO2 and no more than 0.04 wt percent Na2O. The carrier has a water absorption no greater than 0.35 g/g and a ratio of water absorption (g/g) to surface area (m2/g) no greater than 0.50 g/m2. Another aspect of the invention is a catalyst for the epoxidation of olefins which comprises the above described carrier and silver dispersed thereon, where the carrier has a monomodal, bimodal or multimodal pore distribution and where the quantity of silver is between 5 and 50 wt %, relative to the weight of the catalyst. A reactor system for the epoxidation of olefins is also disclosed.
US09073033B2 Methods and compositions for processing chemical reactions
Disclosed herein are compositions, methods and systems for the processing of chemical reactions, such as the synthesis of polymers.
US09073032B2 System, apparatus, and methods for disposal of fluid wastes
A system may facilitate recovery and solidification of a fluid waste during its transfer into a transportable bulk container. The system comprises: (i) a metered supply of a solidifying agent; (ii) a metered supply of a bulking material, (iii) apparatus for commingling the metered supplies of solidifying agent and bulking material, and (iv) a tee apparatus having a first port for engaging and receiving the fluid waste, a second port for engaging and receiving a commingled supply of a mixing agent and a bulking material, and a third port for discharging the fluid waste and commingled mixing agent and bulking material.
US09073030B2 Apparatuses and risers for reacting feedstock in the presence of catalyst and methods for installing baffles in risers
Embodiments of apparatuses and risers for reacting a feedstock in the presence of a catalyst and methods for installing a baffle in such risers are provided. In one example, a riser comprises a sidewall that defines a cylindrical housing surrounding an interior. A plurality of baffle assemblies is releasably coupled to the sidewall and each comprises a baffle section. The baffle sections together define a segmented baffle ring extending inwardly in the interior.
US09073028B2 Liner-based liquid storage and dispensing systems with empty detection capability
Fluid supply systems for storage and dispensing of chemical reagents and compositions, e.g., high purity liquid reagents and chemical mechanical polishing compositions used to manufacture microelectronic device products, having capability for detection of an empty or near-empty condition when the contained liquid is at or approaching depletion during dispensing operation. Fluid delivery systems employing empty detect arrangements are described, including pressure transducer monitoring of dispensed material intermediate the supply package and a servo-hydraulic dispense pump, or monitoring of dispenser chamber replenishment times in a dispenser being replenished on a cyclic schedule to flow material from the dispenser to a downstream tool utilizing the dispensed material.
US09073026B2 Apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids
An apparatus for dispensing a plurality of fluids, comprising a support, such as a turntable or a linear table, a plurality of containers for holding a fluid and mounted on the support, pumps and valves connected to respective containers, at least a common actuator for sequentially operating the pumps and a common actuator for sequentially operating the valves to dispense fluid and a drive mechanism for moving the support, and thus the containers, pumps, and valves on the one hand and the actuator on the other relative to each other. The common actuators for sequentially operating the pumps and valves and optionally the drive mechanism for relative motion of the support are integrated in a module, which module is releasably mounted in the apparatus.
US09073023B2 Mixing in a container of content having a base component and a component to be mixed
A mixing process, a spraying and dispersing device, and a mixing device for implementing the process. In the process, components are introduced into a container equipped with introduction elements and mixing elements and the contents are mixed. A mixing facilitator is provided, a spraying and dispersing device that can be connected to the container at one of its introduction element is provided, able to be in an active functional state in which it makes it possible to spray and to disperse a liquid in the container, and then, in a first phase, the base of the contents and then the components to be mixed are introduced into the container, without filling the latter, and in a second phase, the mixing facilitator is introduced into the container via an introduction element, and it is sprayed and dispersed to the components to be mixed by the spraying and dispersing device that is put into the active functional state.
US09073013B2 Separation membrane, hydrogen separation membrane including separation membrane, and device including hydrogen separation membrane
A separation membrane including: an alloy including a Group 5 element, Fe, and Al, wherein the alloy includes a body-centered cubic lattice structure.
US09073011B2 Systems and methods for diesel oxidation catalyst with decreased SO3 emissions
A diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) catalytic converter for at least the conversion of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, removal of a fraction of particulate matter, and decrease of sulfur trioxide emissions within exhaust gases from an engine and consequently of sulfuric acid, is disclosed. The DOC may include any suitable configuration including at least a substrate and a washcoat, where the substrate has a plurality of channels, suitable porosity, offers a three-dimensional support for the washcoat, and is made of any suitable material. The washcoat may be deposited on the substrate by any suitable method, and may include a mixture of at least one or more carrier material oxides and one or more catalysts. Suitable materials for the carrier material oxides may include titanium dioxide, tin dioxide, and zirconium dioxide, among others, excluding aluminum oxide (Al2O3), which may serve for a decrease of sulfur trioxide emissions and consequently of sulfuric acid mist. Suitable catalysts within the washcoat may include platinum, palladium, rhodium, and iridium, among others.
US09073004B2 Carbon dioxide separation apparatus
There is provided a moving bed type CO2 separation apparatus that is capable of achieving steady recovery of CO2, and that is energy-efficient. An adsorbent hopper that supplies a CO2 adsorbent of a moving bed to an adsorption tower that adsorbs CO2 from a treatment-target gas is provided. Below the adsorption tower, a moving bed-type regeneration tower for regenerating the CO2 adsorbent having adsorbed CO and a moving bed-type drying tower that dries the regenerated CO2 adsorbent are provided. Desorption-purpose steam generated from the drying tower is supplied to the regeneration tower. By allowing the desorption-purpose steam to be condensed on the CO2 adsorbent, CO2 is desorbed from the CO2 adsorbent. Thus, CO2 adsorbent forming a moving bed is used in a circulating manner through the CO2 separation apparatus, and the energy used for drying the condensed water contained in the CO2 adsorbent is used for desorbing CO2.
US09073003B2 System and method for collecting carbon dioxide utilizing dielectric heating
A system for collecting carbon dioxide from a process gas including an adsorbent material for adsorbing carbon dioxide molecules from the process gas, a dielectric heater proximate the adsorbent material, and a vessel having an internal volume enclosing the adsorbent material and, optionally, the dielectric heater.
US09073000B2 Segmented reactors for carbon dioxide capture and methods of capturing carbon dioxide using segmented reactors
A reactor for adsorbing CO2 from a fluid stream includes a reactor housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The reactor also includes an inlet ceramic honeycomb structure and an outlet ceramic honeycomb structure positioned inside the reactor housing. The inlet and outlet ceramic honeycomb structures have a plurality of partition walls extending in an axial direction thereby forming a plurality of flow channels and comprises a material that forms bonds with CO2 to adsorb the CO2. The inlet ceramic honeycomb structure is capable of adsorbing an inlet quantity of CO2 and the outlet ceramic honeycomb structure is capable of adsorbing an outlet quantity of CO2. The inlet quantity of CO2 is greater than the outlet quantity of CO2.
US09072997B2 Substrate with sinuous web and particulate filter incorporating the same
Described herein is a substrate including a central longitudinal axis, a first support web, and a second support web. A sinuous web may be positioned between the first support web and the second support web. The sinuous web may include transverse web portions and bridging web portions, where the bridging web portions alternatively connect ends of adjacent transverse web portions. The sinuous web may be connected to the first support web by support legs extending between bridging web portions and a surface of the first support web. The sinuous web may be connected to the second support web by support legs extending between bridging web portions and a surface of the second support web. A support leg length to distance between transverse web portions ratio may be from about 1.0 to about 4.0.
US09072995B2 Biofilter
A biofilter (1) having filter media (7) in a stowage space (5) having sidewalls and a bottom, inlet opening (15) for the unpurified gases/air and the stowage space (5) is made of flexible gas-tight material filled at least partly with the filter media (7). A biofilter system having two or more biofilters (1) is also described.
US09072991B2 Conductive filter media
The above objectives are accomplished according to the present invention by providing a filter medium for operating environments needing static electricity dissipation to help reduce ignition sources comprising: a substrate of non-woven felt including a polymeric fiber; a conductive scrim having a grid of conductive filaments adjacent to said substrate layer; and, a top layer of non-woven felt including a polymeric fiber and copolymer fiber blend having a melt temperature greater than 100° C. wherein said substrate layer, said conductive scrim and said top layer are manufactured into said filter medium by mechanical web formation.
US09072988B2 Prefilter system for biological systems
The present invention is to a prefilter for affinity chromatography columns. The prefilter, positioned upstream of the column inlet, reduces the presence of non-specific binding (NSB) species that enter the system, thereby extending the yield, capacity and lifetime of the column. Suitable agents include but are not limited to hydrophobic entities; lipophilic entities; activated carbon; charged cation or anion entities; ligands; particles such as fumed silica, glass, controlled pore glass or derivitized version of each; silica or silicates; and combinations thereof. The material(s) can be incorporated into a variety of media such as fibers, beads, membranes and the like and then incorporated into a variety of device designs including lenticular pads, depth filters, bead containing columns, spiral wound devices, TFF devices and the like.
US09072975B2 Network dart game system for participating a tournament and method thereof
The present invention relates to an electronic dart gaming apparatus using an Internet communication network and to a method for same, and more particularly, to an electronic dart gaming apparatus using an Internet communication network and to a method for same which notify of various contests and provide ways of directly participating in the contests using a plurality of electronic dart gaming apparatus uses connected through an Internet communication network without additional notification means such as a homepage or the like.
US09072974B2 Systems and methods for making gameplay changes to a video game based upon social network polls
Various exemplary embodiments are provided to make gameplay changes to a video game based upon a social networking poll or question. These embodiments use the social networking poll to control and organize gaming client feedback and provide gameplay changes based on the gaming client feedback. The various exemplary embodiments also allow a gaming client to receive updates to his or her gaming client device that reflect the gaming client feedback.
US09072972B2 Application distribution network
Methods and systems for remotely provisioning applications from the cloud in secure environments with robust license control failover options using a hierarchical server topology. Cloud-based servers provide applications and licenses to an organization's local servers, which in turn serve applications and licenses to end user devices. By synchronizing information including license and application provision information among the local and cloud-based servers, an organization's local servers can continue to serve applications and licenses when one or more of the organization's local servers fail.
US09072969B2 Three-dimensional puzzle game apparatus and program product
A three-dimensional puzzle game apparatus includes an LCD on which a three-dimensional puzzle is displayed. The three-dimensional puzzle includes a plurality of blocks arranged in each of three-dimensional directions in a virtual three-dimensional space. Furthermore, a hint numeral indicating the number of blocks to be left in a block row is displayed as information being a hint for searching a block to be left from the block row, for example. When a deleting instruction is performed on a block by utilizing a touch panel, for example, it is then determined that whether or not the block is a block to be left. When it is determined that the block is not a block to be left, the block is erased. When it is determined that all the remaining blocks are blocks to be left, it is determined that the three-dimensional puzzle is solved.
US09072966B2 Computer implemented puzzle
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing a power-puzzler computer generated crossword puzzle which employs a unique and original combination of technology-based features to offer puzzlers of all skill levels a richer and more enjoyable crossword puzzle gaming experience. A master puzzle database (MPDB) consisting of lengthy solutions and corresponding hints associated with metadata is created and utilized to offer numerous improvements over previous crossword puzzle games. The improvement features include offering multiple hints to a lengthy solution which are particularly helpful to beginning puzzlers. Furthermore, unique keyboards are offered in many different embodiments to help a puzzler to type a letter which comprises a solution in a less screen space constrained environment. Puzzlers can also navigate the puzzle grid by selecting and shifting the cells to move or expand the selected cells and clues.
US09072961B2 Pinball machine with controllable lighting elements
Pinball machines with controllable lighting components. In some embodiments, a method may include electronically determining a physical property of a ball, the ball configured to move within a playfield of a pinball machine during a pinball game, and modifying a characteristic of a light emitted by a pinball target in response to an evaluation of the physical property. In other embodiments, a pinball machine may be configured to identify a state or mode of a game, and to control a light emitted by a pinball target located within the playfield in response to the state or mode, thus providing a visual indication of the state or mode. In yet other embodiments, a pinball target may include a substrate configured to receive impact from a ball during a game and a light element embedded within the substrate, the light element configurable to emit a light having a controllable property.
US09072957B1 Golf swing training apparatus for maintaning arms in proper position throughout a golf swing and method of using the same
An apparatus configured to be held between a user's forearms during a golf swing. The apparatus can be a spherical, inflated ball. The apparatus may be further secured using a lanyard or similar article worn around the golfer's neck. In practice, by maintaining the inflated ball positioned between the forearms during the golf swing, the golfer is maintaining his or her arms in the proper position. If the inflated ball falls or fails to remain held in place between the forearms, the golf swing is poor (i.e., the arms have separated too much). Other spherical members can be used as well.
US09072955B2 Adjustable resistance kickboard
A variable-resistance kickboard apparatus includes a buoyant kickboard body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and an opening extending through the kickboard body between the upper and lower surfaces. The apparatus also includes a blade extending through the opening and slidably engaged in the opening. The blade can be raised and lowered in the opening to adjust the proportion of the blade that extends below the lower surface.
US09072951B1 Golf club head with adjustable center of gravity
A golf club head comprising a face, crown, sole, pivoting weight receptacle with a bore, and a weight cartridge sized to removably fit within the bore is disclosed herein. In particular, least one of the crown and the sole comprises a first weight port sized to releasably receive the pivoting weight receptacle, which extends into an interior cavity of the golf club head when the pivoting weight receptacle is fully engaged with the first weight port such that at least part of the pivoting weight receptacle is suspended within the interior cavity and does not make contact with any portion of the golf club head.
US09072950B2 Fairway wood-type golf clubs with high moment of inertia
Fairway wood-type golf clubs as described herein may include: (a) a club head with a volume of at least 300 cc; (b) a shaft member attached to the club head, wherein the golf club has a length between 37 and 43 inches; and (c) a grip or handle member attached to the shaft member. The club head may further include: (1) a ball striking face, wherein the ball striking face has a loft angle between 12 and 32 degrees; and (2) a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, with a sole portion that includes a ground-engaging surface.
US09072949B2 Golf clubs and golf club heads having interchangeable rear body members
Golf club heads (e.g., drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) according to at least some example aspects of this invention include a striking face and a rear portion opposite the striking face, the rear portion defining an opening to an interior cavity. A rear body member configured to be inserted into the opening is engaged with the rear portion of the club head. The rear body member may include multiple rear body parts that may be removable and/or interchangeable to permit flexibility in controlling the weight distribution of the golf club head.
US09072947B2 Releasable connections for golf club heads and shafts
Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Golf clubs are provided that have spherical releasable connections between the golf club head and the golf club shaft along with head/shaft position adjusting features to allow interchange of shafts and heads and to allow modification of the head/shaft positioning properties. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: a shaft adapter, a shaft retainer, and a hosel insert located within an interior chamber of the club head. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft adapter may be rotated within the hosel insert to create different angles from the shaft so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
US09072943B2 Golf ball compositions
Disclosed herein are heterogeneous golf ball compositions comprising a thermosetting polymer matrix and discrete particles of thermoplastic polymer dispersed within the matrix.
US09072937B2 Training apparatus for muscles in the upper part of the body
A training apparatus for training the upper part of the body of a human user. The training apparatus includes a support member with a length axis and an essentially plane support surface intended to carry the user during use of the training apparatus. The support surface is arranged to be turned away from the surface during use of the training apparatus, and two handles for application of forces from the user's hands. The training apparatus includes a first leg member the first end of which is rotatably attached to the support member, and a second leg member the one end of which is rotatably attached to the support member. When applying a force on the handles so that the arms are rotated around the third axis of rotation, the leg members are rotated so that the distance between the support member and the surface increases.
US09072934B2 Exercise device and associated methods
An exercise device comprises a pair of outer handles and an inner, central disk, rotatable relative to the handles. The disk includes at least a pair of orifices formed therein or therethrough. At least one tether or cord extends between the handles and through the orifices in the central disk. Manipulation of the handles by a user results in cyclic spinning of the disk.
US09072932B2 Exercise device with treadles
An exercise device employing side-by-side pivotally supported moving surfaces. In one particular example, an exercise device employs a first belt deployed about a front roller and a rear roller and an adjacent second belt deployed about a front roller and a rear roller. The rear of the belts in the area of the rear rollers are pivotally secured and the front of the belts in the area of the front roller are adapted to reciprocate in an up and down motion during use. In some implementations, the moving surfaces include an interconnection structure such that a generally downward movement of one surface is coordinated with a generally upward movement of the other surface. In other implementations, the moving surfaces are operably associated with one or more resistance elements that effect the amount of force required to pivot or actuate the moving surfaces.
US09072930B2 System and method for measuring running efficiencies on a treadmill
A treadmill may comprise a deck, a treadbelt covering at least a portion of the deck, and a drive motor configured for driving the treadbelt. The treadmill may further comprise a sensor, a console, and a computer. The sensor may be configured to detect an amount of power utilized by the drive motor, and the console may be configured to convey information to a user. The computer may comprise a memory and a processor, and be configured for electric communication with the sensor and the consol. The computer may be programmed to analyze data received from the sensor, to provide a communication to a user through the consol that provides information about the user's running form based on the analyzed data received from the sensor, and to provide a communication to the user through the consol that provides information on how the user may change their current running form to improve running efficiency.
US09072919B2 Synergistic antioxidant cosmetic compositions containing at least one of baicalin and taxifolin, at least one of caffeine and nicotinamide, at least one of vitamin C and resveratrol and ferulic acid
The invention provides synergistic aqueous compositions comprising at least one flavonoid, and ferulic acid, and optionally one or more additional antioxidants, for cosmetic use.
US09072918B2 Method of formulating zinc oxide powder blends for balanced UVA/UVB attenuation
Disclosed is a composition that comprises an effective proportion of a first metal oxide powder having a primary particle size and a secondary particle size selected for the first metal oxide powder to attenuate UVA and an effective proportion of a second metal oxide powder having a secondary particle size selected for the second metal oxide powder to attenuate UVB. The mean secondary particle size of the first metal oxide powder is greater than the mean secondary particle size of the second metal oxide powder. In one embodiment, the first and the second metal oxide powders are both zinc oxide.
US09072915B2 Composition containing at least one volatile linear alkane and at least one cationic surfactant
Composition containing, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, at least 2.5% by weight of one or more volatile linear alkanes relative to the total weight of the composition, and one or more cationic surfactants, where the volatile linear alkane(s)/cationic surfactant(s) weight ratio is less than or equal to 1.5. Use of this composition for the treatment of keratin materials, preferably the hair.
US09072912B2 System for electrical stimulation of nerves
A system for treatment of gait disorders includes an external device in the form of a pulse generator (4) with an integrated rechargeable battery and a device adapted to be implanted in the human body. The system features an external to the body placed antenna (3) for the inductive link between the external device and the implanted device. This antenna further incorporates an additional secondary coil (24), for inductively charging the battery in the pulse generator. The fixture on the antenna for mounting the antenna on the skin of the person is reused for being received in a charger fixture (20) on the charger, containing the primary coil (22) for the transfer of charging power.
US09072911B2 Leadless cardiac stimulation systems
Various configurations of systems that employ leadless electrodes to provide pacing therapy are provided. In one example, a system that provides multiple sites for pacing of myocardium of a heart includes wireless pacing electrodes that are implantable at sites proximate the myocardium using a percutaneous, transluminal, catheter delivery system. Each of the electrodes contains a source of electrical energy for pacing the myocardium and is adapted to receive electromagnetic energy from a source outside the myocardium. The system also includes a source adapted for placement outside the myocardium and that uses locally measured electrocardiograms to synchronize pacing of the heart by sending electromagnetic commands to the electrodes to pace the myocardium surrounding the electrodes. Also disclosed is various configurations of such systems, wireless electrode assemblies, and delivery catheters for delivering and implanting the electrode assemblies.
US09072910B2 Methods for forming feedthroughs for hermetically sealed housings using powder injection molding
Methods of forming feedthroughs for hermetically sealed housings using powder injection molding, including positioning a plurality of separate electrically conductive elements in a mold, injecting non-electrically conductive powder injection molding (PIM) feedstock into the mold to form a plurality of insulative bodies around the conductive elements, sintering the insulative bodies to form the plurality of feedthroughs physically connected to one another via the conductive elements; and severing the conductive elements between neighboring insulative bodies.
US09072892B2 Power supply for light-based dermatologic treatment device
Switching power supplies made in accordance with the disclosed technology drive flash lamps of dermatologic treatment devices to emit a sequence of relatively small light pulses that are aligned with particular locations within the waveform of the AC line source. Such power supplies not only enable sufficient light energy in aggregate to therapeutically heat target chromophores in a skin region without causing undesired damage to surrounding tissue, but also provide the added benefit that the corresponding electrical energy need not be substantially drawn from any charged capacitor. The disclosed power supply further compensates for performance degradation of the flash lamps during their usable life, by modifying its operation based on predetermined values that are indicative of flash lamp aging/efficiency characteristics. The flash lamps and their associated stored values are preferably incorporated into a replaceable cartridge that facilitates user maintenance of the dermatologic treatment device.
US09072888B2 Visual prosthesis with an improved electrode array adapted for foveal stimulation
The present invention is an improved method of electrically stimulating percepts in a patient with a visual prosthesis, to induce a more controlled perception of light. In particular, the present invention is an improved electrode array to maximize retinal response. The array of the present invention is an array with a center section with no electrode, surrounded by a ring of small high density electrodes. Electrodes beyond to ring are gradually larger and more widely spaced.
US09072883B2 Battery-integrated iontophoresis patch
The present invention relates to an iontophoresis patch integrated with a battery, more specifically to an iontophoresis patch integrated with a battery which adopts the principle of iontophoresis as a means for infiltrating a substance of interest such as a medication or a cosmetic substance into skin. The iontophoresis patch of the invention comprises: a variable-shape substrate; a first electroconductive layer coming into contact with the substrate; a first electrode layer coming into contact with a part of the first electroconductive layer; a second electroconductive layer which comes into contact with the substrate and which is disposed on the same as the first electroconductive layer; a collector coming into contact with the second electroconductive layer; an electroconductive adhesive coming into contact with the second electroconductive layer and with the collector; a second electrode layer coming into contact with the collector and having a polarity opposite to that of the first electrode layer; an ion-conductive polymer electrolyte disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer; and an adhesive for sealing the ion-conductive polymer electrolyte.
US09072882B2 Method and apparatus for fractional skin treatment
An apparatus for cosmetic RF skin treatment where the RF energy supply is isolated from the patient treated, such that in course of treatment no undesired current flows through the subject body.
US09072881B2 Vascular access port
An implantable infusion port comprising a non planar septum, a fluid reservoir of a substantially spherical shape, inlet means to access the reservoir, and optimized outlet means from the reservoir. The present invention provides for a reservoir that precludes angular junctions between portions of the reservoir which can lead to eddies, countercurrents, and stagnation, thereby creating a more laminar and efficient flow pattern within the reservoir.
US09072878B2 Tattoo needle and method for making and using same
A tattoo needle apparatus that may be used in connection with replicating hair follicles on a scalp of a client is disclosed along with a method of constructing the needle. The needle may include a shank and a needle head secured to the shank. The needle head may include a bundle of three pins (needles), with a point (tip or apex) of each pin being bent, deformed, deflected or otherwise curved inwardly toward a longitudinal axis of the bundle of pins. The method for constructing the needling may include securing the pins in a bundle, curving the points, and mounting the bundle to a needle shank.
US09072877B2 Solid drug delivery apparatus, formulations and methods of use
Embodiments provide apparatus and methods for delivering solid form medications such as pellets to various locations in the body. One embodiment provides an apparatus for in vivo delivery of medication pellets comprising a housing including a port, a pellet-containing belt disposed in the housing, and a mechanism for transferring the pellets from the belt to a delivery site (DS) outside the housing. Each pellet contains a dose of drug to treat a medical condition. An elongate member is coupled to the housing and includes a lumen for pellet delivery, a proximal end coupled to the port and a distal end positioned at the DS. The pellet can be delivered to the DS at regular intervals or responsive to a detected biological event. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for delivering medication to treat a medical condition over an extended period without requiring a patient to take external medication.
US09072871B2 Methods and apparatus for securing a line
Methods and apparatus for securing a medical or surgical line with respect to a patient are described. In particular, a fastener is described comprising an elongate braided tubular sleeve (110) for receiving the line therethrough, the sleeve having a first end for fixing adjacent to the patient, in use, and a second end for arranging, in use, proximal to medical equipment coupled to the line. The fastener also includes a first substantially rigid collar (112) coupled to the sleeve at the first end of the sleeve and a second substantially rigid collar (114) coupled to the sleeve at the second end of the sleeve. An enlarged flange (116) is provided, secured to the first collar (112) at the first end of the sleeve and an adhesive plaster (118) for securing the fastener with respect to a patient is provided, the adhesive plaster being secured to the enlarged flange (116).
US09072870B2 Sleep stage detection
Therapy delivery to a patient may be controlled based on a determined sleep stage of the patient. In examples, the sleep stage may be determined based on a frequency characteristic of a biosignal indicative of brain activity of the patient. A frequency characteristic may include, for example, a power level within one or more frequency bands of the biosignal, a ratio of the power level in two or more frequency bands, or a pattern in the power level of one or more frequency bands over time. A therapy program may be selected or modified based on the sleep stage determination. Therapy may be delivered during the sleep stage according to the selected or modified therapy program. In some examples, therapy delivery may be controlled after making separate determinations of a sleep stage based on the biosignal and another physiological parameter, and confirming that the sleep stage determinations are consistent.
US09072866B2 Cerebrospinal fluid evaluation system having thermal flow and flow rate measurement pad using a plurality of control sensors
A method and device for testing for the presence, absence and/or rate of flow in a shunt tubing implanted under the skin by using a measurement pad having a plurality of temperature sensors, one of which is aligned with the shunt and the other sensors being symmetrically displaced on either side of the first temperature sensor in a direction transverse to the shunt tubing. These “outer” temperature sensors act as control temperature sensors. A temperature source, e.g., a cooling agent, positioned within an insulated enclosure, is then applied at a predetermined location on the measurement pad that is insulated from the temperature sensors. The movement of this temperature “pulse” is detected by the shunt-aligned temperature sensor via the shunt tubing as the CSF carries the temperature pulse while the control sensors detect the pulse via convection through the skin. The temperature data from these sensors are provided to a CSF analyzer that determines a CSF shunt flow status or flow rate.
US09072859B2 Anesthetic inhalation aid device and attachment used for the same
An inhalation mask, an artificial nose unit, an anesthetic gas concentration detector, an extension tube, an anesthesia attachment, and an elastic bag are in communicative connection in sequence. The elastic bag has a mixing chamber formed therein and has an anesthetic inlet, an air inlet, and an outlet port each formed at the boundary to the exterior. The anesthesia attachment includes a hollow structure and an evaporation injector syringe. The outlet port of the elastic bag is in communicative connection with the hollow structure through its opening, and the evaporation injector syringe tightly mates with the interior of another opening. The anesthetic introduced into the mixing chamber is vaporized and then mixed with air introduced from the air inlet into mixed gas. The mixed gas is supplied from the outlet port to the inhalation mask by compressing the elastic bag or other procedures.
US09072856B2 CPAP stabilizing hat
Ventilation apparatus includes a hat having an axis of symmetry and composed of a top and sides extending down to a rim extending all around the hat. An elongated flexible panel encircles the rim. Securements secure the panel to the rim at spaced-apart locations therearound to provide a plurality of relatively long channels extending between the rim and the panel. Each channel extends parallel to the axis and is sized to slidably receive a tube. In use, a patient wears the hat and inlet and outlet tubes are retained in selected hat channels so as to stabilize a patient interface cannula connected to the tubes so that the cannula's nasal prongs remain properly positioned in the patient's nares.
US09072853B2 Forehead pad for respiratory mask
A forehead pad for use in a respiratory mask with a forehead support, which includes a base portion to contact a user's forehead, a support post connected to the base portion, and a head adapted to connect the support post to a forehead support. A pair of forehead pads may be joined with a connector.
US09072849B2 Modifying ventilator operation based on patient orientation
A method and system for modifying ventilator operation based on determining the orientation of a patient associated with the ventilator is disclosed. A patient orientation monitoring device, which may be attached to the patient, generates patient orientation data to facilitate in modifying the ventilator operation. Modifying the ventilator operation includes instructing the ventilator to increase the amount of fresh gas to the patient.
US09072841B2 Medicated module with automatic reservoir engagement
A medicated module for an injection system to co-deliver at least two medicaments is disclosed where a primary delivery device containing a primary medicament accepts a medicated module containing a single dose of a secondary medicament and where both medicaments are delivered through a hollow needle. The medicated module does not require the user to manually engage a reservoir containing the secondary medicament. Instead, a biasing member automatically activates the reservoir when the needle guard is retracted. The needle guard prevents accidental needle sticks before and after an injection, and locks after dose delivery.
US09072840B2 Cutting element for a retracting needle syringe
A cutting element for a retracting needle syringe having a plunger with a cuttable distal end and a spring biased needle held by a cuttable support and a cutting element capable of cutting the cuttable distal end and the cuttable support includes a body portion having a proximal end, a distal end side wall therebetween and a passageway therethrough. The distal end of the body portion includes a cutting edge and a raised distally projecting tapered cutting tooth having distally converging edges. At least one tooth edge includes a sharp side wall for cutting the distal end of the plunger and the needle support.
US09072835B2 Device for collecting samples
A device for collecting dialysate samples has an inlet for receiving a flow of dialysate, a plurality of outlets for providing a flow of saturated dialysate, and means for sequential selection of one of the outlets. The sequential selection means are actuated only by the flow of dialysate received from the inlet. A system for peritoneal dialysis includes the device for collecting dialysate samples.
US09072828B2 Hydraulically actuated pump for long duration medicament administration
Presently disclosed is a hydraulic pump device and its use thereof, especially in a fluid delivery system. In one embodiment, the fluid delivery system is an inexpensive, single-use device for slow dosing medicament applications. The fluid delivery system may employ a spring-compressed bellows crank or other combination of simple mechanisms operating according to the well-known peristaltic principle to force a volume of ultrapure bio-inert hydraulic fluid through an aperture, thereby expanding one chamber of a two chamber hydraulic cylinder. The second, fluid storage chamber, containing the medicament, is emptied through a conventional orifice in response to the expansion of the pump chamber. The medicament may then flow through any suitable infusion set into a patient removeably attached thereto.
US09072827B2 Fail safe point protector for needle safety flap
A method and device are disclosed for preventing a needle stick hazard in the event of a collapse of a protective needle flap of a portable drug pump. The device may include a needle guide, a secure space and/or a shield. A point of a needle is optionally deflected into a secure space upon collapse of the protective flap. The space may optionally be shielded. Optionally, the support linking the needle to the pump may pivot and/or translate. Optionally, there may be an exposing position wherein the needle protrudes through an opening in the flap. Optionally, the opening may be non-circular.
US09072826B2 Non-stick medical tubing
A non-stick medical tubing is provided. The non-stick tubing comprises a plastic resin mixture including a first plastic resin component and a second plastic resin component, the second plastic resin comprising a medical grade amide compound, the plastic resin mixture extruded by an extruding apparatus as a mono-layered tube such that the medical grade amide compound is present on an inner surface of the medical tube after extrusion to promote release of contacting surfaces of the inner surface of the medical tubing after contact.
US09072823B2 Safety needle
A medical device including a portion similar to a Veress needle, useful for relief of tension pneumothorax. The device includes a hollow tubular stylet disposed movably within a hollow needle or cutting cannula, and an optionally releasable locking mechanism for keeping the stylet in place protruding distally beyond the sharpened distal end of the cutting cannula to prevent puncture of internal organs after the chest wall has been intentionally punctured. The stylet can also be moved outward from within the cannula to push a plug of tissue from the bore of the cannula. A valve or a connector for a tube may be provided at a proximal end of the stylet.
US09072819B2 Repair of cartilage tissue using a matrix gel containing chondrocytes
The present invention relates in one aspect to the use of a matrix gel comprising chondrocytes or progenitor cells thereof in a density below that of natural cartilage as a cartilage repair implant wherein said cells exhibit increases production of extracellular matrix material.
US09072815B2 Layered collagen and HA scaffold suitable for osteochondral repair
The invention relates to a method for producing a multi-layer collagen scaffold. The method generally comprises the steps of: preparing a first suspension of collagen and freezing or lyophilising the suspension to provide a first layer; optionally preparing a further suspension of collagen and adding the further suspension onto the layer formed in the previous step to form a further layer, and freezing or lyophilising the layers, wherein when the layer formed in the previous step is formed by lyophilisation the lyophilised layer is re-hydrated prior to addition of the next layer; optionally, repeating the aforementioned step to form one or more further layers; and preparing a final suspension of collagen and pouring the final suspension onto the uppermost layer to form a final layer, and freeze-drying the layers to form the multi-layer collagen composite scaffold.
US09072811B2 Preparation method for medical porous tantalum implant material
A method for preparing a porous tantalum medical implant material, which includes (a) mixing a polyethylene glycol aqueous solution and tantalum powder to form a tantalum slurry, (b) casting the tantalum slurry into an organic foam body through vibrant pressurization, and (c) performing steps of drying, degreasing, vacuum sintering and thermal treatment to obtain the porous tantalum. The solution is a 2-8 wt % polyethylene glycol aqueous solution, the frequency of vibration is 20-80 times/min, the thermal treatment is performed under 10−4-10−3 Pa of vacuity and the temperature is first increased to 800-900° C. at a rate of 10-20° C./min and kept at 800-900° C. for 240-480 minutes, then is decreased to 400° C. at a rate of 2-5° C./min and kept at 400° C. for 120-300 minutes, and is cooled down to room temperature naturally in the furnace.
US09072808B2 Multi-solution bone cements and methods of making the same
The present invention relates to bone cements and, more particularly, to acrylic-based orthopedic bone cements, their use in spinal applications, and methods for making the same. An embodiment of the present invention provides multi-solution bone cements which include cross-linked PMMA beads, a linear polymer, and a monomer with various polymer to monomer ratios, and polymer bead to linear polymer ratios. The bone cement can include a polymer to monomer (P:M) ratio of between about 1:1 and 1.4:1, and can also include a polymer bead to linear polymer ratio of between about 1:1 and 2:1. Another embodiment of the present invention provides the use of a radiopacifier in the bone cement composition, such as ZrO2, in increasing concentrations.
US09072804B2 Sterilisation and decontamination device
A sterilization, sanitization and/or decontamination device (1) comprising a main body (10) and a detachable control panel, preferably in the form of a lectern (12), the main body having a discharge outlet (16) and containing a humidifier unit, an ozone discharge unit and a controller for controlling the humidifier and ozone discharge units, the detachable control panel including a user interface (40) for wireless remote control of the controller.
US09072802B2 Systems and methods for disinfecting medical instruments
Systems and methods for disinfecting medical instruments are provided. In one embodiment, a system can include a hood to provide a clean zone, a chamber to dispose within the clean zone, and an ultrasonicator. More specifically, the chamber can include a volume and can be configured to retain a fluid and receive medical instruments. The chamber can also include a portal through which fluids enter or leave the chamber. The ultrasonicator can be used to sonicate the volume when the fluid is present. A related method of disinfecting medical instruments can be accomplished using the systems of the present disclosure.
US09072793B2 Antibacterial and antifungal peptides
This invention provides novel antimicrobial peptides and formulations thereof. The peptides and/or formulations are effective to kill or to inhibit the growth and/or proliferation of various bacteria, yeast, and fungi.
US09072791B2 Photostabilized pharmaceutical compositions
A crosslinking reaction and a reaction for reducing molecular weight that take place in a hyaluronic acid-methotrexate conjugate upon irradiation with light are suppressed to improve the photostability of the conjugate. Specifically, a substance having a quenching effect and/or a radical scaveng effect is added to a pharmaceutical composition containing the hyaluronic acid-methotrexate conjugate.
US09072787B2 Emulsions providing stable vitamin compositions and methods of forming compositions thereof
Stable vitamin oil-in-water emulsions and methods of making those emulsions are described herein. The emulsions may be used to make beverage products that include fat-soluble vitamins. The emulsions may also be used in beverage products that are colored and which maintain color stability for an extended period of time.
US09072782B2 Gadolinium complex, method for preparing same, and MRI contrast agent comprising same
Disclosed are a gadolinium complex formed by coordination of gadolinium to the diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid dianhydride (DTPA) moiety of a pullulan-DTPA conjugate formed by an ester bond between pullulan and DTPA, a preparation method thereof, an MRI contrast composition comprising the complex, and a method of providing information for diagnosis of disease using the complex as an MRI contrast agent. The pullulan-DTPA-Gd complex has a long in vivo half-life, low toxicity, and high MRI signal intensity resulting in clear MRI images, compared to prior gadolinium complexes, indicating that it is advantageously used as an MRI contrast agent. In addition, it is possible to obtain MRI images allowing one to differentiate between diseased liver tissue and normal liver tissue, indicating that it is used as an MRI contrast agent for the liver.
US09072781B2 Morphine formulations
Provided herein, generally, are pharmaceutical formulations, e.g., injectable pharmaceutical formulations with improved stability, comprising morphine sulfate or a hydrate thereof, and methods of producing and using the same. Also provided herein are kits comprising the formulations, e.g., injectable morphine formulations.
US09072779B2 Treatment of soft tissue injury using hyaluronic acid and botulinum toxin
There is provided a method for supporting soft tissue in a mammal. The method may in aspects treat acutely or chronically injured soft tissue in an animal or human, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of HA and botulinum toxin in combination around the injured soft tissue. The method is useful for the treatment of sprain and strain in an animal such as a human.
US09072774B2 Porphyrin nanovesicles
The application relates to a nanovesicle comprising a bilayer of at least 15 mol % porphyrin-phospholipid conjugate, wherein the conjugate comprises a porphyrin, porphyrin derivative or porphyrin analog covalently attached to the phospholipid side chain. The nanovesicle can be used for photothermal therapy, photoacoustic imaging, and fluorescence imaging. The application also discloses a method of preparing the said nanovesicle.
US09072766B2 Methods of treating obesity by inhibiting nicotinamide N-methyl transferase (NNMT)
The present invention, in various embodiments, relates to methods of inhibiting NNMT production or activity in a cell, and methods of treating or preventing obesity or a related metabolic condition in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering a nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) antagonist. The invention further provides methods of identifying NNMT antagonists useful for treating obesity and related metabolic disorders.
US09072763B2 Methods and compositions for treating inflammatory bowel disease
The present disclosure provides improved compositions comprising rifabutin, clarithromycin, and clofazimine for use in the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. In one instance, the compositions may comprise a formulation of rifabutin, clarithromycin, and clofazimine in a single dosage form, such as a capsule, tablet, etc., with one or more specific excipients.
US09072750B2 Use of prostaglandins F2Alpha and analogues for the healing of corneal and conjunctival lesions
The invention relates to a composition for use in treating corneal and conjunctival lesions, wherein the composition comprises a prostaglandin F2alpha or analogue, in a therapeutic amount, said composition being in a form suitable for topical application on the ocular surface and is free of deleterious preservative; the invention also relates to a method for treating surface ocular conditions in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering a composition of the invention.
US09072742B2 Method of predicting a predisposition to QT prolongation
The present invention describes an association between genetic polymorphisms in the BAI3 gene and a predisposition to prolongation of the QT interval, and provides related methods for the prediction of such a predisposition, the administration of QT interval-prolonging compounds to individuals having such a predisposition, and determining whether a compound is capable of inducing QT prolongation.
US09072737B2 tPA mutant in the treatment of acute brain injury and neurodegenerative disorders
The invention relates to tPA mutant devoid of protease activity and uses thereof in compositions and methods for the treatment and prevention of pathologic conditions involving neurological injury or an ischemic disease or condition. More specifically, the invention relates to a Ser481 to Ala mutant of tPA and to compositions and combinations thereof for the treatment of stroke, acute brain injury and neurodegenerative disorders. The invention further provides methods and kits for the treatment of said disorders.
US09072736B2 Treatment of pain
Use of a therapeutic molecule, for the treatment of specific pain conditions, wherein the therapeutic molecule is a single chain, polypeptide fusion protein, comprising: a non-cytotoxic protease, or a fragment thereof, which protease or protease fragment can cleave a protein of the exocytic fusion apparatus of a nociceptive sensory afferent; a Targeting Moiety that can bind to a Binding Site on the nociceptive sensory afferent, which Binding Site can undergo endocytosis to be incorporated into an endosome within the nociceptive sensory afferent; a protease cleavage site at which site the fusion protein is cleavable by a protease, wherein the protease cleavage site is located between the non-cytotoxic protease or fragment thereof and the Targeting Moiety; and a translation domain that can translocate the protease or protease fragment from within an endosome, across the endosomal membrane and into the cytosol of the nociceptive sensory afferent.
US09072732B2 Indication for use of niacin (nicotinic acid) for treatment and reversal of fatty liver disease
Niacin prevents and/or reverses the development of experimental hepatic steatosis, deposition of triglycerides in liver and serum of individuals, deposition of total cholesterol in liver and serum in individuals, and inhibit liver lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in individuals at risk of developing fatty liver disease or NAFLD. In cultured human hepatocytes, niacin inhibits alcohol-induced fat accumulation.
US09072728B2 Treatment of severe distal colitis
This invention relates to methods and materials involved in the treatment of diseases with severe distal colitis component, and more specifically non-fungal and/or non-microbial induced mucositis of the distal intestinal tract. Kits and pharmaceutical compositions for medical treatments also are provided.
US09072723B2 Medical device with coating that promotes endothelial cell adherence
The invention relates to a method for healing blood vessels by stimulating the formation of a confluent endothelial autologous cell layer in vivo on an implantable metallic stent having a lumen and a luminal surface, and an exterior surface. More specifically, the method includes implanting the stent with a coating in a patient in need of thereof; wherein the coating includes one or more layers of a matrix covalently adherent on said luminal and exterior surface of said stent containing one or more pharmaceutical substances on said exterior surface and a therapeutically effective amount of a single type of antibody, antibody fragments or combinations thereof being compatible to binding selectively to a specific cell surface antigen of circulating autologous endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood. In addition, genetically engineered endothelial progenitor cells can be captured on said luminal surface of stent in vivo, to proliferate to form rapidly a confluent endothelium in situ.
US09072722B2 Recombinant factor VIII having increased stability
The present invention relates to a recombinant factor VIII that includes one or more mutations that result in enhanced stability of both factor VIII and factor VIIIa. Methods of making and using the recombinant factor VIII, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the same are also disclosed. The present invention further relates to an isolated nucleic acid molecule that encodes the recombinant factor VIII, as well as DNA expression systems and host cells containing the isolated nucleic acid molecule.
US09072715B2 Stable pharmaceutical composition and methods of using same
The present invention relates to, inter alia, pharmaceutical compositions comprising a polyunsaturated fatty acid and to methods of using the same to treat or prevent cardiovascular-related diseases.
US09072712B2 Synergistic antimicrobial preparations containing chlorite and hydrogen peroxide
An anti-microbial preservative for use in ophthalmic and dermatologic products. The preservative includes from about 0.005 wt. % to about 0.20 wt. % chlorite compound and from about 0.005 wt. % to about 0.05 wt. % peroxy compound. Additionally, the preservative does not generate chlorine dioxide within the pH range of 5.0-8.8. Also included are an antimicrobial ophthalmic and dermatologic compositions for direct application onto an eye or skin of a living being including from about 0.005 wt. % to about 0.20 wt. % chlorite compound and from about 0.005 wt. % to about 0.05 wt. % peroxy compound. Also included are methods for treating dryness of the eyes and skin disorders (e.g., wounds, burns, infections, ulcerations, psoriasis, etc.) and for disinfecting and cleansing contact lenses while in place upon an eye by applying the composition to the eye or to the contact lens.
US09072709B2 Enhancement of bone morphogenic protein (BMP) retention with BMP binding peptide (BBP)
The use of autogenous bone graft is the current gold standard in the 1.5 million bone-grafting surgeries performed annually in the United States. Although this practice has resulted in high rates of fusion success, it is associated with increased operative time and blood loss, along with a significant degree of donor-site morbidity. Additionally, in certain settings such as revision cases, multilevel constructs, or in patients with medical comorbidities, autogenous bone graft may exist in limited quantity and quality. This significant need for a suitable alternative to autogenous bone graft has stimulated great interest in the exploration of bone graft substitutes and extenders.
US09072693B2 Micronutrient supplement with calcium, vitamin D or calcium and vitamin D combination for premenstrual/menstrual relief
A bolus dose supplement, foodstuff, beverage and beverage concentrate with calcium and vitamin D for the treatment and prevention of PMS, panic attacks, and postpartum depression. The combination of adequate calcium and vitamin D is provided as a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement. The bolus dose is comprised of 2 main ingredients calcium and vitamin D at 1000-1500 mg of elemental calcium in the form of carbonate or citrate or gluconate or citrate maleate and 400-20,000 I.U. of parent vitamin D.
US09072688B2 Compositions and methods for therapeutic delivery with frozen particles
Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions, methods, devices, systems, and products regarding frozen particles. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles include materials at low temperatures. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles provide vehicles for delivery of particular agents. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles are administered to at least one biological tissue.
US09072680B2 Compositions comprising methylphenidate complexed with ion-exchange resin particles
Pharmaceutical compositions of methylphenidate complexed with ion-exchange resin particles to form drug-resin particles are provided. The compositions have a first plurality of drug-resin particles that are uncoated and a second plurality of drug-resin particles that are coated with a delayed release coating. Preferably, the second plurality of drug-resin particles are coated with a triggered-release coating triggered by a pH change and a diffusion barrier coating.
US09072675B2 Non-irritating benzoyl peroxide
A method of making crystalline benzoyl peroxide particles having a particle size no greater than 25 microns and formed by wet milling in the absence of solvents and wherein the crystalline benzoyl peroxide is not irritating to the skin. A method of making a therapeutic or cosmetic composition comprising a water-based gel containing the crystalline benzoyl peroxide.
US09072672B2 Compositions and methods for altering the color of teeth
Compositions for altering the color of teeth, including tooth-coating compositions comprising a colorant and an acrylate polymer. Colorants among those useful herein include whiteness-imparting particulate materials, such as hydroxyapatite.
US09072671B2 Process for oral care material taste and/or odor improvement
Processes for improving the taste of oral care raw materials using solvent extraction, said process comprising the steps of: providing a solid oral care raw material composition in need of treatment wherein said oral care raw material composition comprises an orally acceptable raw material and one or more undesirable non-polar materials; contacting said oral care raw material composition with an extraction solvent to form an extraction mixture comprising a solid phase and a solvent phase; and separating the solid phase from the extraction mixture; wherein the extraction solvent is selected from solvents having individual Hansen solubility parameters of a dispersion force component (δD) ranging from about 15 to about 17 (MPa)0.5, a polar component (δP) ranging from 0 to about 9 (MPa)0.5 and a hydrogen bonding component (δH) ranging from 0 to about 11 (MPa)0.5.
US09072666B2 Method for producing organopolysiloxane emulsion composition
A method for producing an organopolysiloxane emulsion composition, which enables the organopolysiloxane to be formed with a high viscosity in a short period of time, and suppresses the amount of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) to not more than 3,000 ppm. Specifically, a method for producing an organopolysiloxane emulsion which includes emulsifying a mixture containing an organopolysiloxane represented by formula: HO(R12SiO)nH and having a D4 content of not more than 1,000 ppm, a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, and water, and subjecting the obtained emulsion composition to emulsion polymerization, thus preparing the emulsion composition.
US09072665B2 Therapeutic composition with enhanced endothelium targeting
A composition that includes nanoparticles with binding affinity for platelets, and methods for using this composition to treat vascular disease are disclosed.
US09072663B2 Carbidopa/levodopa gastroretentive drug delivery
A gastroretentive drug formulation for the sustained release of an active agent in the gastrointestinal tract comprises an internal layer or compartment comprising an active agent and one or more pharmaceutical excipients, of which at least one is a polymer and two membranes forming together an envelope around the inner membrane, each membrane comprising at least one polymeric combination of an enteric polymer which is not soluble in gastric juice, and an hydrophilic swelling polymer, and at least one plasticizer.
US09072657B2 Pressure-regulating vial adaptors and methods
In certain embodiments, a vial adaptor for removing liquid contents from a vial comprises a piercing member and a bag. The bag can be contained within the piercing member such that the bag is introduced to the vial when the vial adaptor is coupled with the vial. In some embodiments, the bag expands within the vial as liquid is removed from the vial via the adaptor, thereby regulating pressure within the vial. In other embodiments, a vial comprises a bag for regulating pressure within the vial as liquid is removed therefrom. In some embodiments, a vial adaptor is coupled with the vial in order to remove the liquid. In some embodiments, as the liquid is removed from the vial via the adaptor, the bag expands within the vial, and in other embodiments, the bag contracts within the vial.
US09072648B2 Body massage apparatus
A body massage apparatus is provided with a housing. A massage unit is provided in the housing. A pair of laterally spaced apart air bladders is provided on the housing with the massage unit oriented between the air bladders.
US09072644B2 Premature neonate closed life support system
A magnetically permeable neonate transport capsule (MPNTC) for transporting a premature neonate from a host infant incubator having a steady environmental condition to an MRD. The MPNTC has at least one first normally open configuration when the capsule is disposed within the incubator and a second closed configuration for removal, transportation, insertion, measurement and vice versa within an MRD device. The MPNTC includes an environmental control system thereby adapted to maintain continuous attachment of the neonate with life support connection lines. The MPNTC is further adapted to maintain environmental conditions substantially similar to the host infant incubator environmental condition when the MPNTC is transported from the incubator to the MRD device.
US09072643B2 Device, system and method for transferring a person from a horizontal to a sitting position or vice versa
A device, system and method for assisting an elderly, disabled, or infirmed person to rise from a lying or substantially lying position, at or near floor level, to at least a sitting position with minimal or no assistance from another person. The device may be, at its lowest or substantially most compressed position, low enough to be accessible to a person lying at or near floor level who may have very limited mobility due to age, a disability, or an infirmity. The device, system and method may additionally provide a secondary mode, and/or an optional aspect of the device, for moving the person once in the seated position to a standing position using the device.
US09072640B2 Suspension structure for an electric wheelchair
A simply structured suspension structure for an electric wheelchair includes a frame, two drive units, two front guide units, two front shock absorbers, two anti-roll units, and two rear shock absorbers. The two front guide units are located at both sides of the frame and each include a front guide wheel, a front suspension arm and a torsion spring. The two front and rear shock absorbers are connected to the frame. The two anti-roll units are located at both sides of the frame. When the front guide arms drive the front guide wheels to pivot, the torsion springs can produce a reaction force to prevent the frame from rolling over, improving safety. When the suspension structure runs across an uneven bumpy road, the front and rear shock absorbers can ease the shock imposed on the frame, enhancing sitting comfort.
US09072634B2 Disposable absorbent article with substantially continuously distributed absorbent particulate polymer material and method
A disposable absorbent core comprises first and second absorbent layers each comprising an absorbent particulate polymer material such that the absorbent particulate polymer material is substantially continuously distributed across an absorbent particulate polymer material area. A disposable absorbent article and method for making the absorbent core are also disclosed.
US09072632B2 Disposable pull-on garment
An absorbent article having a longitudinal centerline, a front region, a crotch region, and a back region. The absorbent article has a main portion, a side portion, and a waist portion. The waist portion has a belt portion that has a front belt portion having elastomeric material and a back belt portion having elastomeric material. The front belt portion has a first elastic section and a second elastic section, each section having force zones. The back belt portion has a third elastic section and a fourth elastic section, each section having force zones. The force zones in the portions alternate between a high force zone and a low force zone in at least one belt portion.
US09072629B2 Shutter press compressor with movable jaws
An apparatus for compressing a material includes a central longitudinal axis, a plurality of levers each having a tool carrier and defining a lever longitudinal axis, and a plurality of jaws each attached to a lever at a tool carrier to form a lever/jaw combination, wherein each jaw has a compression surface having an area. The apparatus also includes a compressing mechanism configured to move each lever in a non-linear motion such that the area of a compression surface exposed to the material decreases with the inward movement of that compression surface, wherein each lever/jaw combination includes a biasing mechanism configured such that adjacent jaws contact each other. The plane of each compression surface can be predominantly tangential to the apparatus central longitudinal axis. Each biasing mechanism can be configured to bias its jaw along the lever longitudinal axis toward an adjacent jaw.
US09072626B2 System and method for treatment of non-ventilating middle ear by providing a gas pathway through the nasopharynx
Methods and devices for providing a gas pathway between the nasopharynx and the Eustachian tube are provided. One device may include a lumen with a valve. A portion of the valve may be tethered to adjacent muscle. Another portion of the valve may be tethered to adjacent cartilage. When the muscle contracts the valve may open through movement of the tethers, and provide a gas pathway between the nasopharynx and the Eustachian tube.
US09072610B2 Inserter instrument and implant clip
A method and apparatus assisting safe one-handed insertion of an implant. An implant implantation device has a frame which includes a trigger mechanism, an outer sleeve mechanically coupled to the frame, an inner shaft having a grabber for mechanically engaging an implant, the inner shaft slidably disposed within the outer sleeve, and a retaining element disposed over the inner shaft for directing the grabber toward a closed position. An implant clip has a first member, a second member pivotally coupled to the first member, a first implant holder pivotally coupled to the first member, the coupling causing the implant clip to have a closed position and an open position, and a second implant holder, the second implant holder pivotally coupled to the second member, a surface of the first implant holder and a surface of the second implant holder remaining substantially parallel to each other while the first member and the second member pivot between the closed position and the open position.
US09072602B2 Transcatheter valve prosthesis having a variable shaped cross-section for preventing paravalvular leakage
A transcatheter valve prosthesis includes a self-expanding tubular stent component and a prosthetic valve disposed within and secured to the stent component. The tubular stent component has a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an intermediate portion between the proximal and distal portions. In a compressed delivery configuration, the tubular stent component has a generally circular cross-section along its length. In an expanded deployed configuration, the proximal and distal portions have a generally circular cross-section while the intermediate portion of the stent component has a generally triangular cross-section with three vertexes that are configured to project into three commissural points of a native valve when the valve prosthesis is implanted in situ. The generally triangular transverse cross-section of the valve prosthesis is formed by pulling or extending selected or particular struts of the stent component radially outwards and then applying heat to heat-set the stent component in the deployed configuration.
US09072601B2 Intraocular lens insertion device
An intraocular lens insertion device having a novel configuration, capable of more accurately arranging front and back surfaces of an intraocular lens in a proper direction. The intraocular lens insertion device is adapted in such a manner that the intraocular lens is set on a stage in a state placed flat with a pair of haptics extended facing front and back sides in a movement direction by a plunger. Also, an interfering acting part is provided to an insertion tube part, and the interfering acting part interferes with the haptic, which is extended facing the front side in the movement direction of the intraocular lens moved by the plunger, to apply on the haptic an external force toward the back side in the movement direction. Thus, the interfering acting part curves and deforms the haptic to a side approaching an optical portion.
US09072595B2 Neck relief device, and piece of headgear intended therefore
The present invention relates to a neck relief device (1) comprising a flexible connecting device (3), which extends along the spine between an upper fixing point (3′) above the cervical vertebrae (3A) of the spine and a lower fixing point (3D) below the cervical vertebrae (3A) of the spine, and a piece of headgear (20, 21) intended therefore.
US09072592B2 Methods for producing and using silk nanofiber nerve conduits
The present invention relates to a silk nanofiber nerve conduit characterized in that fibroin nanofibers having a diameter of 200 to 400 nm, originated from silk fiber, are stacked layer upon layer to form a porous conduit-shape; and a method for producing thereof, more specifically, to a method for producing a silk nanofiber nerve conduit comprising: (Step 1) preparing a fibrous spinning solution; (Step 2) producing a silk nanofiber of conduit-shape by electrospinning the fibrous spinning solution prepared in step 1 into the cylindrical collecting part coated with polyethyleneoxide; and (Step 3) separating a silk nanofiber of conduit-shape produced in step 2 from the collecting part. The silk nanofiber nerve conduit of the present invention has excellent biocompatibility; allows the body fluid to be exchanged inter in and out of conduit through pores of the conduit, as well; has a proper elasticity, tensile strength, and tear strength. Due to these properties, the silk nanofiber nerve conduit of the present invention helps the regeneration of the nerve injury to recover a motor skill and a sensory function, and thus shows an excellent effect of nerve regeneration. Therefore, the silk nanofiber nerve conduit of the present invention can be used in treating a nerve injury instead of an existing synthetic polymeric nerve conduit.
US09072591B2 Micro-current sensing auto-adjusting heater system for eye-shield
Eye-shield condensation prevention system for use in a ski goggle, dive mask, medical or testing face shield or the like, that prevents undesirable hot spots on the eye-shield and maintains constant heat, with the ability to compensate for variations in resistance encountered from one eye-shield region to another, and/or one eye-shield to another, comprising a power source, a pulse-width modulator, a microcomputer, a heating element, and a sensing circuit. The microcomputer uses the sensing circuit to sense voltage and determine a value of resistance of the heating element. The microcomputer then uses this value to adjust the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulator, and may employ a two-dimensional table in assisting calculation. Multiple pulse-width modulators may be employed that correspond to a plurality of eye-shield regions and a corresponding plurality of heating elements.
US09072580B2 Combination eye cup and drop dispenser
A Combination Eye Cup and Drop Dispenser is disclosed. The dispenser has a nozzle within an eye cup so that the user's hand will be steadied by resting the eye cup over the eye. The eye cup is integrated with a cap that regulates the opening and closing of the dispenser bottle so that turning the eye cup will open or close the dispenser nozzle. The bottle neck has external threads configured to engage internal threads on the eye cup/cap.
US09072575B1 Dental implant angle measurement device
A dental implant angle measurement device for measuring angular difference includes a reference member that can be engaged with a reference dental component. An elongate member is attached perpendicular to the reference member and a measuring member is movably positioned along the elongate member. The measuring member can be aligned with a target dental component and further includes a base member and an angular indicator. The angular indicator can have gradations and indicia to indicate an angular difference between an axis passing through the reference dental component and an axis passing through the target dental component that the measuring member is aligned with. The target dental component is positioned in the mouth of the patient or in a cast. A stopping member is also positioned with the elongate member to restrict movement of the measuring member in relation to the elongate member.
US09072573B2 Dental syringe
A dental syringe may include a replaceable valve cartridge containing one or more valves. The valves may include air and water valves using a seating surface and an opposing seating surface with a relative angle formed between the two surfaces. The relative angle allows for regulation of the flow of fluid traveling through the valves. The replaceable valve cartridge may also include a system to remove a residual liquid from a tip of a dental syringe. Additionally, the replaceable valve cartridge may include a seal that prevents bleed-over of fluids within a dental syringe through use of first and second rings of elastic portions of the seal with a low pressure zone defined in between. Further, the dental syringe may include a tip retention insert which may be replaceable and may use either a pair of plates or a plurality of ball bearings to retain the dental syringe tips.
US09072572B2 Dental light device
A light device includes a body and a tip structure configured to be removably coupled with the housing. The tip includes a light engine that is operable for emitting light positioned at a distal end of the tip. A power supply circuit is positioned in the housing and coupled to the light engine. The power supply circuit is rechargeable and includes at least one ultracapacitor element. A non-imaging element is coupled with the light engine at the distal end.
US09072570B2 Application tip
An application tip (100) for a viscous or pasty composition having a body (101) including a proximal end (102) that can be fastened onto a device for dispensing the composition and a distal end (103) that is provided with an outlet orifice (104), an internal duct (110) extending between the proximal and distal ends of the body. The internal duct (110) comprises at least one portion (112) of flat shape opening out at the outlet orifice (104) and includes adjacent grooves (113) in at least one of its sides.
US09072569B2 Medical air-driven handpiece with anti-retraction stop
The invention relates to a medical turbine handpiece, in particular a dental turbine handpiece, having a drive shaft rotatably mounted in the front end region of the handpiece and to which a tool can be connected, as well as a turbine wheel arranged so as to be non-rotatable on the drive shaft and is arranged in a turbine chamber realized in the end region, into which turbine chamber a supply line for a flowing pressure medium for driving the turbine wheel opens out at an inlet opening and from which turbine chamber a removal line extends at an outlet opening, wherein at least one cross connecting channel for the pressure medium is realized in the wall of the turbine chamber, the cross connecting channel connecting the axially remote edge region of the turbine chamber to a region of the turbine chamber that is axially close to the drive shaft.
US09072566B2 Dental implant
A tooth replacement system is provided that includes an implant (10, 20, 30), for osseointegration in a jaw bone, and an abutment (40, 50, 60), wherein an abutment stem (41) including a close-fit cylinder (42) can be fitted in a corresponding cylindrical close-fit seat (14) of a receiving opening (11) in the implant. The present invention makes available a tooth replacement system including an implant and an abutment, which ensures an optimized introduction of force from the abutment into the implant and permits complete freedom in terms of the choice of material. The implant and also the abutment can be made from titanium or ceramic, and both structural parts can be used in all possible material combinations. This permits the insertion or adhesive bonding of ceramic abutments into implants made from titanium oxide or other metallic materials.
US09072562B2 Bone joining device, kit and method
Provided is a bone joining device suitable for joining a first bone piece to a second bone piece. Also provided is a method of joining a first bone piece with a second bone piece in a living mammal. The method comprises inserting the above bone joining device between the first bone piece and the second bone piece.
US09072561B2 Spinal facet fixation device
An assembly for the fixation of a spinal facet joint, including an outer shank, an inner shank and a tip, such that rotation of the inner shank with respect to the outer shank causes the tip to move into the outer shank. Movement of the tip causes deformation of the distal end of the outer shank such that the distal end of the outer shank is larger in diameter than the hole through which it was inserted, said deformation causing increased compression and reduced chance of device loosening.
US09072560B2 Implant removal aid for use with implants utilizing a data carrier
A storage system for packaging and storing medical devices with associated data carriers, or tags that can be used for tracking inventory levels and uses of an implant. The storage system includes at least one medical device, and at least one data carrier secured to the at least one medical device, the data carrier including an enlarged substantially planar surface. The storage system further includes a storage device having one or more cavities adapted to receive the medical device and data carrier, each cavity including a cut-out positioned at least partially beneath the enlarged substantially planar surface that allows at least a portion of the enlarged substantially planar surface to pass at least partially there-through.
US09072558B2 Distal radius fracture fixation plate with ulnar buttress
A distal volar fixation plate includes a body portion and a head portion angled upwards relative to the body portion. The head portion includes a lower surface, a central portion, a radial side and an ulnar side. The head portion defines a buttress portion extends greater distally on the ulnar side than on the radial side to support the volar lip of the lunate fossa.
US09072554B2 Orthopedic implant
An orthopedic implant, illustratively a spinal staple, including pre-attached fasteners.
US09072550B2 Spinal fixation system and method
A spinal fixation system includes a first plate, a post fixedly attached to the first plate and extending transverse therefrom. A second plate receives the distal end of the post. A locking mechanism is configured to restrict at least one of axial translation and/or orbital rotation of the second plate with respect to the post. The locking mechanism can include a locking nut having two non-concentric cylinders which enable an interference fit between the nut and the post, thus restricting axial translation of the second plate.
US09072549B2 Spinal clips for interspinous decompression
A spinal clip for creating a potential space within the spinal canal and thus stabilizing the spine without the need for additional spinal components is embodied in different forms. The spinal clips are configured to provide a clamping or holding force against and/or to the spinous processes, transverse processes and/or the lamina of adjacent vertebrae. In one form, the spinous process clips utilize pivoting to effect clamping or holding. In another form, the spinous process clips utilize rotation to effect clamping or holding. Such rotation may be between clamping or holding members or via a screw system. In yet another form, the spinous process clips utilize ratcheting to effect clamping or holding. In a still further form, the spinous process clips utilize expansion to effect clamping or holding. Depending on the form of clamping or holding, the spinous process clips can provide infinite adjustment of the clamping or holding force within an adjustment range, or provide discrete steps or levels of the clamping or holding force.
US09072537B2 Vascular and bodily duct treatment devices and methods
Devices including, but not limited to, a self-expandable member having a proximal end portion and a main body portion. The self-expandable member is movable from a first delivery position to a second placement position, in the first delivery position the expandable member being in an unexpanded position and having a nominal first diameter and in the second position the expandable member being in a radially expanded position and having a second nominal diameter greater than the first nominal diameter for deployment within a vessel or duct of a patient. The expandable member includes a plurality of cell structures with the cell structures in the main body portion extending circumferentially around a longitudinal axis of the expandable member and the cell structures in the proximal end portion extending less than circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the expandable member.
US09072535B2 Surgical stapling instruments with rotatable staple deployment arrangements
A surgical stapling instrument. Various embodiments include an actuation system for selectively generating a plurality of control motions. A surgical end effector is operably coupled to the actuation system. The actuation system interfaces with an actuation member configured to operably engage rotatable camming members to fire staples within the end effector into forming contact with an anvil portion of the end effector.
US09072532B2 Energy delivery systems and uses thereof
The present invention relates to comprehensive systems, devices and methods for delivering energy to tissue for a wide variety of applications, including medical procedures (e.g., tissue ablation, resection, cautery, vascular thrombosis, treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and dysrhythmias, electrosurgery, tissue harvest, etc.). In certain embodiments, systems, devices, and methods are provided for treating a tissue region (e.g., a tumor) through application of energy.
US09072528B2 Instrument and method to enhance articular cartilage regeneration
A perforation instrument and method of using same, including a shaft capable of being inserted into a joint of a patient, having a longitudinal axis, and carrying at least one piercing member, each piercing member having a tip suitable to pierce sub-chondral bone. The instrument is capable of being altered between an exposed condition wherein the tip of the at least one piercing member is exposed and a safety condition wherein the tip of the at least one piercing member is not capable of piercing tissue.
US09072523B2 Medical device with feature for sterile acceptance of non-sterile reusable component
An apparatus maintains the sterility of a medical device while providing for the insertion of an insertable component into the medical device. The apparatus includes a medical device having a housing sized to contain the insertable component, an active feature, a cap, and a hinge member. A container encases the medical device within a device recess, a cap recess, and a container cover. The insertable component may be inserted into the housing while limiting potential contact with the exterior of the medical device. An alternative assembly comprises an insertion assembly having a handle and the insertable component detachably attached thereto. The medical device comprises a housing, an active feature, and a flexible member. An insertion tube is insertable within the flexible member to limit contact when the insertable component is inserted into the housing. Yet another configuration includes a resiliently hinged door assembly releasable by a release button.
US09072515B2 Surgical stapling apparatus
A surgical stapling apparatus is disclosed. A surgical stapling apparatus is disclosed. Also disclosed is a surgical instrument system, comprising a handle, comprising a rotary motion input configured to generate a rotary motion and a selector assembly configured to selectively transmit the rotary motion generated by the rotary motion input to the firing system and the articulation system.
US09072514B2 Shape memory filament for suture management
A member of a rigid flexible elastic material, the member including a body portion and an aperture portion with the member adapted for delivery through an axial longitudinal channel of a percutaneous delivery subsystem, the aperture portion including an expanded mode having a lateral dimension greater than an inner diameter of the channel when the aperture portion extends outside the channel and a collapsed mode wherein the lateral dimension is not greater than the inner diameter of the channel when the aperture portion is within the channel, the channel including a first axial opening and a second axial opening with the aperture portion transitioning from the expanded mode to the collapsed mode when inserted into the openings and the aperture transitioning from the collapsed mode to the expanded mode when exiting from the openings.
US09072512B2 Safety suture cutting device and method
A sheath for use with a scalpel cutting device including a sheath body configured to cover a scalpel blade at a distal end of a scalpel cutting device. The sheath advantageously includes a slot formed therein that extends from a first end at an edge of the sheath body to a second end adjacent the scalpel blade so that the slot intersects the blade and the blade is exposed only within the second end of the slot. The slot is configured such that an angle between a guiding side wall of the slot and the scalpel blade at the point of intersection is greater than 105° and less than 180°. In another embodiment, the ratio of the length of the shortest side wall to slot width is at least 2.
US09072506B1 Biopsy apparatus including a biopsy device having a sample receiving notch with a tissue anchor
A biopsy device includes a sample receiving notch formed in an elongate member. The sample receiving notch defines a side port adjacent the outer surface. The sample receiving notch extends inwardly from the side port toward a longitudinal axis and terminates at a sample floor in an interior of the elongate member. The sample receiving notch has a proximal end wall separated from a distal end wall along the longitudinal axis. The floor extends between the proximal end wall and the distal end wall. A tissue anchor has a cantilever portion and a head portion at a free end of the cantilever portion. The cantilever portion extends from a distal portion of the elongate member adjacent to the sample receiving notch toward the proximal end wall of the sample receiving notch. The head portion has a sharp tip that extends from the cantilever portion toward the sample floor.
US09072496B2 Method and system for modeling and processing fMRI image data using a bag-of-words approach
Systems and methods for processing image data are provided. A computer implemented method for processing image data, comprises gathering 4-D image data from a subject, extracting time series data, and spatial and degree data of each voxel of the subject, deriving at least one feature from the time series data, deriving at least one feature from the spatial and degree data, combining the at least one feature from the time series data, and the at least one feature from the spatial and degree data to generate combined data, and inputting the combined data to a classifier, wherein the classifier outputs a classification based on the combined data.
US09072493B1 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and elastic evaluation method
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and a method having a highly-reliable elastic evaluation unit for tissues. The invention includes a signal processing unit that processes received data obtained after ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received to/from an inspection target through a probe. An ROI detection unit of the processing unit obtains a distance index indicating a region proper for an elastic evaluation based on brightness distribution of the received data obtained by transmitting and receiving first ultrasonic waves to/from the probe, and sets an ROI based on the distance index. Then, second ultrasonic waves are transmitted to the ROI to generate shear waves. An elastic evaluation unit calculates a shear wave velocity based on received data obtained by transmitting and receiving third ultrasonic waves in the ROI, and outputs the shear wave velocity and an elastic evaluation value of the ROI as a reliability index.
US09072492B2 Quantification analysis of immobilized contrast agent in medical imaging applications
An embodiment analyzes a body part of a patient, which patient is perfused with a contrast agent that is capable of circulating within the patient and of being substantially immobilized on a biological target. An embodiment of a corresponding system provides an echo signal that is indicative of a response over time to an interrogation signal of the body part, fits the echo signal with a time model function that models an evolution over time of the contrast agent in the body part, the time model function including a combination of a circulation function that models the circulation of the contrast agent and a decay function that models a decay of the echo signal from the immobilized contrast agent, and estimates at least one kinetics indicator of the contrast agent from the time model function.
US09072479B2 Variable control for handheld device
A handheld device includes a capacitance sensing variable control that detects the presence of and movement of a user's finger on an external surface of the device. The handheld device also includes a variable output power supply and an electronic device that is powered by the variable output power supply. Upon detection of the movement on the external surface of the device, the output of the variable output power supply is adjusted. The adjusted output changes the operation of the electronic device.
US09072475B2 Splittable needle with fiber probe
A needle comprises an elongated first shaft element with a C-shaped cross section and an elongated second shaft element with a C-shaped cross section. The first shaft element and the second shaft element are adapted to be detachably connected to each other. This is achieved by an overlap of respective end sections of the first and second shaft elements. Within the channel formed by the shaft elements, an optical probe may be accommodated from which the shaft elements may be removed by separating the two shaft elements from each other.
US09072465B2 Blink detection system for electronic ophthalmic lens
A blink detection algorithm and associated circuitry for an ophthalmic lens comprising an electronic system is described herein. The blink detection algorithm is implemented in the system controller which is part of an electronic system incorporated into the ophthalmic lens. The electronic system includes one or more batteries or other power sources, power management circuitry, one or more sensors, clock generation circuitry, control algorithms and circuitry, and lens driver circuitry. The blink detection algorithm implements the steps of sampling, at a predetermined rate, light incident on an eye of an individual and at least temporarily saving collected samples, determining when an eyelid is open or closed in order to divine the number, time period and pulse width of the blinks from the collected samples, calculating a number of blinks and the duration of the blinks in a given time period, and comparing the number of blinks, the durations of the blinks in the given time period, and the time between blinks in the given time period to a stored set of samples to determine patterns in blinking.
US09072460B2 Optical coherence tomography device and optical coherence tomography method
The present invention relates to an optical coherence tomography device and an optical coherence tomography method using same for capturing the cornea and the retina of the eye by using light sources in respectively different wavelength ranges. According to the present invention, included are two light sources, a first interferometer and a second interferometer for generating respectively different interference patterns by the light outputted from each of the light sources, and interference pattern detection means for detecting an interference pattern occurring in each interferometer.
US09072456B2 Modular headrest and multi-light apparatus
A multi-light apparatus (10) for primary use in dental or medicinal operatory workspaces and for interconnection with a modular operating chair (12), so as to form the headrest thereof, preferably includes first and second radiation sources (36,72) and a selection mechanism (70) for selecting a desired radiation source, a rigidly flexible light pipe (16) that may be alternatively coupled to each light source (36,72) and is configured to transmit selected radiation to a patient (14), a reflective surface (78) configured to direct the selected radiation to the pipe (16), a power supply (50), a cooling fan (56), and at least one potentiometer (66,68) for varying the voltage delivered to the sources (36,72) and fan (56).
US09072449B2 Wearable/man-portable electromagnetic tomographic imaging
A system for wearable/man-portable electromagnetic tomographic imaging includes a wearable/man-portable boundary apparatus adapted to receive a biological object within, a position determination system, electromagnetic transmitting/receiving hardware, and a hub computer system. The electromagnetic transmitting/receiving hardware collectively generates an electromagnetic field that passes into the boundary apparatus and receives the electromagnetic field after being scattered/interferenced by the biological object within. The hub computer system performs electromagnetic tomographic imaging based on the received electromagnetic field.
US09072446B2 Laryngoscope and method of use
A laryngoscope device for use in the performance of direct laryngoscopy, the device including a laryngoscope blade portion connectable to a laryngoscope handle through a connector, the laryngoscope blade comprising an ultraviolet light, a white light and an imaging or viewing device at the same distance relative to the distal end of the laryngoscope blade.
US09072441B2 Method and apparatus for imaging using multiple imaging detectors
An imaging system comprises a plurality of imaging detectors for acquiring imaging data. The plurality of imaging detectors is configurable to be arranged proximate to an anatomy of interest within a patient. Each of the plurality of imaging detectors has a field of view (FOV) and at least a portion of the plurality of imaging detectors image the anatomy of interest within the respective FOV. A processor receives the imaging data and processes the imaging data to form a multi-dimensional dataset having at least three dimensions.
US09072435B2 Blood pressure measuring apparatus
Adaptive attachments used in combination with a blood pressure cuff enable various blood pressure measurements to be taken in a hospital or other setting having various single and/or dual lumen manual or electronic blood pressure measuring equipment with a single, patient-worn cuff.
US09072434B2 Methods, systems and apparatuses for night and day corrective ophthalmic prescription
One exemplary embodiment is a method for determining an ophthalmic prescription. An examination room is lighted to simulate daytime viewing and a conventional eye chart is used as a visual stimulus. A first corrective spherical lens power is determined by varying spherical lens power and identifying when perceived vision is best. The examination room is kept dark to simulate nighttime viewing conditions. The visual stimulus utilized is a white point source on a dark background, or a self illuminated symbol on a dark background. A second corrective spherical lens powered is determined by varying spherical lens power and identifying when perceived vision is best. An ophthalmic prescription such as one or more lenses, one or more surgical corrections or a combinations thereof is provided including a first corrective component including the first preferred spherical lens power, and a second corrective component including the second preferred spherical lens power.
US09072430B2 System for identifying, inspecting, and examining a radiographically labeled specimen
An apparatus for determining the location of a radio-opaque marker embedded in an excised specimen includes a radio-opaque marker including an energy beacon that can be embedded in the specimen, an energy beacon controller, at least three detectors, a signal processing component, and a display device. An associated method is disclosed. A method for evaluating a radiographically labeled excised specimen involves determining the location of a radio-opaque marker embedded in the excised specimen, anatomically sectioning the excised specimen, macro-optically segmenting the sectioned specimen into an adipose tissue component, a fibrous tissue component, and an epithelial tissue component, and microscopically examining at least one of the tissue components. An associated apparatus is disclosed.
US09072425B1 Method of providing a proper on-site evidence chain for a combined drug test/DNA preservation protocol
A combination of an on-site drug testing protocol and effective secure evidentiary procedure to ensure veracity and chain of possession for prosecution purposes is provided. Additionally, the procedural method includes a combined secure adhesive attachment to a drug test that serves as both an information collector and preservation device. The overall method thus includes steps of having a test subject apply oral fluids to a test device, covering and sealing the device, and taking real-time information and photographs into a time-stamp system and supplying such information and photographs instantly to a secure database. The oral fluids are thus preserved by the information-providing seal under a proper cover component to ensure DNA material is permitted for authenticity purposes as well. The overall protocol thus accords an all-encompassing evidentiary chain model at a highly trustworthy level if needed in a courtroom setting.
US09072421B2 Dishwasher
There is provided a dishwasher. The dishwasher includes a tub for receiving dishes, a steam generation unit provided at an outside of the tub and generating steam that will be supplied to the tub, a steam passage along which the steam generated from the steam generation unit is supplied to the tub, and a chamber for storing water used for generating the steam.
US09072419B1 Apparatus to remove a disposable cloth from a hand operated sweeping mop applicator without having to touch the disposable cloth
A mop with a disposable cloth retaining assembly where the cloth is retained by cloth retaining members attached to the bottom of attaching plates on a main body, with a right and left cloth releasing plate between the main body and the cleaning cloth, the cloth releasing plates retained in a closed position against the main body by ratchet teeth engaged in notches of a respective notched collar to overcome a force of downward force compression springs. When a retaining force is removed, the downward spring force of force compression springs causes the cloth releasing plate to move away from the main body, the downward movement of the cloth releasing plate being limited. The cleaning cloth is separated from the cloth retaining members so that the dirty cleaning cloth falls away.
US09072416B2 Vacuum cleaner agitator cleaner with brushroll lifting mechanism
A vacuum cleaner having a base, an agitator, a motor, an agitator cleaner, first and second support assemblies, and an actuator. The agitator cleaner is movable to be spaced from the agitator or to engage the agitator to remove debris while the motor rotates the agitator. The support assemblies collectively support the base on a surface to be cleaned, and the first support assembly is movable between a raised position in which the agitator is proximal to the surface and a lowered position in which the agitator is spaced from the surface. The actuator is movable between an idle position and an operative position. The actuator has a first controller to move the agitator cleaner into the first position when the actuator is in the idle position, and a second controller to move the first support assembly to the lowered position when the actuator is in the operative position.
US09072415B2 Bare floor vacuum cleaner
A housing has a suction inlet thereon and a suction source associated with the housing, in fluid communication with the suction inlet to produce a working airflow therethrough and a dirt container in fluid communication with the suction inlet and suction source. The housing further comprises a body defined by a central portion and a pair of extension arms that extend laterally outwardly from the central portion, wherein each extension comprises a mount, which receives a rotatable agitator thereon. A drive assembly is configured to counter-rotate each agitator with respect to the other agitator, and wherein the suction inlet is positioned on the housing rearward of, and between, each of the axes of rotation of each agitator. The counter-rotating agitators are operable to cooperate with the suction source to direct dust and debris outside the periphery of the housing along a converging debris path, towards the suction inlet.
US09072414B2 Standup pouch with dispensing fitment
A dispensing package preferably for containing and dispensing a roll of pre-moistened wipes. The dispensing package includes a standup pouch that defines an open interior for containing the roll of wipes. The standup pouch defines an open top end that receives a dispensing fitment. The dispensing fitment includes a reclosable lid that can be opened and closed to provide access to the open interior of the standup pouch. The dispensing fitment includes an attachment flange used to attach the dispensing fitment to the standup pouch. The attachment flange can be attached to the flexible pouch either through a heat seal or a mechanical attachment. The mechanical attachment can be created through use of a locking ring that entraps the flexible packaging material of the standup pouch between the attachment flange and the locking ring.
US09072410B2 Spatula for cylindrical container
An embodiment includes a spatula with a handle and a blade. The blade includes a first blade end, an interior rigid section, a flexible straight edge, and two flexible opposing edges. At the first blade end, the blade is attached to the handle. The interior rigid section extends from the first blade end and has a substantially rectangular transverse profile. The flexible straight edge is located along the second blade end positioned opposite the first blade end. The two flexible opposing edges are substantially perpendicular to the first blade end and the second blade end and are curved in opposing directions. The interior rigid section encompasses a portion of the blade between the first blade end and the flexible straight edge and between the two flexible opposing edges. The flexible straight edge and the two flexible opposing edges deform under less stress than the interior rigid section.
US09072408B2 Fitting part for attachment to a cooking or roasting vessel
The invention relates to a fitting part (01) for manually handling a useful object, in particular a cooking or roasting vessel, having a carrying part (02) which can be fixedly connected to the wall of the object or of the vessel or is a constituent part of the wall, having a handle part (07) which can be pushed onto the carrying part (02) in a joining direction and can be detachably attached thereto, having a latching device, in which the latching element can be moved from an unlocked position and into a locked position by means of a spring force, wherein the latching element in the locked position bears with a latching surface against an abutment in order to prevent the handle part (07) from being removed from the carrying part (02), wherein an operating element for unlocking the latching device is provided, the operating element and the abutment being arranged on the handle part (07) and the latching element being arranged on the carrying part (02).
US09072402B2 Capsule with relief-shaped sealing member
The present invention proposes a capsule for containing beverage ingredients, the capsule being designed for insertion in a beverage production device, the capsule comprising a cup-like body portion, a flange-like rim portion, a delivery wall and a sealing member having—in a radial cross sectional view—at least one protrusion and/or recession.
US09072400B2 Dark colored easy-to-clean enamel
A composition that upon firing, forms a low-temperature clean enamel layer is disclosed. The composition can be applied to a metal substrate to provide a low-temperature cleaning, durable coating for cooking surfaces. Also disclosed are methods of forming enamel layers and corresponding coated substrates. Various ground coats and related methods are also described. Furthermore, various multilayer coatings and structures are disclosed that include an enamel layer and a ground coat layer.
US09072399B2 Boil-tolerant cookware
In some embodiments, a cooking utensil comprises a pot with a lid that divides a cooking chamber in the pot from a condensing chamber above the lid. To prevent boil-over, one or more openings in the lid and/or openings radially between the lid and the pot convey bidirectional flow between the cooking and condensing chambers. Boiling liquid/vapor foam from the cooking chamber flows upward through the opening to the condensing chamber. Upon subsequently flowing across an upper surface of the lid, the liquid/foam condenses and then returns through the opening to the cooking chamber. In some examples, the cookware includes both a mechanical seal and a liquid seal between the lid and the pot. In some embodiments, a single opening in the lid maximizes the lid's condensing surface while still allowing sufficient flow between the cooking and condensing chambers. Such a single opening also makes the cookware easy to clean.
US09072397B2 Compression sock aid
Disclosed is a compression sock aid device having a left and right double paneled structure hingedly connected to one another, wherein a spring member provides outward bias to facilitate opening of the device and the spreading of sock material placed thereover. Rope handles with gripping portions and associated hook notch closure means are provided, along with friction pads and thumb grips to facilitate the application of compression stockings and tight fitting hosiery onto the leg of the wearer. The hosiery is placed over the device while the spring member and hinged connection enable the opening of the hosiery placed thereon. The device is secured using the rope handle that includes a fastening ball, wherein the rope handle is placed into an opposing hook notch to resist the outward bias of the spring member. The inner panels support the hosiery away from the user's skin while the inner panels slide thereagainst.
US09072396B1 Antimicrobial screening runner and mat
A runner or mat for use in a screening area includes a carpet, an anti-microbial agent coating the carpet, a film having an anti-microbial agent, and an adhesive adhering the film to the anti-microbial treated carpet. The runner or mat can have indicia, such as an outline of a pair of feet, soles of shoes or advertising, provided thereon. The runner or mat protects people from foot infections when walking barefoot or with socks through the screening area.
US09072388B1 Bedding foundation having nestably stackable spring assembly having reduced sway
A bedding foundation having a nestably stackable spring assembly, including a border wire. The foundation's spring assembly may be nestably stacked with numerous other such assemblies for transportation, thereby avoiding the need to compress and tie the assembly for shipping. Each spring assembly includes support wires having alternating peaks and valleys along with stabilizer wires having alternating peaks and valleys. The valleys of the stabilizer wires are secured to the valleys of the support wires. The peaks of the stabilizer wires are secured to longitudinal wires extending parallel the sides of the border wire.
US09072385B2 Portable packable reusable storage device
A portable packable reusable storage device for attachment to a support structure comprising: an article holding portion; a suspension portion connected with the article holding portion for removably attaching the storage device to the support structure; wherein the device is configured to include a deployed state that includes a deployed state volume for containing articles and the device collapses and packs into a packed state and includes a packed state volume that is about 50 percent or less (e.g. about 40 percent or less, about 30 percent or less, preferably about 20 percent or less, or more preferably about 10 percent or less) of the deployed state volume (e.g., volume as discussed herein is the amount of a fluid that the container can hold rather than the amount of space the container itself displaces); and wherein the suspension portion includes ends that form connection so that the storage device attaches to the support structure.
US09072381B2 Wall mounted assembly
A wall assembly includes at least one horizontally extending rail having a rear surface adapted to engage the wall. A plurality of horizontally spaced and vertically extending stiles are coupled to the rail, with the stiles disposed forwardly of the rear surface of the rail. A plurality of interface components are coupled to the plurality of stiles. In various embodiments, the stiles may be interconnected to draw together adjacent interface components. The interface components also may include overlapping upper and lower edges. The stiles may be vertically and/or horizontally (laterally and longitudinally) adjustable relative to the rail. A lock member may be provided to secure at least one of the stiles to the rail. Various systems and methods of assembly and use are also provided.
US09072376B2 Teaching station with an adjustable lectern section
This disclosure relates to a teaching station that includes a lectern section and a desktop. A method for adjusting a lectern portion of a teacher's station is provided. The method may include releasing a lock wherein the lock, when engaged, fixes the position of the lectern portion with respect to the teacher's station. In response to releasing the lock, the method may further include adjusting a height of the lectern portion relative to a desktop portion of the teacher's station, while maintaining an angle of the of a table-top of the lectern portion in a fixed orientation with respect to the desktop. The method may further include applying the lock to fix the height of the portion of the table-top.
US09072375B1 Corded wall assembly adapted for installation at an article storage space
A corded wall assembly is adapted for installation at an article storage space defined by at least two opposing spaced-apart structural elements. The corded wall assembly includes first and second elongated rigid frame members, and a plurality of elastic cords attached at respective opposite ends to the frame members. Mounting elements attach the first and second frame members to respective spaced-apart structural elements of the article storage space.
US09072370B2 User health profiles derived from oral care implements
A computer-implemented method includes a step of presenting an indication of a health profile of a person based on information obtained from an oral care implement. Also, a method includes displaying an indication of a history of the health profile of a a person based on second information previously received from the oral care implement.
US09072367B2 Fully enclosed four season camp hammock
A camp hammock in which the fabric of the hammock bed is cut in such a way that once the hammock is suspended between to points it allows areas of the diagonal axis of the hammock, where the occupants head and lower legs will be positioned, to hang lower than the opposing diagonal axis which crosses under the occupants lower torso. Once the fabric gives under the torso, the legs are now inline. This hammock can also be enclosed with a top enclosure to trap body heat and a bed liner that will hold an insulating pad with side pockets to hold clothing that will act to retain heat while camping in cold temperatures. This hammock may also have a gear loft attached to the ridgeline seam for storing gear. A rain fly with an adjustable peak and end walls with rain sleeves protects the hammock in wet weather.
US09072360B2 Multi-layered compacts with rotating tiers
Cosmetic and/or personal care compacts having a multi-tiered design. The tiers are able to rotate relative to each other between defined configurations of the compact. When in any one of its defined configurations, the compact has the same overall shape, for example, a prism. The rotation feature also allows the visual impact of the compact to be varied while maintaining the overall shape of the compact, and is a novelty for a user.
US09072359B2 Wig drying apparatus and method
A wig drying apparatus and method are provided, the apparatus being adapted to support a wig and which may be used to direct air currents upward such that a wig may be dried quickly and easily without damaging the wig or unduly altering the wig's outer appearance, comprises, a stand adapted to hold a wig, the stand comprising a main body member comprising a base and a neck member, and upper members comprising a central member and side members. The neck member comprises a base tube comprising a base opening. The base opening is adapted to accept a hose/outlet portion of a dryer. In the preferred embodiment, the device's shape is generally that of a human head and neck. In one embodiment, the central member and base tube are removable and may be used to dry a wig not supported by the remaining portions of the stand.
US09072356B2 Hair clip
A hair clip for styling hair comprising a pair of clipping elements with two to three clipping fingers having toothed ridges and/or an overlay of rubbery material, with or without holes in the center of the clipping fingers, to facilitate gripping and holding hair strands and segments of hair on the head while blow drying wet or semi-wet hair to create volume and height to the resulting hair style without the use of mousse or gels. The hair clip is configured with an elastic connecting arrangement comprised of the thumb and forefinger grips of the clipping elements held together by a torsion spring or other compatible spring at the base of the hair clip.
US09072354B1 Hair wrap
A method for grooming hair or fur, which includes the step of bundling the hair or the fur with a band including a self fusing silicone tape. The self fusing silicone tape adheres only to itself and not to any other objects so as to allow the self fusing silicone tape to wrap around the hair or the fur and be maintained therearound by merely adhering to itself, thereby eliminating a need for any foreign adherents and damage to the hair or the fur caused thereby.
US09072346B2 Buckle
A buckle for use with a safety harness includes a plurality of slots each for receiving an end of a harness belt section, each slot having associated therewith a retainer which is moveable into and out of engagement with an abutment surface defined by the end of a belt section, first bias elements normally to urge the retainers to move to a position at which they each engage with an abutment surface of the end of a belt section following insertion into a slot, at least one of the retainers having associated therewith a lever which is pivotable against the action of the first bias elements to move the retainer to a release position at which it is free from engagement with the abutment surface, and an actuation member operable to act on the or each lever whereby the or each lever moves a retainer to the release position.
US09072335B1 Knitted component for an article of footwear including a full monofilament upper
An article of footwear including a full monofilament upper is described. The full monofilament upper incorporates a knitted component including a monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element is formed by knitting with a monofilament strand. The monofilament knit element is formed of unitary knit construction with the remaining portions of the knitted component, including peripheral portions that are knit using a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn. An inlaid tensile element can extend through the knitted component, including portions of the monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element may be knitted with a monofilament strand according to a variety of knit structures.
US09072333B2 Article of footwear with forefoot secondary studs
An article of footwear that provides friction between the playing surface and the player's foot is disclosed. In some embodiments, the article footwear includes a sole may have a plurality of wedge-shaped studs in the forefoot region that extend beyond the perimeter of the sole. The article can also include a plurality of elongated studs on a bottom surface region of the sole. The wedge-shaped studs help provide leverage for removing the elongated studs from the ground during cutting.
US09072329B2 Fastening system for decorative and functional elements on a helmet
A fastening system is provided that detachably connects two hose-shaped or strip-shaped decorative or functional elements to a helmet. The decorative or functional elements are arranged symmetrically to the centerline of the helmet on the helmet shell so as to extend from the front to the temple area of the wearer to neck area of the wearer. Connecting elements of the fastening are detachably connected to the helmet shell or the helmet. The connecting elements are hooks that are connected fixedly to the decorative or functional element and are hooked in the helmet shell.
US09072328B2 Hinged attachment of headgear to a helmet
A hinge mechanism for attaching ear accessories to a helmet allows an accessory to be attached at a point outside the helmet shell utilizing, for example, a slidable mounting rail, and to reach under the edge of the helmet shell so that the accessory is supported in contact with the wearer's head. The hinge mechanism is well suited for use in connection with military helmets that have a “bulge” or protrusion over the ear.
US09072319B2 Rolling paper structures for creating smoking articles and gummed, coiled inserts for same
Aspects of the invention generally provide methods and structures for paper structures used by an end user to create a cigar or cigarette with gummed, coiled inserts. In one aspect, a rolling paper structure is provided including a first paper section having a first height, a second paper section coupled to the first paper section and the second paper section having a second height longer than the first height, and an optional adhesive disposed on the second paper section. The rolling paper structure may be folded between the first paper section and the second paper section having a portion extending beyond the first paper section. A gummed, coiled insert for rolling paper structures is also provided.
US09072311B2 Absorption of fat-soluble nutrients
Carotenoids are provided as dietary supplements to animal feed. These supplements improve the bioavailability of carotenoids by providing them in combination with phospholipids. The invention provides animal feeds for aquatic and terrestrial animals, and methods for making the feeds.
US09072310B2 Dry food product containing live probiotic
The disclosure relates to a probiotic delivery system that can be consumed as a snack-food or added to a food product. In particular, the disclosure describes a crisp and tasty treat that comprises viable probiotic microorganisms preserved in a vacuum dried matrix of sugars, proteins, and polysaccharides. The probiotic remain viable within the treat for a longer time without the need for additional moisture barrier coating. The probiotic also remain viable in the animal gastrointestinal tract.
US09072306B2 Method for the pre- or post-harvest treatment of plant products, using phosphonic acid and an essential oil
The invention relates to the pre- or post harvest fungicidal and/or bactericidal treatment of plant products, using at least phosphonic acid that is at least partially salified and eugenol or clove oil, at ambient temperature, as well as to the compositions suitable for said method.
US09072301B2 Fungicidal pyrimidine compounds
The present invention relates to fungicidal pyrimidine compounds I, to their use and to methods for combating phytopathogenic fungi. The present invention also relates to seeds treated with at least one such compound. Furthermore the invention relates to processes for preparing compounds of formula I.
US09072296B2 Transdermal venous access locking solutions
Microbial growth inhibiting solutions and methods of employing the microbial growth inhibiting solutions in flushing and coating medical devices are disclosed. In alternative embodiments, the microbial growth inhibiting solutions include combinations of a chelating agent with a C4-C9 carboxylate antimicrobial agent, for example, such as n-octanoic acid. Methods of using these microbial growth inhibiting solutions for coating a medical device and for inhibiting catheter infection are also disclosed.
US09072281B2 Method and device for destroying parasites on fish
Device for destroying parasites on fish, such as salmon lice on salmon in fish farms, comprising a camera (4) communicating with a controlling unit (51) which in turn communicates with a light source (5) adapted to fire pulses of point shaped light which is harmful for the parasite in question. The controlling unit (51) controls a system for optical recognition within a defined coordinate system and is arranged to detect points and to update in real time coordinates that exhibits contrast differences typical for parasites on a fish surface and to trigger a light pulse from the light source (5) when the coordinates for at detected point coincides with the coordinates for the aiming point of the light source.
US09072277B2 Adjustable mattress with interchangeable foam springs
An aspect of the present invention relates to a method and system of receiving information of a user's support facility comfort requirements; using a software application to determine a proper support facility firmness configuration to match the user's requirement; selecting foam springs with the proper user required firmness as determined by the software application; and configuring the selected foam springs within the support facility to match the user's firmness requirements.
US09072275B2 Panoramic pet view
The Panoramic Pet View is a new approach to allowing pets to look through a wall or a fence. It provides a 180 degree view for the pet, and the pet can turn its head inside of the Panoramic Pet View. The design of this device allows the pet to hear sound as well as seeing in all directions including up and down.
US09072273B2 Automatic dairy animal milker unit backflusher and teat dip applicator system and method
A system for cleaning a dairy animal milker unit and applying dip to a dairy animal, the system includes a main control, an air supply, a water supply, a backflush fluid supply, a dip supply, a stall control for receiving the air, water, backflush fluid and dip supplies, and a safety valve that is adjacent to a downstream portion of the milker unit to control backflush and dip fluids being fed to the milker unit.
US09072270B2 Watermelon variety TCS-EJ09137
The invention provides seed and plants of the watermelon line designated TCS-EJ09137. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of watermelon line TCS-EJ09137, and to methods for producing a watermelon plant produced by crossing a plant of watermelon line TCS-EJ09137 with itself or with another watermelon plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of watermelon line TCS-EJ09137, including the fruits and gametes of such plants.
US09072265B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH375520
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH375520. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH375520, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH375520 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH375520.
US09072259B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH066104
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH066104. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH066104, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH066104 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH066104.
US09072251B2 Soybean cultivar S120097
A soybean cultivar designated S120097 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S120097, to the plants of soybean cultivar S120097, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S120097, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S120097. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S120097. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S120097, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S120097 with another soybean cultivar.
US09072246B2 Plants and seeds of corn variety CV723321
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV723321. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV723321, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV723321 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV723321 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV723321.
US09072245B2 Plants and seeds of canola variety SCV822805
In an embodiment, the invention relates to the seeds, plants, and plant parts of canola variety SCV822805 and to methods for producing a canola plant produced by crossing canola variety SCV822805 with itself or with another canola variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a canola plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic canola plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to canola varieties or breeding lines and plant parts derived from canola variety SCV822805, to methods for producing other canola varieties, lines or plant parts derived from canola variety SCV822805 and to the canola plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid canola seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the variety SCV822805 with another canola variety.
US09072244B2 Plants and seeds of canola variety SCV569538
In an embodiment, the invention relates to the seeds, plants, and plant parts of canola variety SCV569538 and to methods for producing a canola plant produced by crossing canola variety SCV569538 with itself or with another canola variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a canola plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic canola plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to canola varieties or breeding lines and plant parts derived from canola variety SCV569538, to methods for producing other canola varieties, lines or plant parts derived from canola variety SCV569538 and to the canola plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid canola seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the variety SCV569538 with another canola variety.
US09072241B2 Plants and seeds of corn variety CV454023
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV454023. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV454023, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV454023 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV454023 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV454023.
US09072233B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH296980
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH296980. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH296980, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH296980 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH296980.
US09072232B2 Plants and seeds of corn variety CV150221
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV150221. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV150221, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV150221 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV150221 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV150221.
US09072231B2 Plants and seeds of corn variety CV251849
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV251849. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV251849, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV251849 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV251849 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV251849.
US09072228B1 Method of treating mulch
The present invention provides a method of treating mulch by applying an adhesive composition to bulk mulch and then bagging the treated mulch before the adhesive cures. The bagged mulch is later transported to a desired location and arranged into a mulch bed, and the adhesive cures by exposure to air and sunlight, thereby holding the mulch in place and preventing undesirable movement.
US09072226B2 Baler attachment for optionally changing the orientation of bales being released from a baler
A bale turning apparatus for attachment to a baler to generally align the cylindrical of the bales in each row as the bales are released from the baler. Using the disclosed invention, the bales are essentially turned ninety degrees from the orientation of bales from the position that they are typically released from a round baler. By accomplishing this general alignment of the cylindrical axis of each bale in each row, when baling corn stover or other row crops, the bale loading operation can later be done more efficiently by driving down the rows in the same direction as the combine and baler have traveled.
US09072220B2 Agricultural harvester drive line
A power conveying system for use with a header of an agricultural harvester, the header having a first structural member and a second structural member being pivotally coupled to the first structural member about an axis. The power conveying system including a driving pulley, a driven pulley, an idler pulley, a flexible link and a cantilevered member. The driving pulley is coupled to the first structural member, and the driven pulley is coupled to the second structural member. The flexible link conveys power from the driving pulley to the driven pulley, and is in contact with the idler pulley. The cantilevered member is connected to the second structural member, and extends beyond the axis, where the cantilevered member is movably coupled to the idler pulley.
US09072219B2 Robotic mower navigation system
A robotic mower navigation system includes a plurality of sensors on a robotic mower that detect strength and polarity of a magnetic field from an electric current through a boundary wire. An electronic control unit receives data concerning the magnetic field from the plurality of sensors as the robotic mower follows the boundary wire, tracks the data provided by the sensors, compares the data with a reference pattern that defines at least one specified feature of the boundary wire, and provides commands to the robotic mower based on the comparison. The electronic control unit may command the robotic mower to follow a second boundary wire to a remotely located charging station instead of the first boundary wire based on detected features of the boundary wire such as sharp corners or crossings.
US09072216B2 Conduit system for a pneumatic distribution system of an agricultural implement
A pneumatic distribution system for an agricultural implement includes an inductor box having output ports and row units configured to receive an agricultural product and airflow from the output ports. A conduit system extends between the output ports of the inductor box and the row units. The conduit system is configured to direct the agricultural product and the airflow from each output port to a respective row unit. The conduit system includes a first conduit assembly extending between a first output port and a first row unit. The conduit system also includes a second conduit assembly extending between a second output port and a second row unit. A first average diameter of the first conduit assembly is smaller than a second average diameter of the second conduit assembly by at least approximately one percent.
US09078373B1 Integrated circuit structures having off-axis in-hole capacitor and methods of forming
Various embodiments include integrated circuit structures having an off-axis in-hole capacitor. In some embodiments, an integrated circuit (IC) structure includes: a substrate layer having an upper surface; an IC chip at least partially contained within the substrate layer and aligned with a minor axis perpendicular to the upper surface of the substrate layer; an aperture in the substrate layer, the aperture physically separated from the IC chip; and a capacitor in the aperture and at least partially contained within the substrate layer, the capacitor being physically isolated from the IC chip, wherein the capacitor is aligned with an axis perpendicular to the upper surface of the substrate layer and offset from the minor axis of the IC chip.
US09078368B2 Cross-jump supporting I/O module and electrical contact element
Implementations herein relate to an input/output (I/O) module which can be grouped to form several modules next to each other on a mounting rail, and which can be electrically connected to each other by means of blade/fork contacts. The blade contact element and the fork contact element of the blade/fork contact are designed in such a manner that it is not necessary to group the modules before the assembly on the mounting rail. Instead, subsequent I/O modules can be added to the top or the side of the existing group. Similarly, it is possible to take out or replace individual modules subsequently. Further implementations relate to electrical contact elements for achieving cross jumping between I/O modules. Here, for example, such electrical contact element may be designed as a combined blade-fork contact element.
US09078362B2 Flexible display device
A flexible display device is disclosed. In one aspect, the flexible display device includes a flexible display panel and a printed circuit board attached to the flexible display panel. The printed circuit board includes a flexible area attached to a portion of the flexible display panel. The flexible area of the printed circuit board and the portion of the flexible display panel are configured to be deformed together.
US09078361B2 Assembly, component for an assembly and method of manufacturing an assembly
An assembly is provided of an electro-physical transducer (10) on a flexible foil (20) with a carrier (40). The flexible foil (20) has a first main surface (22) provided with at least a first electrically conductive track (24) connected to the electro-physical transducer and opposite said first main surface a second main surface (23) facing towards the carrier. At least a first incision (25a) extends through the flexible foil alongside said at least a first electrically conductive track, therewith defining a strip shaped portion (27) of the flexible foil that carries a portion of the at least a first electrically conductive track. The at least a first electrically conductive track is electrically connected to an electrical conductor (421) of the carrier, and the flexible foil is attached to the carrier with its strip shaped portion.
US09078351B2 Grounding gasket and electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, a grounding gasket includes a main body and a projecting part. The main body is configured to be interposed between a ground part and a substrate and contact the ground part and the substrate. The projecting part projects from the main body. The projecting part is configured to extend through a through-hole which is opened in the substrate, project to a side opposite to a side on which the ground part is located, and contact a conductive component mounted on the substrate.
US09078349B1 Universal filler-bezel clip assembly
A filler bezel clip assembly for an electrical cabinet having a chassis mounting rail. The assembly includes: a bezel clip member for disposition on one surface of one of the rail; and, a wedge bracket member. The bezel clip member has: a slot; a hook for attachment to a bezel; and a first portion of a ratchet mechanism. The wedge bracket member is for insertion into the slot and includes: a tapered surface having a forward, narrower portion of the tapered surface for engaging an opposite surface of the rail; and a second portion of the ratchet mechanism for engagement with the first portion of a ratchet mechanism as the forward, portion of the tapered surface slides over the opposite surface of the rail during insertion of the wedge bracket member into the slot. The bezel clip member includes posts for insertion into round and square holes in the rail.
US09078346B2 Insulator protection
Insulating materials disposed within the housing are protected through the use of removable protective layers, which can be fit over the insulating components. In some embodiments, these removable protective layers are dimensioned so as to fit over the insulating components without the use of any fasteners. In other embodiments, a fastener, such as a set screw or clip, may be used to hold the removable protective layer in place. These removable protective layers can be placed over any insulating component in a housing, such as a high voltage feed through insulator. During preventative maintenance cycles, the coated removable protective layer is removed from the insulating component, and a new protective layer is used to cover the insulating component.
US09078344B2 Printed circuit board and manufacturing method thereof
A printed circuit board includes: a first insulating layer; a second insulating layer of which one surface is formed to be in contact with the other surface of the first insulating layer; a first circuit pattern formed to be embedded in one surface of the first insulating layer; a second circuit pattern formed to be embedded between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer; a third circuit pattern formed to be protruded from the other surface of the second insulating layer; and a landless fill-plating layer for filling a hole which penetrates the first insulating layer.
US09078343B2 Method for manufacturing printed wiring board
A method for manufacturing a printed wiring board including forming a penetrating hole in a core substrate, forming a first conductor on a first surface of the substrate, forming a second conductor on a second surface of the substrate, and filling a conductive material in the hole such that a through-hole conductor is formed in the hole and the first and second conductors are connected via the through-hole conductor. The forming of the hole includes forming a first opening in the first surface, forming a second opening from the bottom of the first opening toward the second surface such that the second opening has a smaller diameter than the first opening, forming a third opening in the second surface, and forming a fourth opening from the bottom of the third opening toward the first surface such that the fourth opening has a smaller diameter than the third opening.
US09078342B2 External control stand for a construction machine
An external control stand for controlling at least one working component of an self-propelled construction machine comprises at least one display panel and a plurality of input elements, the external control stand comprising at least one mounting section to mount it to the construction machine. The external control stand is characterized in that it comprises a lower shell, an upper shell, and an impact protection, the impact protection being configured to be in contact with the lower shell and the upper shell.
US09078340B2 Cabinet for an electrical switchboard and related switchboard
A cabinet for an electrical switchboard includes a supporting base and a frame mounted on the supporting base. The supporting base includes a base element having a lower wall configured to rest on a bearing surface, and a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall which protrude transversally from the lower wall and face each other. The base element includes a first upper wall protruding from an upper end of the first lateral wall towards the second lateral wall, a second upper wall protruding from an upper end of the second lateral wall towards the first lateral wall, so as to extend over at least a portion of the first upper wall. The base element also includes a coupling mechanism which couples the first and second upper walls to each other for supporting a corresponding portion of the frame.
US09078339B2 Display device, assembly method of a display device and assembly structure for use in a display
A display device is provided. The display device has an upper case, a lower case, at least one fastening unit and at least one adjustable module. The upper case and the lower case respectively have at least one first fasten hole and at least one second fasten hole. The second fasten hole coaxially communicates with the first fasten hole. Through the second fasten hole, the unit is fixed in the first fasten hole to fasten the upper case and the lower case together. The adjustable module has an adjustable unit with a through hole penetrating therethrough. Furthermore, the adjustable unit is partially disposed in the second fasten hole. By disposing the adjustable unit and the fastening unit within the second fasten hole, the display device could be made more compact and the overall cost can be decreased.
US09078334B2 Extreme ultraviolet light source devices
An extreme ultraviolet light (EUL) source device is disclosed, the device comprising: a chamber in which a gas flow and a droplet stream are provided; a droplet generator through which target material is changed into the droplet stream; and a shroud positioned along the droplet stream, the shroud shielding the droplet stream from the gas flow, wherein the droplet stream is irradiated by laser to produce plasma and generate an extreme ultraviolet light. The shroud includes flow guide surface features that guide accumulated target material away from a collector mirror that reflects and focuses the EUL.
US09078332B2 Light emitting device having a specific dimension of phosphor layer
A light emitting device includes a light emitting diode (LED); a transparent optic having a refractive index noptic; and a phosphor layer spaced apart from the LED and positioned between the LED and the transparent optic. The phosphor layer has an effective refractive index nphosphor, where a gap between the LED and the phosphor layer has a refractive index ngap that is less than nphosphor. The transparent optic has an inner convex surface in contact with the phosphor layer. The inner convex surface has an inner radius of curvature r; and an outer convex surface facing away from the phosphor layer and being a surface through which the light emitting device emits light into a medium adjacent the outer convex surface. The medium has a refractive index nmedium. The outer convex surface has an outer radius of curvature R, such that r/R is equal to nmedium/noptic.
US09078331B2 Phosphor-converted white LED with low deviation of correlated color temperature and color coordinates and method of preparing the same
A light emitting device is provided to produce white light with a stable correlated color temperature and stable color coordinates. The light emitting device includes a blue LED chip and a yellow phosphor. The blue LED chip has a peak wavelength X slightly smaller than the peak wavelength Y of the phosphor such that when the light emitting device is subjected to a predetermined operating current, the phosphor decays due to thermal effect, and the LED chip has its emission spectrum red-shifted to substantially match with the excitation spectrum of the phosphor. At this time, the excitation ability of the LED chip is increased and causes an increase of yellow power output from the phosphor that substantially compensates a decrease of yellow light output caused by the phosphor.
US09078328B2 Vehicle lighting outage detection circuit
A vehicle lighting outage detection circuit is disclosed having a plurality of parallel branches connected at a common positive reference node. Each parallel branch comprises a branch resistor and a current controlled branch switching device connected in series. A constant current source is connected to the positive reference node and configured to deliver a substantially constant current to the positive reference node. The cathode of a zener diode is connected to the positive reference node. When current to a predetermined number of the branch resistors is interrupted due to the failure one or more LEDs connected to the control inputs of the branch switching devices, the voltage at the positive reference node increases beyond the breakdown voltage of the zener diode. In such a condition, excess current flow to the anode of the zener diode to supply an outage detection signal.
US09078326B2 Dimmable LED lamp
A dimmable LED lamp, which receives power from a DC power source to emit light, includes a main body, a DC/DC converter, and a LED module; wherein the main body is hollow, and includes a conductive portion made of a conductive material, wherein the conductive portion is connected to the DC power source; the DC/DC converter is provided in the main body, and is electrically connected to the conductive portion of the main body to receive a power from at least a DC power source; the DC/DC converter converts a voltage of the power provided by the DC power source into a corresponding current; the LED module is provided on the main body, and is electrically connected to the DC/DC converter to emit light with luminance corresponding to the current received from the DC/DC converter.
US09078324B2 LED driving device, LED lighting apparatus, and error amplification circuit
An error amplification circuit amplifies an error voltage between a reference voltage and an output voltage of the LED current sensor. A control circuit controls the DC output power so that the DC output power becomes a predetermined value, by performing on-off control on a switching element based on the output voltage of the error amplification circuit. The error amplification circuit includes an error amplifier, a phase compensation circuit connected between an inverting input terminal and an output terminal of the error amplifier and having a serial circuit of a phase compensation capacitor and a phase compensation resistor, a gain adjustment resistor serially connected at one end to the serial circuit and connected at the other end to the LED current sensor, and a short circuit configured to make the inverting input terminal of the error amplifier grounded for a predetermined period of time after activation.
US09078322B2 Method of driving LED chips of different specifications
A method of driving LED chips, wherein the LED chips have different specifications, includes the steps of: A. defining a plurality of setting currents; B. connecting a LED chip; C. selecting one of the setting currents which matches a rated current of the LED chip; and D. providing power with the selected setting current to the LED chip. Whereby, the method could be applied to drive LED chips of several different specifications.
US09078308B2 Lighting device
In one embodiment of lighting devices and lighting systems, the lighting device has a connection for connecting to a primary power supply and has a secondary power supply, such as a battery. A measuring circuit is operable to measure an impedance of the primary power supply connection and to determine from the measurement if a main power supply has failed, and if so whether to power light sources using power from the secondary power supply.
US09078302B2 Apparatus for controlling an illumination device and method for controlling an illumination device
An apparatus and method for controlling an illumination device in an aircraft is provided. The apparatus has a light source suitable for emitting light with a wavelength in the visible range. The apparatus also has a pulse-width modulator for delivering at least one output signal that is connected to the light source and suitable for effecting brightness control of the light source. The output signal is composed from a first number of first subsignals each having a first pulse width and a second number of second subsignals each having a second pulse width shorter than the first pulse width. The brightness of the light source is adjustable by varying the first number and the second number for a brightness change and the output signal is repeated after delivery of the first number and second number of subsignals.
US09078298B2 Electromagnetic heating
An electromagnetic heater for heating an irregularly shaped object, including: a cavity within which an object is to be placed; at least one feed which feeds UHF or microwave energy into the cavity; and a controller that controls one or more characteristics of the cavity or energy to assure that the UHF or microwave energy is deposited uniformly in the object within ±30% over at least 80% of the volume of the object.
US09078292B1 Wireless electric heat trace control and monotoring system
A monitoring system for monitoring the temperature of equipment, comprising a central digital computer, a MESH communication network, wherein the network feeds signals to the central digital computer, a plurality of heating elements for heating the equipment, temperature sensors adapted to measure the temperature of the equipment, wherein each sensor is adapted to provide a signal representing the temperature of the piece of equipment to which the sensor is associated, to the network, wherein each temperature sensor can also be used to control the electric heaters, a temperature sensor that monitors the ambient temperature of the facility, and current transducers associated with the heaters, to monitor the energy use and current loss of the heaters, wherein the central computer uses the data it receives from the other elements of the monitoring system to determine when the equipment is not at the correct temperature and diagnoses the reason why.
US09078291B2 Device for heating a vehicle seat
A vehicle seat having a first temperature control unit and a second temperature control unit. Each control unit has power-input terminals for receiving power from a vehicle electrical power system and power-output terminals. The first control unit has a logic part for comparing received temperature selection and temperature measurement values along with a first pulse generator connected to a first output terminal of the logic part and a second pulse generator connected to a second output terminal of the logic part as well as a first switch unit coupled to the first pulse generator. The second temperature control unit includes a second switch unit coupled to the second pulse generator. First and second heating elements are coupled to the temperate control units. An occupant switch is coupled to the first temperate control unit. A first temperature sensor monitors the thermal output of the first heating element.
US09078285B2 Method and network side device for trunking communication
A method and a network side device for trunking communication are provided, and the method includes: in the frequency hopping synchronization of the trunking communication, sending a frequency hopping synchronization information frame to a mobile terminal intended to communication, wherein the frequency hopping synchronization information frame includes the frequency hopping synchronization information. The amount of the transmitted synchronization information is large, the time for establishing synchronization is short, and the confidentiality is strong; and the technical difficulty of the implementation is not high.
US09078282B2 Method and apparatus for implementing network device function of wireless communication terminal
The disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for implementing a network device function of a wireless communication terminal, belonging to the field of communications. The method for implementing a network device function of a wireless communication terminal includes: the apparatus for implementing the network device function of the wireless communication terminal receives a control instruction and determines a sender of the control instruction; when the sender of the control instruction is a host, the apparatus for implementing the network device function of the wireless communication terminal forwards the received control instruction to the wireless communication terminal; and, when the sender of the control instruction is the wireless communication terminal, the apparatus for implementing the network device function of the wireless communication terminal forwards the received control instruction to the host. The technical solution can implement a network data exchange with the wireless communication terminal on a non-windows platform.
US09078278B2 Method and apparatus for soft buffer management for carrier aggregation
An apparatus and a method therein include selecting a size of a soft buffer memory partition per component carrier in a Carrier Aggregation scenario. The method supports multiple carriers to select a size of a soft buffer memory partition, the partition associated with receiving data on at least one component carrier, the multi-carrier system comprising at least two component carriers, each component carrier is associated with a configured bandwidth, the apparatus comprising the processor configured to select a size of a soft buffer memory partition for the first component carrier based at least in part on a first total number of soft channel bits, a first number associated with hybrid automatic retransmit request processes, and the configured bandwidth of the first component carrier.
US09078269B2 Interference management utilizing HARQ interlaces
Interference that occurs during wireless communication may be managed through the use of fractional reuse and other techniques. In some aspects fractional reuse may relate to HARQ interlaces, portions of a timeslot, frequency spectrum, and spreading codes. Interference may be managed through the use of a transmit power profile and/or an attenuation profile. Interference also may be managed through the use of power management-related techniques.
US09078259B2 Optimization of polling protocols in sensor networks
A communication-management method involves a recurring polling scheme, wherein network nodes are polled by a base station according to optimized and/or user-preferred polling intervals assigned to each network node. The polling interval assigned to a given node may be optimized to minimize and/or achieve user-preferred thresholds for energy consumption and latency associated with each network node in the sensor network. Optimized and/or user-preferred polling intervals may be constrained in accordance with various network performance considerations, for example, a recommended update interval for each network node, characteristics of the network nodes themselves, the duration of the timeslots at which the network nodes are polled, and/or other network performance considerations.
US09078250B2 Method and apparatus implementing channel quality control
Methods for devices, devices and computer program products for devices relate to a communication module, arranged for packet based communication, and including a receiving module. The receiving module is arranged to receive a control message, wherein the control message includes a plurality of acknowledgement information items, wherein each of the plurality of acknowledgement information items are located in a preset portion of the control message, respectively. The device further includes a determination module, arranged to determine whether the received control message is intended for the device, a selection module, arranged to select, responsive to an affirmative determination result, at least one of the plurality of acknowledgement information items based on the preset portions, and an obtaining module, arranged to obtain control data contained in the selected at least one of the plurality of acknowledgement information items.
US09078247B2 Method for receiving ACK/NACK signal in mobile communication system
A method for transmitting information of resources for use in transmission of ACK/NACK signals in a mobile communication system is disclosed. An example method for receiving ACK/NACK signals in a mobile communication system is also disclosed. When resources for transmission of data and resources for transmission of control information of the data are scheduled through virtual unit resources, the method identifies information of resources for receiving an ACK/NACK signal for transmission data mapped to information of at least one of a virtual unit resource allocated to the transmission data and a virtual unit resource allocated to control information of the transmission data, and receives the ACK/NACK signal for the transmission data through the information of resources for receiving the ACK/NACK signal.
US09078243B2 Communication control device, communication control method, communication system and communication device
Provided is a communication control device controlling communication of multiple secondary usage nodes providing second communication services using a part of a frequency band assigned to a first communication service, including a communication unit receiving service area information for estimating service areas of the second communication services provided by the secondary usage nodes and access technique information indicating radio access techniques usable by the secondary usage nodes, a storage unit storing information on the service area and access technique received by the communication unit, an estimation unit estimating service areas of multiple second communication services, and a control unit notifying a secondary usage node providing one of the multiple second communication services of a radio access technique or a channel recommended to the at least one second communication service on the basis of a location relationship between the service areas estimated by the estimation unit and the access technique information.
US09078239B2 Caller information provision
By the present invention are disclosed a method for providing and a method for obtaining voice call related information from a first party device (100) to a second party device (200), prior to establishing a voice call between the first party device (100) and the second party device (200). Portable communication devices (100, 200, 500) for providing and obtaining of voice call related information also disclosed. The methods comprises sending/obtaining in real time the voice call related information (steps 304, 402) from the first party device (100) to the second party device (200) over a packet switched network, and sending/obtaining a call setup message (steps 308, 410) over a circuit switched network, of the voice call from the first party device (100), so that the voice call related information can be presented to a user of the second party device (200) before responding to the call setup message.
US09078236B2 Random access scheme for preventing unnecessary retransmission and user equipment for the same
A random access scheme for preventing unnecessary retransmission and a user equipment for the same are disclosed. If a Contention Resolution (CR) timer expires in contention resolution during a random access procedure or if a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) signal or a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) signal associated with the PDCCH signal does not match an identifier of a terminal, a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) buffer for storing a Medium Access Control Packet Data Unit (MAC PDU) transmitted in the random access procedure is flushed such that unnecessary data retransmission can be prevented.
US09078232B2 Methods and apparatuses for characterizing and affecting mobile device location accuracy and/or uncertainty
Techniques are provided, which may be implemented via various methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture. For example, an electronic device may obtain an estimated location of a mobile device, determine a quality of a geometric distribution of transmitting devices capable of transmitting wireless signals to the mobile device at the estimated location, and assign an uncertainty to the estimated location. In certain implementations, an electronic device may further determine an adapted transmission setting for a transmitting device and transmit a corresponding message to the transmitting device. In certain implementations, an electronic device may identify adapted assistance data for the mobile device and transmit a corresponding message to one or more other electronic devices.
US09078231B2 Method and apparatus for compensating estimated location of wireless network elements estimated from information collected by heterogeneous terminals
A method and apparatus for compensating an estimated location of a wireless network element from information collected by heterogeneous terminals are provided. The method may include receiving information on a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of a wireless network element and location information of a heterogeneous terminal from the heterogeneous terminal by a wireless network element positioning server, compensating the information on the RSSI received from the heterogeneous terminal into information on an RSSI received from a predetermined reference terminal, using a difference value model of the RSSI of the wireless network element between heterogeneous terminals, the difference model generated in advance, and estimating a location of the wireless network element using the compensated information on the RSSI from the reference terminal and the received location information.
US09078227B2 Location support in wireless networks
Various embodiments of the invention determine and/or enhance the location of a wireless mobile station in a WiMAX network, and provide that location to a requesting device. Some embodiments produce more that one determination of the location, using different sources for the information, and combine the different determinations to produce an enhanced version of the location.
US09078213B2 Mobile communication terminal apparatus, method of controlling power consumption of mobile communication terminal apparatus, and recording medium
A first position information generation unit (130) generates, based on a first radio signal received by a first wireless communication unit (110), first position information representing a position where the first radio signal is received. A second position information generation unit (140) generates, using the first position information, second position information representing a position where a second wireless communication unit (120) can receive a second radio signal. A wireless communication operation determination unit (150) determines, based on the generated first and second position information, whether the operation by the second wireless communication unit is possible. A power supply control unit (160) executes power supply control of the second wireless communication unit in accordance with a determination result. This allows to uniquely determine the position information of a mobile communication terminal apparatus by simple signal processing at a low cost and implement power supply control of wireless communication functions based on the position information.
US09078200B2 Connecting a personal mobile device to a vehicle communication unit
A method and apparatus for connecting a personal mobile device to a vehicle communication unit. The method involves automatically detecting the presence of a personal mobile device located at a vehicle, obtaining permission to connect the personal mobile device, and automatically connecting the personal mobile device to the vehicle communication unit. The method and apparatus can be used, for example, during an initial connection of a personal mobile device to a vehicle communication unit or each time a new mobile device is present in the vehicle.
US09078193B2 Apparatus for determining route, method for determining route, non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored therein management program, and management device
An apparatus for determining a route including: a collector that collects a current amount of link traffic and current link power consumption of each link; a virtual link setter that sets virtual links for each link; a link cost calculator that calculates a link cost of each virtual link based on the estimated increase in the link power consumption; a constraint condition setter that creates a constraint condition satisfying a requirement of end-to-end quality of a request flow based on change in quality of each virtual link and satisfying a requirement of end-to-end quality of an existing flow based on the change in quality of the existing flow on the virtual link; a route determinator that determines a route having a smallest sum of the link costs including a plurality of the virtual links satisfying the created constraint condition.
US09078190B2 Real-time rate control mechanism for multi-rate data transmissions in wireless networks
Wireless networks are becoming increasingly heterogeneous in terms of the processing capabilities of network users' receiving equipment. According to embodiments of the innovation, in a communications network comprising a plurality of receivers with different data reception rate capabilities, data frames targeted to respective receivers may be transmitted to the receivers in accordance with the respective data reception rate capabilities of the receivers.
US09078189B2 Method for performing inter-mobile station (MS) handover in radio access system and MS therefor
A method of performing inter-mobile station (MS) handover in a radio access system and an MS therefor are disclosed. The method includes a first MS receiving an inter-MS handover indication message from a base station (BS) while performing inter-MS communication with a second MS, and the first MS performing inter-MS handover from the second MS to another MS according to the inter-MS handover indication message. The inter-MS handover is decided according to channel quality between the first MS and the second MS or channel quality between the second MS and the BS.
US09078187B2 System and method for handoff between different types of networks
System and method for handoff between different types of networks. A communication session of a user equipment may be handed off from a first network to a second network based on a network condition of the first network. A network information may be transmitted from the first network and the network condition of the first network may be determined based on received network information. The network information may include information of an adaptive multi-rate (AMR) mode assigned for providing a corresponding service, and the information of the AMR mode may be assigned based on the network condition of the first network and may be associated with a bit-rate for speech coding. A handoff from the first network to the second network may be initiated when the network condition of the first network is determined to be poor.
US09078186B2 Method of transmitting and receiving data in a multi radio access technology system using an access point and apparatus therefor
The present invention relates to a wireless communication, and more particularly, to a method for a base station and a user equipment to transmit and receive data in a multi radio access technology system based on an access point (AP) and apparatus therefor. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of performing a communication, which is performed by a user equipment based on an access point (AP) supporting a Multi-RAT (Radio Access Technology), may include the steps of receiving an information on a 1st AP associated with the user equipment among a plurality of APs from the 1st AP, transmitting the information on the 1st AP to a base station, receiving an information on at least one cooperative user equipment candidate associated with the 1st AP from the base station, and transmitting a 1st data to the base station using the at least one cooperative user equipment, wherein the 1st data is exchanged between the user equipment and the at least one cooperative user equipment via a 1st radio access scheme and wherein the 1st data is exchanged between the at least one cooperative user equipment and the base station via 2nd radio access scheme.
US09078179B2 IRAT measurement reporting method in TD-SCDMA
A user equipment (UE) considers both the signal strength in time slot zero and the signal quality of the downlink traffic time slots when determining whether to send an IRAT measurement report to trigger IRAT handover to GSM.
US09078177B2 Electronic device and operating method thereof
The present invention relates to an electronic device and a method of operating the electronic device. There are provided an electronic device and a method of operating the electronic device that may more effectively resolve handover request collisions by using a specific field value included in a handover request message.
US09078155B2 Communication control device, wireless communication system, and wireless communication method for control of changing transmission rate of packet to mobile station
A wireless communication system includes an RNC and a BTS which communicates with the RNC. A congestion-notification transmitting unit of the BTS notifies the RNC of occurrence of congestion in a sector in which a mobile station is located. The RNC includes a congestion-notification receiving unit, a retransmission-ratio monitoring unit, and a transmission-rate control unit. The congestion-notification receiving unit detects the congestion occurrence by the notification from the BTS. The retransmission-ratio monitoring unit monitors a ratio of retransmission of a packet to the mobile station. The transmission-rate control unit performs control of changing a transmission rate of a packet to the mobile station according to the retransmission ratio when the congestion occurrence has been detected by the congestion-notification receiving unit.
US09078152B2 Programmable communicator
A programmable cellular telephone device includes a programmable interface for establishing a wireless communications link with at least one monitored technical device, and a processing module for authenticating wireless transmissions sent from a programming transmitter by determining if at least one transmission contains a coded number. The device is configured to use memory to store a telephone number or IP address included within the transmission(s) if the processing module authenticates the transmission(s) by determining that the transmission includes the coded number. The stored telephone numbers/IP addresses are numbers to which the device is configured to and permitted to send outgoing wireless transmissions. The device also communicates with a remote data monitoring device and/or sends data to/receives data from an Internet web page. The device processes data received from a monitored technical device, displays the processed data, and/or to transmits the data to an Internet web page.
US09078143B2 Apparatus and method for evaluating voice quality in a mobile network
An example apparatus is provided that receives a first message following conclusion of a voice call between a first apparatus and a second apparatus over a network. And in response to the first message, the apparatus obtains a geographic location of at least the first apparatus, and prepares a second message for transmission to the first apparatus. The second message includes a telephone number of a quality server to enable the first apparatus to initiate a voice call to the telephone number to participate in a voice quality test with the quality server, where the voice quality test includes calculation of a score reflecting a quality of the voice call. The apparatus receives the score, and correlates the score with the geographic location of at least the first apparatus and other network parameters obtained during the test to facilitate tuning the network based on the score and the geographic location.
US09078142B1 Method and apparatus to decouple link adaptation and transmit beamforming in WiFi systems
A link optimizer for optimizing a link on a wireless local area network (WLAN). The link optimizer includes: a sounding distender, a beamform matrix derivation module, and a link dimension attenuator. The sounding distender send a sounding packet exclusively at a maximum number of streams and at a maximum bandwidth supported by the link and receives a MIMO feedback beamforming matrix in response. The beamform matrix derivation module derives from the received MIMO feedback beamforming matrix a set of derived MIMO beamforming matrices having at least a column dimension less than a column dimension in the feedback beamforming matrix. The link dimension attenuator selects at least one of the derived beamforming matrices for transmission of subsequent communication packets, thereby avoiding a requirement for additional channel sounding.
US09078137B1 Mobile hotspot managed by access controller
Systems and methods are described for a mobile hotspot that can be managed from an access controller. According to an embodiment, a mobile establishes a wide area network (WAN) connection through a wireless WAN module and establishes a wireless local area network (WLAN) connection with a wireless fidelity (WiFi)-enabled device using a first AP profile, wherein the first AP profile is the same as an AP profile for APs that is controlled by an access controller (AC). The mobile hotspot sets up a security tunnel with the AC through the WAN connection. After receiving WLAN traffic from the WiFi-enabled device through the WLAN connection transmitting, the mobile hotspot routes the WLAN traffic to the AC through the security tunnel.
US09078136B2 Wireless device for group access and management
A system and method for establishing a group of wireless devices having shared media stored thereupon associates each group member device of the group of wireless devices, communicates with at least some of the group member devices of the group of wireless devices to identify shared media and upon receiving a request transmitted by a group member device of the group of wireless devices, supports access to shared media. The shared media may be stored on a different group member device, upon a managing server computer, or a media server. Upon a successful validation, the group member device that made the request is notified to facilitate the access to the shared media. The notification includes access information.
US09078135B2 Mobile device password reset
The disclosure is directed to a mobile device password reset. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: receiving a phone call at a locked mobile device from a phone having a privileged phone number; initiating a password reset in response to the receipt of the phone call from the privileged phone number and the phone call exceeding a predetermined time duration threshold by: terminating, by the locked mobile device, the phone call from the phone having the privileged phone number; generating, by the locked mobile device, a temporary password; establishing, by the locked mobile device, a connection to the phone having the privileged phone number; displaying, by the locked mobile device, a password entry field; communicating, by the locked mobile device, the temporary password via the connection to the phone having the privileged phone number; and unlocking the locked mobile device upon successful entry of the temporary password in the password entry field displayed by the locked mobile device.
US09078133B2 Method, system and mobile terminal for configuring and applying locking strategy of mobile terminal
The disclosure provides a method for configuring a locking strategy of a mobile terminal, comprising: setting, at a locking strategy setting terminal, relevant information of a locking strategy which needs to be executed by a mobile terminal and transmitting the relevant information to the mobile terminal, when the mobile terminal determines that the mobile terminal is currently unlocked, storing the relevant information of the locking strategy which needs to be executed by the mobile terminal; or, inputting, at the mobile terminal, relevant information of a locking strategy which needs to be executed, and storing the inputted relevant information of the locking strategy which needs to be executed. The disclosure further provides a method for applying a locking strategy of a mobile terminal as well as a system and a terminal mobile for configuring a locking strategy of a mobile terminal. According to the technical solutions of the disclosure, the locking strategy of the mobile terminal can be conveniently and flexibly configured.
US09078131B2 Apparatus, system and method of communicating location-enabling information for location estimation
Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of communicating location-enabling information for location estimation. For example, an apparatus may include a location-enabling information (LEI) processor to process a location-enabling message, which is transmitted between first and second location-enabling sources and receivable by a mobile device, the location-enabling message including encrypted LEI configured for enabling estimation of a location of the mobile device at a predefined accuracy based on a cryptographic key corresponding to the first location-enabling source.
US09078120B2 Method and apparatus for determining mobility parameters based on neighboring access points
Methods and apparatus are provided for configuring mobility or paging parameters of a femto node. A method includes determining capabilities of one or more neighboring access points based in part on signals received from the one or more neighboring access points. The method includes comparing the capabilities to one or more capabilities of the femto node to determine a mobility or paging parameter adjustment. The method includes adjusting one or more mobility or paging parameters based on the mobility or paging parameter adjustment.
US09078118B2 Wireless communication systems and methods
Embodiments of the present invention include wireless communication systems having one or more network components that can communicate with at least one mobile station in an interference environment. A transmitter can transmit data indicating a set of communication modes in which a mobile station is capable of operating and for at least one mode of communication in the set an indication of interference rejection capability. The indicating data can be received by a receiver. A resource allocator can allocate system resources based on the indicating data for use during a connection between network components (e.g., a network apparatus and a mobile station). Allocation of system resources can fully or partially depend on a connection's communication mode, an indication of interference rejection capability of a mobile station for the mode of communication of the connection, and/or an interference environment expected during the connection. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.
US09078116B2 In-vehicle device location determination and enforcement of usage thereof
Systems and methods are disclosed for computing various determinations at one or more mobile devices and/or central machines. In part, such determinations are computed based on analysis of one or more inputs originating at one or more sensors of one or more devices. Such determinations include determining an in-vehicle role, an in-vehicle location, a handheld state, and a vehicle class. Various transformations, modifications, and outputs can result from such determinations. Also disclosed are systems and methods for restricting operation of a mobile device, including restrictions that impede operation by a driver moreso than operation by a passenger. Also disclosed are systems and methods for orienting a coordinate system of a mobile device.
US09078110B2 Reservation telephone notice method for electronic device and apparatus thereof
According to one embodiment, a method for notifying a reserved call of an electronic device includes registering a schedule of at least one time period, acquiring an outgoing number when an incoming call is rejected, determining a time of notifying the reserved call associated with the outgoing number by referring to the schedule, and notifying the reserved call associated with the outgoing number when the determined time arrives.
US09078099B2 Localization method employing radio signal strength measurements of electric and gas meters
Systems, methods, and devices for determining the geospatial position/location of a mobile device by using transmissions from surrounding wireless utility meters and prior knowledge of the locations of the surrounding meters. A mobile device may receive transmissions from a plurality of wireless utility meters, and determine signal strengths and meter identifiers of each of the plurality of wireless utility meters from the received transmissions. The signal strengths and meter identifiers may be compared to data records stored in a wireless utility meter signal signature database to identify a best match data record, which may include geographic coordinates that may be used by the mobile device to determine its current geospatial position and/or location.
US09078095B2 System and method for location based inventory management
Provided is a distributed system and method for enabling new and useful location dependent features and functionality to mobile data processing systems. Mobile data processing Systems (MSs) interact with each other as peers in communications and interoperability. Data is shared between mobile data processing systems to carry out novel Location Based eXchanges (LBX) of data for new mobile applications. Information transmitted inbound to, transmitted outbound from, is in process at, or is application modified at a mobile data processing system triggers processing of actions in accordance with user configured permissions, charters, and other configurations. In a preferred embodiment, a user configurable platform is provided for quickly building well behaving LBX applications at MSs and across a plurality of interoperating MSs. Tools, triggered interfaces and integrated applications are disclosed for a breadth of MS LBX configurations and functionality.
US09078086B2 M2M resource preservation in mobile networks
The present invention relates to a solution for handling a plurality of machine to machine, M2M, devices in a wireless communication cell by providing a shared Internet Protocol, IP, address for the plurality of M2M devices and one of the M2M devices acts as a master device for attaching and receiving the shared IP address and other communication configuration control data from a wireless gateway. The M2M devices communicate with a central M2M server using datagrams with the shared IP address and device identity information together with data or control messages.
US09078079B2 Multi-network access method and communication device thereof
In a multiple network access method in a communication device including at least one protocol stack having a physical layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer, and at least one application unit for performing communication through the protocol stack, the method includes applying a first parameter to the protocol stack and a first attribute to the application unit, accessing a first network for a first attribute to the applications, switching the first parameter into a second parameter and the fist attribute into a second attribute, and accessing a second network for a second hour after the switching.
US09078075B2 Tool for insertion of canal hearing device into the ear canal
A hand held tool for safely inserting a canal hearing device into the ear canal having a medial end configured to simultaneously cradle the lateral end of the canal hearing device and constrain a knob element laterally positioned on the canal hearing device. In a preferred embodiment, the insertion tool comprises a C-shaped cavity for self-centering engagement with a D-shaped lateral end of a CIC device, providing ease of use for hearing impaired individuals. In a preferred embodiment, the insertion tool is substantially formed of a single monolithic structure for improved durability and lower cost of fabrication.
US09078074B2 Method and apparatus for hearing aid location
A hearing aid includes electronics, a physically manipulable member, and a receiver. The receiver is configured to output sound in a first mode at a first decibel level and in a second mode at a second decibel level higher than the first decibel level. The first mode is based on an input from a microphone. The second mode is based on the physically manipulable member not having been manipulated over a selected period of time. In various examples, wireless approaches are used to perform location identification. Examples using antennas and radio frequency identification (RFID) are provided. Various location approaches are possible using different location tones and methods for generation of such tones. Other apparatus are provided for location identification in a system with one or more hearing aids.
US09078071B2 Mobile electronic device and control method
According to an aspect, a mobile electronic device includes a sound emitting unit, an input unit, and a processing unit. The sound emitting unit emits a sound based on a sound signal. The input unit receives a response with respect to the sound emitted by the sound emitting unit. The processing unit determines a compensation parameter for compensating the sound to be emitted by the sound emitting unit based on correctness of the response.
US09078066B2 Touch input surface speaker
Processing an audio signal is disclosed. A source audio signal to be rendered by a touch input medium is received. An indication of an event where the touch input medium has been contacted at a location on the touch input medium such that rendering of the source audio signal by the touch input medium is affected by the contact is received. At least a portion of the source audio signal is modified based on an expected effect of the contact on the touch input medium determined using the indication of the detector.
US09078065B2 System and method for displaying sound as vibrations
There is provided a method and a system for presenting audio signals as vibrotactile stimuli to the body in accordance with a Model Human Cochlea (MHC). Audio signals are obtained for presentation. The audio signals are separated into multiple bands of discrete frequency ranges that encompass the complete audio signal. Those signals are output to multiple vibrotactile devices. The vibrotactile devices may be positioned in a respective housing to intensify and constrain a vibrational energy from the vibrotactile devices. Output of the vibrotactile devices stimulate the cutaneous receptors of the skin at the locations where the vibrotactile devices are placed. In one embodiment, a system implements this method using audio voice coils that are embedded in a chair, which make contact with the human body while seated.
US09078064B2 Earphone assembly with moisture resistance
An acoustic system includes a receiver (or microphone), a tube, or a moisture resistant screen. The receiver is capable of outputting an audio signal, while the microphone receives an audio signal. The tube is in connection with the receiver (or microphone) and the audio signal travels along a length of the tube. The moisture resistant screen is fitted at an end of the tube. The moisture resistant screen prevents moisture from passing along the tube toward the receiver, and causes an amount of damping to the audio signal. The moisture resistant screen is configured to have a submersion rating greater than or equal to 7 IP.
US09078061B2 Stereo ribbon microphone
A stereo ribbon microphone includes four ribbon microphone units disposed in a circle on a single horizontal plane. The ribbon microphone units are alternately assigned to a right channel and a left channel along the circumferential of the circle.
US09078058B2 Applications for a two-way wireless speaker system
The two-way wireless speaker system of this invention increases sound fidelity by enabling speakers to acknowledge receipt of audio data packets. This provides increased functionality because the audio hub can receive data not only from wired inputs, but also wireless transmission from computer, cell phone, and other sources. Audio hub can use information from speaker to customize/adjust audio signal for each speaker independently, giving better audio quality and synchronization among speakers.
US09078056B2 Audio resonance device
The audio resonance device contains a base member having a box shape with an open top side, a resonance element inside the base member having stacked ceramic layers, and at least two contact pieces on a top side, a cover member sealing the open top of the base member, and a number of elastic elements, each contacting a contact piece of the resonance element, and having an end extending through the cover member and contacting a portable appliance for picking up audio vibration from the portable appliance and delivering the audio vibration to the resonance element. The resonance element resonates with the audio vibration, and the base member provides a resonant chamber so that the audio quality from the portable appliance is enhanced. The portable appliance is not required of any modification such as opening holes.
US09078055B2 Localization of a wireless user equipment (UE) device based on single beep per channel signatures
A scheme for localizing a wireless user equipment (UE) device's relative position with respect to a spatial configuration based on audio signatures received via a multi-channel audio system, e.g., an audio system of a vehicle or home entertainment system. The wireless UE device is configured to capture the audio signatures from a head unit that are placed in an out-of-hearing band, wherein the audio signatures comprise a single beep per channel that is separately detectable and are simultaneously transmitted by the head unit to the speaker channels. The wireless UE device includes a persistent memory module having program instructions for processing the captured signal including the out-of-band signatures in order to compute time delays. A localization module is configured to estimate the wireless UE device's relative position based on the time delays associated with respective speaker channels.
US09078052B2 Method and device for converting an input light signal into an output light signal
A method and device for converting an input light signal into an output light signal, in an optical component is described. An input light signal, at a first wavelength, and a first light beam which may be at a second wavelength, are received at the component. The input light signal and the first light beam interfere in the component to form an interference pattern, which modifies a reflectivity spectrum of the component to increase the reflectivity of the component in a portion of the reflectivity spectrum. A second light beam, having a second wavelength corresponding with a wavelength within the portion of the reflectivity spectrum, is also received at the component and is then reflected from the component, in dependence upon the portion of the reflectivity spectrum, to generate the output light signal at the second wavelength. This enables conversion of light signals to signals at a different wavelength.
US09078050B2 Techniques for clock recovery in a mobile information collection network following a power outage
Clock reference data may be recovered or updated in networks that include line-powered devices and other devices susceptible to power outages. For example, for a mobile information collection network, one or more devices with extended clock holdover may be strategically deployed throughout the mobile information collection network to provide reference clock data. As another example, battery-powered devices may be woken up in order to provide clock reference data to other devices. Alternatively or additionally, the battery-powered devices may be configured to periodically broadcast their clock reference data to other devices.
US09078046B2 Digital broadcasting system and data processing method
A method of transmitting a broadcast signal includes encoding mobile service data to build a Reed-Solomon (RS) frame according to an RS frame mode, wherein the mobile service data is either a mobile service data of a base layer or a mobile service data of the base layer and at least one enhancement layer, wherein each layer is specified by a layer identifier, wherein a layer identifier value of the base layer is set to 0 and a layer identifier value of the at least one enhancement layer starts from 1; and encoding signaling data, wherein the signaling data includes fast information channel (FIC) data and transmission parameter channel (TPC) data, and the FIC data includes information for rapid mobile service acquisition.
US09078034B2 Apparatus and method for communicating burst mode activity
Information is transmitted indicating when a burst mode will take place which intervenes during a regular transmission mode. The information transmitted can also include information indicating how long such a burst mode will be and the contents of the burst mode where such contents can be identified as video, audio, system information, advertisements, or interactive content.
US09078033B2 Coax and IP hybrid digital TV and VOD system
Methods and apparatus are described for providing digital information and/or data services over hybrid network infrastructures including both IP and coax transmission media.
US09078023B2 Method and apparatus for storing user selected video content
A method and apparatus for enabling registered users to select and purchase video sessions from a network to be viewed from any video display devices connected to the network are disclosed. Specifically, these purchased video sessions can be stored within the network and accessed from any viewable display device connected to any video endpoint device at any time upon the users' request. In one embodiment, the stored video sessions can be downloaded and recorded onto a recording medium for future use.
US09078021B2 Information processing apparatus, content transmission method and storage medium
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a first input module, a second input module, a converter and an output module. The first input module receives a first packet group of first content applied to a first copyright protection method. The second input module receives a second packet group of second content applied to a second copyright protection method. The converter re-packetizes the first content packetized into the first packet group and the second content packetized into the second packet group, into a third packet group for outputting to a transmission path by applying a third copyright protection method. The output module outputs the third packet group of the first content and the second content.
US09078019B2 Distributed content analysis network
A distributed content analysis network uses the processing capabilities of customer-premises equipment as subordinate nodes for analyzing multimedia programs. A master node selects a program and identifies subordinate nodes that are available for analysis, which may include both nodes tuned to the program and idle nodes. The master node divides the program into segments for analysis and instructs each subordinate node to analyze a segment. The subordinate nodes then provide analysis results back to the master node, which may build a metadata profile for the program based on the analysis.
US09078008B2 Adaptive inter-layer interpolation filters for multi-layered video delivery
Adaptive interpolation filters for multi-layered video delivery are described. Combinations of such adaptive filters with other pre-processing steps in the context of frame or 2D compatible 3D and 2D scalable video delivery system are also addressed.
US09078006B2 Video encoder and video decoder
A video encoder includes: a motion compensation picture signal generator that generates a plurality of motion compensation picture signals in accordance with an encoding target signal and a plurality of reference pictures; a prediction signal generator that generates a prediction signal of the encoding target signal using the motion compensation picture signals; a prediction error signal generator that generates a prediction error signal representing a difference between the encoding target signal and the prediction signal; a selector that selects an entropy code assignment rule that is expected to minimize an information amount of an encoded state of the prediction error signal from a plurality of entropy code assignment rules for encoding the prediction error signal in accordance with the motion compensation picture signals; and an entropy encoder that generates encoded information from the prediction error signal in accordance with the selected entropy code assignment rule.
US09078003B2 Moving picture coding method, and moving picture decoding method
A moving picture coding apparatus for performing inter-picture predictive coding for pictures constituting a moving picture is provided with a coding unit for performing predictive error coding for image data; a decoding unit for performing predictive error decoding for an output from the coding unit; a reference picture memory for holding output data from the decoding unit; and a motion vector detection unit for detecting motion vectors on the basis of the decoded image data stored in the memory. When coding a B picture as a target picture, information indicating whether or not the target picture should be used as a reference picture when coding another picture is added as header information. Therefore, in a decoding apparatus for decoding a bit stream Bs outputted from the moving picture coding apparatus, management of a memory for holding the reference picture can be facilitated on the basis of the header information.
US09078000B2 Moving image decoding apparatus, moving image encoding apparatus, moving image decoding method and moving image encoding method
An apparatus decodes encoded moving image data in which a picture is divided and encoded, into two or more small areas that include at least a block and do not overlap with each other. The apparatus includes: a unit configured to decide first and second parameters being decoding parameters of another block for which decoding has already been performed in the same picture and referred to in an entropy decoding process and an extension process of each block, using position information of each small area and reference relation information to another small area; a decoder configured to perform the decoding process, in an order of the decoding process and the extension process, by referring only to the first parameter; and an extender configured to perform the extension process in the order by referring only to the second parameter in compression information of each block obtained by the decoding process.
US09077997B2 Graphics display system with unified memory architecture
A graphics display system integrated circuit is used in a set-top box for controlling a television display. The graphics display system processes analog video input, digital video input, and graphics input. The system incorporates a unified memory architecture that is shared by the graphics system, a CPU, and other peripherals. The unified memory architecture uses real time scheduling to service tasks. Critical instant analysis is used to find a schedule for memory usage that does not affect memory requirements of real time tasks while at the same time servicing non-real-time tasks as needed.
US09077994B2 Device and method of improving the perceptual luminance nonlinearity-based image data exchange across different display capabilities
A handheld imaging device has a data receiver that is configured to receive reference encoded image data. The data includes reference code values, which are encoded by an external coding system. The reference code values represent reference gray levels, which are being selected using a reference grayscale display function that is based on perceptual non-linearity of human vision adapted at different light levels to spatial frequencies. The imaging device also has a data converter that is configured to access a code mapping between the reference code values and device-specific code values of the imaging device. The device-specific code values are configured to produce gray levels that are specific to the imaging device. Based on the code mapping the data converter is configured to transcode the reference encoded image data into device-specific image data, which is encoded with the device-specific code values.
US09077991B2 System and method for utilizing forward error correction with video compression
A computer-implemented system and method are described for performing video compression. For example, a method according to one embodiment comprises: encoding a plurality of video frames or portions thereof according to a first encoding format; transmitting the plurality of encoded video frames or portions to a client device; receiving feedback information from the client device, the feedback information usable to determine whether data contained in the video frames or portions has not been successfully received and/or decoded; in response to detecting that one or more video frames or portions thereof have not been successfully received and/or decoded, then either encoding a new video frame or portion thereof according to a second encoding format or encoding the new video frame to be dependent on the last video frame or portion thereof known to have been successfully received and/or decoded, and: (1) if no forward error correction (FEC) coding is used to transmit the plurality of encoded video frames or portions, then encoding a new video frame or portion thereof using FEC coding; or (2) if a first FEC coding is used to transmit the plurality of encoded video frames or portions, then encoding a new video frame or portion thereof using a second FEC coding, the second FEC coding being a relatively stronger FEC coding than the first FEC coding; and transmitting the new video frame or portion thereof to the client device.
US09077975B2 Sub-diffraction limit image resolution in three dimensions
The present invention generally relates to sub-diffraction limit image resolution and other imaging techniques, including imaging in three dimensions. In one aspect, the invention is directed to determining and/or imaging light from two or more entities separated by a distance less than the diffraction limit of the incident light. In some cases, the position of the entities can be determined in all three spatial dimensions (i.e., in the x, y, and z directions), and in certain cases, the positions in all three dimensions can be determined to an accuracy of less than about 1000 nm. In some cases, the z positions may be determined using one of a variety of techniques that uses intensity information or focal information (e.g., a lack of focus) to determine the z position. Non-limiting examples of such techniques include astigmatism imaging, off-focus imaging, or multi-focal-plane imaging.
US09077970B2 Independent layered content for hardware-accelerated media playback
Presentation of cross-platform multimedia content may be controlled by a media player. Cross-platform content may include a two-dimensional (2D) graphics component, a three-dimensional (3D) graphics component, and a video component. Each component may be rendered as a separate layer, and each component may be rendered independently from one another. The multimedia player may synchronize the separate renderings for presentation. In one embodiment, the rendering of at least one of the separate layers may be performed by a hardware resource separate from the hardware resource executing the multimedia player. Each separate layer may be composited for display. In one embodiment, the compositing may be performed by a hardware resource separate from the hardware resource executing the multimedia player.
US09077968B2 Image processing apparatus and method, and program
An image processing apparatus, a method, and a program that enable an amount of code to be suppressed below a desired value with more reliability. An emergency mode determining section determines that the amount of code of a next picture is likely to exceed an upper limit if a target bit calculated by a rate controlling section exceeds a predetermined upper limit. If it is determined that the amount of code of the next picture is likely to exceed the upper limit, the code amount controlling section controls an orthogonal transducing section to replace a transform coefficient of a predetermined frequency component with zero, controls an intra predicting section to restrict intra prediction modes to be applied, and controls a mode determining section to restrict inter prediction modes to be applied. The prevent invention can be applied to an encoding apparatus.
US09077960B2 Non-zero coefficient block pattern coding
A block transform-based digital media codec efficiently compresses digital media data using block patterns representing whether a block's coefficients are zero-valued, such that their explicit encoding is skipped. Because the block patterns can have widely varying probability distributions, the codec adaptively chooses a prediction mode for modifying the block patterns (e.g., based on spatial prediction, or inverting) to enhance their compression using entropy coding techniques. Further, with high spatial correlation of block patterns, the codec encodes a meta block pattern for a region indicating whether all block patterns of the region represent zero-valued coefficient blocks. In such cases, the codec can then also omit explicitly encoding the block patterns in those regions.
US09077959B1 Signal adaptive filtering method, signal adaptive filter and computer readable medium for storing program therefor
A signal adaptive filtering method for reducing blocking effect and ringing noise, a signal adaptive filter, and a computer readable medium. The signal adaptive filtering method capable of reducing blocking effect and ringing noise of image data when a frame is composed of blocks of a predetermined size includes the steps of: (a) generating blocking information for reducing the blocking effect and ringing information for reducing the ringing noise, from coefficients of predetermined pixels of the upper and left boundary regions of the data block when a frame obtained by deconstructing a bitstream image data for inverse quantization is an intraframe; and (b) adaptively filtering the image data passed through inverse quantization and inverse discrete cosine transform according to the generated blocking information and ringing information. Therefore, the blocking effect and ringing noise can be eliminated from the image restored from the block-based image, thereby enhancing the image restored from compression.
US09077956B1 Scene identification
Technology is described for identifying a scene in video content. Video content to be played on a device may be provided. A segment of the video content that includes an occurrence of an interest event may be identified. A scene may be created with the segment based on a starting time code of the segment. The scene with the segment may be provided for playback.
US09077955B2 Mobile personal video recorder
A method of digital television recording including receiving a content item at a first Personal Video Recorder (PVR), determining whether to transfer the content item based, at least in part, on at least one of the following: currentness of the content item, a user preference, and a user profile; and transferring the content item from the first PVR to a mobile PVR only upon a positive result of the determining. Related methods and apparatus are also disclosed.
US09077953B2 Method and arrangement for retransmitting as well as processing and/or displaying and/or storing of sound and/or picture contents, and device for processing and/or displaying and/or storing of sound and/or picture contents
A special instruction for not encoding a content is incorporated into access authorization data contained in the received signal, so that within a unified system for transmitting and receiving of encoded or non-encoded sound and/or picture contents, it is possible to meet the requirement of public broadcasting and “free-to-air” program providers for a non-encoded processing and/or display and/or storage of freely accessible contents for the end user. The instruction signalizes that the sound and/or picture contents, once received, must be available in the non-encoded form to the end user. The access authorization data remain added to the sound and/or picture contents, even in cases of a cascading, encoded retransmission, or remains logically linked thereto by suitable means, even if transmitted physically separate along with the picture and/or sound contents. During the processing and/or display and/or storage of the picture and/or sound contents retransmitted in the encoded form, the special instruction triggers a decoding of the picture and/or sound contents, at least at the end of the retransmission cascade.
US09077943B2 Local image statistics collection
Systems and methods for generating local image statistics are provided. In one example, an image signal processing system may include a statistics pipeline with image processing logic and local image statistics collection logic. The image processing logic may receive and process pixels of raw image data. The local image statistics collection logic may generate a local histogram associated with a luminance of the pixels of a first block of pixels of the raw image data or a thumbnail in which a pixel of the thumbnail represents a downscaled version of the luminance of the pixels of the first block of the pixel. The raw image data may include many other blocks of pixels of the same size as the first block of pixels.
US09077942B2 Spectral synthesis for image capture device processing
A substantially rectangular spectral representation is synthesized, which is adapted to produce image capture device sensor outputs if applied to an image capture device. The synthesized substantially rectangular spectral representation can be utilized in generating output color values of an output color space from image capture device sensor outputs, where the image capture device sensor outputs correspond to an image captured by an image capture device. The generated output color values correspond to colors perceived by the human visual system for the same image as that captured by the image capture device. Image capture device gamut is also determined.
US09077939B1 Extension color gamut queue
Methods and devices automatically determine a base color gamut of base marking materials and extension color gamuts of extension marking materials. As each print job is received, these methods and devices automatically evaluate the print job to determine the print job color gamut. Then, the methods and devices can automatically determine the closest match between: the print job color gamut; and the base color gamut or one of the extension color gamuts to identify a matching color gamut. Further, these methods and devices automatically output the matching color gamut (and potentially a corresponding interchangeable supply container, if the matching color gamut is one of the extension color gamuts) by, for example, displaying the matching color gamut and the corresponding interchangeable supply container in at least one additional column in a print queue, or displaying the matching color gamut and the corresponding interchangeable supply container in a separate gamut queue.
US09077930B2 Method and system for reproducing contents, and computer-readable recording medium thereof
A content reproducing method and system for performing seamless playback of contents between devices is provided. The contents reproducing system includes a portable device which, when a short distance communication with a remote control which is configured to control an electronic device occurs during reproducing of contents, generates data required by the electronic device for reproducing the contents that are being reproduced, and which transmits the generated data to the remote control; the remote control which receives the data from the portable device and which transmits the received data to the electronic device, in conjunction with the occurrence of the short distance communication with the portable device; and the electronic device for receiving the contents from a contents provider and reproducing the contents.
US09077925B2 Image edition service system and screen information generation method
An image-editing service system comprises a server, a user terminal, an administrator terminal, a worker terminal, and the server including a database for storing the image information sent from worker terminal, a first image generating section for generating a first image based on the image information stored in the database, a display section for displaying an image display frame so as to display the first image in a display window of the user terminal and displaying a window information so as to display a display condition of the first image which is allowed to be input, a second image generating section for generating a second image regard to the first image based on the display condition inputted by the user terminal and, a window information generating section for displaying the first image and the second image simultaneously.
US09077919B2 Solid-state imaging device, imaging device, electronic equipment, A/D converter and A/D conversion method
In a reference signal comparison AD conversion scheme, a reference signal SLP_ADC and each of P and D phases of a pixel signal voltage Vx are compared. A count clock CKcnt1 is counted based on the comparison result. The counting result data is converted into signal data Dsig, i.e., the difference between the P and D phases, which is also subjected to CDS. At this time, the n-bit AD conversion is performed on each of the P and D phases of the pixel signal voltage Vx, followed by summation for digital integration. This prevents any possible detrimental effects that may be caused by summation in the analog domain. Although the signal data becomes W times greater, noise will likely become √W times greater. This alleviates the problem of random noise resulting from AD conversion such as quantizing noise and circuit noise that do not exist in the analog domain, thus reducing the noise.
US09077915B2 Interweaving of IR and visible images
Systems and methods for interweaving infrared and visible moving image data using a single optical system and imager device based on an infrared input signal and a visible input signal are disclosed. Infrared image frames can be substituted in for complete visible image input frames or for partial visible image input frames, i.e. substituting in an infrared image input frame for one or more of the color channels in one or more visible image input frames. Moving video or computer-generated moving graphics can include both infrared and visible image data to be displayed users viewing the resulting images with and without night vision imaging devices. In particular, the system and method can be used in projection systems for night-vision imaging device team training simulators to reduce the cost of the system while increasing the ease of use and performance of such systems.
US09077912B2 Motion initiated time synchronization
Systems and methods of synchronizing devices may include detecting a movement of a first mobile device and conducting a time synchronization procedure with respect to a second mobile device in response to the movement of the two mobile devices. The time synchronization can be conducted without network infrastructure support at the mobile devices.
US09077909B2 Strobe device, image photographing apparatus having the same, and method thereof
An image photographing apparatus, a strobe device connected to the image photographing apparatus, and a photographing method. The image photographing apparatus includes a strobe emitter which emits strobe lights, a control glass arranged on a front of the strobe emitter, and a controller which changes a diffusing rate of the strobe lights with respect to the control glass.
US09077908B2 Image generation apparatus and method for generating plurality of images with different resolution and/or brightness from single image
Provided is an image generation system and method, more particularly, an image generation system and method which can generate a high dynamic range image from a plurality of images acquired in a single short exposure. The image generation system To includes an image generation system having an image acquisition unit to acquire an image, an image generation unit to generate, from the acquired image, a plurality of images with different resolution and brightness, and an image synthesis unit to synthesize the generated images.
US09077907B2 Image processing apparatus
There is provided an image processing apparatus that can implement image recognition processing on all of objects to be recognized, and can reduce a load of capturing and transferring images. The image processing apparatus includes: an image capturing unit that captures image information picked up by an imaging element; a processing region setting unit that sets a plurality of processing regions for the image information; a processing sequence/frequency determination unit that determines at least any one of a sequence, a frequency, and a timing of capturing the respective image information in a plurality of set processing regions, and at least any one of a sequence, a frequency, and a timing of processing the respective image information; and an image processing unit that captures the image information for each of the processing regions according to the sequence, the frequency, or the timing which has been determined, and processes the captured image information according to the sequence, the frequency, or the timing which has been determined.
US09077903B2 Imaging device including a blur correcting mechanism for reducing the radial load on movable connectors
An imaging device includes an optical system including optical elements, an image sensor, a lens barrel movable relative to a device body to move the optical elements along an optical axis, a fixed element, a movable element on which the image sensor is mounted, a drive mechanism to generate a drive force by flowing an electric current into a magnetic field, to move the movable element relative to the fixed element, and movable connectors each including a bar element and a bearing provided in the fixed element and the movable element provided to movably support the bar element along the axis. The bar elements of the movable connectors are set to move in different directions along the plane orthogonal to the optical axis. At least one of the bearings is disposed outside the lens barrel in the orthogonal direction relative to the optical axis.
US09077902B2 Image capturing apparatus having camera shake correction function
An image capturing apparatus having a camera shake correction function, includes an optical system, a movable member that is movable on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical system to achieve the camera shake correction function, an angular velocity detector configured to detect an angular velocity of shake of the image capturing apparatus and generate a detection signal, and a controller configured to drive the movable member based on the output from the angular velocity detector. The controller includes a time change rate limiter configured to limit a time rate of change of angular velocity indicated by the detection signal output from the angular velocity detector to be no greater than a predetermined limiting value, and drive the movable member based on the detection signal output through the time change rate limiter.
US09077899B2 Image pickup apparatus, image processing apparatus, image processing method, program and recording medium
An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device that converts an image entering through a lens system into a captured image; a display unit that displays an image with a first field angle obtained from the captured image that is currently being shot; a moving distance detecting unit that detects a moving distance between images with the first field angle based on a plurality of images with the first angle sequentially captured; a partial image storing unit that stores an image with a second field angle that is less than the first field angle; and a panorama composing unit that composes a panoramic image based on a plurality of images with the second field angle stored in the partial image storing unit and the moving distances between the images with the first field angle that are respectively associated with the plurality of images with the second field angle.
US09077884B2 Electronic devices with motion response and related methods
Electronic devices with motion response and related methods are provided. In this regard, a representative electronic device includes: an image capturing device operative to acquire image data; an accelerometer operative to sense an acceleration of the electronic device; and a motion response system operative to receive acceleration information corresponding to a sensed acceleration and to alter a mode of operation of the image capturing device based, at least in part, on the acceleration information.
US09077883B2 Information processing apparatus with vibration detection, control method therefor, and recording medium
An information processing apparatus prevents the physical switch operation from being wrongly detected as the tapping operation to thereby cause the intended process to be surely performed. The information processing apparatus has an operation member. The vibration of the information processing apparatus is detected and an operation of the operation member is detected. If the operation of the operation member is not detected by the member operation detecting unit within a predetermined period after the vibration detecting unit has been detected the vibration, a function assigned to the detected vibration is executed, and if the operation of the operation member is detected by the member operation detecting unit within the predetermined period after the vibration detecting unit has detected the vibration, a function corresponding to the operation of the operation member without executing the function assigned to the detected vibration is executed.
US09077878B2 Alternative lens insertion methods and associated features for camera modules
A camera module has an image sensor and a lens assembly that includes a lens barrel having a first cylindrical portion that includes an externally threaded portion and a second cylindrical portion that has a larger diameter than the externally threaded portion. A lens moving mechanism includes a movable sleeve having internal threads that receive the externally threaded portion of the lens assembly. The lens moving mechanism is coupled to the image sensor such that the second cylindrical portion of the lens assembly is closest to the image sensor. The camera module is assembled by inserting the lens assembly into the lens moving mechanism from the side closest to the image sensor. An installation tool engages the second cylindrical portion to rotate the lens assembly and engage the externally threaded portion of the lens assembly with an internally threaded portion of a movable sleeve in the lens moving mechanism.
US09077869B2 Method and apparatus for detection and removal of rain from videos using temporal and spatiotemporal properties
The invention relates to a new method and system for detection and removal of rain from video using temporal/spatiotemporal properties. Advantageously, the temporal/spatiotemporal properties are involved to separate the rain pixels from the non-rain pixels. It is thus possible by way of the present invention to involve less number of consecutive frames, reducing the buffer size and delay. It works only on the intensity plane which reduces the complexity and execution time significantly along with accurate rain detection. This new technique does not assume the shape, size and velocity of the raindrops which makes it robust to different rain conditions. This method reduces the buffer size which reduces the system cost, delay and power consumption while maintaining sufficient quality of rain detection.
US09077865B1 Virtual reality system for providing individuals with customized live experiences
An interactive system and method of the present invention provides a customized experience to individual spectators of a live performance. At least one virtual reality device is associated with a spectator of the live performance, and each virtual reality device is coupled to a processor to independently receive real time virtual reality sensory effects projected from the processor in response to parameters selected by the associated spectator. The virtual reality device may be for example eyewear which projects the real time virtual reality sensory effects as substituting in effect for visual effects associated with the actual live performance. Selectable parameters may include one or more of a visual perspective for the spectator, costumes associated with performers, and background scenery elements.
US09077864B2 Method and apparatus for controlling monitoring cameras
A method and an apparatus of controlling a plurality of monitoring cameras which transmit a plurality of live-view images of a plurality of channels, respectively, are provided. The method includes: displaying a panorama image of a channel among the plurality of channels on a panorama region in a screen of a display unit; and controlling at least one of a monitoring camera of the channel and the panorama image according to a command input by a user.
US09077862B2 TDI sensor modules with localized driving and signal processing circuitry for high speed inspection
An inspection system for inspecting a surface of a wafer/mask/reticle can include a modular array. The modular array can include a plurality of time delay integration (TDI) sensor modules, each TDI sensor module having a TDI sensor and a plurality of localized circuits for driving and processing the TDI sensor. At least one of the localized circuits can control a clock associated with the TDI sensor. At least one light pipe can be used to distribute a source illumination to the plurality of TDI sensor modules. The plurality of TDI sensor modules can be positioned capture a same inspection region or different inspection regions. The plurality of TDI sensor modules can be identical or provide for different integration stages. Spacing of the modules can be arranged to provide 100% coverage of the inspection region in one pass or for fractional coverage requiring two or more passes for complete coverage.
US09077858B2 Media playback system and method for monitoring usage of media contents
There is provided a media playback system for monitoring usage of a plurality of media contents. The system includes a memory configured to store an analytic log file corresponding to each of the plurality of media contents. The system also includes a processor. The processor is configured to identify the analytic log file corresponding to one of the plurality of media contents. The processor is further configured to collect data relating to a plurality of events. At least one of the plurality of events relates to the usage of one of the plurality of media contents. The processor is further configured to store at least one of the plurality of events in the analytic log file. In addition, the processor is configured to send the analytic log file to a remote network server if the network connection has been detected.
US09077857B2 Graphical electronic programming guide
Disclosed systems and methods present a graphics based electronic programming guide (EPG) that organizes available content in radial fashion on a display. Which content appears on a screen shot of the EPG may be determined using rating data, user preferences or collaborative filtering. Through collaborative filtering, disclosed embodiments may predict which programs a user may like according to group member ratings. Some disclosed EPGs include a mosaic with graphical indications of an overall rating and graphical indications of which of a plurality of characteristics (e.g., genres) apply to multimedia programs.
US09077855B2 Method and system for distributing content to a user device through allocated assets of a satellite network and a broadband network
A communication system 100 includes a content repository 274 storing a plurality of content files associated with the content distribution system. A transport processing system 250 communicating with the content distribution system, a terrestrial communication network 132, and a content delivery network 280 communicating with the content distribution system 260 and the terrestrial network. The content management system assigns a satellite category or a broadband category to each of the plurality of content files in response to a popularity rating. The content distribution system 274 communicates the content to the transport processing system. The transport processing system 250 communicates the content through a satellite from the transport processing system to a user device. The content distribution system 260, in response to the broadband category, communicates the content to the content delivery network 280. The content delivery network 280 communicates the content through a terrestrial communication network to the user device.
US09077852B2 Video conference system
A method includes receiving a control message that identifies a first video conference terminal as an active talker. The method includes sending, in response to the control message, outgoing video conference data from the first video conference terminal via a first multicast group to two or more video conference terminals joined to the first multicast group. The method also includes sending a command to join a second multicast group in response to the control message.
US09077840B2 Image processing device, image formation system and image processing method
An image processing device includes an image acquisition part acquiring first image data, a character detector detecting, based on the first image data, data of a character area in the first image data, a marking detector detecting, based on the first image data, data of a marking area in the first image data, an image adjustment area determination part determining, based on a detection result of the character detector and a detection result of the marking detector, data of an image adjustment area in the first image data, and an image processing part subjecting the data of the image adjustment area in the first image data to image processing to output second image data.
US09077835B2 Image scanning unit
Provided is an image scanning unit which makes it possible to improve scanning accuracy while also making the overall body thinner by appropriately positioning a plurality of reflection members within an effective space in a carriage frame without wasting space. An image scanning unit, wherein a frame is divided into at least two spaces facing an irradiation surface, a first accommodation unit for accommodating a light source unit is formed in one of the spaces, a second accommodation unit for accommodating at least one reflection member is formed in the other adjacent space, a first reflection member for initially receiving light reflected from the irradiation surface is positioned at the side opposite the irradiation surface with the first accommodation unit positioned therebetween, and a light-shielding member is provided between the first reflection member and the reflection member positioned in the other space and prevents light that has strayed from a scanning light path from the first reflection member from being incident on the reflection member in the other space.
US09077826B2 Data printing system, portable terminal device and computer-readable medium
The present invention allows desired printing to be easily achieved not with complex operation but with intuitive operation. In the present invention, short-range communications can be made between a portable terminal device and a copy machine. When the portable terminal device is placed on a placement table of the copy machine, the copy machine detects the placement state of the portable terminal device (for example, landscape orientation or portrait orientation), determines a print format (for example, printing in a vertical direction or a horizontal direction as a printing direction) according to this placement state, and performs printing of print data received from the portable terminal device according to the print format.
US09077823B1 Systems and methods for automatically generating a photo-based project having a flush photo montage on the front cover
A photo-based project and associated printed photobook having a flush photo collage, or montage, on the front cover are disclosed. In one embodiment, a photobook is made by receiving a plurality of images corresponding to a photo-project; storing said plurality of images in a data repository; receiving a print order for a printed photobook corresponding to the photo-project; in response to the print order, printing a photo-strip having one or more of the images; producing a front cover by compressing a compressible cover material to form a channel in the compressible cover material, wherein the channel is of a size and a shape matching the photo-strip; wrapping the compressible cover material with the channel around a cover board to make the front cover; and setting the photo-strip permanently into the channel and flush with the front cover to create the photobook.
US09077819B2 Transmission power control method
The present invention discloses a transmission power control method for a communication system comprising a transmitter and a plurality of receivers. The transmitter is coupled to the plurality of receivers via a plurality of corresponding outgoing links. The transmission power control method comprising steps of each of the plurality of receivers performing channel estimation for each of the plurality of corresponding outgoing links, and replying a first suggested transmission power back-off level to the transmitter; and the transmitter determining a new transmission power back-off level after collecting a plurality of first suggested transmission power back-off levels from the plurality of receivers.
US09077813B2 Masking mobile message content
A method, an apparatus and an article of manufacture for masking a message on an electronic device. The method includes receiving a message on an electronic device, determining if a message category label is included in the message, mapping the message category to a corresponding masking format if a message category label is included in the message, extracting the content of the message to generate a message category if a message category label is not included in the message, wherein each message category generated corresponds to a masking format, and masking the message on the electronic device by transforming the message into the masking format that corresponds to the message category for the message.
US09077793B2 Carbon nanotube based flexible mobile phone
A carbon nanotube based flexible mobile phone includes a flexible body including a flexible display panel a flexible touch panel, and a communicating system received therein. The flexible touch panel is disposed on a surface of the flexible display panel. The flexible touch panel includes at least one carbon nanotube layer including a carbon nanotube film.
US09077791B2 Display module and mobile terminal having the same
Display module and mobile terminal having the same are provided. The display module includes a liquid crystal display panel configured to output a color per pixel, a backlight unit configured to uniformly project light to a rear side of liquid crystal display panel, a backlight unit having a light guide plate and a light source, a mold located at a perimeter of the liquid crystal display panel and a perimeter of the backlight unit, and a light cutoff part configured to cut off path of light incident on a front of the liquid crystal display panel from a side of the liquid crystal display panel. Accordingly, light leakage caused by light incident on lateral side of liquid crystal display panel by being reflected by mold or light reflected by lateral side of liquid crystal display panel is minimized to output more clear and vivid images.
US09077790B1 Cell phone auxiliary lens holder
A cell phone auxiliary lens holder including a body removably attached to an existing cell phone holder configured to hold a cell phone having an existing built-in lens for a built-in digital photography device so that an attachable binocular lens of existing binoculars is aligned with the existing built-in lens on the existing cell phone to produce a desired digital photographic image modified by the attachable binocular lens.The body includes an open front side and a closed rear side having at least one opening configured to align with the existing built-in lens on the existing cell phone. The body also includes an outer wall continuously disposed between the front side and the rear side and a cavity therein configured to conform to and receive an eyepiece end of the existing binoculars. The rear side removably attaches to a forward outer wall of the existing cell phone holder.
US09077788B2 Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes a frame, at least one first blocking part, at least one second blocking part, a display module, a first wedging structure and a second wedging structure. The frame includes a first frame stick, a second frame stick and a third frame stick connecting the first frame stick and the second frame stick. The first blocking part is disposed on the first frame stick. The second blocking part is disposed on the second frame stick. The display module includes a first edge, a second edge and at least one third edge. The third edge is pivotally connected to the third frame stick. The first and second wedging structures are respectively disposed on the first and second edges for wedging the first blocking part or the second blocking part. The first wedging structure and the second wedging structure are misaligned.
US09077784B2 Media file synchronization
The description generally relates to a system designed to synchronize the rendering of a media file between a master device and a sister device. The system is designed so that a media file is simultaneously rendered on a master device and a sister device beginning from identical temporal starting points.
US09077780B2 A/B testing
Performing A/B testing of content of a webpage includes selecting one of at least two different versions of the webpage to be displayed to a user through an interactive user interface (e.g., a web browser) based on an identification code, such as an Internet Protocol address or tracker identifier supplied by a cookie, associated with the user.
US09077775B2 Identifying social profiles in a social network having relevance to a first file
Methods and systems for providing related social profiles in a social network are disclosed. One method identifying a plurality of social profiles within the social network, wherein the plurality of social profiles each have a relationship with the first file, wherein the social network allows uploading and sharing of social profiles of users, and wherein each social profile includes a representation of a user. The method further includes generating, by a system server, a list of inquiries based on the plurality of social profiles, providing, by the system server, the list of inquiries to at least one author of the first file, receiving from the at least one author at least one response to the list of inquiries, selecting a subset of the plurality of social profiles based on the at least one response, and storing information related to the selected subset of the plurality of social profiles for access if the first file is selected.
US09077771B2 Enabling location-based applications to work with imaginary locations
Technologies for game providers to place their game worlds into existing map databases and communicate the relevant locations to location-based applications are generally described. In some examples, this may be achieved by generating maps that use non-physical locations that are still within standard location data formats at a game service provider and providing the maps and/or map data to map server providers showing game worlds mapped to those coordinates. Alternatively, the game service provider may provide the map data to the map service provider and the map may be generated at the map service provider. The imaginary location maps may be identified by extreme or non-physical altitudes, for example. Game clients may be enabled to publish the location of their game persona on an imaginary map and/or their real persona on a real map and receive location-based services for either or both personas.
US09077770B2 Mobile web app infrastructure
A method, device and computer program product for forming a mobile web app infrastructure on a device may include creating a local web app server on the device in response to an application being started on the device. A proxy uniform resource locator (URL) address may be provided by the local web app server that enables the device to access an out of security URL to perform a function associated with the application.
US09077768B2 Method and system for providing digital contents in a network environment
Method for providing digital contents in a network environment in an embodiment includes the following. In a server, the digital content request is checked for its priority. Whether a queue is full is checked. If the queue is not full, the digital content request is added to the queue. If the digital content request is not of a high priority and the queue is full, a communication link to a client device corresponding to the digital content request is disconnected. If the digital content request is of the high priority and the queue is full, the digital content request is added to an additional queue appended to the queue. With respect to a first request, a digital content required by the first request is provided to a client device corresponding to the first request. The providing step is repeated for another request obtained from the queue.
US09077763B2 Streaming media interruption and resumption system
A media delivery system enhances subscriber experience with streaming media. The media delivery system supports delivery of primary media content to the subscriber, but also provides secondary media content delivery, such as location based media delivery, that may interrupt the primary media content. The media delivery system coordinates delivery of the primary media stream and the location based media stream so that the primary media stream resumes delivery from the point of interruption when the secondary media stream finishes.
US09077760B2 Broadband communications
Disclosed is a provisioning tool and a method for implementing an operating a communications network, particularly a broadband communications network which is arranged to provision a service for a user based on information available via another user connection; this facilitates provision. In a preferred embodiment, a user device address is obtained from a user IP address. Provisioning and other network tools with additional or alternative advantageous features are disclosed and the provisioning tools disclosed may communicate with a variety of other tools including planning and inventory applications and agents associated with equipment, all of which are also independently provided, enabling provision of a variety of novel services and features dealing with a spectrum of problems arising in a communications environment, particularly a broadband environment.
US09077756B1 Limiting external device access to mobile computing devices according to device type and connection context
Access to a mobile computing device by a connected external device is limited, based on the context of the connection. The connection of the mobile computing device to an external device is detected. An identifier of the connected external device is gleaned, and the gleaned identifier is looked-up in a database of mappings between identifiers and descriptions of specific devices. The connected external device is classified as being of a specific functional category, based on the gleaned identifier and the description of the external device from the database. The functional category describes a legitimate function to be performed by the connected external device, such as data synchronizing, media playing or battery charging. The external device is provided with a level of access to the mobile computing device based on the classified functional category.
US09077748B1 Embedded object binding and validation
Unauthorized uses of embedded objects in websites are detected, in order to protect users from phishing sites using cloned copies of such objects. Authorized parties register objects for use at legitimate locations (e.g., specific IP address ranges or domains). When a client computing device accesses a website, the objects in the website are checked against the registered objects, to determine whether the objects are registered for use by the site being accessed. Depending upon trust status information concerning the objects, the access of the website can be permitted or blocked, or the user can be warned about questionable or un-trusted embedded objects. Additionally, the party that registered an object can be notified, in the case of an indication of unauthorized use of the object by a website.
US09077729B2 Content management in peer-to-peer systems
Disclosed are methods, systems, apparatus, devices, products, and other implementations, including a method that includes monitoring a plurality of messages from a plurality of mobile devices, each of at least some of the plurality of messages including at least one identifier of at least one content data record, from a plurality of content data records, stored at least on a sending device sending the respective message, and data representative of number of times the at least one content data record was used on the respective sending device. The method also includes determining popularity metrics for one or more content data records from the plurality of content data records based on the data included in each of the at least some of the plurality of messages representative of the number of times the respective at least one content data record was used on the respective sending device.
US09077717B2 Propagation and adoption of extensions across applications in networked solutions
The present disclosure describes methods, systems, and computer program products for adoption of an extension of a service across networked applications. One process includes receiving, by a target platform operating a target networked application, a data package associated with the extension, the data package comprising data specifying the service to be extended and information associated with a technology of a source platform at which the data package was created, extracting a portion of the data from the data package, and implementing the extracted portion of the data in the service of the target application.
US09077715B1 Social trust based security model
Making a trust decision is disclosed. One or more members of a social trust network are polled for information associated with a trust decision about a computing environment. The information includes information collected automatically with respect to activities of one or more of the one or more members of the social trust network. At least one action is taken based at least in part on the information.
US09077712B2 IC chip, information processing apparatus, system, method, and program
An IC chip, an information processing apparatus, system, method, and program are provided. An IC chip includes an authentication control unit configured to authenticate a request using authentication information. The request and/or the authentication information is received from outside the IC chip.
US09077707B2 System and method for accessing private digital content
Method for providing access to private digital content owned by an owner and installed on a content server, wherein a content manager server has a number of clients potentially interested in the private content, the method comprising the following steps performed at a content management server being informed that the owner has installed private content on a content server; obtaining a delegate token from the content server; receiving a query for the private digital content from a client of the number of clients of the content management server; providing said client with a token using the delegate token enabling the client to access the private content.
US09077705B2 System and method for cursor-based application management
A system and method of managing applications and event notifications using a cursor-based GUI, wherein the cursor-based GUI is located adjacent to the cursor and provides a user with the ability manage and monitor a plurality of dynamically updated applications, commands and event notifications via a persistent and centralized interface. Since the cursor-based GUI is persistent in nature, the plurality of applications, commands and event notifications can be accessed regardless of the user's computer environment. The user can manage user authentication requirements and other configuration information for the cursor-based GUI.
US09077700B2 Authentication server, authentication method and computer program
There is provided an authentication server including: a network access authenticating unit and an address notifying unit wherein the network access authenticating unit receives, from an authentication relay connected to a network, a first authentication message for a communication device existing under the authentication relay, and execute network access authentication process with the communication device, and the address notifying unit notifies the communication device of the server's address information in accordance with a result of the network access authentication process.
US09077696B2 Transferring data items amongst computing devices using metadata that identifies a location of a transferred item
A first data item is transmitted from a source device to a receiving device with metadata that identifies a location where the data item resides on the source device. The receiving device generates a subsequent request for data items that reside at the location specified by the metadata provided with the first data item. The receiving device generates an output that is based on the data items received from the source device.
US09077693B2 Securely connecting control device to target device
In an approach, a target computing device receives a pairing request from a controller computing device, the pairing request including controller credentials that were previously received by the controller computing device from an authentication server computer and encrypted under a service key. The target computing device forwards the pairing request to the authentication server, the authentication server computer being configured to return a pairing response based at least in part on the controller credentials. The target computing device receives the pairing which includes a shared secret encrypted under a target device key and the same shared secret encrypted under a controller key. The target computing device decrypts the shared secret encrypted under the target device key and forwards the shared secret encrypted under the controller key to the controller device. Using the decrypted shared secret, the target computing device establishes a secure connection to the controller computing device.
US09077690B2 Preservation of user data privacy in a network
An example apparatus is provided that receives a pseudonym and encrypted identifier, where the pseudonym is of a user's personal data. The pseudonym has been generated using a first secret key, and the encrypted identifier has been generated by encrypting the identifier using a second secret key. The first and second secret keys are known to other user(s) authorized to access the data, and are unknown to the apparatus. The operations also include storing the personal data in a database under the pseudonym, and indexed by the encrypted identifier. The keys used for encryption and pseudorandom generation can be provided by a second apparatus (e.g. an offline security manager), which may employ a proxy re-encryption scheme to provide proper keys to the apparatus based on access policies. Only the authorized users can decrypt the keys with their private keys, thus can query the user records stored in the apparatus.
US09077682B2 Downloading a code image to remote devices
A server downloads a code image to remote devices so that the remote devices are performing properly in accordance with an updated version of the code image. The server may include an application server that targets devices and informs the targeted devices about a multicasting session. The targeted devices subsequently join the multicast session supported by a multicasting server and extract the code image from the multicast session. After the multicast session has been completed, the downloading center polls the targeted devices to determine which devices have successfully downloaded the code image. The server may repeat the download to devices that did not successfully download the code image by subsequently scheduling a subsequent multicasting session or by individually sending the code image to the devices. Portions of the code image may be sent in multicasting messages based on a depth level and interval.
US09077677B2 Methods of sharing a uniform resource locator (URL), and a URL sharing utility and social network facilitating group chat about shared links
A URL sharing utility and social network facilitates group discussions about shared links. Unlike conventional applications, this service enables live discussions about specific URLs, so people who join the discussion already share an interest in a particular topic. The sharing mechanism preferably enables many people around the world to see the discussion topic and join if they are interested. Sharing a URL together with a second URL reserved for a live discussion of the first URL preferably enables users to promote the discussion in a less socially risky way. A one-to-one correspondence between one URL and a second, predictable network address for the discussion of the original URL allows everyone who shares an interest in a URL to be funneled into a single discussion about that URL. Users preferably specify explicit social and professional networking policies so that every discussion with others carries the promise of a beneficial, lasting connection.
US09077672B2 Enhancement of e-mail client user interfaces and e-mail message formats
An enhancement to e-mail user interfaces and message formats includes a dynamic preview window to view and retrieve attachments and summaries of e-mail messages directly in the e-mail list view or inbox view without opening an e-mail message. The efficient viewing mechanism further allows previews without cluttering the listing of the e-mails in the inbox by allowing the client to detect special preview instructions within an e-mail and run executables within the preview window. The enhancement is applicable to standalone e-mail clients (POP or IMAP based) and to web-based e-mail systems.
US09077669B2 Efficient lookup methods for ternary content addressable memory and associated devices and systems
Lookup techniques are described, which can achieve improvements in energy efficiency, speed, and cost, of IP address lookup, for example, in devices and systems employing ternary content addressable memory (TCAM). The disclosed subject matter describes dividing a route table into several sub-tries with disjoint range boundaries. In addition, the disclosed subject matter describes storing sub-tries of a route table between a TCAM and a faster and less costly memory. The disclosed details enable various refinements and modifications according to system design and tradeoff considerations.
US09077663B2 Router aggregation
A router programmed to function within an aggregation of a plurality of routers that appears as a single router externally is programmed to determine whether it is a first router in the aggregation of routers to receive a data packet. If the router is a first router in the aggregation of routers to receive a data packet, the router is programmed to perform layer 3 routing for the data packet including modification of the source and destination Media Access Control (MAC) addresses of the packet, and then transmit the packet to another router in the aggregation of routers for layer 2 switching of the packet. If the router is not a first router in the aggregation of routers to receive a data packet, the router is programmed to only perform layer 2 switching of the packet, with layer 3 routing for the data packet having already been performed by another router in the aggregation of routers.
US09077661B2 System and method for policy selection and switching function in a network environment
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a request for a service for a subscriber at an access gateway; receiving a default subscriber policy and a default service policy at the access gateway; receiving a subscriber policy and a service policy for the service being requested at the access gateway; receiving the service being requested at the access gateway; and communicating the service being requested from the access gateway to the subscriber in response to the request.
US09077658B2 Flow-based network switching system
A flow-based network switching system includes a memory having a flow table and a packet processor coupled to the memory. The packet processor includes a user-programmable flow-based rule storage that includes a plurality of flow-based rules. A flow-based handler and session manager in the packet processor is operable to retrieve application layer metadata from a first packet received over a network, determine a first flow session associated with the first packet using the application layer metadata from the first packet and the flow table, and retrieve at least one of the plurality of flow-based rules from the programmable flow-based rule storage using the application layer metadata from the first packet. A flow-based rule processing engine in the packet processor is operable to apply the at least one flow-based rule to the first packet. Packets with applied flow-based rules are forwarded through the network.
US09077656B2 Packet switch methods and systems
The present invention relates to a packet switch and a packet switching method. An example embodiment of the present invention comprises at least three network ports, at least one instrument port, a mux-switch, a packet switch fabric, and an address table. The embodiment updates the address table to include the source address of each ingress packet of each network port and associate the source address with that network port. The mux-switch routes the ingress packet traffic of each network port according to the identity of the network port so that at least a copy of the packet traffic of one of the network ports is routed to an instrument port. The packet switch fabric routes the packets from the instrument ports to the network ports according the destination address of the packet and the identity of the network port that is associated with the destination address as recorded in the address table.
US09077653B2 Interconnect system and method for ethernet networks
A system and method for data communication is provided. The system includes a first port, a transmission layer module and a signaling layer module. The transmission layer module supports a first priority and a second priority. The signaling layer module can route data between the first port and a second port and can route data between the first port and a third port. The signaling layer module supports alternate routing if one or both of the second port and the third port fail.
US09077650B2 Multi-homing in an extended bridge
Disclosed are various embodiments for multi-homing in an extended bridge, including both multi-homing of port extenders and multi-homing of end stations. In various embodiments, a controlling bridge device receives a packet via an ingress virtual port and determines a destination virtual port link aggregation group based at least in part on a destination media access control (MAC) address of an end station in the packet. The controlling bridge device selects one of multiple egress virtual ports of the destination virtual port link aggregation group. The end station of the extended bridge is reachable through any of the egress virtual ports of the destination virtual port link aggregation group. The controlling bridge device forwards the packet through the selected egress virtual port, and the forwarded packet includes an identifier of a destination virtual port to which the end station is connected.
US09077640B2 Method and system of congestion control in a mobile virtual network
An approach is provided for dynamic congestion control among mobile virtual routers. A determination is made whether a congested segment of a network of a plurality of physical routers. A temporary congestion point is created at a mobile virtual router to divert traffic away from the congested segment using logical tunnels over non-congested physical links, wherein the mobile virtual router is configured to utilize resources of at least two of the physical routers.
US09077637B2 Determining a physical location of a wireless mobile device
Determining the physical location of a mobile wireless device. A computer receives 1-hop and 2-hop neighbor information from a mobile wireless device for neighbor devices of the mobile wireless device responding to a discovery request transmitted by the mobile wireless device in an ad hoc wireless communications protocol. The computer determines a physical location of the mobile wireless device based in part on stored fixed physical locations of responding devices; an area in which the mobile wireless device is in range of responding 1-hop neighbors associated with a fixed physical location; and an area in which the mobile wireless device is in range of responding 1-hop neighbors not associated with a fixed physical location, which are in the range of 2-hop neighbors associated with fixed physical locations.
US09077635B2 Method and apparatus for network subnet discovery
A method and non-transitory computer readable medium for discovering network subnets are disclosed. For example, the method sets a host portion of a network address to a fixed value for a particular network, sends a discovery message to a subnet of a plurality of subnets having the fixed value of the host portion for the particular network, discovers the subnet if a response to the discovery message is received from a device and repeats the sending and the discovering until all of the plurality of subnets are checked, where the sending and the discovering are applied only to the fixed value of the host portion for each of the plurality of subnets.
US09077634B2 Systems and methods for visualizing a communications network
A system facilitates the visualization of a network having multiple nodes. The system collects information from at least one of the nodes. The information describes network operation over a period of time. The system then reconstructs the network operation for the time period from the collected information and presents the reconstructed network operation to an operator.
US09077630B2 Distributed implementation of dynamic wireless traffic policy
Systems and methods for distributed implementation of dynamic wireless traffic policy are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a system for optimizing resources in a mobile network having a local proxy on a mobile device to aggregate client-side parameters and a proxy server to aggregate server-side parameters. The local proxy and the proxy server can each communicate the client-side parameters and the server-side parameters, respectively, to the other component, to formulate a policy for traffic control in the mobile network between the mobile device and the server. The policy can be jointly implemented by the local proxy and the proxy server and dynamically adjusted in real-time.
US09077626B2 In-service upgrade of provider bridge networks
A system and method for in-service migration for a Virtual Local Area Network, VLAN, service if a Provider Bridge Metro Ethernet Network, PB MEN, is upgraded to a Provider Backbone Bridge, PBB, MEN or an Internet Protocol/Multi Protocol Label Switching, IP/MPLS, MEN. After the deployment of the new PBB or IP/MPLS technology, a sequence of management actions are performed to configure PBB or IP/MPLS edge nodes to use the new technology as well as the old PB-based technology to support the VLAN service. Both old and new connectivity structures are maintained in the edge nodes during the entire migration process. Customer traffic is then redirected per edge node to the new technology. When each edge node entirely provides the VLAN service under the new technology, the migration is complete.
US09077623B2 Network management system supporting customizable groups
Attribute values in a customized logical group definition are displayed to a user, each customized logical group definition being associated with a network that includes multiple network entities, and each of the multiple network entities having one or more associated attribute values. A user selection of one of the different attribute values is received, and a determination is made of one or more of the multiple network entities that have an associated attribute value that matches the user selected attribute value. Identifiers of each of the one or more network entities that have an associated attribute value that matches the user selected attribute value are displayed.
US09077621B2 Apparatus, system, and method of log management, and recording medium storing log management program
An apparatus to manage transmission of log data generated by a transmission terminal from the transmission terminal to a log management device obtains detection result data indicating whether a predetermined event is detected at the log management device, determines whether the log data is to be transmitted from the transmission terminal to the log management device based on the detection result data to generate a determination result, and transmits the transmission approval data having the determination result to the transmission terminal to cause the transmission terminal to process the log data according to the determination result of the transmission approval data.
US09077618B2 Service level mirroring in ethernet network
A mirror maintenance endpoint (MEP) is hosted on a provider edge switch within an Ethernet network to perform service level mirroring to a network management device of the Ethernet network. The mirror MEP is configured by the network management device to receive all mirrored frames from provider edge switches in a service provider network and to switch the mirrored frames to the network management device. The mirrored frames are mirrored by the provider edge switches to the mirror MEP during mirror sessions initiated by the network management device.
US09077616B2 T-star interconnection network topology
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for network communication includes an M dimensional grid of node groups, each node group including N nodes, wherein M is greater than or equal to one and N is greater than one and each node comprises a router and intra-group links directly connecting each node in each node group to every other node in the node group. In addition, the system includes inter-group links directly connecting each node in each node group to a node in each neighboring node group in the M dimensional grid.
US09077615B2 Global state resynchronization for path computation element failure during a reoptimization process
In one embodiment, a router initiates reroutes of one or more tunnels at the router as part of optimization of a plurality of tunnels in a computer network, and stores an original state of the one or more tunnels at the router prior to the optimization. By detecting whether path computation element (PCE) failure occurs prior to completion of the optimization, the router may revert to the original state of the one or more tunnels in response to PCE failure prior to completion of the optimization.
US09077603B2 Controllable frequency offset for inphase and quadrature (IQ) imbalance estimation
Embodiments of user equipment and methods for determining IQ imbalance parameters are described. In some embodiments, a method for determining in-phase (I) and Quadrature (Q) imbalance (IQ imbalance) parameters based on a known signal in a dual-carrier receiver using at least one controllable frequency offset includes receiving a known signal modulated onto a first radio frequency (RF) carrier frequency and a second RF carrier frequency different than the first RF carrier frequency. The known signal is downconverted to a baseband signal for the carriers by conversion from the respective RF carrier frequencies to an intermediate frequency (IF) using a common RF local oscillator (LO) and by further conversion from IF to baseband using carrier specific IF LOs, where a controllable frequency offset is used. Any controllable frequency offset is removed from the baseband signal for the first and second carriers to produce representations of the received signals.
US09077602B2 Systems and methods for fast and precise frequency estimation
Systems and methods are provided for fast and precise estimation of frequency with relatively minimal sampling and relatively high tolerance to noise.
US09077590B2 Systems and methods for providing link management in a multi-core system
The present application is directed towards systems and methods for providing link management in a multi-core system. In some embodiments, the present application describes solutions for managing address resolution in IPv4 networks in a multi-core system. In other embodiments, the present application describes solutions for managing neighbor discovery in IPv6 networks in a multi-core system. In still other embodiments, the present application describes solutions for managing network bridging in a multi-core system. In yet other embodiments, the present application describes solutions for managing link aggregation in a multi-core system. And in still other embodiments, the present application describes solutions for managing virtual routers in a multi-core system.
US09077581B2 Device and method for monitoring, rating and/or tuning to an audio content channel
Devices, methods and computer-readable code for simultaneously monitoring the content of at least two streaming audio content channels are disclosed. In some embodiments, the monitored content is analyzed, and one or more features of the monitored content channels are computed, including but not limited to music classification features, content genre features, and spoken content features. These computed features may be used, for example, to compute a rating or score for each monitored audio channel, for example, a rating computed relative to user listening preferences, expressed, for example, in preference rules. In some embodiments, the presently disclosed device includes a channel selector for automatically tuning, for example, to a channel assigned a higher rating at a given time. Alternatively or additionally, content rating scores may be displayed to a user who manually selects and tunes to an audio content channel.
US09077578B1 Scalable real-time video compositing systems and methods
In some embodiments, a server system composites in real-time, in response to a user video search query, a standard-compliant (e.g. MPEG-4/H.264) SD or HD video stream encoding a rectangular (x-y) composite video preview panel array (grid) of video search results. Each panel/tile in the rectangular panel array displays a temporal section (e.g. the first 90 seconds, looped-back) of a video identified in response to the user query. Generating the composite video panel array in real-time is achieved by compositing the component video panels in the compressed domain, after each panel undergoes off-line a compressed-domain pre-compositing preparation process that facilitates dynamic compositing of the panels into a single video stream. The pre-compositing preparation includes transcoding to a format having a down-scaled common resolution, common GOP structure, and one-slice-per-row slice structure.
US09077577B1 System and method for communication using orbital angular momentum with multiple layer overlay modulation
A method for transmitting a plurality of input streams from a transmitting unit to a receiving unit receives the plurality of input data streams and each of the plurality of input data streams are processed to generate a parallel pair of data streams including an in-phase stream (I) and a quadrature-phase stream (Q) for each of the plurality of input data streams. A first and second parallel pair of data streams are modulated with a selected one of at least three mutually orthogonal functions at a first and second signal widths, respectively, using a predefined modulation process to generate a plurality of first data sub-layers and a plurality of second data sub-layers. A plurality of composite data stream are generated by overlaying the first data subs-layers with the second data sub-layers at a preconfigured overlay offset. The plurality of composite data streams are overlapped by a predetermined overlap amount and placed on a wavelength of a communications link. Intersymbol interference is controlled between the plurality of composite data streams responsive to the predefined modulation process used to create the first and second data sub-layers.
US09077576B2 Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with variable bit loading and time and/or frequency interleaving
A communication device is configured to perform processing of one or more bits to generate a modulation symbol sequence based on one or more profiles that specify variable bit loading of bits per symbol over at least some of the modulation symbols of the modulation symbol sequence. The communication device is also configured to perform interleaving of the modulation symbol sequence to generate OFDM symbol(s). Some modulation symbols within the modulation symbol sequence that are separated by an interleaver depth may be transmitted via adjacently located sub-carriers, while other modulation symbols within the modulation sequence that are separated by more than the interleaver depth may also be transmitted via adjacently located sub-carriers. A communication device may be configured to adapt and switch between different operational parameters used for bit loading, interleaving and/or deinterleaving at different times based on any desired considerations.
US09077573B2 Very compact/linear software defined transmitter with digital modulator
A transmitter includes: a digital modulator configured to modulate a base-band signal in a digital domain into a modulated signal; a synchronization module configured to synchronize the modulated signal with a clock signal; and an analog output stage configured to convert the modulated signal into an analog signal for transmission.
US09077563B2 Switch for identifying extended group information of ports
A switch which includes a plurality of ports, each being assigned to any of VLAN groups, and outputs a packet received at any of the ports, the switch include: recording means in which partition information and an address table are recorded, the partition information indicating which of extended VLAN groups into which the ports are further logically partitioned, and the address table containing an entry in which a destination address, an output port, a VLAN group, and an extended VLAN group are associated with each other; acquisition means for acquiring a source address and acquiring group information of a VLAN; identification means for identifying group information of an extended VLAN; and registration means for registering in the address table the source address acquired by the acquisition means as the destination address, the port, the group information of the VLAN, and group information of the extended VLAN group.
US09077560B2 Adaptation scheme for communications traffic
A method of generating a generic framing procedure hierarchy comprising processing a first generic framing procedure frame to determine the overall length of the generic framing procedure frame, mapping the frame into the generic framing procedure payload area of a second generic framing procedure frame at the next level of the generic framing procedure hierarchy, whereby information enabling the size of the generic framing procedure payload remaining after that frame has been extracted is captured in the header fields of the generic framing procedure frame into which the first frame is encapsulated, and wherein the generic framing procedure header indicates whether there are more frames left in the mapping hierarchy when de-encapsulating (i.e., running down) the generic framing procedure frame stack by providing an indicator at level N of the hierarchy that at the level N−1 there is a generic framing procedure frame to extract.
US09077553B2 Inter-carrier differentiation using throughputs in wireless communication networks
A method and system for controlling services received by a visiting subscriber to a visited network associated with a visited service provider are disclosed. According to one aspect, a request for the visiting subscriber to receive at least one service from the visited network is received at a node of the visited network. In response to the request, the visited network retrieves a quality of service to be afforded the visiting subscriber for each of the at least one service. The visited network determines whether to provide at least one of the at least one service to the visiting subscriber based at least in part on the quality of service and a current network load.
US09077549B2 Creating virtual areas for realtime communications
Examples that are described herein provide systems and methods for creating virtual areas for realtime communications. Some examples provide a quick and easy process for creating a virtual area for a set of communicants and provisioning those communicants for realtime communications in the virtual area. Some examples provide a quick and easy way for a user to wrap a realtime communications framework around a network service. Through seamless integration of realtime communications (e.g., realtime audio, video, chat, screen sharing, and file transfer) in persistent virtual areas, these examples are able to enhance and improve communicants' experiences with a network service relative to traditional browser based methods of collaborating on network service based projects.
US09077547B2 System and method for securely transmitting data via an electronic marketplace
The present system and method comprises an improved marketplace for providing and consuming services. Using the present system, generally via one or more APIs, comprises a method for integrating value added services within a network of participants, for instance, a payment network. The network can use service switching capabilities to route service calls to and from the service consumers and providers using routing elements defined in a message specification. Network participants can be both consumers and providers of services. The network can route service messages to the appropriate provider depending on details in the message.
US09077529B1 Method and apparatus for reducing nonlinear echo distortion in a communication device
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with echo cancellation are described. According to one embodiment, a method includes generating, in a communication device, an address to a look-up table by using a first signal and a second signal. The look-up table is a two-dimensional look-up table configured to store a plurality of cancellation values arranged in a two-dimensional grid. The method also includes producing, in the communication device, a cancellation signal according to a cancellation value in the look-up table that corresponds to the address.
US09077528B2 Method and device for performing communication in wireless communication system
A method and a device for performing communication in a wireless communication system are provided. In the wireless communication system, a transmitter determines a communication state for first devices using a first communication scheme for a first time interval, determines a duration of a second time interval to be allocated for the first devices, and transmits information on the second time interval having the determined duration to the first devices before the second time interval starts, wherein the first time interval and the second time interval are included in a frame allocated for a second communication scheme that different from the first communication scheme, wherein a frequency used for the first communication scheme is identical to a frequency used for the second communication scheme, and wherein a signal transmission operation of second devices using the second communication scheme is suspended during the first time interval and the second time interval.
US09077515B2 Method and/or system for transmitting and/or receiving data
Embodiments of a method and/or system of transmitting and/or receiving data is disclosed.
US09077509B2 Secure threshold decryption protocol computation
The present invention relates to a method of converting an encrypted data set into an encryption of individual bits representing the data set. Further, the invention relates to a system for converting an encrypted data set into an encryption of individual bits representing the data set. A basic idea of the present invention is to provide a protocol in which it is possible to divide an encryption of a data set in the form of e.g. a biometric feature, such as a number x, where xε{0, 1, . . . , n−1}, into an encryption of respective bits x0, x1, . . . , xt-1 forming the number x, where t is the number of bits of the number n−1, without leaking any information about x or its bits x0, x1, . . . , xt-1 Hence, the present invention enables splitting of the encryption [[x]] into the respective encrypted bits [[x0]], [[x1]], . . . , [[xt-1]] forming the encrypted number x=ΣI=1n xi 2i.
US09077503B2 Channel quality indicator method
The disclosed a method will work with future versions of LTE-A, be backwards compatible, and alleviate interference to signals for basic system operation. The method includes generating one or more Reference Signals associated with the one or more Channel Quality Indicators, and includes mapping the one or more Channel Quality Indicator-Reference Signals to the last symbol of the second slot of the one or more subframes.
US09077502B2 Method of transmitting and receiving acknowledgment signal in a wireless communication system
A method of receiving an acknowledgement (ACK) signal from at least one access terminal (AT) in a wireless communication system is disclosed. More specifically, the method includes transmitting at least one packet via a packet data channel from an access network (AN), receiving at least one ACK signal from the at least one AT using same channelization resources, wherein each AT is assigned a code specific to each AT, and identifying the ACK signal corresponding to the transmitted packet from the received at least one ACK signal.
US09077500B2 Controlling allocation of a portion of a shared channel to use for control information
To control allocation of a portion of a shared channel to use for control information, a base station determines an amount of resource elements of the shared channel to use for the control information in place of traffic data. The base station sends, to a mobile station, an indication relating to an offset parameter, where the indication is provided to allow the mobile station to compute a value for the offset parameter such that the mobile station can determine the amount of the resource elements of the shared channel to allocate for the control information.
US09077496B2 Method, base station, and terminal for generating reference signal
The present invention relates to a method for generating a reference signal, including: obtaining first control information, where the first control information indicates or includes cyclic shift related information which is used by a terminal belonging to a serving cell to send a reference signal; and sending the first control information to the terminal belonging to the serving cell, so that the terminal belonging to the serving cell generates the reference signal according to the cyclic shift related information which is indicated or included by the first control information and used by the terminal to send the reference signal, where a variation rule of a cyclic shift which the terminal belonging to the serving cell uses to generate the reference signal is the same as that of a cyclic shift which a terminal belonging to a coordinated cell uses to generate the reference signal.
US09077492B2 Mapping signals from a virtual frequency band to physical frequency bands
Embodiments include processes, systems, and devices for reshaping virtual baseband signals for transmission on non-contiguous and variable portions of a physical baseband, such as a white space frequency band. In the transmission path, a spectrum virtualization layer maps a plurality of frequency components derived from a transmission symbol produced by a physical layer protocol to sub-carriers of the allocated physical frequency band. The spectrum virtualization layer then outputs a time-domain signal derived from the mapped frequency components. In the receive path, a time-domain signal received on the physical baseband is reshaped by the virtual spectrum layer in order to recompose a time-domain symbol in the virtual baseband.
US09077491B2 Three layer cascade adaptive neural fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) based intelligent controller scheme and device
Intelligent technique is an effective method to perform the network resource management. A three layer cascade adaptive neural fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) based intelligent controller is proposed for the mobile wireless network to optimize the maximum average throughput, minimum transmit power and interference for multimedia call services. The proposed intelligent controller is designed with a three layer cascade architecture, which mainly contains an ANFIS rate controller (ARC) in the first layer, an ANFIS power controller (APC) in the second layer and an ANFIS interference controller (AIC) in the third layer. The design aim of the proposed three layer cascade ANFIS cognitive engine is maximizing the average throughput of the mobile wireless network, while minimizing the transmit power and interference power.
US09077487B2 Radio to support channel plans of arbitrary width and/or spacing
A multichannel radio receiver may include a radio frequency (RF) subsystem and a digital subsystem. The digital subsystem may be configured to use an analog to digital converter (ADC) to sample input. A channelizer bank within the digital subsystem may include a plurality of channelizers. Each channelizer may receive and translate input into a plurality of channels, the channels having widths that are non-uniform and/or spacing (e.g., spacing center-to-center of adjacent channels) that is not regular. The translation may include re-sampling channels at a rate associated with a modulation scheme. A decoder bank may include a plurality of decoders operating in parallel, each to receive input from a channelizer and each associated with a particular modulation scheme. Thus, the multichannel radio may simultaneously receive on a plurality of channels of arbitrary location, arbitrary spacing and/or arbitrary bandwidth, wherein each channel is associated with one of a plurality of modulation schemes.
US09077472B2 Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method
Provided are a wireless communication apparatus and a wireless communication method capable of reducing distortion of a CSI-RS and interference with other CSI-RSs. The wireless communication apparatus according to the invention includes: a CSI-RS generation section that generates CSI-RSs, an arrangement section that arranges the CSI-RSs in a single or a plurality of consecutive OFDM symbols located between a plurality of OFDM symbols, in which a signal other than the CSI-RS is arranged, and adjacent to the plurality of OFDM symbols in which the signal other than the CSI-RS is arranged; and a transmission section that transmits a signal other than the CSI-RS arranged by the arrangement section and a transmission signal including the CSI-RS.
US09077466B2 Methods and apparatus for transmission of groups of cells via a switch fabric
In one embodiment, a method can include receiving at an egress schedule module a request to schedule transmission of a group of cells from an ingress queue through a switch fabric of a multi-stage switch. The ingress queue can be associated with an ingress stage of the multi-stage switch. The egress schedule module can be associated with an egress stage of the multi-stage switch. The method can also include determining, in response to the request, that an egress port at the egress stage of the multi-stage switch is available to transmit the group of cells from the multi-stage switch.
US09077456B2 Visible light receiving device and visible light receiving method
A receiving device includes a first conversion unit, an amplification unit, and a microcomputer. The microcomputer includes: a second conversion unit that performs, for each sampling time duration, AD conversion on a voltage signal into an AD-converted value; a first calculation unit that calculates a difference digital value by difference calculation; a second calculation unit that calculates a positive reference value and a negative reference value; a detection unit that detects a rising point starting difference digital values greater than the positive reference value, and a falling point starting difference digital values smaller than the negative reference value; a third calculation unit that calculates a first sample period and a second sample period; and a fourth calculation unit that calculates a modulated signal for each symbol time period based on the first sample period and the second sample period.
US09077455B2 Optical receiver having a MIMO equalizer
An optical receiver comprising an optical-to-electrical converter and a digital processor having one or more equalizer stages. The optical-to-electrical converter is configured to mix an optical input signal and an optical local-oscillator signal to generate a plurality of electrical digital measures of the optical input signal. The digital processor is configured to process the electrical digital measures to recover the data carried by the optical input signal. At least one of the equalizer stages is configured to perform signal-equalization processing in which the electrical digital measures and/or digital signals derived from the electrical digital measures are being treated as linear combinations of arbitrarily coupled signals, rather than one or more pairs of 90-degree phase-locked I and Q signals. The latter feature enables the digital processor to more-effectively mitigate the receiver-, link-, and/or transmitter-induced signal impairments because various orthogonality-degrading effects can be mitigated in a relatively straightforward manner.
US09077450B2 Wavelength division multiplexing with multi-core fiber
Optical systems for wavelength division multiplexing and wavelength division demultiplexing with a multi-core fiber, and methods of their fabrication, are disclosed. The systems include a coupling mirror with a plurality of angled surfaces that are configured to direct light to or from different cores of a multi-core fiber. In addition, the multiplexer systems can further include laser chips for generating light, while the demultiplexer systems can include photodiode arrays for detecting light from the multi-core fiber. The systems can also include a guiding structure comprising filters/micro-mirrors to direct light from the lasers or to the photodiodes.
US09077446B2 Method for controlling random access for the efficient sensing of the cooperative spectrum in a cognitive radio-based frequency resource sharing system
An embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for performing spectrum sensing to detect a signal for a terminal of a primary user in each sensing node. The method for performing sensing may comprise the steps of: performing, by the sensing node, spectrum sensing to detect a signal for a terminal of a primary user; computing, by the sensing node, a local test statistic on the basis of the result of the spectrum sensing; calculating, by the sensing node, the transmission probability on the basis of the computed local test statistic; and transmitting, by the sensing node, sensing information to a convergence center on the basis of the calculated transmission probability. In this case, the convergence center can determine whether the signal for a primary user exists on the basis of the transmitted sensing information.
US09077440B2 Digital suppression of transmitter intermodulation in receiver
Systems and methods for suppressing transmitter noise in a receive band of a co-located receiver that are suitable for wideband applications are disclosed. In one embodiment, a transmitter is configured to upconvert and amplify a digital transmit signal to provide an analog radio frequency transmit signal at an output of the transmitter that includes a desired signal in a transmit band of the transmitter and transmitter noise in a receive band of a main receiver. The main receiver is configured to amplify, downconvert, and digitize an analog radio frequency receive signal to provide a digital receive signal. The digital feedforward transmit noise cancellation subsystem is configured to process the digital transmit signal to generate a digital transmitter noise cancellation signal that is representative of the transmitter noise in the receive band and is subtracted from the digital receive signal to thereby provide a compensated digital receive signal.
US09077435B1 Communication channel using logarithmic detector amplifier (LDA) demodulator
A method is provided for communicating signals at a low power level in an electromagnetic interference (EMI) environment. A first device transmits a modulated signal having a first carrier frequency, including the encoded information via a hardwire transmission medium. In one aspect, the power level of the modulated signal can be adjusted to minimize power consumption or reduce the generation of EMI. The modulated signal may be in one of the following formats: frequency modulation (FM) or phase modulation (PM) to name a few examples. A second device including a logarithmic detector amplifier (LDA) demodulator circuit receives the signal, which may be mixed with EMI. The LDA demodulator circuit amplifies the modulated signal, without amplifying the EMI, to supply a demodulated baseband signal, which may be an n-ary digital signal, or an audio signal. A low-power, noise insensitive communication channel is also provided.
US09077431B2 Relay device
The relay device includes a first switch interposed between a first extraction unit and a second superimposing unit and a second switch interposed between a second extraction unit and a first superimposing unit. The first switch opens and closes a path where a superimposed signal is relayed from a first transmission path to a second transmission path. The second switch opens and closes a path where a superimposed signal is relayed from the second transmission path to the first transmission path. The first switch is controlled in response to reception of a first control signal to be turned off when a superimposed signal is relayed from the second transmission path to the first transmission path. The second switch is controlled in response to reception of a second control signal to be turned off when a superimposed signal is relayed from the first transmission path to the second transmission path.
US09077427B2 Coherent power combining via wavefront multiplexing on deep space spacecraft
A communication system and method for a deep space spacecraft receiver to perform post-processing to dynamically combine received signal power coherently for pre-processed signal streams radiated non-coherently from a distributed, multiple element, Ka-band transmitting array via multiple concurrent propagation paths. Mutually orthogonal data and pilot signals travel though the multiple propagation paths. A pre-processor utilizing wavefront multiplexing restructures signal streams on the ground into multi-channel wavefrom structures along with injections of pilot signals for diagnostic and probing purposes. These restructured, or “wavefront multiplexed” (WFM) signals are transmitted through propagation channels to a receiver on the spacecraft, wherein adaptive equalization and wavefront de-multiplexing coherently separates the mixtures of received WFM signals. Transmitting power can be dynamically allocated for the multiple concurrent data streams, radiated to different spacecraft within the same field of view according to continuously changing demand by changing the relative input power ratios of the WFM signal mixtures.
US09077425B2 Systems and methods for asynchronous re-modulation with adaptive I/Q adjustment
Various embodiments provide for systems and methods for signal conversion of one modulated signal to another modulated signal using demodulation and then re-modulation. According to some embodiments, a signal receiving system may comprise an I/Q demodulator that demodulates a first modulated signal to an in-phase (“I”) signal and a quadrature (“Q”) signal, an I/Q signal adjustor that adaptively adjusts the Q signal to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a transitory signal that is based on a second modulated signal, and an I/Q modulator that modulates the I signal and the adjusted Q signal to the second modulated signal. To increase the SNR, the Q signal may be adjusted based on a calculated error determined for the transitory signal during demodulation by a demodulator downstream from the I/Q modulator.
US09077411B2 Feedback scheduling to reduce feedback rates in MIMO systems
In a closed-loop wireless communication system, a codebook-based feedback control mechanism is provided where feedback from each of a plurality of receivers is scheduled to control the feedback so that the receiving devices do not needlessly feed back precoding information to the transmitting device. The feedback may be controlled by establishing and distributing a schedule to control when each receiver feeds back precoding information, or by establishing and distributing a metric-based feedback threshold that must be satisfied before feedback is permitted.
US09077405B2 High efficiency path based power amplifier circuitry
A first transmit path, a second transmit path, and a third transmit path are disclosed. The first transmit path includes a first radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (PA) and alpha switching circuitry, which is coupled to an output from the first RF PA. The second transmit path includes a second RF PA and beta switching circuitry, which is coupled to an output from the second RF PA. The third transmit path includes a third RF PA.
US09077402B2 Method for feeding back codebook-based precoding matrix information in wireless communication system and device therefor
A method for feeding back codebook-based precoding matrix information by a receiving side includes estimating a channel through a receiving signal received from a transmitting side; selecting first and second precoding matrix indexes for indicating precoding matrices selected in a predefined codebook based upon said estimated channel; and transmitting said selected first and second precoding matrix indexes to said transmitting side, wherein said predefined codebook supports antenna patterns at the receiving side, precoder (W) in the predefined codebook is expressed as a multiplication of two precoding matrices (W1 and W2), W1 is constituted as an oversampled discrete Fourier transform (DFT) matrix by a diagonal matrix, an element which reflects a factor in accordance with an antenna pattern configuration of said receiving side is included, and said first precoding matrix index indicates a precoding matrix selected from W1 and said second precoding matrix index indicates a precoding matrix selected from W2.
US09077396B2 Distributed buffer store based uplink coordinated multipoint communications
A method and system for providing CoMP assistance in a wireless communication network are disclosed. In one embodiment a cooperating base station receives a CoMP assistance request from a serving base station. The CoMP assistance request is a request for assistance to decode a first transmission from a UE. The cooperating base station receives the first transmission from the UE. The first transmission from the UE is received at the cooperating base station at one of a time before receiving the CoMP assistance request and a time after receiving the CoMP assistance request. The cooperating base station determines a CoMP payload in response to the CoMP assistance request. The CoMP payload is based on the received first transmission from the UE. The CoMP payload is forwarded to the serving base station after the serving base station determines that the first transmission from the UE is received by the serving base station with error.
US09077389B2 Method and system for processing radio packages in a multimode software defined radio (SDR) terminal
A technique for processing radio packages is disclosed. In an embodiment, the processing of a radio package is divided into subtasks and results of the radio package processing are stored on a per-subtask basis. Because the processing of a radio package is divided into subtasks and because results of the processing are stored on a per-subtask basis, context switches can be made at the subtask level instead of at the task level. With the ability to perform context switches at the subtask level, the processing of radio packages can be scheduled in a more efficient manner and context switches can be made without losing processing results that have already been generated. In addition to storing the processing results on a per-subtask basis, in an embodiment, a processing pipeline is drained on a per-subtask basis.
US09077372B1 Variable length phase factor quantizer
Optimized fully parallel mapped FFT structures where the bit-length of each phase factor used by the FFT is adjusted to meet a quality criteria of phase angle accuracy in terms of error percentage relative to π/4. Two quantization methods of round-to-zero and round-to-nearest are described.
US09077367B2 Bit length converting circuit for floating-point numbers, and vibration correction control circuit using the bit length converting circuit
The bit length reducing unit reduces the bit length of an operand expressed by a floating-point number and outputs the operand to a computing unit. The bit length increasing unit increases the bit length of the result value of operation represented by the floating-point number inputted from the computing unit and restores the original bit length. The bit length reducing unit discards a preset number of higher-order bits of the exponent part of the floating-point number and at the same time adds a positive or negative offset value to the exponent part with the higher-order bits discarded, according to an application to be executed by the computing unit. The bit length increasing unit restores the bits discarded by the bit length reducing unit 11 from the exponent part of the floating-point number and at the same time subtracts an offset value from the exponent part.
US09077350B2 Delay-locked loop circuit and method of controlling the same
A delay-locked loop circuit includes a phase detector and a coarse-lock detector. The phase detector receives a feedback clock and a first clock to generate first and second phase detecting signals, respectively. The coarse-lock detector generates a coarse-lock signal based on changes of phase of the first and second phase detecting signals.
US09077346B2 Oscillator
An oscillator according to the disclosure includes a crystal unit, an IC chip, an adhesive agent flow prevention film, and a lead frame. The lead frame is disposed in a peripheral area of the pair of crystal terminals and the IC chip in an approximately same surface as the one surface of the flat container of the crystal unit. The lead frame includes a wiring part that is connected to an IC terminal of the IC chip by a bonding wire and is buried in the resin mold, and a mounting terminal forming portion that extends from the wiring part and is folded along an outside of the resin mold in a back surface that is another surface side opposite to the one surface of the crystal unit so as to form a mounting terminal.
US09077334B2 Countermeasure method and device for protecting data circulating in an electronic component
A countermeasure in a logic circuit having a logic gate supplying a binary output signal, the method including supplying binary data having random values to inputs of logic circuit during a precharge phase; supplying data to process to inputs of the logic circuit during a data processing phase; supplying on input of the logic circuit a precharge command signal launching a precharge phase; and under the effect of the precharge command signal, adapting the functioning of a logic gate of the logic circuit, statistically unbalanced, so that the output signal of the logic gate is in a binary state with a same probability as the random binary data supplied on input of the logic circuit during the precharge phase.
US09077333B2 Semiconductor device
A programmable analog device and an analog device that can retain data even when supply of a power supply potential is interrupted and consumes less power. In a semiconductor device, first to fourth transistors are used as switches in a unit cell including an analog element, and the output of the unit cell switches between a conducting state, a non-conducting state, and a conducting state through the analog element by controlling the potential of a first node where the first transistor and the second transistor are connected and the potential of a second node where the third transistor and the fourth transistor are connected.
US09077329B2 Latch circuit with a bridging device
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for capturing and holding a level of an input signal using a latch circuit that presents a low number of loads to the clock signal. The clock is only coupled to a bridging transistor and a pair of clock-activated pull-down or pull-up transistors. The level of the input signal is propagated to the output signal when the storage sub-circuit is not enabled. The storage sub-circuit is enabled by the bridging transistor and a propagation sub-circuit is activated and deactivated by the pair of clock-activated transistors.
US09077324B2 Clamp circuit and method for clamping voltage
The disclosure provides a clamp circuit and a method for clamping voltage. The clamp circuit includes: a first switch control unit, connected with the high-potential terminal of the first stage output of a comparator and configured to clamp the voltage of the high-potential terminal to VGate1 when the voltage of the high-potential terminal is lower than a first pre-set value V1, and a second switch control unit, connected to the low-potential terminal of the first stage output of the comparator and configured to clamp the voltage of the low-potential terminal to VGate2 when the voltage of the low-potential terminal is higher than a second pre-set value V2, wherein the voltages of the first stage output of the comparator are between VGND and VCC. By the disclosure, the output voltage swings of the first stage of the comparator are limited, and thereby the processing speed of the comparator is improved.
US09077318B2 Locking device for adjusting element
The invention relates to a device for locking an adjusting means (5), in particular an electrical addressing device, mounted on a printed circuit board (1) which extends in an x and/or y direction. The device includes an essentially flat base plate (2) having a length (L), a width (B), and a thickness (D), to which a first detent spring (4) is attached for locking engagement with marking means (23, 23′) of the adjusting means (5). The first detent spring preferably has an oblong spring leg (7), wherein in the installed state the base plate (2) is mounted on the printed circuit board (1).
US09077312B1 High rejection surface acoustic wave filter
A filter includes two or more surface acoustic wave resonators formed on a surface of a substrate and at least one ground conductor formed on the surface of the substrate. At least a portion of an edge of the ground conductor is formed as a plurality of serrations.
US09077311B2 Acoustic filter and method of acoustic filter manufacture
An acoustic filter and method of acoustic filter manufacture provides a plurality of series acoustic resonators coupled in series on a first resonator substrate, a plurality of shunt resonators on a second resonator substrate, and a support substrate. The first and second resonator substrates are mounted on the support substrate. The filter further provides a plurality of electrical connections, wherein each respective electrical connection electrically couples a respective one of the plurality of shunt resonators to a respective one of the plurality of series acoustic resonators.
US09077309B2 System and method for wideband high current RF choke network
A high current RF choke network comprising a high current RF choke combined with an all-pass T-bridge filter. The high current RF choke may be connected to a grounded capacitor in the serial branch of the all-pass filter. In this case the parasitic capacitance of the RF choke practically becomes an integral part of the all-pass filter capacitor. The added capacitance in parallel to the parasitic capacitance of the high current RF choke practically neutralizes the resonances of the high current RF choke and thus extends significantly the operating frequency range of the network. The operating frequencies bandwidth range of the high current RF choke network is extended from the legacy range of 5 MHz to 1 GHz up to an extended range of at least 5 MHz to 3 GHz.
US09077300B1 Predistortion circuit with concave characteristic
The predistortion circuit with concave characteristic is developed from a novel functional model for class-AB solid-state bipolar amplifiers. The model, based on a Fourier sine-series is simple and can provide closed-form expressions for the intermodulation products resulting from exciting the power amplifier by a multi-sinusoidal signal. The special case of a two-tone equal-amplitude signal is considered in detail. The present model can be used to build a database for the intermodulation performance of the class-AB bipolar SSPAs excited by a multi-sinusoidal signal. Using this database, the diode-based predistortion circuit with concave characteristic for linearizing the class-AB solid-state power amplifier is designed.
US09077296B2 Split biased radio frequency power amplifier with enhanced linearity
A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (PA) may include a first transistor and a second transistor. A first power cell may be coupled with the first transistor, and a second power cell may be coupled with the second transistor. In embodiments, the first transistor may be scaled to operate at a first current density, while the second transistor may be scaled to operate at a second current density.
US09077292B2 Power amplifier
A first amplifier is connected between an input terminal and an output terminal. A first junction point is located between the input terminal and an input of the first amplifier. A second junction point is located between the output terminal and an output of the first amplifier. A second amplifier is connected in parallel with the first amplifier, between the first junction point and the second junction point. A third junction point is located between an output of the second amplifier and the second junction point. A first capacitor and a switch are connected in series between the third junction point and ground. The second junction point is the lowest impedance point along a power amplification path that includes the input terminal, the first amplifier, and the output terminal. The switch is turned off/on when the second/first amplifier is turned on.
US09077290B2 Low-noise amplifier with impedance boosting circuit
A low-noise amplifier (300) is provided which comprises an input circuit (301) configured to operate with a variable bias current and an impedance boosting circuit (314) electrically connected to the input circuit (301). The impedance boosting circuit (314) comprises at least one switch (316) and at least one tail inductor (318) electrically connected with the at least one switch (316). The low-noise amplifier (300) is configured to activate the impedance boosting circuit (314) if the variable bias current is reduced, and the impedance boosting circuit (314) is configured to increase the input impedance of the low-noise amplifier (300) if the impedance boosting circuit (314) is activated.
US09077288B2 Amplifier circuit and image sensor using amplifier circuit
There is a problem that in an image sensor including an amplifier in each pixel, when a thin-film semiconductor is used as a transistor constituting the amplifier, voltage continues to be applied between source and gate of the transistor and thereby a threshold voltage value of the transistor varies, resulting in a variation of signal voltage. To solve the problem, a thin-film transistor formed with an oxide semiconductor is used as the transistor constituting the amplifier, and during a period other than a period of outputting an output of the amplifier, source potential of the transistor is controlled to be equal to drain potential thereof.
US09077280B2 Solar array support methods and systems
Systems and methods for disposing and supporting a solar panel array are disclosed. The embodiments comprise various combinations of cables, support columns, and pod constructions in which to support solar panels. The solar panels can incorporate single or dual tracking capabilities to enhance sunlight capture. The embodiments encourage dual land use in which installation of the systems minimizes disruption of the underlying ground. Supplemental power may be provided by vertical axis windmills integrated with the columns. Special installations of the system can include systems mounted over structures such as parking lots, roads and aqueducts. Simplified support systems with a minimum number of structural elements can be used to create effective support for solar panel arrays of varying size and shapes. These simplified systems minimize material requirements and labor for installation of the systems.
US09077276B2 Motor control method and motor control apparatus for dental handpiece
The present invention relates to a motor control method for a dental handpiece provided with a motor that rotationally drives a cutting tool. The control method includes a step A of limiting the motor current to a first limit current I1 when the load torque applied to the cutting tool exceeds a preset limit torque value, and a step B of controlling the motor current to be equal to or lower than a second limit current, which is lower than the first limit current, when it is detected that the motor stops rotating.
US09077265B2 Motor control device
A phase voltage setting unit is configured to define an actual current phase region including a current phase error range based on parameters to which is added an individual difference of at least any one of a motor and an inverter. The phase voltage setting unit defines a stable operation current phase region in which a rotor position can be detected through sensorless control, and sets, as a target current, an electric current obtained by adding a phase difference corresponding to the number of revolutions detected by the revolution number detecting unit to an electric current set by current vector control, such that the actual current phase region is within the stable operation current phase region.
US09077248B2 Start-up circuit for a power adapter
A start-up circuit for a power adapter and method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the power adapter includes a start-up circuit configured to provide an initial bias voltage for the power adapter. The power adapter also includes a crowbar circuit configured to turn on the start-up circuit upon loss of an ac mains voltage supplied to the power adapter.
US09077245B2 AC powered logic circuits and systems including same
AC powered logic circuits and systems including same are disclosed. According to one aspect, a system including a logic circuit powered using an alternating current (AC) power source includes at least one supply transistor connected to receive voltages of opposite phases from an AC power source such that the at least one supply transistor is strongly on during a first phase of the voltage of the AC power source and is strongly off during a second phase opposite the first phase of the voltage of the AC power source and at least one logic circuit connected to be powered by the AC power source through the at least one supply transistor and producing an output at an output terminal responsive to an input received at an input terminal.
US09077236B2 Permanent magnet rotor for a rotary electric machine
A permanent magnet rotor (3) for a rotary electric machine (1) comprises a rotor body (10) having a rotation axis (A) and a plurality of radial magnets (4), wherein the magnets (4) exhibit a head portion (5) located in proximity to an external surface (30) of the rotor body (10) and a base portion (6) facing towards the rotation axis (A). The base portion (6) of each magnet (4) has a width smaller than a width of the head portion (5).
US09077234B2 Vehicle AC generator
A vehicle AC generator includes a stator having stator windings; front frame and rear frame, each rotatably supporting a rotor; a cooling fan fitted to the rotor; first polarity arm and second polarity arm configured to rectify currents of one polarity and another polarity, respectively; a rectifier device configured to rectify an alternating current generated in the stator windings; and a protective cover covering the rectifier device. The rectifier device includes a first heat dissipating plate having rectifier elements forming the first polarity arm, a second heat dissipating plate rectifier elements forming the second polarity arm, and a connection plate formed in waveform-like shape and disposed between the first and second heat dissipating plates, and a passage of a cooling air blown by the cooling fan formed between the first and second heat dissipating plates and between the second heat dissipating plate and the connection plate.
US09077230B2 Electric motor with heat dissipating device
An electric motor has a stator and a rotor rotatably mounted in the stator. The stator includes a stator core and stator windings. A heat dissipating device is mounted around an outer surface of the stator core and configured to absorb heat there from. The heat dissipating device includes a base mounted around the stator core and a plurality of fins extending outwardly from the base in the radial direction. Electronic components are mounted on the heat dissipating device. A fan is mounted on a shaft of the rotor for generating a flow of air inside the stator and through slots between the fins to thereby cool the rotor, stator core, stator windings and electronic components.
US09077225B2 Armature of electric motor and method for manufacturing armature of electric motor
A stator is provided with a core and a winding. The core includes a plurality of slots and a plurality of teeth formed between the slots. The winding is composed of a plurality of wires W bundled in an irregular arrangement. The winding includes a plurality of coil portions wound on each of the teeth, and a connecting portion connecting the coil portions together. The winding has a twisted shape in the connecting portion.
US09077209B2 Power generation system, power generating module, module fixing device and method for installing power generation system
A power generation system includes power generating modules, and a module fixing device configured to fix the power generating modules. Each power generating module includes a power generating module body including a power generator that generates DC energy, and a power transmitter attached to the power generating module body. The power transmitter includes an oscillator that converts the DC energy into RF energy with a frequency f0, and a power transmitting antenna that transmits the RF energy as a resonant magnetic field. The module fixing device includes a first fixing member configured to fix the power generating modules, power receiving antennas each of which receives at least a part of the RF energy transmitted by the corresponding power transmitting antenna, and a second fixing member configured to fix the power receiving antennas. The respective outputs of the power receiving antennas are combined in parallel by the combining section.
US09077199B2 Electronic device with connection interface supporting signal communication and charging operation
An electronic device is provided. When the electronic device is at a power exhaustion state and a first external device with a charging function is coupled to a connection interface to provide a first supply voltage to a power pin of the connection interface, a voltage regulation unit transforms the first supply voltage to a first operation voltage, and a storage unit powered by the first operation voltage outputs device information of the electronic device to the first external device through a signal transmitting/receiving pin set of the connection interface. When the first external device provides a second supply voltage to the power pin in response to the device information, the electronic device enters a charging mode. In the charging mode, the charging unit provides a charging voltage according to the second supply voltage to charge the battery unit and provides a second operation voltage to a processing unit.
US09077198B2 Battery charging method and circuit
A method and apparatus for controlling a composite battery charger including a switching regulator and a linear charger charging a battery connected to it, whereby the switching regulator provides the supply voltage for the linear charger and Device Circuits. The control method and circuit fully turns on the pass device of the linear charger in a constant current operating mode and the switching regulator is controlled to maintain a constant charge current through the pass device while also supplying device current to the Device Circuits. The device current may vary. The method and circuit limits the dissipation of the pass device of the linear charger by reducing the supply voltage as a function of the charge current in the CC/CV transition region of the battery charger and by reducing the charge current as a function of the battery voltage if the battery voltage is below a predetermined value related to a predetermined minimum supply voltage value.
US09077193B2 Power relaying apparatus, power transmission system and method for manufacturing power relaying apparatus
Disclosed herein is a power relaying apparatus provided between: a power supplying apparatus including a power supplying resonance device and a power supplying power supply section for supplying an AC current to the power supplying resonance device; and a power receiving apparatus having a power receiving resonance device for receiving a power from the power supplying apparatus by adoption of a resonance method, the power relaying apparatus including a power relaying resonance device resonating between the power supplying resonance device and the power receiving resonance device, wherein the power relaying resonance device is fixed at a predetermined position by making use of an insulation member.
US09077189B2 Battery protection circuit module device
Disclosed herein is a battery protection circuit module device. The battery protection circuit module device includes a charging unit, a battery protection circuit module, and a system. The charging unit includes first and second MOSFET switches, and supplies externally input power to a battery or a system. The battery protection circuit module includes the battery, third and fourth MOSFET switches configured to be selectively turned on and off, a resistor and a capacitor configured to supply the voltage of the battery to the PCM controller as driving power, and the PCM controller configured to control the third and fourth MOSFET switches. The system is operated using the voltage of the battery or externally input voltage. The third and fourth MOSFET switches of the battery protection circuit module are connected via a common drain structure and a common drain terminal is connected to an internal ground.
US09077186B2 Power supply device
A power supply device includes a plurality of power supply units connected in parallel, and includes a positive electrode-side junction formed by the joining of positive electrode-side terminals of the plurality of power supply units and a negative electrode-side junction formed by the joining of negative electrode-side terminals of the plurality of power supply units. Each of the plurality of power supply units includes a battery unit, and a first relay that is provided between one of the positive and negative electrode-side junctions and the battery unit and is electrically disconnectably connected in series to the battery unit. Each of the plurality of power supply units includes a resistive element of which one end is connected between the first relay, which is connected to one of a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of the battery unit, and the battery unit.
US09077185B2 Systems and methods for uninterruptible power supplies with bidirectional power converters
Electrical power systems and methods using bidirectional power converters to provide, among other functions, uninterruptible power supplies for loads such as cell towers. The power-packet-switching power converter can be connected, for example, to a photovoltaic array, batteries, and a critical load such as a cell tower. An AC generator can also be connected in order to power the cell tower and/or to charge the batteries as needed. Green energy utilization is maximized, power conversion efficiency is increased, and system costs are decreased, by having only a single power conversion stage for all conversions.
US09077184B2 Control device to control deterioration of batteries in a battery stack
Provided is a storage battery system comprising a plurality of storage batteries connected in parallel, characterized by detecting the temperature and energy amount of each battery connected in parallel, calculating the deterioration rate of each battery based on the detected temperature and energy-amount, and controlling the power amount to be inputted to and output from each battery so that the deterioration rate of each storage battery will come closer to each other.
US09077183B2 Distributed low-power wireless monitoring
A distributed wireless monitoring system with a cloud server and low-power remote sensors includes data encoding/compression at sensors to reduce power use from transmission and storage, event activated operation/data logging triggered by configurable thresholds, remote configuration via the cloud server of event triggering thresholds and correlation templates, distributed processing capabilities, and sensor clock synchronization from a network time service.
US09077178B2 Protection circuitry for reversible connectors
An electronic device may include a connector port that accommodates reversible connector plugs. The connector port may include protection circuitry that protects other components in the electronic device from undesired power supply voltages. The protection circuitry may form a first branch and a second branch opposite to the first branch. The protection circuitry may receive control signals from power polarity detection circuitry. The power polarity detection circuitry may detect the presence of power supply voltages at the first branch and the second branch. In response to detecting the presence of a power supply voltage at a given branch, the power polarity detection circuitry may disable a power supply signal path through the opposite branch and enable a power supply signal path through the given branch.
US09077175B2 Electronic fuse circuit and method of controlling the same
An electronic fuse circuit for interrupting a current flowing through a power circuit includes: a trip switch structured to open and close to interrupt and permit, respectively, the current flowing through the power circuit; a current sensing circuit structured to sense when a magnitude of the current flowing through the power circuit is greater than a predetermined magnitude; a trip circuit structured to control the trip switch to open and close based on the sensed magnitude of the current flowing through the power circuit; and a processor having a routine structured to monitor a characteristic of the trip circuit and, when the monitored characteristic meets a predetermined criteria, to enter an override mode and control the trip circuit to control the trip switch to open regardless of the magnitude of the current flowing through the power circuit.
US09077174B2 ESD protection device and manufacturing method therefor
The ESD protection device includes: opposed electrodes 2 including an opposed electrode 2a on one side and an opposed electrode 2b on the other side, and a discharge auxiliary electrode 3, the discharge auxiliary electrode being placed so as to extend from the opposed electrode on one side to the opposed electrode on the other side, wherein the discharge auxiliary electrode contains metal grains, semiconductor grains and a glass material, the metal grains, the semiconductor grains, and the metal grain and the semiconductor grain are bound together, respectively, via the glass material, the average grain size X of the metal grains is 1.0 μm or more, and the relationship between the thickness Y of the discharge auxiliary electrode and the average grain size X of the metal grains satisfies the requirement of 0.5≦Y/X≦3.
US09077167B2 Aircraft raceway mounting and clamping apparatus
An aircraft raceway mounting apparatus comprising an attachment formation for attachment of the apparatus to an aircraft structure, a raceway receiving formation for receiving a raceway, the raceway receiving formation comprising a snap fit formation for retention of a raceway. An aircraft raceway clamping apparatus comprising a concave raceway receiving formation having a raceway support region and a mouth, a bridge member configured to at least partially span the mouth, a clamping member movably mounted to the bridge member to advance into the mouth.
US09077166B2 Weatherproof electrical box
A weatherproof electrical box may include a housing having a first enclosure volume and an opening to the first enclosure volume. A cover may be connected with the housing to cover the opening. A cable configuration element may extend from the cover and into the first enclosure volume. The cable configuration element may retain a cable connected with a device mounted in the housing in a downwardly extending surface configuration when the cover covers the opening.
US09077158B2 Spark plug for internal combustion engine
A spark plug for use in an internal combustion engine has a center electrode, an earth electrode, and an electrode chip formed on at least one of the center electrode and the earth electrode. A spark discharge gap is formed between the center electrode and the earth electrode. The electrode chip has a base section, a chromium rich layer formed on at least a part of the base section, and a diffusion layer formed between the base section and the chromium rich layer. The base section contains chromium within a range of 5 to 45 mass %, an element X within a range of 0.5 to 25 mass %, and a remainder composed of tungsten and unavoidable impurity. The chromium rich layer is larger in content of chromium than the base section. The element X contained in the base section is comprised of at least one of molybdenum, silicon, aluminum and lead.
US09077155B2 White-emitting monomolecular compound using excited-state intramolecular proton transfer, organic electroluminescent element and laser device using the same
Provided are a white-emitting monomolecular compound using excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) characteristics, and an organic electroluminescence device and a laser device comprising same. The white-emitting monomolecular compound according to the present invention is prepared by covalently bonding at least two types of molecules which produce different colors and have excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) characteristics. The white-emitting monomolecular compound according to the present invention achieves white luminescence irrespective of the concentration thereof and of the state of the materials thereof, and therefore can be used in a variety of fields including an organic electroluminescence device and a laser device.
US09077154B2 Semiconductor light emitting device and method for manufacturing same
According to an embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device is configured to emit light by energy relaxation of an electron between subbands of a plurality of quantum wells. The device includes an active layer and at least a pair of cladding layers. The active layer is provided in a stripe shape extending in a direction parallel to an emission direction of the light, and includes the plurality of quantum wells; and the active layer emits the light with a wavelength of 10 μm or more. Each of the cladding layers is provided both on and under the active layer respectively and have a lower refractive index than the active layer. At least one portion of the cladding layers contains a material having a different lattice constant from the active layer and has a lower optical absorption at a wavelength of the light than the other portion.
US09077153B2 Tapered waveguide high-power quantum cascade lasers
An improved quantum cascade laser, the improvement comprising a longitudinally non-uniform dielectric waveguide. The waveguide includes a longitudinally straight section and a longitudinally tapered section. The length of the tapered section is between 5% and 50% of the total cavity length. The tapered section tapers at a taper angle from the facet width to the ridge width. The taper angle is smaller than the delineation angle of the waveguide.
US09077151B2 Semi-polar III-nitride optoelectronic devices on M-plane substrates with miscuts less than +/-15 degrees in the C-direction
An optoelectronic device grown on a miscut of GaN, wherein the miscut comprises a semi-polar GaN crystal plane (of the GaN) miscut x degrees from an m-plane of the GaN and in a c-direction of the GaN, where −15
US09077150B2 High power ultra-compact, lightweight multi-kilowatt fiber laser system based on coherent and spectral beam combining
A high power fiber laser system consisting of multiple fiber amplifier or laser systems amplifying the input signal in parallel is configured with a high power splitter such as to share some of the gain stages. The high power splitting component consists of high power fiber couplers and splitter(s). The splitter is a holographic optical element, a dielectric coated plate, a diffraction grating, or a volume Bragg grating. The resultant fiber laser configuration reduces the total number of amplifying stages including optical isolators and active fiber assemblies for the system and thus reduces the total volume and weight.
US09077142B2 Air-cooled laser device
Air-cooled laser devices and formation methods are provided. An exemplary air-cooled laser device can include at least a laser active slab, a first silicon carbide clad, a second silicon carbide clad, a first laser diode array, and a first cylindrical lens. The first and second silicon carbide clads can be symmetrically bonded to the laser active slab and can have a surface area greater than the laser active slab to form an air duct surrounding side surfaces of the laser active slab and between the silicon carbide clads. The first laser diode array can emit first input pump laser beams to be collimated by the first cylindrical lens to provide parallel and quasi-parallel pump laser beams that are guided by the air duct to enter into the laser active slab from at least a first side surface of the laser active slab.
US09077124B2 Card edge cable connector assembly
A card edge connector assembly is disclosed. The card edge connector assembly includes an insulating housing, a first circuit board, a line transmission device, and a covering body. A plurality of first terminals and second terminals are inserted into the insulating housing. The first terminals and the second terminals are electrically connected to the line transmission device via the first circuit board. The first terminals are above the second terminals and mating portions of the first terminals and the second terminals stretch into a plug space of the insulating housing. In this way, the plug space can be used for the second circuit board to plug in such that the first terminals and the second terminals are electrically connected to the second circuit board.
US09077121B2 Pins for connector alignment
Connector receptacles that may help maintain registration or alignment between a printed circuit board, a connector receptacle, and an opening in a device enclosure. One example may provide a connector receptacle having a housing including a passage. A pin may be placed in the passage such that a first portion extends away from a front of the housing and a rear portion extends away from a rear of the housing. The front portion may be arranged to fit in a cavity or opening in an inside surface of a device enclosure, while the rear portion may be arranged to fit in a cavity or opening in a top surface of a printed circuit board.
US09077117B2 Communication connecting device and lead frame assembly thereof
A lead frame assembly includes two lead frames detachably coupled to each other. Each lead frame has an insulating frame, several signal terminals fixed on the insulating frame, and a ground terminal fixed on the insulating frame. One of the ground terminals has a shielding sheet and several groups of elastic arms, and the shielding sheet and the elastic arms are protruding from the corresponding insulating frame; another ground terminal has several shielding portions protruding from the corresponding insulating frame. The ground terminals are contact with each other along a shielding direction, and the groups of elastic arms are respectively abutted against the shielding portions. In a space, which is surroundingly defined by the contour of the shielding sheet extending along the shielding direction, the shielding direction passes through at least one of the shielding sheet, the elastic arms, and the shielding portions.
US09077115B2 Terminal set of electrical connector
A terminal set of an electrical connector includes signal terminal duos and ground terminal duos. The signal terminal duos have two signal terminals. The signal terminals are spaced apart by a first distance and each have a first recess. The direction of the depth of the first recess equals the longitudinal direction of the signal terminals. The ground terminal duos have two ground terminals. The signal terminal duos are disposed between the ground terminals. The ground terminals each have a second recess. The direction of the depth of the second recess equals the longitudinal direction of the ground terminals. The ground terminal and the adjacent signal terminal are spaced apart by a second distance. The first distance is shorter than the second distance. The ground terminals each partially bulges out transversely to form at least a bulging portion. The terminal set features terminal electrical impedance and alleviated inter-terminal resonance.
US09077113B2 Press-insertion connector
A connector includes: a casing (1), a plurality of pins (2), including: a first end portion (3), extending along a first axis (A1), a second end portion (4), extending along a second axis (A2), a securing portion (5), adjacent to the first end portion (3) and secured to the casing (1), an insertion part (6), arranged between the securing portion (5) and the second end portion (4), certain pins (2) including at the level of their insertion part (6) at least one wavy inflected part (7) including at least one axial part (11) extending along the first axis (A1) or the second axis (A2) and an off-axis part (12) extending radially distant from the axial part (11), the off-axis part (12) being connected to the axial part (11) through a curved shape.
US09077111B2 Plug retention apparatus
Various embodiments are disclosed for a plug retention apparatus, which includes: a male retention portion including a first flexible clasp for applying a retaining force to a plug assembly inserted therein, the male retention portion further including a ratchet member configured with a toothed bar: and a female retention portion including a second flexible clasp for applying a retaining force to the plug assembly inserted therein, the female retention portion further including an opening to receive the ratchet member of the male retention portion, the female retention portion further including a pawl configured to engage the toothed bar of the ratchet member.
US09077105B2 Structure of electromagnetic electrical connection device
The present invention relates to an improved structure of an electromagnetic electrical connection device. To this end, the present invention comprises first and second electromagnetic electrical connectors (100, 100a) which electrically connect the electromagnetic electrical connection device to an electronic product by magnetic force, and is capable of blocking of noise while being connected, and provides stability, convenience, and waterproofing functions, wherein the first and second electromagnetic electrical connectors (100, 100a) include an outlet body (110) fixedly provided on a product and a plug body (150) selectively detachable from the outlet body (110).
US09077096B2 Connector receptacle shell that forms a ground contact
Connector receptacles that are simple to assemble, provide a good ground contact path, avoid marring of both inserts and receptacles, and can be arranged to fit in a device enclosure. These receptacles may include a subassembly that is inserted into a hollow tongue. The subassembly may include a first number of contacts that are insert molded in a housing, as well as a second number of contacts. The tongue may further include ground contacts on its sides and top. The tongue may cover edges of at least some contacts to prevent marring of both the connector receptacle and connector insert. The shell of the connector receptacle may be formed around a portion of the connector receptacle to assist in fitting the receptacle in a device enclosure.
US09077089B2 Coaxial cable connector with continuity bus
A coaxial cable connector includes a continuity bus that extends a ground circuit from a coaxial cable outer conductor to a connector part such as a connector fastener and/or a connector post.
US09077080B1 Inductively shorted bicone fed tapered dipole antenna
An antenna for passing a cable to a second antenna includes shorts positioned along a circumferential perimeter of the antenna, first and second bicone sections of oppositely directed conductive cone sections energized at respective apices and opening along an antenna axis, first and second dipole sections, where the first dipole section is joined together with and extending from the first conical section to the circumferential perimeter of the antenna, and where the second dipole section is joined together with and extending from the second conical section to the circumferential perimeter of the antenna.